HARDWOOD FLOORS. VACUUM : Canister vacuums with special bare floor attachments are the surest way to get rid of all the dirt and dust.

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1 HARDWOOD FLOORS SWEEP : Brooms with fine, exploded ends trap dust and grit effectively. VACUUM : Canister vacuums with special bare floor attachments are the surest way to get rid of all the dirt and dust. DUST MOP : Use a good dust mop --- one with a 12- to 18- inch cotton head, such as Bona s micro-fibre dusting pad and Bona s spray Hardwood floor Cleaner. MOPPING TECHNIQUE: Remember: Water is wood's worst enemy (even on sealed floors!), so use a damp mop rather than a soaking wet one or don t use a mop with water at all just a specialist hardwood cleaner. Dip the mop into a bucket of prepared cleaning solution, such as Bona s Hardwood Cleaner. Wring it out completely, mop in the direction of the wood grain and repeat. When the water gets dirty, empty the bucket, mix a new batch of cleaning solution and continue mopping. When finished, go back over the entire surface with clean water to rinse. Extending the Life of your Hardwood Floor To extend the life of your hardwood floor keep in mind these three simple rules: Sweep or vacuum often. Ground-in dirt destroys wood floors. To prevent buildup, clean floors once or twice a day in high-traffic areas, like the kitchen and dining room. No time? Cut down on sweeping time by placing a doormat at each entrance to your home. (Some estimates suggest that doormats eliminate 80 percent of the dirt tracked inside!) Wipe up mud and spills immediately. Wood is easily damaged by water. Choose carpeting wisely. If you aim to protect your wood floor with a rug, be cautious. Rug dyes have been known to stain floors, and plastic backings may affect the wood finish. Ask us to recommend an underpad or rug which can be safely used on your hardwood. Keep a good humidity level. Keeping a humidity level of between 30% and 50% will keep your floor from shrinking or buckling.

2 [Type here] [Type here] [Type here] Your new hardwood floor is surface sealed. Surface sealed floors are stain and waterdamage resistant and easiest to care for and clean: Sweep, mop and you re done! The Basics DIRT and GRIT : Dirt, grit and sand are your hardwood floor s worst enemies. They act like sandpaper on the finish, causing scratches, dents and dulling. Pace floor mats at entrances to trap dirt and prevent damage. WATER AND OTHER SPILLS : Standing water can warp a poorly finished hardwood floor and can damage the finish. Simply wipe up all spills as they happen. HARD CLEANERS : Avoid oil soaps. They can build up and create problems when it s time to put a maintenance coat on the floor. Instead, a neutral ph cleaner such as Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner is recommended. FURNITURE : Lift the furniture to move it --- avoid dragging. Felt contacts under the legs will help prevent scratches. DENTS : Vacuum with a brush attachment -- don t use vacuums with beater bars. SUN : Direct sun can discolour your hardwood floor. Close curtains and blinds or add sheer drapes to protect from the sun s intense UV rays. DON Ts: Don't use oils, waxes or furniture sprays. Oil leaves a residue, furniture spray creates a slippery surface (think ice-skating rink!) and wax takes time to apply and makes recoating difficult. Don't use straight ammonia, alkaline products or abrasive cleaners. They'll dull or scratch the finish.

3 [Type here] [Type here] [Type here] LAMINATE FLOORING Laminate flooring has become increasingly popular in recent years. It is durable and attractive. And comes in a variety of patterns and colors to suit any décor--such as wood grain or stone tile--making it a versatile flooring choice for most homes. The Basics WATCH OUT FOR SHARP EDGES : Although laminate floor is very durable, it can be scratched by sharp edges. Cover the feet of your tables and chairs with self-stick felt pads. These felt pads will help your tables and chairs slide easily over the floor without scratching the surface. MOP UP SPILLS QUICKLY: If you spill your beverage or drip some water on your laminate flooring, make sure you clean up the mess quickly. Liquid that sits on the floor for a long period of time could, potentially, seep into the cracks. Your laminate flooring will then absorb this liquid, causing the floor planks to swell and warp. SCATTER SOME RUGS: A few throw rugs (with rubber backing to prevent slips) in the right spots can help keep your floor looking beautiful. Try putting a rug by entrances to remove pebbles and stones from visitor's shoes. Consider placing one by sinks where water spillage is a concern. You might also want to place a rug beneath cabinets or pantries that contain heavy items--like canned food--which can chip or scratch your laminate flooring if they're dropped.

