Maintaining Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are a long term investment, and it's important to do everything you can to ensure that they last for the lifetime of the house. The two most important aspects of hardwood flooring care are moisture control and protecting the finish from damage like scratches.

Best Practices for All Floors

Some finish types may require different care than is listed here or recommended by the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA), but here are a few things that you as a homeowner can do to protect your floors:

• Furniture that is place directly on top of hardwood floors and vinyl should have floor protector pads installed on the bottom of the legs. These pads can be found at many hardware stores and local supermarkets.
• Trap dirt at all entryways by placing rugs. This will help to stop tracking in dirt and debris that can easily damage the finish of hardwood floors. That being said, don't let rugs remain wet (from wet shoes) to stand on hardwood floors. The extra moisture will damage the wood and finish of the floor.
• As mentioned in our previous blog post, it is highly recommended to use humidity control measures, such as a humidifier, to prevent damage to wood floors.
• The NWFA states that the best way to clean hardwood floors is to vacuum, sweep, or dry mop your hardwood floors regularly. Removing any dirt and debris before it has a chance to accumulate means that there is less chance for damage to the surface and finish of the hardwood.
• Magna's hardwood flooring lines can be cleaned using the WOCA Natural Soap, which is specially formulated to clean the floors without stripping the oil finish, ensuring your floors retain their beautiful appearance.
• We do not recommend wearing shoes indoors that have been worn outdoors, to prevent potential scratching from rocks lodged in the bottom of shoes, and to prevent the traction of dirt and debris that will damage the floors.
• Trim pet nails regularly.

What is the best way to clean hardwood floors?

Every manufacturer of hardwood flooring has slightly different recommendations on how best to clean your hardwood floors, and you should pay careful attention to how to do so- not following their directions could void any warranties provided by the manufacturer.

For Magna's Hardwood flooring, we recommend the following:

• Sweep or vacuum the floor regularly to keep it free of dust, grit and other abrasive materials.
• Blot up any food, drink or liquid spills immediately.
• For more thorough cleaning use the WOCA line of cleaning products or Loba Wood Care Kit. Follow the product instructions.
• Do not use any household cleaners, oils, soaps, waxes or any abrasive materials or scouring agents on the floor. Failure to follow these floor care instructions will void this warranty.

At the end of the day, if you have any questions regarding the care of your hardwood floors, including how to clean them, we are always a phone call or email away. Our friendly team is always happy to help.