Keep Your Floor Looking Like New
Cleaning and care for every floor we sell, taken from each manufacturer's own care guide, with the official videos and guides in one place. Pick your floor:
4 Rules Every Floor Shares
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Get the grit up firstEvery manufacturer starts the same way: sweep, dust mop or vacuum before any wet cleaning. Grit is what scratches.
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Neutral pH, a little waterUse the cleaner your floor's maker recommends, usually neutral pH, and a damp (not wet) mop.
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Skip the steam mopCOREtec, Shaw hardwood and Osmo all say no steam. Shaw and COREtec also say no beater bar on hard floors.
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Pads, mats and blindsFelt or wide protectors under furniture, mats without rubber or latex backing at doors, and shade from strong sun.
COREtec Waterproof Vinyl
For COREtec Originals (WPC), COREtec Pro (SPC) and COREtec Tile.
Do
- Sweep, dust mop or vacuum regularly to remove grit.
- Clean with a neutral pH vinyl floor cleaner, such as COREtec's own neutral pH cleaner.
- Use wide floor protectors under tables, chairs and heavy furniture.
- Put walk-off mats at every entrance, and use blinds or curtains to limit direct sunlight.
Avoid
- Vacuums with a rotating beater bar.
- Steam mops, mop-and-shine products and bleach.
- Abrasive cleaners and cleaners that leave a dull residue.
- Mats with latex or rubber backing, which can discolor the floor.
Spills: Blot wet spills quickly with paper or cloth towels. For a stain water and cleaner won't lift, COREtec suggests rubbing alcohol on a clean white cloth.
Watch
Source: COREtec residential maintenance guidelines. Always follow the care instructions for your specific floor. Back to top ↑
Shaw Floorté Luxury Vinyl
For Shaw Floorté Pro and Floorté Classic.
Do
- Sweep or dust mop to remove dirt and grit; clean weekly, more often in busy areas.
- Wet clean now and then with a Shaw-recommended neutral pH cleaner, after vacuuming or dusting.
- Use felt protectors and wide, load-bearing bases or rollers under heavy furniture.
- Use walk-off mats at entrances and clean them regularly.
Avoid
- Abrasive cleaners.
- Ammonia-based or vinegar-based products and harsh chemicals.
- Mats with latex or rubber backing.
- Long periods of direct sunlight.
Spills: Blot spills right away with a clean, white, absorbent cloth or paper towel. For spots water and cleaner won't remove, Shaw suggests isopropyl alcohol on a clean white cloth.
Related videos
Source: Shaw Floors vinyl care and maintenance. Always follow the care instructions for your specific floor. Back to top ↑
Shaw Laminate
For Shaw waterproof laminate.
Do
- Sweep, dust or vacuum often with the hard-floor attachment.
- Use a laminate cleaner, such as Shaw's Hard Surface Cleaner.
- Put entry mats at the doors and wide protectors or rollers under heavy furniture.
- Keep indoor humidity between 35% and 65% year round, and keep pets' nails trimmed.
Avoid
- The vacuum's beater bar.
- Washing or wet mopping with soap, water, oil soap or other liquid cleaners.
- Steel wool, abrasive cleaners and strong ammonia or chlorine cleaners.
Spills: For candle wax or gum, Shaw says to harden it with ice, scrape gently with a plastic scraper, then wipe with a damp cloth.
Related videos
Source: Shaw Floors laminate care. Always follow the care instructions for your specific floor. Back to top ↑
Engineered Hardwood
For Shaw (including Repel and Epic), Anderson Tuftex and Bjelin.
Do
- Dust mop, sweep or vacuum daily to remove grit that can scratch the finish.
- Clean with a flat microfiber wet-mop pad and a neutral pH hardwood cleaner, such as Shaw TOTALCARE Hard Surface Cleaner or Bona Wood Floor Cleaner.
- Keep indoor humidity between 35% and 55%.
- Use rugs in busy and pivot areas, wide protectors under furniture, and walk-off mats without latex or rubber backing.
Avoid
- Wet mopping with plain water, or a mop-and-bucket system.
- Steam cleaners and vacuums with a rotating beater bar.
- Oil soaps, waxes, citrus or tung oil, silicone or ammonia products.
- 2-in-1 cleaners with polish additives (Shaw says damage from these isn't covered by warranty).
Spills: Blot wet spills promptly with white paper or cloth towels. Shaw suggests isopropyl alcohol on a white cloth for stubborn spots, and touch-up markers for small scratches.
Repel hardwood is water-resistant, not waterproof: wipe up spills. For Bjelin floors, call us and we'll send Bjelin's own care instructions. Hardwax-oil finished floors need their own care, covered in the Oiled Wood section below.
Watch
Source: Shaw hardwood maintenance guidelines and Anderson Tuftex hardwood maintenance. Always follow the care instructions for your specific floor. Back to top ↑
Cork Flooring
For Wicanders Cork GO, Cork Essence and WISE.
Do
- Vacuum or sweep loose dirt first; for a quick daily clean, an antistatic cloth on a broom keeps dust from resettling.
- Mop with simple, gentle cleaning products.
- Put felt pads under furniture legs so the cork isn't dented.
- Lower the blinds during the strongest sun, since cork can lighten with too much exposure.
Avoid
- Too much water when mopping.
- Strong abrasives and ammonia-based products.