4 CLEANING OF LAMINATES SWEEP: Use a soft broom. Hard broom like corn brooms can scratch the surface of your laminate flooring. A soft plastic broom, string mop or Swiffer-type mop are great options. VACUUM : Canister vacuums with special bare floor attachments are the surest way to get rid of all the dirt and dust. DUST MOP : Use a good dust mop --- one with a 12- to 18- inch cotton head, such as Bona s micro-fibre dusting pad and HG s Laminate spray floor Cleaner. USE A LAMINATE FLOOR CLEANER: Because the surface of your laminate floor is different from hardwood or tile, you need a special laminate floor cleaner when it's time to clean your floor. HG s Laminate Wash and Shine prevents dullness and restores the lustre every time you damp mop. Extending the Life of your Laminate Floor To extend the life of your laminate floor, keep in mind these simple rules: Avoid using wet mop in cleaning the beech flooring. Your laminate floor is actually very sensitive when it comes to water. This may allow moisture to build up due to dampness, and will thus cause your laminate to not only change color but to go weak. Add rugs or doormats in areas that have higher foot traffic. As more people are entering the doors, the more dust and dirt will accumulate into the laminate flooring. It may also not sustain the high number of persons passing by. Just so you can at least slow down the traffic and to prevent the early wear and tear of your laminate floor, you can add rugs and doormats near entrances. You can also place them in kitchens and other areas where there is huge presence of water. This is so you can catch accidental spills, which can create dampness on the laminate. Clean up liquid mess right away. Don t allow any liquid whether juice, soda, or even water from lingering too long into the floor. They can eventually weaken the laminate flooring. Sometimes they can leave white marks, which are quite hard to remove.

5 TILES & CERAMICS Ceramic tile is beautiful, durable, practical and an elegant addition to any home. It also offers a seemingly endless variety of style options hundreds of textures, patterns and glazings in numerous sizes. The Basics Sweep-Don t Beat: It s important to sweep a tile floor regularly. Dirt can adhere to the surface of tile, particularly styles with a textured surface. Regular sweeping loosens and removes most of this dirt. So keep on sweeping. Don t forget those labour saving devices. Feel free to use a vacuum cleaner to sweep, but be sure to use one without a beater bar to avoid dulling and scratching the tiles. Keep Dirt in it s Place: Be sure to use walk-off mats to minimize and contain dirt being tracked in at entryways. And shake them often, homeowner. This reduces the amount of dirt being tracked across the tile floor, and reduces the wear to the finished surface. Cleaning Tips that Shine: Ceramic tile floors should be damp-mopped regularly using the manufacturer s recommended grout and tile cleaners. For heavier soil, you can spot clean the floor with a sponge or clean cloth using the recommended cleaners. Rinse Well and Wipe Dry: Textured tiles may require mild scrubbing with a soft brush or electric polisher/scrubber. After cleaning with a mild detergent rinse thoroughly with clean, warm water to help remove any leftover residue. If needed wipe dry with a clean towel to remove any film. For soft water situations you may need to use an all- purpose cleaner. Apply to the floor, let stand for 3-5 minutes, lightly scrub with a sponge, rinse well and you re home free dirt free too. For heavier cleaning tasks there are cleaning products available from your local grocery store that can be used to remove soap scum, hard water deposits, and mildew stains. You ll want to consult the cleaning product s instructions to make sure the product is compatible with your type of tile.

