Lauzon Hardwood Floor Care

A Few Points on Preventive Care

• Doormats and rugs at all entry points can significantly reduce the amount of dirt and moisture being tracked into the house and onto your wood floor:
- Place a doormat outside, and an area rug just inside every door.

• Encourage people to wipe their shoes and feet when entering.
- Keep doormats and rugs clean and dry with regular care.

• Furniture legs and plastic wheels can damage your wood floor – use proper wheel casters or special protective covers (rubber, felt, etc.) at the base of all your furniture.
- Clean or change protective underpads as necessary to remove dirt particles.

• Do not move heavy objects such as a refrigerator without putting a protective cover underneath first.
- One good way to move heavy objects is to lower them onto a rug and slide them
across the room.

• Stiletto heels, pointed heels and other sharp objects on shoes can permanently damage your floor; ask family and guests to remove their footwear if necessary.

• Keep pets’ nails well groomed to avoid scratches on your floor.

• Never leave any liquid sitting on the floor; wipe it up immediately.Water is wood’s worst enemy!

• Never use wax, oil-based detergents or other domestic cleaners (unless specifically formulated for hardwood floors) on your floor.
- These products can stain or damage the finish and leave a greasy residue that will make the floor slippery and harder to clean properly.
- Always protect your hardwood floors from prolonged exposure to harsh sunlight or other sources of intense light.
- Move furniture and/or rugs around from time to time to avoid dramatic outlines caused by the normal oxidation of wood floors.

About Humidity Levels

Variations in the humidity levels in your home can affect hardwood floors, because wood is a natural substance that reacts to moisture and dryness. Like water, moisture is a wood floor’s worst enemy. Excessive moisture causes wood to expand, and insufficient moisture causes it to contract.Try to keep humidity in the home at the recommended level, and ensure that you have adequate ventilation as well.

In geographical areas with cold winter months, the humidity level in the house is lower with the heating system on, and wood can contract or shrink, leaving small gaps in between the strips.The use of a humidifier can reduce this effect, especially with wood burning stoves and electric heating.

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