All hardwood floors, regardless of how the floor has been finished, require preventive maintenance in order to maintain the beauty of the hardwood floor:
 

	Every floor must be dust mopped, vacuumed or swept with a soft bristle broom daily, or as often as necessary, to remove grit and dust from the surface. Walking on dusty or dirty floor is the fastest way to damage a finish.
	Place walk-off mats at all exterior entrances. This will capture much of the harmful dirt before it even reaches the hardwood floor. Shake out, wash or vacuum mats and area rugs frequently.
	Floor protector pads of soft felt or similar material should be placed on the bottoms of the legs of the furniture. Floor protectors must be kept clean of grit and periodically replaced.
	Keep high heels in good repair. An unprotected tip will dent any hardwood floor.
	Kitchen floors experience the most traffic in a home. To prevent premature wear of the floor, place an area rug in front of the sink and stove area. Shake out or vacuum the rugs frequently.
	If using a heating or air-conditioning system, it is important to use a humidifier or dehumidifier in conjunction with the heating or air conditioning system to maintain relative humidity in the home at 30-50%. This will maintain the moisture in the wood and minimise cracks between the boards especially during dry winters.
	Urethane finishes routine cleaning. Use the finish manufacturer's or the prefinished floor manufacturer's recommended cleaning system. Never wax a urethane finish. Oiled floors is also cleaned with a floor cleaner designed for use with oiled floors and every three months after the floor has been cleaned then a light coat of oil is wiped on by your domestic helper by dipping some mutton cloth into the container of maintenance oil squeezing dry and a light coat to be wiped onto the floor. If this is done then the floor just gets better all the time and may never need to be sanded and sealed ever again.
	Do not generally wet a wood floor with water. When using any wood floor cleaner which requires mixing with water, follow mixing directions precisely. A cloth wetted with water and squeezed dry may be used to wipe up food stuffs and other spills, provided the area is buffed dry immediately. Heel or scuff marks and stubborn stains may be removed by lightly rubbing with a cloth and a wood floor cleaner. The are refresher products on the market to make scratches less visible.
	Long-term maintenance: Urethane finishes will eventually show wear patterns from surface scratching. When high traffic areas begin to look dull, it is time to recoat or restore the finish. Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Recoat or restore does not necessary mean a full sand down to the bare wood again. If one wants to go onto a maintenance plan which is an absolute must for commercial floors Then a company called Total Clean should be called for the correct system to be implemented, click here for more details

THE DO'S AND DON'TS OF WOOD FLOORING

	Know the type of finish on the wood floor. Follow the proper maintenance procedures for the particular finish.
	Never wax a urethane floor. The majority of floors installed today have urethane finishes.
	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 for this situation is to re-coat or sand and refinish the floor.
	Consult with Suntups if there is any doubt of the kind of floor finish.
	Place mats and throw rugs at doorways, exteriors and interiors to help prevent the tracking of grit, dirt and sand.
	Sweep or vacuum wood floors regularly.
	Never wet-mop a wood floor. Standing water can dull the finish, damage the wood and leave a discolouring residue. A dampened mop is better, then wipe dry.
	Wipe up food and other spills immediately with a dry or slightly dampened towel (wipe dry.)
	Put plastic or fabric-faced glides under the legs of furniture to prevent scuffing and scratching.
	Remember: cleats, sports shoes and high heels can dent any floor surface.
	When moving heavy furniture, protect wood flooring by slipping a piece of cloth or blanket under the legs or covering each leg with a heavy sock or half a milk carton.
	For wood flooring in the kitchen, place an area rug in front of the kitchen sink and stove to catch water and fat spills.