Hardwood floors need proper maintenance to preserve their beauty. Magnus Anderson can recommend a complete system
of floor care products specifically designed for easy cleaning of hardwood floors.

Cleaning Your Floor

Vacuum, dry mop or sweep to remove any loose dirt or grit. If using a vacuum, make sure it has a soft brush; not a “beater bar” that could scratch your floor. You can use a microfiber mop to remove loose dirt and grit. After dry-mopping, rinse the microfiber cloth with water and wring it out prior to cleaning the wood floor with a wood floor cleaner, such as Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner. Do NOT use any wax or cleaner that must be mixed with water, such as oil soap. Also, do not use wax, polish, abrasive cleaners, steel wool or scouring pads. Using these items for cleaning may ruin your floor and result in the loss of the warranty for your floor’s finish.

A hardwood cleaner can be used 5 days after the final coat is applied.

Do not use soap-based cleaners, wax-based cleaners, or steam cleaners on your wood floor.
Water and wood do not mix and can lead to cupping and long-term damage. Vinegar is an acid that can dull floors over time, so if you use water and vinegar do so in moderation.

When a spill occurs, soak up the liquid right away.

Preventing cracks or buckling of wood planks

Your hardwood floor is a natural material that reacts to changes in environment. Wood flooring will change in dimension with variations in your home’s humidity levels. Some species change more than others with regards to dimension. We recommend the humidity fluctuate between 20 and 30 percent. If the humidity level in your home is below 20 or above 40 percent, you should start to monitor your floors and develop an action plan based on the continued data collection of your environment.

Before taking on a large remodel, assess your ability to control the humidity within the house. Depending on your needs, a permanent climate control system (i.e., a home humidifier) should be in place before the acclimation process begins. You can monitor your home’s humidity levels with a hygrometer, which can be purchased at Home Depot or Amazon for less than $10. All major plastering and painting should be completed before the wood is brought to your home, since they both create more moisture in the air.

During the winter when your home is heated, the air is drier. If the humidity level is not increased, the wood flooring can lose moisture and shrink or contract as a result. You could see gaps form between boards.

If you live in an area that has higher humidity levels during certain times of the year, or if you have moisture migrating from a crawl space or basement, you might see cupping or crowning of the wood planks. A dehumidifier might be necessary.

The acclimation process from the time the wood is delivered to its installation is typically around two weeks. We will take moisture readings before we install the product to ensure it meets the NWFA standards for moisture levels in this area.

Keeping your home humidity level at the recommended level is essential for keeping your hardwood floor looking great. Please call us if you have any questions about this.