Hardwood care

[Daris Mulkin]

Finally got my hardwood in. What a job, removing all the old wood, and putting down new 1/2" plywood. Took 2 days to do that 224 Feet. Had a 6x6 area take us 3 hours to get up. Old lino over 1/2" plywood nailed down with hardwood nails from the 50"s. The old hardwood was I guess what is called shorts and it only had 1 nail per board and it was a finish nail. It came up real easy with a roofing shovel. The original subfloor was 1x6 run at a diagonal. Had huge knots in it and it wasn't nailed very well either Squeeked big time. Not anymore. Renailed all that also.
Now not being a wood person I really don't know how to keep this beautiful floor looking that way. What is the best method and products to use for cleaning? I have been taking a towel and wetting it and wringing it out to the point of just being damp to dust it up. Also what is best to use around the stove area for grease splatters.
You hardwood guys earn your money if you have to do what i did everyday.

Daris

[Steve Olson]

If you go to the website of the Co. that milled the wood, they might have some specifics for you, but in the meanwhile, use the Bona hardwood cleaner. You can use a dampened, well wrung out rag to wipe it off as well. Mineral Spirits on a rag will take care of whatever the Bona won't.

[Nick Arrera]

Wood don't like water Daris .. get yourself a dust mop at HD .. you should use the cleaner for that wood once a week ..

[Steve Olson]

Nick. aAl the floor cleaners are probably at least 90% water. So, whaddya gonna do? I know. Use them correctly. Wet the rag. Not the floor. If the flooring looks wet after you wipe it, the rag is too wet. Buffing with a clean dry cloth after cleaning, can help as well. So, whether you use a rag on a stick, or just in your hand, just barely dampen it.

[Jim McClain]

The thing with plain water, I mean besides it being wood's worst enemy, is the mineral content. Even with the greatest care, you may leave a streaked appearance if the water is too high in minerals (hard water). Even softened water may leave a residual glaze that dulls the look of your new flooring.

Although most hardwood cleaning and appearance related products contain water, it's the other ingredients that help break up soiling and crusty solids and leave a luster behind that also helps to protect it from liquid spills. I am no cleaning expert, but I use Fantasik to clean my wood flooring jobs as I go along. I use it for spot cleaning at home too, and once a week I use a wood flooring cleaner/polish -- I've used several off the shelf brands and can't tell if one is better than another.

Take good care of your wood floor, Daris, and it will out last you and your heirs.

R'gards,

Jim

[Jerry Thomas]

Get yourself one of then Bona hardwood floor cleaning kits that come with a terry cloth applicator. A hardwood distributer near you probably stocks it. Don't use it every day, just when the floor gets dirty. And like SK said dry the floor with a large bath towel so it won't leave any residue that can build up over time. For normal every day cleaning use a good canister vacuum cleaner with the hard surface attachment. Don't forget them mats in front of the wet areas.

If you have any tables, chairs or stools put felt pads under the legs.

[Floorguy]

Wrap a towel over your push broom! Go one direction, pushing. Then swiffer with Bona cleaner.

[Daris Mulkin]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate all the help from you guru's of the knowledge.
I'm not really all that enthused with a swifter. My wife used it on the vinyl and ceramic we have and when I walked across it my shoes left tracks like it was eating the soles up, and it was sticky.
One more question and that has to do with humidity. What should the humiddity be at in my house? Without a humidifier it stays around 40% with the cooking and showers.

Daris

[Jerry Thomas]

Ideally 45 to 55%. But a range of 40 to 60 won't hurt it. Getting down in the low 30's or below you may see some seasonal gapping.