HARDWOOD FLOOR CARE TIPS
FOR POLYURETHANED FLOORS
From Holt Maintenance Co.
Some "do's":
The BEST cleaning method is the Bona Kemi Hardwood Floor Care system, or equivalent. This is 1) a safe cleaning chemical you spray on to 2) a washable pad that fits over 3)a flat "paddle" which has a handle attached. This is fast, easy and often gives results as good as professional cleaning and buffing. Some resources for floor cleaning products are: www.bonakemi.com, www.weloveyourfloors.com and www.1877FloorGuy.com. Also I understand OSH carries the Bona System now. (Don't buy anything that says it will increase the shine; you want "no residue".)
Use carpet or felt bottomed glides on the feet of chairs and other furniture that sit on hardwood floors. This can add years to the life of the floor finish. You can get these at almost any hardware store.
Use the "fish net" type non-skid pads under area rugs rather than the close-woven "doily" type if your rugs are at all slippery on the floor.
If you don't use the Bona system or equivalent, to clean your floor you can dust mop with a dry dust mop (Smart and Final carry these as do janitorial supply houses). Or vacuum with a canister type vacuum with a felt or soft-headed brush as a floor attachment. Or even sweep with a soft-tipped broom. After you get the dry dirt off, you may also damp mop if the finish is in very good shape with no breaks, scratches or scuffs in the finish that would allow the water to actually touch the wood underneath. See below for what sort of soap (cleaner) to use if you do this.
Some "don'ts":
Do not use Murphy's Oil Soap on your floor. If you're going to damp mop, see below.
Do not use a dust mop treatment on your dust mop.
If you damp mop a polyurethaned floor, use a neutral pH cleaner sparingly (1/2 oz. to 2 gallons) in the water. Any janitorial supply store will have one or more brands of Neutral Cleaner. Avoid Simple Green, Formula 409, Fantastic or anything else that advertises itself as a degreaser, as these are alkaline cleaners (pH above 7), not neutral.
Do not wax or oil your polyurethaned floor or put on it any product that says it "cleans and shines". It is far better to just clean it, then get another coat of polyurethane put on if the shine has started to go after a few years. (Polyurethane will not stick on a waxed floor, and it lasts much, much longer than wax does.)
David Holt
davidholt@iglide.net or 213-924-9371
Labels: Hardwood Floor Care Tips for Polyurethaned Floors