Hardwood Care

The performance of your hardwood floor is base in large measure on how it is maintained. That is why at Carpet Direct we recommend some simple but important maintenance steps that will help protect your investment and keep your hardwood flooring looking like new.

For cleaning, make sure you...

• Use a damp cloth to blot spills and spots as soon as they happen. Always avoid allowing liquids to stand on your floor.
• For tough spots, such as oil, paint, markers, lipstick, ink, tar, or cigarette marks, use a manufacture recommended cleaner.
• Sweep, dust, or vacuum the floor regularly with the hard floor attachment (not the beater bar) to prevent accumulation of dirt or grit that can scratch or dull the floor finish.
• Clean your hardwood periodically using the manufacture recommended hard surface cleaning product.
• For spots such as candle wax or chewing gum, harden the spot with ice and then gently scrape with a plastic scraper, such as a credit card. Be careful not to scratch the flooring surface. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Here are a few things to avoid:

• Do not use oil based, wax, polish, or strong ammoniated or abrasive cleaners.
• Do not use steel wool or scouring powder.
• Do not wash or wet-mop the floor with soap, water, or any other liquid cleaning material. This could cause swelling, warping, de-lamination, and joint-line separation, and void the warranty on the product.
• Don't use any type of buffing machine.
• Use floor protectors and wide-load-bearing leg bases/rollers to minimize indentations and scratches from heavy objects.
• Sharp objects can damage or scratch your wood
• Don't walk on your flooring with stiletto-style heels, spiked golf shoes, or cleats. They may cause indentations in your flooring.
• Keep your pet's nails trimmed to keep them from scratching your flooring.

Maintain relative humidity level

Maintain a constant humidity level between 35 and 65% throughout the year to minimize the natural expansion and contraction of your wood. A humidifier is recommended to prevent excess shrinkage due to low humidity levels.

Following these simple guidelines will help you maintain the beauty and appearance of your hardwood floor for years to come. Follow these links to find a complete list of warranty and care guidelines for Shaw's pre-finished solid hardwood, pre-finished Epic hardwood, or pre-finished engineered hardwood.

At Carpet Direct we can provide any additional information you might need regarding the care and maintenance of your hardwood floor. Please give us a call at 1-866-651-2396 or contact us via email if you have any questions or concerns.