| Hardwood floors can create a feeling of warmth and | | | | food, grit and other debris that can end up on and |
| elegance in a home or business. However, hardwood | | | | ground into hardwood floors. Dirt that is not removed |
| floors can also be a nightmare for your cleaning | | | | quickly can be "camouflaged" in the pattern or color |
| company to keep looking good. Knowing what to do | | | | of the wood making it not only difficult to see, but |
| and when to do it will help you to keep hardwood | | | | easy to ignore. There are several tools that you can |
| floors in prime condition.Before beginning a | | | | use to remove dirt:1. Brooms- make sure to use a |
| maintenance program on a hardwood floor it's a good | | | | broom that has "exploded" ends that can sweep up |
| idea to ask questions about the background of the | | | | dust and fine grit.2. Vacuums - Any type except an |
| floor (finish used, when it was last sanded, etc.). If | | | | upright vacuum with a beater bar and brushes. These |
| that information isn't available, then you'll need to | | | | can cause damage to the floor.3. Dust mop. Dust |
| assess the floor to determine the condition of the | | | | mopping and vacuuming are the most effective |
| floor. Some basic observations of the wood and the | | | | methods of removing debris from floors. If using a |
| finish will help to determine what type of cleaning or | | | | dust mop, buy a high quality mop with an eighteen |
| refinishing is needed.Begin by evaluating the condition | | | | inch head. Treat the mop with a dust mop treatment |
| of the wood. If the floor has extensive damage, | | | | so it grabs the dirt and doesn't just push it |
| warped boards and a lot of wear, the entire floor | | | | around.Sweeping, vacuuming or dust mopping |
| may need to be replaced. But that is the worst case | | | | regularly is great for getting rid of the dirt, but you |
| scenario. Inspect the entire floor, including the edges, | | | | will still need to clean the floor. The best method to |
| and look for differences in the level of the floor. | | | | use is to mop the floor. Use a neutral cleaner (pH of |
| Following are categories you can assign to the floor:A. | | | | 7) that is for use on hardwood floors and follow the |
| Overall very good condition. The hardwood floor | | | | product's directions. Following are a few tips that will |
| looks good or may even be new. The floor may just | | | | help to protect any hardwood floors that you care |
| need a good cleaning to get its luster back.B. Slight | | | | for:Good matting is the best way to keep damaging |
| scuffed. The floor is in fairly good condition, however, | | | | soil and grit from getting onto and ground into the |
| has a few scuffs and scratches, especially in high | | | | floor. Mats on the outside entryway will help to |
| traffic areas.C. Heavy wear. The floor has quite a | | | | remove some soils. Make sure any mat(s) used inside |
| few scratches, scrapes and dents and looks worn in | | | | (and on the floor) is a good quality rug that does not |
| places. It may even have a few expansion cracks.D. | | | | have a rubber coating. Plasticizers used on some rugs |
| Warped appearance. The boards in the floor have | | | | can "migrate" or move from the rug and into the |
| some minor warping, uneven boards, and many | | | | finish of the wood floor.High heels can cause |
| scratches and scrapes.Next decide the condition of | | | | permanent damage to hardwood floors. The spikes |
| the finish. The condition of the finish may be related | | | | on heels can create dimples in hardwood floors. In a |
| to the condition of the wood. For instance if there | | | | business it may not be possible to keep high heels |
| are deep cuts, scratches or chips in the finish they | | | | off the hardwood floors, but if you are cleaning a |
| may go through the finish and into the wood itself. | | | | residential floor, you can let the homeowner know of |
| Look at the finish decide what categories are | | | | the problems associated with high heels.Dragging |
| applicable:A. The floor has a finish, but it looks dirty. | | | | furniture across the floor. This can cause scratches |
| The floor most likely just needs a good cleaning to | | | | and dents in the floor. Anytime furniture needs to be |
| get back that glossy luster.B. The finish has light | | | | moved it should be lifted and carried. Furniture legs |
| scratches, dings and chips and is worn (or is dull) in | | | | need to be in good shape. A loose leg on a chair can |
| heavy traffic areas.C. The finish is chipped in many | | | | dig into the floor's finish anytime someone sits down |
| places. Although the floor definitely has a finish, there | | | | in the chair.Spills (food, cleaners, alcohol, oils) can |
| are light scrapes, scratches and dings throughout the | | | | damage the finish and the wood. Clean up spills as |
| finish.D. Finish is worn. There is little or no finish on the | | | | soon as possible.Bright sunlight can bleach, darken or |
| floor. The finish may appear to have deep gouges | | | | dry out wood. It may be necessary to cover |
| from dragging furniture across it.E. No finish. The finish | | | | windows with drapes or blinds to keep the ultraviolet |
| is gone or chipped and has a poor appearance.If the | | | | rays off the wood.Harsh cleaners can damage a |
| wood and the finish are in good or reasonably good | | | | floor's finish. When cleaning floors use a neutral |
| condition, a good cleaning and starting up a routine | | | | cleaner that is designed for use on wood floors. A |
| maintenance program is the next step. If the wood | | | | beautiful looking hardwood floor will get noticed. |
| (category C, D or E) or finish (C, D or E) is in bad | | | | Keeping the floors properly maintenance will keep the |
| shape, you may need to do more research or consult | | | | floor looking lustrous, your customers happy, and |
| a professional on the best way to proceed.Properly | | | | your cash flowing!Copyright 2006 The Janitorial |
| maintaining hardwood floors is important to keep | | | | StoreSteve Hanson is co-founder of |
| them looking good and extend their lifespan. It is | | | | TheJanitorialStore.com, an online community for |
| extremely important to remove all the dirt, dropped | | | | owners of cleaning companies. |