6 Do s and Don ts to extend the life of your tile Avoid using steel wool, scouring powders, or other abrasives that can scratch the finish of the tile. Don t use bleach or ammonia based cleaners, as these products can discolour your grout if used too often. Also, do not clean glazed tile with oil-based cleaners. Be fast on your feet. Try to clean up spills as quickly as possible so that the grout or tile doesn t become stained. While ceramic tile is considered very durable, it s not indestructible and may crack or chip under extreme force. Take the proper precautions when moving heavy objects across your tile floor. Get a small army to help you move that grand piano. Cover furniture and table legs with protectors to guard your floor against damage. Keep in mind that if a repair is necessary in the future, the replacement product may be a slightly different dye lot and/or texture than the initial installation. However, the good news is that, with time and usage, the repair will blend in with the original product. Once the tile has been laid and grouted, it s your responsibility to maintain areas exposed to water by caulking. Caulking will prevent expensive subsurface damage, as well as keep the tiled areas looking their best. Depending on your lifestyle, sealing new tile and grout may be an option. After the installation process is complete and the grout has had ample time to cure, sealing the grout and tile can provide protection from dirt and spills by slowing down the staining process.

7 Carpet The Basics Vacuuming: Proper vacuuming is the easiest and most effective way to keep your carpet clean. It may come as a surprise that something as simple as regular vacuuming can also have the largest impact on the air you breathe. Removing loose soil while it remains on the carpet surface prevents dirt from being ground into the carpet pile and can help preserve the cushiness of your carpet. Keep in mind green cleaning starts with vacuuming. Cleaning Spots and Spills: With today s stain-resistant carpet, treating spots and stains has never been easier. The key is to act quickly! The longer you wait, the higher the probability that a spill will become a permanent stain. No carpet is completely stainproof. So to knock out spots, give them a one-two punch. Step one: absorb the spill Blot liquids with a dry, white absorbent cloth or plain white paper towels (no prints or colors).use of a printed or colored material may transfer ink or dye to your damp carpet. Start at the outside of the spot and continue toward the center to prevent the stain from spreading. Continue step one until the area is barely damp. Semisolids, like food spills, may need to be scooped up with a spoon. Solid, dried bits can be vacuumed up. Warning: do not scrub or use a brush. Scrubbing and brushes can damage the carpet. Fraying and texture change is the likely result. Step two: treat the spot or stain Use a manufacturer recommended carpet cleaning product. Though these have been laboratory tested, you should still pretest any cleaner on a scrap of carpet or in a hidden area of your carpet. Follow the product s directions carefully. Apply a small amount of the cleaner to a white cloth and work in gently, from the edges to the center. Blot; don t scrub. Never use a brush. You may need to do this several times to remove the spot. When cleaning stains and spills, don t become overzealous. Mix the cleaning solutions according to the directions. In truth, more is not better. Don t use too much water; try to keep the carpet as dry as possible. And always remember to pretest the product on an inconspicuous spot of carpet.

8 Granite Granite is a durable stone that was once volcanic lava. Tough and beautiful, granite is a popular choice for kitchen and bathroom countertops. Caring for granite countertops is a simple chore that will keep your investment looking new for years to come. Do s and Don ts of Granite Granite Sealers: Most granite countertops are sealed at installation. Although granite is great at resisting stains, a granite sealer will help repel spills and allow for longer cleanup time. Granite sealers are either solvent or water based. Stay consistent with the type of sealer you apply. Look for a non-toxic sealer if you handle food directly on the countertop. To apply a granite sealer, follow the manufacturer's directions. Put down a single coat then follow up with another coat 24 hours later. You should seal your countertops every two years or more often than that for granite countertops that see heavy use. Granite countertop polish will make your counters shine and will add extra moisture protection. This polish is applied like car wax: apply, allow to dry and then buff off. Clean Granite is Happy Granite: When cleaning granite countertops, avoid harsh or vinegar based products. Harsh cleaners may pit or stain granite countertops. There are several ph neutral cleaners designed for granite countertops. Also, avoid gritty cleaners as they will scratch or cloud the granite surface over time. A mild anti-bacterial dish soap and water are fine for most spills. Use, Don't Abuse Your Granite: Avoid standing on or placing heavy weights on granite overhangs. Even this tough material is prone to cracking under that kind of stress. Granite countertops can have hot pans placed on them-the stone will absorb and dissipate the heat quickly. You are more likely to damage the granite with the metal or with grit caught under the pan than with the heat of the pan itself. If your granite countertop does experience a chip or scratch, minor damage can be repaired with a colored epoxy that will take polish. An experienced professional is your best bet to handle these types of repairs.