Hardwood
• Sweep or vacuum regularly so abrasive dirt won’t scratch the finish.
• Clean as required, following the directions on the manufacturer approved cleaner.
• Wipe up any spilled liquid quickly from your floor.
• Do not use a wet mop that can leave excess water behind.
• Never use floor wax, oil-based detergent, or any other household cleaner on your floor. These products can damage the finish and leave a greasy film that makes your floor slippery, difficult to maintain, and impossible to refinish without deep sanding and complete re-varnishing.
• Watch out for high heels and some kinds of sports footwear, particularly if they’re worn or damaged. Only water and sand are worse enemies of hardwood floors than high heel shoes. In fact, high heels can damage any floor covering-even cement.
• Invest in high-quality floor mats for an extra layer of protection. Place the mats at entrances and exits to collect and trap corrosive substances that can be tracked in, such as dirt, sand, oil, grit, asphalt, and even driveway sealer.
• Place felt floor-protector pads on furniture feet and protect your floor from hard castors on movable furniture.
• Never push, pull, or drag furniture across your floor floors. Always lift and carry.
• Maintain humidity levels between 40 and 50%, for your own health as well as for the protection of your floor and wooden furniture.
• Avoid exposing your floor to sunlight and intense artificial light, which can cause wood to change colour. This is a completely normal and natural phenomenon. The lighter the wood, the more pronounced the change will be.
• Move your carpets and furniture occasionally and use a minimum number of light sources to keep colour changes uniform. Note: colour change is not caused by the yellowing of the finish; it is a natural change of the wood’s colour.
• For hardwood floors laid over a subfloor with a radiant heating system, do not raise or lower the temperature by more than 2.8°C (5°F) per day when turning the system on or off.
Laminate
Follow these easy maintenance tips, and spend years enjoying your laminate floor.
• Sweep or vacuum regularly so abrasive dirt won’t scratch the finish.
• Clean as required, following the directions on the manufacturer approved cleaner.
• Wipe up any spilled liquid quickly from your floor.
• High heels and pet nails can cause permanent indentation in floor surfaces. Use caution when wearing high heels, and keep pets' nails trimmed.
• Invest in high-quality floor mats for an extra layer of protection. Place the mats at entrances and exits to collect and trap corrosive substances that can be tracked in, such as dirt, sand, oil, grit, asphalt, and even driveway sealer.
• Place felt floor-protector pads on furniture feet and protect your floor from hard castors on movable furniture.
• Never push, pull, or drag furniture across laminate floors. Always lift and carry.
• To help minimize expansion and contraction, use a humidifier or dehumidifier to maintain an even level of humidity. The recommended humidity range for most laminate floors is 30% to 60%.
Luxury Vinyl Plank
Your luxury vinyl flooring is not only beautiful, but it is also highly durable. Water resistant, and for some products, water proof, it only takes a few simple care and maintenance steps to keep your luxury vinyl floor looking beautiful for years to come.
• Sweep or vacuum regularly so abrasive dirt won’t scratch the finish.
• Clean as required, following the directions on the manufacturer approved cleaner.
• Wipe up any spilled liquid quickly from your floor.
• High heels and pet nails can cause permanent indentation in floor surfaces. Use caution when wearing high heels, and keep pets' nails trimmed.
• Invest in high-quality floor mats for an extra layer of protection. Place the mats at entrances and exits to collect and trap corrosive substances that can be tracked in, such as dirt, sand, oil, grit, asphalt, and even driveway sealer.
Carpet
In addition to enhancing appearance, regular vacuuming helps extend the life of your carpet and rugs. Proper care and maintenance will ensure that your product remains beautiful for years to come.
Most carpets have innovative fibres that resist staining to keep floors looking their best, but messes and spills must be properly cleaned immediately after they happen.
The majority of household spills can be easily removed from carpet by following this guide. Treatment of the affected area should begin immediately upon discovery as stain removal becomes more difficult with time.
Follow these guidelines closely for the best results when spot cleaning.
