Floor Care Tips

The lasting beauty of your carpet will be directly related to the care you provide.  No carpet is maintenance free.  There are simple rules to follow to keep your carpet in peak condition. Stop dirt at entryways, vacuum frequently.   Use wipe off mats at entrances to reduce outside dirt from being tracked onto carpet.  The best way to reduce soil accumulation and prolong the life of your carpet is to vacuum! Most dirt, even dust, breaks down the pile of your carpet.   How frequent should you vacuum?   That depends on the amount of traffic and soiling your carpet is exposed to.   For best results, use a vacuum cleaner with a beater bar to agitate the pile more effectively. Remove spills.  Anything spilled on a carpet should be cleaned promptly, with the appropriate procedure. Clean most-used areas.  The most used areas of the carpet--entrances, doorways, traffic lanes, around a favorite chair, are going to collect dirt much faster than the remainder of the carpet.  Cleaning these areas when they just begin to look soiled stops the dirt from spreading to the rest of the house and can extend the time between professional cleanings. Other Floor Care Tips Sweep, dust mop or vacuum your floor daily to remove loose dirt and grit before it can scratch the surface of your floor. Thoroughly clean the kitchen twice as often as other areas. While most food spills will not harm the surface it is advisable to promptly wipe up with a dry cloth or paper towels. The spill should then be cleaned with a recommended cleaner. Never clean your hardwood with water. Never use products such as soaps, detergents and oil soaps to clean your floor. Only use products recommended by the manufacturer. If the manufacturer is not known, a general hardwood floor cleaner(Bonakemi) can be used. Place area rugs or mats at doorways and in front of the kitchen sink to help catch dirt, grit and water. Never use rubber or plastic backed as it may damage the floor. Solid cotton is highly recommend. Never use sheet vinyl or tile floor care products on wood floors. Spike heels, cleats and work shoes can be damaging to wood floors. Even a woman of average build with spike heels on can exert 2000 psi. when she takes a step. Humidity control is highly recommended. To reduce excessive shrinkage in the winter a humidifier is recommended while air conditioning or a dehumidifier for the summer. To move furniture properly across a wood floor it should be picked up. Narrow guides and certain types of casters can damage hardwood floors. It is recommended to change to the wide type to help prevent damage. Fabric protectors are a must for all furniture legs. This will help prevent scratching and dents. Most finishes should not be waxed. Please ask a professional or manufacturer. Keep pet nails trimmed regularly. Try to keep animal play on your wood floors to a minimum. Try to keep potted plants off of your floor. This will prevent condensation build up which can damage your floor. Children's plastic push toys can scuff the surface of wood. It will help to keep this to a minimum.