Remember, your hardwood flooring is designed to last decades and taking care of your hardwood floors will be different than maintaining your carpet or other types of flooring. It’s also important to know that historical hardwood floors were typically cared for differently (and still may be) than how hardwood flooring installed today should be cared for. Your authorized Stonewood Floors reseller will be able to help you obtain cleaning and maintenance kits that will help you properly maintain your new hardwood flooring.

• • Sweep your floors on a regular basis with a soft bristled broom or vacuum with a vacuum that is designed to work specifically with hardwood flooring. Consider making it a ritual and then always doing it again after events that involve lots of foot traffic such as family gatherings or entertaining.
  • Place throw rugs with cloth or felt backing down in front of the doorways that lead to the outside of the house to minimize dirt or debris from being tracked in. Clean underneath these rugs often to avoid trapped debris from scratching the floor.
  • Avoid using throw rugs with rubber backings as they can cause discoloration over time.
  • Place felt liners on the bottoms of all furniture pieces. Replace felt liners as they become worn.
  • When you move furniture, if you can safely do so, pick up the furniture completely to avoid scratching the floor.
  • Place an area rug on the floor in front of the kitchen sink to help catch moisture before it has it chance to sit on the wood.
  • Clean up all spills immediately.
  • Throw away your mop bucket. Never wet-mop your hardwood floor. Ever.
  • Never wet-mop your hardwood floor. Ever. We repeated this statement on purpose.
  • Use only approved hardwood floor cleaning products on your hardwood floor.
  • If you must spot clean stubborn areas, do so with a very slightly damp mop or rag with some hardwood floor cleaner. Dry the spot fully immediately.
  • Consider adopting a “no shoes” policy. If this won’t work, then at least avoid walking on the wood with sports shoes, cleats and boots with spikes or high heels. The pounds per square inch exerted by standing on the floor in one of these items are enough to cause dents or scratches in any floor surface.
  • Do not use wax-based products on the floor as they can leave a dull finish over time.
  • Keep your pet’s nails trimmed. Some grooming establishments offer to “sand” or “grind” down your furry friend’s nails as a part of a pet manicure. For pets whose nails grow quickly, a combination of the two methods can be used to keep the nails shorter than normal (without harming your pet) and without the sharp edges that can come with recently clipped pet nails.
  • Do not use ammonia based products on your hardwood floor.
  • Avoid activities that you may have used the floor for in the past such as cutting down boxes with box knives or cutting fabric with sharp scissors when working with patterns, unless you purposely put a suitable barrier down first.
  • If you run out of hardwood flooring cleaner that is made specifically for your type of hardwood floor, purchase a generic brand from a local hardware or home improvement store. Resist the urge to use any other type of cleaner even one time.
  • Light sanding of your floor and recoating should be done by a professional hardwood floor installer.
  • Do not use cleaners designed to eliminate or repel dust.
  • Control the humidity in your home year round with the use of a humidifier or dehumidifier as necessary.

Always follow the manufacturer guidelines and consult your local authorized Stonewood Floors reseller if you have any questions on your warranty. Using products others than those designed specifically for hardwood flooring and or using a wet mop on your floor may void your warranty.