Use and Care Manual

LAMINATE FLOOR CARE AND
MAINTENANCE
Routine Maintenance
1. Use a damp cloth to blot up spills as soon as they
happen. Never allow liquids to stand on your oor.
2. For tough spots, such as oil, paint, markers, lipstick, ink,
or tar, use acetone/nail polish remover on a clean white
cloth, then wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove
any remaining residue.
3. Sweep, dust, or vacuum the oor regularly with the
hard oor attachment (not the beater bar) to prevent
accumulation of dirt and grit that can scratch or dull the
oor nish.
4. Periodically clean the oor with cleaning products made
specically for laminate oor care, such as Shaw’s R2X
®
Hard Surface Cleaner.
5. Do not wash or wet mop the oor with soap, water,
oil-soap detergent, or any other liquid cleaning material.
This could cause swelling, warping, delamination, joint-
line separation, or other damage that may not be
covered by your warranty.
6. Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or strong
ammoniated or chlorinated type cleaners.
7. Do not use any type of bufng or polishing machine.
8. For spots such as candle wax or chewing gum, apply
a gel solvent or isopropyl alcohol and let dwell for a
few minutes. Gently scrape with a plastic scraper, such
as a credit card. Be careful not to scratch the ooring
surface. Always clean with neutral cleaner or rinse with
water to remove residue.
9. A more frequent dust-mopping or vacuuming
schedule may be required in very sandy areas such
as a beach home.
Environmental Protection
1. Entry mats will help collect the dirt, sand, grit, and other
substances such as oil, asphalt, or driveway sealer that
might otherwise be tracked onto your oor.
2. To prevent slippage of area rugs, use an approved vinyl
rug underlayment.
3. Use oor protectors and wide-load bearing leg bases/
rollers to minimize the chance of indentations and
scratches from heavy objects. As a rule, the heavier the
object, the wider the oor protector.
4. Maintain a normal indoor relative humidity level
between 35% and 65% throughout the year to minimize
the natural expansion and contraction of the wood.
a. Heating season (Dry): A humidier is
recommended to prevent excess shrinkage due
to low humidity levels. Wood stove and electric
heat tend to create very dry conditions.
b. Non-Heating Season (Wet): An air
conditioner, dehumidier, or periodically turning
on your heating will help to maintain humidity
levels during summer months.
5. Avoid excessive exposure to water during periods of
inclement weather.
6. Keep your pet’s nails trimmed to prevent them from
scratching your oor.
7. Never try to slide heavy objects across the oor.
8. A protective mat should be used for furniture or chairs
with castors.
Minor Repair Instructions:
In the event that accidental damage occurs to one of the
planks, minor scratches or dents can be repaired using a
Flooring Touchup or Color-ll Kit. This special touchup kit
is a ller material, color-coordinated to the color of your
oor that, when used properly, makes repaired area often
invisible. The repaired area will hold up to foot trafc and
wear just like the rest of your laminate ooring.
Glueless Laminate Board
Replacement Repairs
1. Shaw glueless laminate may be assembled and
disassembled several times.
2. Carefully disassembled glueless joints will retain their
original locking integrity during re-assembly. New
replacement plank(s) should be acclimated in the
replacement area for at least 72 hours, to allow them to
equalize to the conditions of the ooring in the room
where the replacement(s) will take place.
LAMINATE
8
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