HARDWOOD CARE

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HARDWOOD CARE

HARDWOOD CARE

Protect Your Purchase

Hardwood floors are a lifetime investment and you have spent a considerable amount of money to beautify and add value to your home.
Most important in keeping your investment at peak condition (healthy) is to allow for the right room climate by maintaining a stable environment in the home. To keep your investment healthy, a room temperature of 60° to 80° F and a humidity range of 30-50% are recommended year round. (The use of a humidifier or de-humidifier may be required.)

Preventive Maintenance

Today’s hardwood floors are quick & easy to maintain, and with a few low cost cleaning tools and a little preventative maintenance can look beautiful for years to come. In addition to maintaining a stable environment, your hardwood floor should be cleaned regularly. Simply sweep, dust mop or vacuum to remove dirt & grit. When necessary clean your floor with a hardwood floor cleaning product.
Carefully follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions. Avoid using a wet mop as over time this can damage the finish. Remember: water & wood do not mix.
All purpose cleaners are not recommended as they can dull your floor’s finish or leave a hazy residue.
LAWSON recommends Bona® cleaning products. However, it is important to use the appropriate Bona cleaning product. For NON-OILED, urethane/lacquer finished wood use Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner.

Dos and Don’ts

DOS

  • Sweep, dust mop, or vacuum the floor regularly. Use a vacuum designed for hard surfaces. If vacuum has a beater bar (rotating bristle brush) it should be disengaged before use.
  • Immediately wipe up liquid spills with cloth or paper towels.
  • Maintain with the appropriate floor cleaner.
  • Use felt protectors or furniture coasters under heavy furniture.
  • Close curtains or blinds to limit direct sun exposure.
  • Maintain room temperature (60°–80° F) year round.
  • Maintain relative humidity in room/building between 30-50% year round.
  • Caster wheeled chairs should have wide casters.
  • A protective mat should be placed under office chairs.
  • In areas with icy or snowy winters, extra protection against salt & grit may be needed.
  • Place mats and throw rugs at doorways, exteriors and interiors to help prevent the tracking of grit, dirt and sand.
  • Remember that cleats, sport shoes and high heels can dent any floor surface.
  • Place an area rug in front of the kitchen sink to catch water

DON’TS

  • Use oil based soaps.
  • Use paste wax based products
  • Drag sharp wooden legs or metal furniture legs as it can scratch/dent hardwood floors.
  • Expose to direct sunlight for extended period of time as it may dry/fade natural wood.
  • Use steam cleaners. They are not recommended for use on natural wood flooring.
  • Place porous flower pots or vases on the floor.
  • Use steel wool or scourers.
  • Move heavy furniture without protecting wood flooring by slipping a piece of cloth or pile under the legs or bottom of items.
  • Ever wet-mop a wood floor. Standing water can dull a finish, damage the wood and leave a discoloring residue.

Color Change

Normal exposure to sunlight, heat, air conditioners, etc. will bring about natural changes in the original color as the floor ages. If possible, use blinds or drapes to protect floor from excessive sunlight. When some areas of the floor are covered, as in large furniture pieces and area rugs, the change under these pieces can be lighter than the surrounding floor, as they are not exposed to the same conditions. 
This is normal and is not a defect. Rotating the position of area rugs and furniture from time to time will allow the covered areas to slowly adjust in color to the surrounding floor.

Seasonal Gaps

Seasonal gapping can be expected, especially on wider planks. This is normal and not a defect.  Throughout its life, wood will naturally expand and contract in response to the wet & dry seasons and also from the environmental conditions in the home. To keep these dimensional changes to a minimum, maintain the home temperature & relative humidity within the range outlined above.

Surface Checks

During the winter months of low humidity, minor surface cracks (checks) may appear in wood flooring, then often close up again in the summer months when the humidity is higher. This is a normal characteristic of natural wood and not a basis of a complaint against the manufacturer, especially if there is no structural failure.