Use and Care Manual

HUMIDITY’S IMPACT ON YOUR FLOOR:
To protect your investment and ensure that your floor provides lasting satisfaction, the following precautions should be taken to help control
humidity levels in and around your floor. For best results, keep the relative humidity in your home between 35% and 55%.
• Heating Season (Dry Conditions) – a humidifier is recommended to prevent excessive shrinkage in hardwood floors, which causes gaps
between the boards, due to low humidity levels. Wood stoves and electric heat tend to create very dry conditions.
• Non-Heating Season (Humid and Wet Conditions) – To prevent excessive expansion, cupping and peaking of the floor, which could lead
to cracking and checking of the wood finish, maintain proper humidity levels with the use of an air conditioner, dehumidifier or by turning
on your heating system periodically during the summer months. Immediately wipe up spills and wet areas to avoid excessive exposure to
water. Do not obstruct in any way the expansion joint around the perimeter of your floor.
INITIAL CARE:
Following installation, clean the floor by sweeping, dust mopping or vacuuming and use Bruce
®
Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner. If the floor
was glued down, remove any residual adhesive with Bruce
®
Adhesive Cleaner.
ONGOING ROUTINE CARE AND MAINTENANCE:
1. Never use any of the following products (or products similar in nature) on your floor: ammonia-based cleaners, acrylic finishes, wax-based
products, detergents, bleach, polishes, oil soap, abrasive cleaning soaps, or acidic materials such as vinegar. Many of these products can
pit or etch the finish of your flooring or prevent the proper use of recommended maintenance materials.
2. Vacuum, sweep or dust mop your floor once a week, or more if needed. The vacuum head must be brush or felt, and a wand attachment
is preferable. Do not use vacuums with beater bars or hard heads. A Bruce
®
swivel-head mop with soft cover is also highly recommended
to eliminate finer particles of grit and dirt that can act like sandpaper on hardwood floors.
3. Spills and tracked-in dirt should be wiped up immediately. For spot cleaning, apply Bruce
®
Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner onto a
clean cloth and rub onto the spot. Never apply wax treatments to your urethane-coated floor.
4. Regularly clean the floor with Bruce
®
Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner using the recommended swivel-head mop with cloth cover.
Spray the floor cleaner directly onto the floor or on the mop cover. DO NOT allow excess cleaner to remain on the floor’s surface. Excess
liquid may damage the fiber of the wood.
QUICK FIX TIPS:
Spills and Tracked-in Dirt
• Clean immediately.
• Apply Bruce
®
Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner lightly to the surface and wipe with a sponge mop or a soft cloth.
• Excess cleaner that does not evaporate immediately should be dried with a clean towel. No rinsing is necessary.
Spots Caused by Food/Water/Animals
• Apply Bruce
®
Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner to a clean soft cloth.
• Rub the area to remove the stain or spot.
• More stubborn spots may require additional cleaning with odorless mineral spirits, followed by cleaning with Bruce
®
Hardwood &
Laminate Floor Cleaner.
Grease/Lipstick/Crayon/Ink Spots/Rubber Heel Marks
• Apply Bruce
®
Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner to a clean soft cloth.
• Rub the area to remove the stain or spot.
• If stain remains, rub with a cloth dampened with odorless mineral spirits and follow by cleaning the area with Bruce
®
Hardwood &
Laminate Floor Cleaner.
Chewing Gum/Candle Wax
• Apply a sealed plastic bag filled with ice on top of the deposit.
• Wait until deposit becomes brittle enough to crumble off.
• After deposit has been removed, clean entire area with Bruce
®
Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner.