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  4. Care of Hardwood Floors

Care of Hardwood Floors

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  • How to Care for Kempas Hardwood

    Kempas hardwood is native to Indonesia and Malaysia. Kempas is a coarse-grained, slightly reddish wood that gradually darkens as it ages. While it is harder than red oak, kempas hardwood is less stable and has a tendency to shrink or swell, especially in dry climates. Caring for your kempas hardwood floor properly can preserve its condition and extend its longevity. Take precautions to prevent scratching and keep it dry.

  • How to Care for Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Flooring

    Brazilian cherry hardwood flooring is a deep, rich and exotic wood floor option that is used in many homes. This flooring is expensive, so the proper care and cleaning routine should be used regularly to remove all buildup from the floor without causing damage to the exotic wood. Also incorporate items that prevent damage and deterioration of the Brazilian cherry wood.

  • How to Remove Snow Salt Off of Hardwood Flooring

    Salt works well to keep you safe from slips and falls during icy conditions, but it also gets tracked into the flooring of your home. When the salt dries onto your hardwood flooring it leaves behind a cloudy film that diminishes the attractive look of your floors. Remove the salt with cleaning ingredients that get rid of the residue without harming the hardwood flooring itself.

  • How to Remove the Cloudy Film on My Bruce Hardwood Floors

    With use and improper cleaning, your Bruce Hardwood floors may begin to look cloudy. The cloudy appearance may be residue left by cleaning products. The Bruce company warns against cleaning your floors with a wet mop, vinegar, or wax-based or abrasive cleaners. If your floors have become cloudy after a recent cleaning, the film may be removed with Bruce's proprietary Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner.

  • Care of Tigerwood

    Tigerwood is a type of exotic wood logged in South America. Predominantly used for flooring, tigerwood is desired for its tan to reddish-gold shading, and striated tiger-like markings. Tigerwood, won't splinter or warp like some hardwood flooring, such as oak. However, great care should be taken to prevent scratching, since no hardwood flooring is impervious to scratches. To ensure the longevity of tigerwood, simple methods will help maintain its appearance.

  • Kinds of Floating Hardwood Floors

    Floating wood floors are primarily made from engineered wood, which manufacturers construct using several thin layers of solid wood glued together. The process for making these types of floors tends to produce a stronger, more resilient finished product than a single plank of hardwood and allows you to install the flooring without securing it to a subfloor. Manufacturers categorize these floating floors by the size of each individual plank and the installation method.

  • How to Sanitize Unfinished Hardwood Floors

    Whether you have a rustic, unfinished hardwood floor or are in the installation process and have not yet finished your flooring, you typically need to clean the floor. You must use something safe for the hardwood since you are cleaning the bare wood, and a sanitizing element is useful to remove dirt while also killing bacteria. Instead of using unsafe chemical cleaners that may or may not be safe for the unfinished wood, use a homemade sanitizing cleaner that you can make yourself.

  • What to Do if Hardwood Floors Have Water Damage?

    Several events can cause water damage to hardwood floors: small spills that go unnoticed, appliance malfunctions -- like the clothes washer overflowing -- or natural flooding disasters. Since the 1990s, natural floods have cost Americans approximately 4.2 billion dollars every year, including in property damage. Severely damaged hardwood floors may be unrepairable; however, some can be saved with the proper techniques.

  • Hardwood Floor Care & Maintenance

    Wood is a popular flooring choice not only because of its eye appeal, but also because of its durability. The hard surface of wood stands up to wear and tear that other flooring, such as carpeting, can't handle. However, if you don't take some basic steps to maintain hardwood floors, they can lose their smooth finish.

  • How to Stop Foot Marks on Hardwood

    When foot marks accumulate on your hardwood floors, the marks quickly dull the overall look of your elegant flooring surface. Whether the foot marks are a result of dirty feet or improper cleaning routines, you want to use something that removes all of the foot marks without damaging the hardwood. Also prevent the marks from coming back in the future by following a few guidelines.

  • Care for Bruce Wood Floors

    Bruce wood floors come in a variety of finishes, including hardwood and laminate. Regardless of the what kind of Bruce wood flooring you have, the manufacturer's basic care and maintenance instructions are the same.

