how do you take care of a hardwood floor?

Question

it's in good condition. how do i maintain it? anything special?

what do i do if it gets scuffed or scratched? (which could quite possibly occur while moving in)

Answer 1

Step One
Clear the room of rugs and as much furniture as possible. This helps to ensure that the entire floor gets equal treatment.

Step Two
Sweep and/or vacuum the floor carefully. Dirt left on the floor during mopping can act as an abrasive.

Step Three
Mix about 1 tsp. grease-cutting dish soap or oil soap into a large bucket full of warm water. The exact mixture isn't crucial; just keep the amount of soap to a bare minimum.

Step Four
Start mopping in a corner along the wall farthest from the door, and mop the entire floor with firm strokes. Make sure the mop is well wrung out and not drippy. Both foam and string mop heads will work.

Step Five
Use new solution when the water begins to grow cloudy or dirty.

Step Six
Repeat the process with fresh water (no soap) once the entire surface has been thoroughly mopped with the cleaning solution. This will pick up the soapy residue and leave your floor clean and shiny.

Step Seven
Buff dry with clean, dry towels.


* Be very careful with water; you may need to spot-clean around any unsealed gaps between slats. Always buff the floor dry.
* Don't use cleaning oils or furniture polishes on polyurethane-coated floors, as these can leave a residue that will cause refinishing problems later. Certain chemical-based strippers can damage the finish as well.

Answer 2

I swiffer dust mine daily and sweep up anything that could scratch the floor. I use clean clear water with a squirt on hardwood cleaner usually Bruce and there is no rinsing. Do not use Murphy's Oil Soap or any oil based cleaner as they will leave a streaky residue on the floors. Don't use any wax. Just a good damp mop and a hard wood cleaner. We just moved into our new house and made sure the movers put down their mats along with sticky clear plastic on the carpets where they would be walking. The floors are really quite resilient.