Cleaning & maintenance tips

Wood Floors
  • Please place felt pads on the bottom of every leg of every piece of furniture. Check regularly.
  • Place rugs in front of doors, sinks, and dishwashers to minimize water damage, wear and tear and tracking of dirt.
  • Do not place area rugs on newly finished floors for 21 days if possible.
  • Do not walk on or move furniture back on newly finished floors for 2 days.
  • Use a humidity controller on your HVAC system if possible. This will help with seasonal movement of your boards. Ideal humidity in your house is 40-50%.
  • Sweep and dust/dry mop as often as possible.
  • Only use a vacuum that is approved for hard surfaces or has a hard surface setting.
  • Wet mopping is not recommended. If you insist doing it, do it only every once in a while, and the mop needs to be only slightly damp. Water is not good for your floors.
  • On engineered, laminate and vinyl wood floors only use cleaning products that are recommended by the manufacturer, you will void their warranty if something else is used.
  • Do not use household cleaning products. Do not use Murphy's oil soap. Do not use a steam cleaner.
  • Cleaner recommended for solid wood floors is Pallman cleaner for unwaxed floors. Use as recommended. Do not overuse because it may leave a residue over time.

Carpet
  • Vacuum daily high traffic areas. Other areas 1-2 times a week.
  • Use a vacuum with a rotating brush or beater bar. With higher profile, thick loop pile and shag and cable construction use a suction vacuum only.
  • Get carpet professional cleaned every 18 months.
  • Spills: Use a spoon to remove as much of spill as possible. Work from the outside of the spill to prevent spreading. Blot up liquid with white towel or paper towel. Try cleaning spill with warm water only first.

If spill remains try these steps in order: 

  1. For greasy based stains use Goo Gone. Follow directions on package and then proceed to procedure A. For water based stains skip the Goo Gone step and move directly to procedure A
  2. Procedure A: 1/4 teaspoon of clear dishwashing detergent with 1 cup of water. Apply solution directly to white cloth. Wipe gently. Never rub, scrub or use a brush. Blot frequently. Rinse with warm water. Cover spot with towel and apply pressure. Rinse with warm water and re-blot until dry. If stain still remains perform the next procedure.
  3. Procedure B: (for coffee, tea and urine move to Procedure C). 2 Tablespoons of nonbleaching ammonia with 1 cup warm water. Rinse and blot as outlined in procedure A. Do not dry. Move on to procedure C to neutralize the ammonia solution.
  4. Procedure C: 1/2 cup white vinegar with 1 cup warm water. Apply solution and rinse and blot as outlined in procedure A.


For glue, gum and wax freeze and remove before using cleaning fluid