Rules of Thumb for San Jose Hardwood Floors

Hardwood flooring installation isn’t rocket science, but it’s not as intuitive as many guide books (online and elsewhere) might lead you to believe. Let’s review some of the Do’s and Don’ts for installing, caring for, and repairing your hardwood floors.

First of, let’s get to the “do’s.”

Whether your pet poodle piddles on the floor or your toddler spills a glass of chocolate milk (again!) under the table, immediately wipe up spills. Use a damp mop, paper towel or cloth. But avoid using water, since water can saturate the wood, leading to the formation of mildew, mold and the breakdown of the wood structure.

Sweep wood floors or use a vacuum, if you need to clean up a dusty, sandy, or gritty mess (e.g. if you toddler dumps sand from his sneakers all over the floor). Be sure to dry the floor whenever you use any damp cleanup tools, such as a damp mop or damp towel.

In terms of the don’ts…

Avoid using oil soaps, abrasives, steel wool, and wax-based cleaners, for the most part. These compounds can chemically alter the wood, staining and deteriorating it. You may use a neutral pH wood base cleaner.

Also, avoid ignoring stains, damage, mold problems, etc. A leak that appears to be a “small” leak may turn out to be a much bigger leak – the proverbial “tip of the iceberg.” Investigate any leaks, patches or discolorations, ASAP.

Finally, pay attention to the installation and cleaning instructions provided by your manufacturer. Don’t deviate from these processes – “DIY” wood floor maintenance can be quite fraught.

Consult the Pros for Best Practices for Your Wood Floors

For proper care  instructions, connect with the team here at Elegant Floors for a free estimate regarding your hardwood floor installation, cleaning or repair job. Give us a call today at (650) 961-1339 or fill out our contact form here on our website!