Care and Maintenance
Care and Maintenance
Keep a few planks
After installing your bamboo floors, keep a few planks to use as possible replacement boards or to test with new cleaning solutions. (If damage occurs or the finish is dulled from using a cleaner, it is better to find out on an extra plank than on your new floor).
Avoid wet spills
Bamboo flooring has properties similar to wood flooring, so never leave any standing water on your floor. In case of a spill, be sure to clean it up as quickly as possible.
Protection
Use area rugs and doormats by outdoor entrances to prevent dirt, sand, grit and oils being tracked onto your floor and scratching the surface.
Use felt floor protectors on heavy objects of furniture such as tables, chairs and couches and PVC matting for chairs with castors. Avoid stiletto style heels, spiked golf shoes or cleats and keep pets claws trimmed.
When moving heavy furniture, put down a sheet of Masonite or plywood for protection and use a dolly when moving heavy furniture or appliances.
UV light will soften or darken the various bamboo colours, so periodically rearrange furniture and rugs so the floor changes evenly. Or consider blinds or sheer curtains for large north facing windows.
Maintain a comfortable and regulated indoor environment to minimise the natural expansion and contraction of the bamboo.
Regular Cleaning
Use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush to remove excess dirt and debris from your floor. Then simply spray a standard Wood Floor Cleaner on your floor and remove with a microfibre mop or double squeeze a standard mop. DO NOT USE A STEAM CLEANER, POLISH, ABRASIVE CLEANERS OR EXCESS WATER ON YOUR BAMBOO FLOOR.
Scratches – Bamboo
Minor scratches can occur on the surface. First try to buff them out using a soft rag along with a Hardwood Floor Cleaner. We have found that after a few cleanings and normal foot traffic, light scratches tend to wear away. If a scratch remains, or you have a deep scratch that looks white in colour, a tested remedy is the Zenith Tibet Almond Stick. The Tibet Almond Stick is made from almond oil extract. It is not a wood filler, but blends finish scratches into the flooring.
If a large gouge occurs, always try a floor repair kit before resorting to a more serious measure. If that is unsuccessful, you have three options, all requiring the help of flooring professionals:
- Repair
Flooring professionals can repair certain gashes and gouges. They will use floor putty to fill the existing gouge and finish that small section with a new coating. Please check with an installer to see if this option is available.
- Replace
Replacing a board in the middle of an area can be accomplished. The damaged board needs to be cut out. Then a replacement board is trimmed and carefully inserted, using glue to fasten it to one of the neighbouring boards. For further information visit www.woodlandlifestyleflooring.com.
- Refinish
Refinishing a floor is a process of sanding down the floor to remove all scratches, gashes and dents. Once the floor is smooth and flawless, a new protective coating is applied. This process is only available for Natural and Coffee colours. The other colours will lose their distinctive coating if sanded.
Scratches – Laminate
Laminate flooring is very resistant to scratches in normal use. If a board is damaged, follow the process for replacement outlined above.