The Hardwood Care & Maintenance Guide
At Georgia Top Floors, we do more than install beautiful floors—we help give homeowners confidence and peace of mind.
Whether you’ve recently finished remodeling your home or you’re settling into your very first house, understanding the best way to maintain your new flooring can feel overwhelming.
Every flooring surface has unique maintenance needs, and many common cleaning routines aren’t designed for today’s modern flooring materials. Using the wrong products or techniques can affect both the appearance and longevity of your investment. That’s why we’ve created this guide—to provide simple, reliable care instructions specifically tailored to the type of flooring in your home. By following these recommendations, you’ll keep your floors looking their best while maximizing their durability for years to come.
This guide is more than just a collection of maintenance tips. It’s an extension of Georgia Top Floors commitment to delivering exceptional service throughout your entire flooring journey. From your first consultation to long after installation is complete, we’re here to provide the expertise and support you can count on.
Thank you for choosing us. It’s an honor to be part of your home, and we look forward to serving you for many years ahead.
Hardwood Floor Care Guide
Protect the beauty. Preserve the investiment.
Hardwood flooring is more than a design feature—it’s an investment that adds warmth, character, and lasting value to your home. With proper care and a consistent maintenance routine, your floors can remain beautiful for decades.
Daily foot traffic, pets, furniture movement, and even dust can gradually wear down the finish. Fortunately, preventing damage is simple when you follow a few best practices.
Use this guide to keep your hardwood floors looking as stunning as the day they were installed.
Care Checklist
Weekly
- Dust mop or sweep 2–3 times each week to remove dirt, sand, and debris before they scratch the finish.
- Vacuum using the hard floor setting or a soft floor attachment.
- Never use vacuums equipped with a rotating beater bar.
- Clean with a manufacturer-approved hardwood floor cleaner using a microfiber mop.
- Keep moisture to a minimum. Excess water is hardwood's biggest enemy.
Monthly
- Inspect corners, edges, and underneath furniture for accumulated dust and debris.
- Remove buildup using a soft-bristle brush or microfiber cloth.
- Check felt pads under furniture and replace any that are worn.
Seasonally
- Rotate rugs and furniture to reduce uneven exposure to sunlight.
- Inspect high-traffic areas for early signs of finish wear.
- Maintain indoor humidity between 35%–55% to help minimize seasonal wood expansion and contraction.
Every 3-5 Years
Professional maintenance keeps hardwood floors looking like new.
Depending on daily wear, a maintenance coat (screen & recoat) may be recommended before the finish begins wearing through.
Addressing dull or high-traffic areas early helps extend the life of your floors and may postpone the need for a full sanding and refinishing project.
Most modern hardwood flooring comes with durable factory-applied finishes that rarely require complete sanding unless significant damage has occurred.
Protect Your Floors Every Day
- Place mats at all exterior entrances.
- Use felt pads beneath furniture legs.
- Lift furniture instead of dragging it.
- Clean spills immediately.
- Keep pet nails properly trimmed.
- Avoid steam mops, abrasive cleaners, ammonia, vinegar, bleach, and wax-based products unless specifically approved by your flooring manufacturer.
A Lifetime of Beautiful Floors… Starts With Proper Care.
A few minutes of maintenance each week can preserve the
beauty, performance, and value of your hardwood flooring
for years to come.
Care For Hardwood
General Care Tips
Dust Regularly
Dust and dirtcan act like sandpaper on hardwood. Daily dusting with a microfiber mop or cloth prevents buildup and helps avoid fine scratches. Aim for at least 2–3 times a week in high traffic areas.
Use Furniture Pads to Prevent Scratches
Furniture isdestined to move, even if just slightly, as a part of everyday life. These small shifts can lead to scratches and scuffs on your hardwood. Simply apply soft, adhesive pads to the bottoms of chairs, tables, and furniture legs. They create a buffer between the furniture and your flooring, helping prevent damage while still allowing for easy movement.
Maintain Consistent Humidity
Maintaining consistent indoor humidity is essential for preserving the beauty and durability of hardwood floors. Because wood naturally expands and contracts with changes in moisture, fluctuations in humidity can lead to gapping, cupping, or even buckling over time. Keeping humidity levels stabl —ideally between 35–65% protects the structural integrity of your flooring.
- Tip: Use humidifiers in dry months and dehumidifiers or AC units during humid seasons to maintain the ideal environment for your hardwood floors all year-round.
Use the Right Materials
Differenthardwood finishes need different cleaners. Always check your floor’s warranty or manufacturer’s guidelines first. Use pH-neutral, hardwood specific cleaning solutions. Avoid vinegar, ammonia, steam mops, or oil soaps—they can dull or damage the finish.
- Tip: Test any new product on a small, hidden section before applying it across the whole floor.
Avoid Steam Mops on Hardwood Floors
Excessive heat and moisture can cause damage. Steam penetrates joints and can cause cupping, swelling, or finish degradation. Almost all hardwood warranties are voided if a steam mop is used.
Care Tips for Life with Pets & Children
- Pet-Friendly Tips
- Trim pet nails regularly to prevent gouges.
- Place rugs or mats in play areas, entryways, and under food bowls.
- Use felt pads on toys, baby walkers, and furniture legs.
- Set up a pet paw-wiping station by the door to catch dirt and
moisture before it hits your floors.
- Protect Play Zones for Children
- Forareas where kidsand pets spend the most time, consider adding a rug pad beneath area rugs to protect against accidental spills and hard bumps.
Warranties
Partnering with Leading Flooring Manufacturers
Georgia Top Floors work with trusted flooring manufacturers to provide high-quality products that meet the highest standards of durability, performance, and design. By selecting materials from established industry leaders, we ensure that every project is built to deliver lasting beauty and reliability. Many of the products we install include manufacturer warranties that cover defects in materials, offering added peace of mind. Please note that these warranties typically do not cover normal wear and tear or damage resulting from improper maintenance or misuse.
By working directly with these industry leaders, Georgia Top Floors provides exclusive selections, cuttingedge materials, and expert guidance to help customers find the perfect flooring for their homes.
Full Coverage, Full Confidence
Since you purchase your flooring and installation together from us, you’re fully protected! And if any issues arise, we handle it and represent you directly with the manufacturer.
- Georgia Top Floors offers a warranty of at least one (1) year on installation and workmanship with extended warranties available at select locations.* Most competitors only cover one year or less.* Also, products showcased in the Mobile Flooring Showroom® come with a factory-direct limited warranty provided by the manufacturer. These guarantees will cover manufacturer defects and typically last for up to 10 years.
*This guarantee may vary based on project location or for commercial-grade installations.
