Here at Dalton Carpet One, we want our customers to enjoy their newly finished home projects for years to come! To do this, you have to make sure you have all the information necessary to do so! This is especially true when it comes to the maintenance of newly finished hardwood floors. Caring for your hardwood floors, and caring for them in the correct way, is the best way to protect your investment. To help ensure our customers are properly maintaining their hardwoods, we’ve put together some helpful tips to keep your floors pristine for the coming years!

Immediate Care Following Installation and Finishing

It’s important to remember that your hardwood floors are most vulnerable and most prone to damage the first week after finishing. It takes thirty days for the new finish to cure completely. To assure that your floors will not be damaged while they are finishing the curing process, we recommend the following:

• Avoid walking on the floors and replacing furniture for at least 24 hours after the finishing is completed
• Minimize traffic on newly finished floors for seven days after the finishing process
• Keep blinds drawn for the first 24 hours to prevent sunlight from reaching the floors
• Allow 48 hours before permitting pets to walk on the floors
• Do not vacuum or mop the floors the first seven days after the finishing is completed. If you must clean the floors, use a soft, dry dust mop
• Wait fourteen days before putting down any area rugs

Cleaning and Maintenance

The how, and when, you clean your hardwood floors plays a huge part in preserving the longevity of the finished floors. To assure that you are cleaning your floors in the best way possible, we recommend you follow these tips:

• Always wipe spills or mud right away
• Vacuum and sweep floors regularly to prevent dust or debris build up
• When vacuuming, make sure the beater bar is raised to the highest height
• Clean your floors with a recommended wood floor cleaner once a month
• NEVER use a wet mop on your hardwood floors
• NEVER use a steam mop that you may see advertised on your hardwood floors
• Use walk-off rugs at doorways to help prevent dirt, grit and other debris that can be tracked in
• We know avoiding scratches on a hardwood floor can be difficult, since it can be a sensitive material. From sliding kitchen chairs to scooting a couch around, it’s easy to scratch them without even thinking about it. We recommend purchasing furniture pads to put under couches and chairs, or any other furniture that get everyday use. This is an easy way to avoid scratching your floors with furniture you’re constantly using.

Although hardwood floors do require additional care and maintenance, don’t get discouraged! Hardwood floors are a statement piece in your house and add value to your home as well. Also, with proper care and maintenance you can go seven to ten years before needing to refinish them, due to wear, AND you can always refinish them if you want to change the stain on your floors.