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Don't
Damp Mop - Water and wood floors don't mix! Use only
the manufacturer's recommended cleaning products on your
hardwood floor.
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Vacuum
Regularly - Small stones, mud and gritty dirt tracked
in from outside can play havoc on the wood floors finish.
To help combat this use long bristle welcome mats placed
at all outside entrances for people to wipe their feet on
before entering onto the floors. Also, vacuum using a soft
bristle brush attachment.
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Use
the Proper Chair Glides - Narrow wheels, sharp wooden
legs or metal furniture legs can scratch and dent hardwood
floors. Any furniture that rests directly on top of a hardwood
floor should have felt protectors, or furniture coasters
under all it's feet. For extremely heavy objects such
as a piano, use wide, non-staining rubber cups. Purchasing
floor protectors is cheap insurance for protecting your hardwood
floor investment.
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Protect
from Direct Sunlight - your wood floor may change
color or fade due to exposure to direct sunlight. The sun's
UV rays accelerates the oxidation and aging of wood so periodically
rearranging your furniture and closing the curtains during
intense periods of sunlight can help avoid the problem.
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Don't
Use Oil Soaps - There are many over the counter oil-based
soaps and wax based cleaning products that may damage or
dull the finish of your wood floor. The best suggestion is
to only use the manufacturers recommended cleaning products
on your hardwood flooring.
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Never
Wax a Urethane Wood Finish - If your hardwood floor has
a polyurethane finish never use a paste wax on the floor's
surface. A paste wax may form a sticky film on your floor
and allow tracked in dirt to stick to your wood finish. Polyurethane
finishes will not adhere to any wax and adding a fresh coat
of polyurethane to your floor will be very difficult.
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Trim
Pet's Claws - Pet's claws may scratch you floors
finish. Regularly trim dog's claws to help reduce scratching
your floor's finish.
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Wipe
Spills Immediately - when accidents happen and some liquid
gets spilled on your hardwood floor, you should use a slightly
damp white cloth, or paper towel to immediately clean up
and dry the effected area. For more difficult spots, follow
the manufacturer's recommended cleaning procedures.