  • Products to Care for Hardwood Floors

    A hardwood floor is a thing of beauty if properly maintained. The proper care of your hardwood floor begins with knowing your floor's finish. The Wood Flooring Manufacturer's Association maintains that wood floors usually have a surface finish, such as polyurethane, or a penetrating seal finish, such as varnish. Surface finishes are applied on the surface of the wood. Penetrating seals saturate and soak into the wood.

  • Care and Repair of Hardwood Floors

    Hardwood floors can sustain damage over time. The biggest problems are scratches, but cracks and gouges can also occur, along with shrinking. Take steps to ensure your floor remains dry and unscratched. If your floor does sustain any damage, you can repair it, depending on the type of damage.

  • The Best Way to Take Care of Hardwood Floors

    Hardwood floors provide beautiful functionality to a home and are used in many different rooms. Wood flooring can be low-maintenance when cared for properly. The best way to take care of hardwood floors is to clean them regularly with cleaners appropriate for the wood. Also protect the floor from anything that may cause scratching or other damage.

  • Care of Hardwood Floors

    Hardwood floors are stylish and durable flooring options for the home. They have the potential to look both classic and modern, rustic and elegant, because they can coordinate with just about any type of home decor. If you are lucky enough to have hardwood floors in your home, it is essential to care for them properly to minimize damage and preserve their quality for generations. Regular maintenance will help keep them looking their best for years to come.

  • How to Put Rugs on a Hardwood Floor

    Hardwood floors are elegant and attractive, and at times you may want to add rugs to the room decor for a design element or to protect the flooring in high-traffic areas and rooms where meals and snacks are eaten. No matter what your purpose for the rugs, placing them properly allows you to provide a safe addition to the room that complements the hardwood floor.

  • Care & Maintenance of Manufactured Hardwood Floors

    Engineered hardwood floors are planks that contain multiple crossed layers of thin, soft plywood topped with a thick hardwood veneer. When compared to solid wood floors, engineered hardwood resists higher levels of moisture, making it easier to clean and maintain in general. This easy-to-install flooring doesn't require back-breaking maintenance; regular care will keep your engineered wood floors looking new for years to come.

  • How to Care for a Floating Floor

    A floating floor provides you with a flooring option that is easy to install, as it fits on top of nearly any existing floor and locks into place without requiring you to use glue or nails to install it. Floating floors are typically available in a wood or laminate material, giving you a clean, finished flooring look without expensive costs of professional installation. To keep floating floors looking like new for many years, clean and care for the floating floors properly.

  • How to Care for a Maple Floor

    Maple is a popular choice for wood flooring in homes and gymnasiums. Maple wood is available in shades from tan to deep brown, tones that make the most of available light and give rooms a warm, inviting feel. Mixed tones can provide pattern and interest in maple flooring. Maple is also a durable wood that can withstand the heavy foot traffic of busy families. With basic maintenance, maple floors can retain their natural beauty for many years.

  • How to Care for Natural Hardwood Floors

    Wood floors add beauty and warmth to homes. The floors need to be cared for properly to keep them in good condition. When wood floors become damaged, repairing them can take time and money. Regularly cleaning and caring for a wood floor will ensure it retains its healthy glow. Hardwood floors will last for many decades and they add value to homes.

  • Care & Maintenance of Bruce Hardwood Floors

    A Bruce hardwood floor requires proper care and maintenance to stay looking its best due to the premium flooring used. It needs waxing and buffing to restore the original shine back to the wood as well as allowing it to withstand hard treatment without visible wear and tear.

  • How to Minimize Scratches in Manufactured Flooring

    Man-made materials, such as laminate and vinyl, can provide an excellent surface for floors in a home. To keep the surface of a manufactured floor pristine, minimize the number of scratches that occur over time as a result of foot traffic and other normal events in a home. A few supplies from a hardware store and from a home and garden shop will be needed. A few tools will be needed also.

  • How to Care for a Pre-Finished Hardwood Floor

    Installing pre-finished hardwood flooring into the home can add style and an updated appearance to the residence. Pre-finished hardwood flooring is flooring that comes directly from the manufacturer already stained and coated with protective polyurethane sealant. Maintaining and taking proper care of your hardwood floors can add years of life and beauty. Pre-finished hardwood floors are easy to care for by practicing preventative measures and regular cleaning methods.

