How to Care for Your Hardwood Floors
Hardwood lasts for generations when you properly clean them and keep standing water off the floors. Clean with a hardwood-safe product. Here’s the quick routine, then answers to the questions we hear most.
Your Step-by-Step Hardwood Care Routine
Cleaning Your Hardwood Flooring
- Sweeping, dust mopping, or vacuuming reduces loose dirt and grit that can damage the surface of your floors. This should be done once per week per person or pet in the home. For example, if you have a family of four with two dogs and one cat, the floor should be swept, dust mopped or vacuumed every day of the week.
- If you vacuum, the head should be a brush or felt type, without a beater bar. If you have a beater bar it should be lifted so it is not scraping the floor as you vacuum. Be certain the wheels of the vacuum are clean and not carrying grit that could scratch the finish of the flooring.
- Remove spills promptly using a clean, soft cloth. Moisture left on the floor will damage the wood.
- Dried spots should be removed by gentle agitation with damp cloth. Blot dry.
- Occasionally deep clean the floor using a PH neutral cleaner specifically formulated for hardwood flooring. We recommend Bona® Hardwood Floor Cleaner.
- Spray the cleaning solution onto a clean cotton or microfiber cleaning pad or cloth. This is preferred over spraying directly onto the floor as it will properly saturate the cleaning cloth or pad.
- Be sure to change the cloth as it becomes soiled and clean in different directions.
- Do not use any type of abrasive cleaning products like steel wool or an aggressive sponge.
- Never use oil soaps, liquid or paste wax products, or other cleaners that contain citrus oils, lemon oil, tung oil, silicon, or ammonia. These are not PH neutral, and the warranties do not cover damage caused by these non-recommended products.
- Do not use products that are a 2-in-1 cleaner/polish, they may contain urethane or acrylics that may damage the finish.
- Never mop or flood your floor with water or other products. This can severely damage the flooring and damage from these actions will not be covered under any warranties.
- Wood and water are not a good match.
- Do not use hard surface cleaning machines, steam machines, or any type of buffing or polishing machine.
Preventative Maintenance
- Use dirt-trapping walk off mats at all exterior doors to keep sand, dirt, grit, grease, and oil outside.
- Keep your pets' nails trimmed and paws clean, free from dirt, gravel, grease, oil, and stains.
- Remove shoes with spiked heels or damaged heels before walking on the floor.
- Rolling chairs, wheelchairs, heavy mobility aids, and scooters will damage your flooring surface. We recommend tempered glass chair mats. Mats need to be a minimum thickness of 1/4" or 6mm.
- When moving heavy objects or furniture, use a dolly and protect your floor by using plywood or other approved methods to prevent damage.
- Place protective pads beneath furniture legs and feet to reduce scratches and dents. Replace them as needed.
- Make certain furniture casters are clean, operate properly, and are at least 2" in continuous width (3" is recommended for persons over 250lbs).
- Exposure to the sun and UV rays accelerate the oxidation and aging of wood. This can cause the wood stain and/or wood to fade and/or to change color. The word used to describe this gradual change over time is "patina." We recommend that you rearrange rugs and furniture periodically, so the floor ages evenly. Exotic species are more susceptible to color change during the aging process. Warranties do not cover damage from the sun and UV rays.
Hardwood Care Tips From the Pros
Hardwood floors can last a lifetime with the right care. A few simple habits keep them looking their best. Sweep or dust-mop often so grit doesn't scratch the finish. Wipe up spills right away, and clean with a barely damp mop, never a soaking wet one. Felt pads under furniture and mats at entryways go a long way toward preventing scuffs and wear.
How Do I Clean Hardwood Floors?
Sweep or vacuum regularly with a brush or felt head (never a beater bar), keeping the vacuum wheels clean so they don’t mar the finish. To clean, use a hardwood-specific spray cleaner — S&G recommends Bona® — applied with a mister and a soft white cotton pad, cleaning in both directions and changing the pad often to lift all the soil.
Can I Steam Mop Hardwood Floors?
No — never. Water and steam are wood’s enemy; never wet-mop, flood, or use steam machines. Moisture left on the surface damages the wood, and that damage isn’t covered by warranty.
What Else Should I Avoid Using on Hardwood?
Skip oil soaps, liquid or paste wax, and any cleaner containing citrus oil, lemon oil, tung oil, silicon, or ammonia. Avoid 2-in-1 cleaner/polish products too — they can contain urethane or acrylics that damage the finish.
How Do I Handle Spills?
Wipe them up promptly with a clean, soft cloth. Moisture left sitting on top of the floor will damage the wood.
How Do I Protect Hardwood From Scratches and Dents?
Under furniture: place protective felt pads beneath legs and replace them as they wear; make sure casters are clean and at least 2 inches wide (3 inches for anyone over 250 lbs).
Moving heavy items: use a dolly and sheets of plywood rather than dragging.
At the door and underfoot: use walk-off mats, keep pets’ nails trimmed, and avoid spiked or damaged heels. Use glass floor protectors under rolling chairs; floating floors aren’t recommended where wheelchairs or scooters are used.
Will Sunlight Change My Hardwood’s Color?
Yes. Sun and UV exposure naturally age, fade, and shift the color of wood — exotic species most of all. Rearrange rugs and furniture periodically so the floor ages evenly. This natural patina isn’t covered by warranty.
Proper care & maintenance keeps your warranty valid. For the complete terms and coverage details, download the hard-surface warranty:
Common Hardwood Care Questions
Questions About Your Floor? We’re Here to Help
Whether you’re planning a project or caring for floors you already have, our team is glad to help. Stop by a showroom to talk it through, or schedule a free in-home estimate and we’ll bring the answers, and the samples to you.