Use And Care Manual

Use and Care Instructions

SKU 7422797 (3/4” x 3 ¼” Select & Better Unfinished Red Oak Solid Hardwood Flooring)

Routine Maintenance

Routine maintenance for any type of hardwood flooring primarily involves protecting the floor’s

finish from scratches and moisture. Specific maintenance guidelines vary by the type of wood,

the grade, and the finish used.

• For factory-finished wood floors, consumers should follow the directions of the flooring

manufacturer about which cleaning products to use. This is extremely important because

failure to follow those directions may void the manufacturer’s warranty.

• Floor protector pads should be installed on the bottom of all furniture legs before furniture is

placed onto the wood floor.

• For wax finishes, to remove white spots caused by water spills, use a fine steel wool, a soft cloth

or synthetic pad and a small amount of mineral spirits. Then re-wax the area and rebuff. Use

only a professional carnauba-based wax designed for wood floors.

• Place protective rugs at entrances with non-skid pads underneath. They help trap grit and

absorb moisture before either one has a chance to damage the finish.

• Avoid walking on hardwood with sharply pointed high heels or shoes with damaged soles—

both can cause dents and scratches.

• Be aware that changes in humidity can cause expansion and leave small gaps between boards.

To minimize changes, humidity control in the home is recommended.

• Routine basic maintenance includes regularly sweeping, vacuuming and/or dust-mopping (Use

only vacuums that have a hard- surface setting).

• Always use the manufacturer’s recommended cleaning products, as most warranties from finish

manufacturers and factory-finished wood flooring manufacturers are voided by the use of oil

soap cleaners.

• Avoid using steam cleaners on any hardwood flooring.

• If a floor loses its luster, it may be time to recoat.

Ongoing Maintenance

• Before recoating, inspect the floor for wear to determine what steps will be necessary. If the

finish is worn to the point that the color of the wood is not uniform or that bare wood is

exposed, complete re-sanding and finishing is necessary. If the wear is not that severe, the floor

can be mechanically abraded and recoated, or a chemical recoating system may be used.

PAGE 1
Use and Care Instructions SKU 7422797 (3/4” x 3 ¼” Select & Better Unfinished Red Oak Solid Hardwood Flooring) Routine Maintenance Routine maintenance for any type of hardwood flooring primarily involves protecting the floor’s finish from scratches and moisture. Specific maintenance guidelines vary by the type of wood, the grade, and the finish used.
PAGE 2
• • • If wax, shellac or varnish are not present on the floor, most likely the finish can be coated over with a regular surface finish. Before recoating, the floor should be cleaned with a non-residue cleaner designed specifically for hardwood floors. Pre-finished wood floors can be recoated, usually with the same procedures that are used for site-finished flooring. Recoating is recommended to restore the finish when it shows wear but is not totally worn through.