Duffy's Floor Service Call 718-639-6392 for a FREE Estimate
Home
Home
Products
Floor Care
Contact Us
FAQs
Free Estimates

Floor Services

 

floor care

Advanced finish technology and innovative products make wood one of the most easy-care flooring materials today. A few preventive measures can preserve a beautiful finish and keep maintenance to a minimum.

10 Point Checklist
Wax Floor Maintenance

Surface Finished Floor Maintenance

10 Point Checklist

  1. Never use sheet vinyl or tile floor care products on wood floors. Self polishing acrylic waxes cause wood to become slippery and appear dull quickly. The only remedy in this situation is to sand and refinish the floor.
  2. Place mats and throw rugs at doorway exteriors and interiors to help prevent the tracking of grit, dirt and sand.
  3. Never wet-mop a wood floor. Standing water can dull the finish, damage the wood and leave a discolouring residue.
  4. Wipe up food and other spills immediately with a slightly dampened towel.
  5. Do not over-wax a wood floor. If the floor dulls, try buffing instead. Avoid wax build-up under furniture and other light traffic areas by applying wax in these spots every other waxing session.
  6. Put soft plastic or fabric-faced glides under the legs of furniture to prevent scuffing and scratching.
  7. Remember that cleats, sports shoes and high heels can dent any floor surface. When a 125 pound woman takes a step in high heels she exerts 2,000 psi (pounds per square inch). An exposed heel nail can exert up to 8,000 psi.
  8. When moving heavy furniture, completely pick up the furniture and carry rather than slide to best protect the wood flooring.
  9. For wood flooring in the kitchen, place an area rug in front of the kitchen sink.
  10. Use a humidifier in the home throughout the winter months to keep all wood movement and shrinkage to a minimum.

Wax Floors

If the stain or scratch has penetrated the surface and is in the wood, you are dealing with a wax-finished floor.

 

Stains

Chewing Gum, Crayon, Candle Wax
Apply a plastic bag filled with ice until the deposit is brittle enough to crumble off. Crayon or candle wax can be removed by placing an ink blotter on the area and applying a hot pressing iron to the top of the blotter. Solvent-based wax also can be applied around the area to loosen the deposit.

 

Cigarette Burns
If the burn is not very deep, rub the area with fine sandpaper or steel wool. Moisten the steel wool with wax for better results. If the burn is deep, scrape the area with a penknife to remove charred fibers. Rub the area with fine sandpaper. Stain, wax and hand buff.

 

Dark Spots, Dog Spots, Ink Stains
Rub spot with #000 steel wool. Wax the affected area. If this fails, lightly sand the area with fine sandpaper, and clean it using #00 steel wool and mineral spirits or a wood floor cleaner. Allow the floor to dry. Stain, wax and hand buff. If the spot remains, apply a household bleach or vinegar and allow it to soak for an hour. Rinse with a damp cloth, wipe dry and smooth with fine sandpaper. Stain, wax and hand buff.

 

Dried Milk, Food Stains
Gently rub the stain with a damp cloth. Rub the area dry and wax.

 

Mold
Rub with a wood cleaner.

 

Oil, Grease Stains
First rub the area with kitchen soap having a high lye content, or saturate cotton with hydrogen peroxide and place over the stain. Then saturate a second layer of cotton with ammonia and place over the first layer. Repeat until stain is removed. Let the area dry and then hand buff.

 

Water Stains, White Spots
Rub spot with #000 steel wool. Wax the affected area. If this fails, lightly sand the area with fine sandpaper, and clean it using #00 steel wool and mineral spirits or a wood floor cleaner . Allow the floor to dry. Stain, wax and hand buff.

 

Wax Build Up
Strip the old wax away with odorless mineral spirits or a wood floor product made for stripping wax. Use cloths and fine steel wool to remove all residue. After the floor is dry, wax and buff.

 

Scratches

To renew and repair scratches, wax the area thoroughly.

 

Heel Marks
Rub in a small amount of wax with fine steel wool and hand buff to a shine.

 

Surface Finished Floors

If the stain or scratch has penetrated the finish only and is not in the wood, you are dealing with a surface finished floor.

Stains

Chewing Gum, Crayon, Candle Wax
Apply a plastic bag filled with ice on top of the stain until it is brittle enough to crumble off. Clean the area with a product made for urethane finishes.

 

Cigarette Burns
Most common burns can be treated with a touch-up kit made for urethane finishes. Rub with sandpaper, stain and refinish. For burns that reach deep into the wood, individual plank or parquet boards may need to be replaced.

 

Food, Water, Dark Spots, Dog Spots
Use a cleaner developed specifically for urethane finishes to remove the spot or stain. More stubborn spots may require additional scrubbing with the cleaner and a wood flooring scrub pad made for urethane floors.

 

Oil, Grease Stains
Rub the area with a cleaner developed for urethane.

 

Scratches

Repair with a touch-up kit made for urethane finishes available from any wood flooring retailer.

 

Estimates are always FREE. Call 718-639-6392.
We look forward to working with you!

 

Hardwood Floor Reseration Hardwood Floor Refinishing
 

65-35 Grand Avenue, Maspeth, NY ~ Phone: 718-639-6392 ~ Fax: 718-326-8089
Copyright © 2007 Duffy’s Floor Services. All Rights Reserved.

 

Home | Products & Services | Floor Care | Contact Us | FAQs