• Use a spoon, dull knife or a carpet cleaning key to remove as much solid material as possible.
• Always work from the outside of the stain to the center to prevent spreading, especially with large stains.
• Blot up liquid spills with a white towel or paper towel, never a colored cloth.
• Try to remove remaining stain with warm water only.
• Do not use any cleaner with a pH of 10 or higher.
• Before using, always test cleaners on a small, non-visible area for any discolouration of the fibres.
• Abnormally large or excessive stains may require hot water excessive stains may require hot water extraction method. Professional cleaning is recommended.
Tile
Tile is known for its water resistance and easy cleaning. With the right maintenance routine, your tile floors, and walls, will looks great and last for years.
BASIC MAINTENANCE
Sweep or vacuum floors to remove any dust or debris before using any cleaning products. Damp-mop your tile floor at least once each week (more frequently for heavy traffic areas) to decrease wear and abrasion from grit and soil.
GLAZED TILE
Clean regularly with an all-purpose, non-oil-based household cleaner that's compatible with cleaning rout joints. Use an everyday multipurpose spray cleaner to remove soap scum, hard water deposits, and mildew on wall tiles in your bath or shower.
UNGLAZED TILE
Use concentrated tile cleaners that have a neutral pH for regular cleaning. These will safely remove grease, oils, and normal spills - just check to be sure the cleaner is intended for the application, use, and traffic level. Clean glass tile with any nonabrasive cleaner recommended for either glass or tile.
TIPS FOR PREVENTING DAMAGE
• Test scouring powders and sealants on a small area before cleaning the full area.
• Use a sealer on grout joints shortly after installation and use products compatible with cleaning grout joints.
• Have any damaged or broken tile removed and replaced only by a qualified tile contractor.
EXTRA PROTECTION
Invest in high-quality floor mats and protective pads under heavy furniture for an extra layer of protection to your tile floors. Place floor mats at entrances and exits - they collect and trap corrosive substances that can be tracked in, like dirt, sand, oil, grit, asphalt, or even driveway sealer. Placing mats in high-traffic areas - in front of vanities, kitchen sinks, and stoves - is an effective way to reduce tile wear.
WHAT TO AVOID
• Any cleaners containing acid or bleach shouldn't be used for routine maintenance.
• Avoid wax-based cleaners and oil-based detergents, and use sealants on grout joints only.
• Harsh cleaning aids like steel wool pads or any scouring pads containing metal shouldn't be used on tile.
• Unglazed tile should not be cleaned with an agent that contains colour.
Natural Stone
To get the longest life and preserve the beauty of your natural stone, follow these simple tips:
DUST MOPPING
Dust mop interior floors frequently using a clean non-treated dry dust mop. Sand, dirt, and grit are abrasive and can damage natural stone.
MATS/RUGS
Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help to minimize the sand, dirt, and grit that may scratch the stone floor. Be sure that the underside of the mat or rug is a slip resistant surface.
VACUUM CLEANERS
If used, be sure the metal or plastic attachments or the wheels are not worn as they can scratch the surface of some stones.
SPILLS
Blot the spill with a paper towel immediately. Don't wipe the area, it will spread the spill. Flush the area with water and mild soap and rinse several times. Dry the area thoroughly with a soft cloth. Repeat as necessary.
CLEANING
• Clean stone surfaces with a neutral cleaner, stone soap, or mild liquid dish washing detergent and warm water.
• Similar to any item cleaned in your home, an excessive concentration of cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause streaks. Follow manufacturer recommendations.
• Use a clean rag mop on floors and a soft cloth for other surfaces for best results.
• Rinse the surface thoroughly after washing with the soap solution and dry with a soft cloth.
• Change the rinse water frequently.
• In the bath or other wet areas, soap scum can be minimized by using a squeegee after
• Products containing lemon, vinegar or other acids may dull or etch calcareous stones.
• Scouring powders or creams often contain abrasives that may scratch certain stones.