  • How to Care for Real Hardwood Floors

    Real hardwood floors are an expensive investment, and when you have these in the home you want to properly clean and maintain it to keep it looking brand new. A regular cleaning routine as well as a few preventative measures will reduce wear and tear to your natural hardwood floors and keep them looking their best for many years. Avoid chemically based cleaners that often leave behind residue, and instead make your own cleaner.

  • Tips for How to Clean & Care for Hardwood Floors

    The durability, easy cleanup and beauty of hardwood floors make them an option for just about any home. But taking care of hardwood floors and keeping them clean requires different methods than those used on other flooring surfaces. Use specific techniques to clean and care for hardwood floors and have great-looking floors for many years to come.

  • How do I Care for a PB Hardwood Floor?

    PB hardwood flooring comes in a variety of shades and types of wood and add a unique style to your home. PB hardwood flooring lasts a long time and requires minimal maintenance.

  • How to Take Care of Unfinished Hardwood Floors

    Unfinished hardwood floors require a different care and cleaning routine than finished hardwood, which contains a protective gloss coating that makes it easy to clean with a commercial cleaning product. Unfinished hardwood must be cleaned with products that absorb and dry without leaving behind a heavy residue, as this causes discoloration of the unfinished wood.

  • How Do You Take Care of Water Damage on Hardwood Floors?

    If your hardwood floor has been damaged by water, the first thing to do is figure out whether it can be saved or must be replaced. If the damage goes into the wood itself, the boards must be replaced. But water damage to hardwood floors is often to just the surface, and you can resurface the floor. A full sanding is sometimes necessary, but the less you have to do, the better. One option is screening, which is a method of taking off just the top of the finish and refinishing.

  • How to Care for Water-Stained Hardwood Floors

    Commonly made of oak, cherry, pecan or maple, hardwood flooring should last many years with proper care. Hardwood flooring, often sold in ¾-inch-thick boards, can withstand temperature and humidity changes--and usually a splash of water here and there. However, water should not stand on hardwood floors for long periods. Standing water can eventually penetrate the hardwood floor's finish and stain the wood. If this happens, you'll have to strip the wood to remove the water stain.

  • How to Take Care of Pine Hardwood Floors

    Though not technically considered a hardwood, pine is strong enough to withstand daily wear and tear and is a popular choice of wood for flooring. Although pine floors are durable, they still require a bit of care and maintenance. Many common floor cleaners contain chemicals that are too harsh for your pine flooring, so special care must be taken when choosing a floor cleaner. With the right preventative measures and careful cleaning, your pine floor can maintain an attractive appearance for many years.

  • How to Care for Polyurethane Hardwood Floors

    Finished hardwood floors contain a protective polyurethane coating that seals the flooring, thereby preventing spills and damage to the hardwood. This coating is also designed to add a slight gloss appearance to the flooring, providing a clean, crisp finish to the hardwood. To properly care for the polyurethane hardwood floors, you need to follow a few simple cleaning guidelines that will overall give you the most out of your hardwood floors.

  • Care of Shaw Hardwood Floors

    Shaw has been a trusted flooring manufacturer since the early 1940's. One of Shaw's most popular selling flooring types is hardwood. Shaw hardwood flooring is durable and long-lasting. As with any type of hardwood flooring, properly caring for Shaw hardwood is essential. Caring for and cleaning Shaw hardwood floor will help to ensure the floor looks beautiful and lasts for many years to come.

  • How to Care for a Prefinished Hardwood Floor

    Prefinished hardwood floors are a very popular option for home flooring today. Prefinished simply means that a stain and/or polyurethane sealant has been applied prior to the flooring arriving at your home. Prefinished floors are available in both the engineered and solid variety. Proper care for prefinished hardwood floors begins with prevention, while long-term beauty is maintained through regular cleaning.

  • How to Care for Cherry Hardwood Floors

    Because the wood from American cherry trees is too soft to be suitable for flooring, the majority of the cherry hardwood flooring installed is made from Brazilian and Bolivian cherry trees. With proper care, cherry hardwood flooring can retain its beautiful, lustrous shine for many years and can even increase the resale value of your home.

  • How to Care for Manufactured Hardwood Floors

    Manufactured hardwood floors have become a popular alternative to natural hardwood flooring. Manufactured wood is also referred to as engineered wood or laminate flooring. These floors are low in cost and relatively easy to maintain, while still providing the beauty and elegance of natural wood. Taking proper care of manufactured wood floors is essential in preserving their appearance and increasing their life span.

