Wood Floor Care, Wood Floor Cleaner, Hard Wood Floors, Care of Wood Floors

Because wood is a natural product it has natural variations in color, shade, and grain. These characteristics are what give the floor its appeal and charm.

Color/Grain
No two boards are exactly alike. Every board will vary in color from one to the next. This is especially true of the natural (no-stain) products where there is no stain to even out the grain.

Knots/Imperfections
Most wood floors will have a combination of knots, mineral streaking and pinholes. This adds to that "natural wood look". Some grades contain more imperfections while some contain less. All grades, however, will contain some natural imperfections.

Coloration/Darkening
Wood requires a period of maturation before attaining its permanent coloration, which will grow richer over the years. This is particularly evident with Cherry, Rosewood, and Mahogany. This natural maturing or darkening process will vary in speed and intensity depending on the species and the lighting conditions in the home.

Moisture and Humidity
During the year as humidity fluctuates, wood boards will expand and contract. This causes spaces in between the boards to appear during the heating months. Usually, most of the spaces will close up in the humid summer months. Installing a humidifier in the home and maintaining a 40-50% relative humidity year round will reduce the amount of gapping. Also because engineered wood floors do not expand and contract the way a solid floor does, gapping is reduced.

Floods/High Moisture
Excessive moisture, especially from a flood or wet basement, will obviously effect a wood floor. Exposure to a high concentration of moisture will cause the wood to cup and/or crack. If you experience a moisture problem, it is critical to correct the situation immediately to avoid permanent, irreversible damage.

Preventative Wood Maintenance

Maintain a relative humidity in your home of 40-50%.
Sweep and vacuum the floor regularly to remove sand and other abrasives.
Vacuum with a soft brush or felt type brush -- Don't use vacuum with a beater bar
NEVER mop or flood your floor with water or other products.
NEVER use any type of paste wax, oil soap, or cleaner that contains lemon oil, tung oil, or ammonia. These damage the finish, and will void your warranty.
Only use BonaX -- Worldwide's recommended wood floor cleaner,
Immediately clean up liquid spills on the floor.
Avoid leaking from planters and pet bowls.
Place a mat at each exterior doorway to prevent tracking in outside dirt
Use rugs at workstations, pivot-points, and high traffic areas.
Place felt pads under chair and furniture legs.
Use a dolly and protective sheet of plywood when moving heavy objects
Don't walk on floor with spiked or damaged heels.