Use and Care Manual

CARE AND MAINTENANCE GUIDELINES:
For all Hardwood and Laminate Floors
1. DO NOT CLEAN WITH WATER OR STEAM. This may permanently damage
the floor and may void the warranty on your hardwood or laminate floor.
2. Area rugs are recommended in front of kitchen sinks, at all pivot points and
within high-traffic areas. Don’t use rugs with solid rubber or vinyl backings.
The rugs must be made of a breathable material to prevent moisture
entrapment.
3. Use interior and exterior doormats at all entrances to collect dirt and moisture
and prevent it from being tracked onto the floor.
4. Protect your floor from direct sunlight. Use curtains and UV resistant film on
large glass doors and windows. Move area rugs occasionally as they block
sunlight and may give the appearance of discoloring under the rug.
5. Keep animal nails trimmed to minimize finish scratches.
6. DON’T wear shoes with spiked heels or heel taps on your hardwood or
laminate floor. Remove shoes at the door to avoid potentially dragging in sharp
objects in your shoes treads.
7. Do not roll or slide heavy objects directly upon the floor. When moving
appliances or heavy furniture, lay a plywood panel on your floor and gently
“walk” the item across it. Carpet or cardboard is not adequate to prevent
surface compression scratches.
8. Use floor protectors or protective caster/caster cups on the legs of furniture
to prevent damage to the flooring. Make certain to keep them clean and well
maintained.
9. Certain types of casters on furniture may damage hardwood and laminate
flooring. Barrel- type caster wheels or wide, flat glides are best for protecting
your hardwood floor. If your furniture does not have the right type of caster,
we recommend that you change them. Replace hard, narrow furniture rollers
with wide rubber rollers.
10. Keep the relative humidity in your home between 30% and 50%.
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 30% and 50%.
• 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 or delamination of the wood or laminate
floor, 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.
HARDWOOD & TIMBERTRU
™
FLOORING CARE AND CLEANING TIPS
PROPER CARE AND MAINTENANCE WILL HELP ENSURE YOUR FLOOR ALWAYS LOOKS ITS BEST.
SIMPLY FOLLOW OUR MAINTENANCE AND PREVENTION STEPS OUTLINED BELOW.
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 wipe
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 or laminate core.
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.
• Wipe 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.
• Wipe the area to remove the stain or spot.
• If stain remains, wipe 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.
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