- Rubber or latex-backed mats, which Wicanders says can stain the floor.
Spills: Wipe up spills and standing water promptly. Cork GO is moisture-resistant, so it handles kitchens and everyday bathroom use, but not standing water.
Watch
Source: Wicanders cork cleaning and maintenance. Always follow the care instructions for your specific floor. Back to top ↑
Marmoleum (Natural Linoleum)
For Marmoleum Cinch Loc Seal panels and squares.
Do
- Sweep, vacuum or dust mop; click floors can be wet cleaned right after installation.
- Wash with a diluted neutral cleaner (pH 6.0 to 8.0), such as Forbo Neutral pH Cleaner, then rinse with clean water and let it dry.
- Put mats at the doors and felt protectors on all chair and furniture legs; lift heavy items instead of dragging them.
- When the floor looks dull, restore it with Forbo Residential Floor Finish in thin coats.
Avoid
- Flooding the floor with water.
- Furniture polish, silicone products or any finish other than Forbo's.
- Mixing cleaning chemicals.
- Leaving cleaner on the floor for more than 10 minutes.
Spills: Act fast: blot or lift the spill, clean with neutral cleaner, and rinse. For a stain that won't come out, Forbo asks you to contact its technical team before trying anything else.
Watch
Source: Forbo, Caring for Marmoleum at Home. Always follow the care instructions for your specific floor. Back to top ↑
Wool Carpet
For our wool broadloom, including Godfrey Hirst.
Do
- Vacuum thoroughly at least weekly, more often in busy areas.
- On loop or long-pile wool, use suction only.
- Have it professionally cleaned by hot water extraction every 12 to 18 months.
- Use mats at exterior doors, and blinds or curtains in strong sun; move furniture now and then.
Avoid
- Beater bars or rotating brushes on loop or long-pile carpet.
- Scrubbing or rubbing a stain.
- Bleach, tile cleaners, mildew removers and other strong chemicals.
- Shampooing, DIY steam cleaning or dry cleaning.
Spills: Lift solids and blot liquids with white paper towels, working from the outside in. On wool, apply warm water right away; don't wait for a spill to dry.
Watch
Source: Godfrey Hirst carpet care and maintenance. Always follow the care instructions for your specific floor. Back to top ↑
Commercial Floors (Flotex and Coral)
For Forbo Flotex textile flooring and Coral entrance flooring.
Do
- Vacuum Flotex daily; Forbo says it captures fine dust and allergens.
- Remove most Flotex spills with clean warm water or a carpet detergent.
- Machine-clean Flotex periodically with a rinse, brush and water-vacuum (or 3-in-1) machine.
- For Coral entrance flooring, follow Forbo's Coral cleaning and maintenance video below.
Avoid
- Letting heavy soil build up: Forbo recommends regular spot and machine cleaning for the best results.
Spills: For heavy or stubborn spills on Flotex, Forbo suggests a paint scraper and a brush.
Watch
Source: Forbo Flotex floor care. Always follow the care instructions for your specific floor. Back to top ↑
Oiled Wood Floors (Osmo Polyx-Oil)
For wood floors finished with Osmo Polyx-Oil hardwax-oil.
Do
- Sweep regularly to remove grit.
- Wash with Osmo Wash and Care and a damp, well-wrung mop, weekly to every two weeks at home.
- Use Osmo Liquid Wax Cleaner to refresh worn spots and treat greasy stains.
- Keep humidity between 35% and 55%; worn areas can be renewed without sanding the whole floor.
Avoid
- Wet mops or pouring water on the floor.
- Steam cleaners and hardwood cleaning machines.
- Ammonia cleaners, vinegar, detergents, acrylic waxes and conditioners.
- Steel wool, abrasive pads and metal furniture feet.
Spills: Wipe spills up right away. Osmo suggests Wash and Care for most small stains and Liquid Wax Cleaner for grease and oil.
Watch
Source: Osmo care and maintenance instructions. Always follow the care instructions for your specific floor. Back to top ↑
Floor Care Questions
Can I use a steam mop on COREtec or luxury vinyl?
COREtec's maintenance guidelines list steam mops as not recommended. Use a neutral pH vinyl cleaner and a damp mop instead.
What is the best cleaner for engineered hardwood?
Shaw recommends a neutral pH cleaner such as Shaw TOTALCARE Hard Surface Cleaner or Bona Wood Floor Cleaner, applied with a flat microfiber wet-mop pad. Never wet mop hardwood with plain water.
Can I clean Marmoleum with vinegar?
Forbo says a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water is a household alternative to its Neutral pH Cleaner. Any cleaner you use should be between pH 6.0 and 8.0.
Can cork floors get wet?
You can mop cork, but Wicanders says not to use too much water. Wicanders Cork GO is moisture-resistant, so wipe up spills and standing water promptly.
How often should wool carpet be professionally cleaned?
Godfrey Hirst recommends professional hot water extraction every 12 to 18 months, depending on use, and advises against shampooing or DIY steam cleaning.
Why avoid rubber-backed rugs and mats?
COREtec, Shaw and Wicanders all warn that latex or rubber backings can discolor or stain the floor. Choose mats without them.
How do I refresh an Osmo oiled floor without sanding?
Osmo's process is a deep clean, then a maintenance coat. Worn areas of a Polyx-Oil floor can be renewed without sanding the whole floor.