  • How to Care for Bamboo Hardwood Flooring

    Though bamboo is often referred to as a hardwood due to its durability and appearance, bamboo actually requires care that is different from that of a hardwood floor. Bamboo floors are becoming more and more popular in new homes, and part of making sure that your bamboo floor continues to look great is taking good care of it.

  • The Best Hardwood Vacuum Sweeper

    Hardwood floors are the perfect accompaniment to a fine dining room or any room of a home that needs to say class and sophistication. Care and maintenance of these surfaces often requires a specialized vacuum to be able to clean its surface easily without risking scratches or damage to its finish. Several companies rise to the top of hardwood sweepers with powerful machines that get the job done right every time.

  • How to Care for Floating Hardwood Floors

    Manufactured in two ways, most floating hardwood floors consist of either sliced-cut veneer or rotary-cut veneer, glued together. The inside core of the floating floors contains hard wood that supports the tongue and groove system. With a lifespan between 40 and 80 years, floating hardwood floors require special care to help maintain their luster.

  • Care of Bruce Hardwood Floors

    Hardwood floors add beauty and elegance to our homes. They are easy to maintain and will last a lifetime if they are properly cared for. Bruce Hardwood floors are made by Armstrong and, according to their website, they offer the largest selection of colors and styles in wood flooring, with virtually care-free finishes and an assurance of quality.

  • Care of Vinyl Hardwood Flooring

    High-quality vinyl hardwood adds the warmth of hardwood flooring to your home at a more affordable price. To keep your vinyl flooring looking like new, it is important to care for it properly to prevent scratches, torn vinyl and a dulled appearance.

  • How to Take Care of Tigerwood Hardwood Flooring

    Tigerwood is an exotic Brazilian hardwood sometimes used for flooring. Named for its striped grain that somewhat resembles tiger stripes, tigerwood is harder than oak and has some specific characteristics that affect the maintenance needed to keep the flooring in optimum condition. Aside from standard wood floor care guidelines such as sweeping regularly and avoiding water mopping, there are specific points to follow when you have a tigerwood hardwood floor. The main thing to keep in mind that tigerwood is photosensitive, and the color of the wood will deepen with age.

  • How to Care for Slippery Hardwood Floors

    Hardwoods are a popular flooring option for many homeowners, and they work well with a variety of decors. Unfortunately, wood floors can be fairly slippery, and can cause falls or injury to occupants in the home. Slippery wood floors are often caused by wax buildup or high-gloss finishes. By using proper supplies and techniques, you can improve the safety of your floor while maintaining its natural beauty.

  • How to Care for Mohawk Hardwood Floors

    Mohawk hardwood floors come in a wide variety of colors and styles that complement most decors. The product is available in a selection of solid, long strip or engineered types. The floors can be treated to be dirt resistant and more durable than a standard wood floor. Some floors are made from reclaimed wood, making it possible to make an environmentally sound decision. Hardwood floors don't require a lot of special treatment as long as you use cleaning products that are made for hardwoods.

  • Taking Care of Hardwood Floors

    The best way to take care of hardwood floors is by keeping sharp materials off of the floor, vacuuming up as much dust as possible and cleaning by going with the grain of the wood. Learn about using a mop and hardwood floor cleaner to keep the floor looking great with help from a member of the National Wood Floor Association in this free video on caring for hardwood flooring.

  • How to Care for Oak Hardwood Floors

    Hardwood flooring is one of the most popular finish materials available to homeowners. It creates a sense of warmth and character in the home, and works well with almost any decor. Oak hardwood flooring is one of the most popular varieties due to its relatively low cost and easy maintenance. With proper installation and care, an oak hardwood floor can be expected to last for many years.

  • Taking Care of Hardwood Floors

    Taking care of hardwood floors requires dust mopping on a regular basis, as dirt and debris can wear down the finish, and mopping the area with a diluted cleaning solution. Care for hardwood floors that can last a lifetime with cleaning tips from the owner of a housekeeping service in this free video on cleaning floors.

  • About Maple Floors

    Maple floors have long enjoyed huge demand due to their stunning beauty and durability. This flooring is produced from maple, a hardwood tree species that is indigenous to Europe and North America.

  • Taking Care of Hardwood Floors

    Hardwood floors are attractive and durable, and they add to the value of a home. However, they require some specialized care to remain beautiful and to keep from showing wear and tear.

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