Bruce Maintenance

Hardwood Floor Cleaning and Maintenance

To protect your hardwood investment, follow our simple steps for both routine cleaning and periodic maintenance of your hardwood floor.

How To Clean Hardwood Floors | Bruce Dura-Satin Floors | Expansion Cracks | Quick Fix Tips

How to Clean Hardwood Floors

Do:

Wipe up spills immediately.
Use recommended Armstrong hardwood floor cleaners.
Vacuum, sweep or dust mop your hardwood floor once a week, or more, if needed. The vacuum head must be brush or felt.
Use interior and exterior doormats at entrances to collect dirt and moisture and prevent them from being tracked onto the floor.
Area rugs are recommended in front of kitchen sinks, at all pivot points and within high traffic areas. The rugs must be made of a breathable material to prevent moisture entrapment.
Place runners and area rugs (with slip-resistant backings) along high traffic areas.
Keep animal nails trimmed to prevent finish scratches.
To prevent surface damage, avoid rolling heavy appliances and furniture on the floor. Use plywood hardboard or appliance lifts, if necessary.
Use Armstrong or Bruce furniture leg protector pads under all furniture legs.
Replace hard, narrow furniture rollers with wide rubber rollers.
Keep the relative humidity in your home between 35% and 55%.
Protect your floor from direct sunlight.

Don't:

Use any of the following products (or products similar in nature) to clean your hardwood floor: ammonia-based cleaners, acrylic finishes, wax-based products, detergents, bleach, polishes and oil soaps, abrasive cleaning soaps or acidic materials such as vinegar.
Allow water to stand on your floor for any length of time – wipe up immediately.
Walk across your floor in poorly maintained shoes with heel taps, spike heels or with any sharp object protruding from your shoe.
Allow furniture to rest on the floor on small metal tips or hard domes.
Use rubber, foam back or plastic mats as they may trap moisture and possibly discolor your floor.
Do not use vacuums with beater bars or hard heads while cleaning wood floors.

How to Clean Bruce Dura-Satin Wax Finish Floors

After Installation

Following installation your floors should be waxed. Please contact Armstrong at 1-800-233-3823 for recommendations on the products to use.
Sweep, vacuum or dust mop the floor to remove loose dirt before it can scratch or be ground into the floor’s surface.

Periodic Hardwood Floor Care and Maintenance

Wax the floor once or twice a year, about as often as you would shampoo your carpet.
DO NOT use Bruce Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner on wax finish floors.
NEVER clean or wet mop with water. Water may dull the finish and permanently damage the floor.
DO NOT use a wax or cleaner that must be mixed with water such as oil soap, as this may ruin your floor and result in a loss of warranty.
Buffing your hardwood floor between waxing will restore the original sheen. Large, heavyweight buffing machines impart a much higher sheen to a wax finish than small, lightweight machines. Use a fiber bristle brush attachment only.
It may be desirable to wax the floor slightly more often in drier climates, during the winter, and in heavy traffic areas.

Expansion Cracks and Squeaks

Hardwood floor dimensions will be slightly affected by varying levels of humidity within your home, so it’s important to control humidity levels within the 35-55% range. To protect your investment and to assure that your floors provide lasting satisfaction, we have provided our recommendations below.

Dry Season

A humidifier is recommended to prevent excessive shrinkage in hardwood floors due to low-humidity levels.
Wood stoves and electric heat tend to create very dry conditions.

Humid (or Wet) Season

Proper humidity levels can be maintained by using an air conditioner, dehumidifier, or by turning on your heating system periodically during the summer months.
Avoid excessive exposure to water from tracking during periods of inclement weather.
DO NOT obstruct in any way the expansion joint around the perimeter of your floor.

Hardwood Quick Fix Tips

Spills and Tracked-in Dirt

Clean immediately.
Apply Armstrong Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner or Bruce Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner lightly to the surface and wipe with a sponge mop or a soft cloth.
NOTE: DO NOT use on Bruce Dura-Satin Wax finish floors. Refer to Bruce Dura-Satin Wax Finish floor care.

Excess cleaner that does not evaporate immediately should be dried with a clean towel. No rinsing is necessary.

Spots Caused by Food, Water or Animals

Apply Armstrong Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner or 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 mineral spirits, followed by cleaning with Armstrong Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner or Bruce Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner.

Grease/Lipstick/Crayon/Ink Spots/Rubber Heel Marks

Apply Armstrong Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner or 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 mineral spirits and follow by cleaning the area with Armstrong Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner or 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 Armstrong Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner or Bruce Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner.

Minor Abrasions/Scratches

Use Armstrong Touch-Up Kit or Bruce Touch-Up Kit in smaller areas.
Apply Armstrong Restore Hardwood Floor Finish or Bruce Fresh Finish™ or Bruce Fresh Finish™ Low Gloss when larger areas are reconditioned.

Deep Scratches/Gouges

Individual planks, strips or parquets that are heavily gouged or damaged can be replaced by a professional flooring installer.
If needed, the entire floor can be refurbished by applying one or more coats of Armstrong Restore Hardwood Floor Finish or Bruce Fresh Finish™ or Bruce Fresh Finish™ Low Gloss.