Cleaning companies are responsible for caring for many different types of flooring. The problem is, they're sometimes expected to work miracles on floors that have been abused by public traffic, careless office workers or homeowners with kids and pets.

Wood floors are especially sensitive to abuse, so if you want to have an easier time of caring for your clients' wood floors, you might want to give them some tips on what they can do in-between your visits to extend the life of their floor. Here are 6 tips for wood floor care:

1. Reduce soil, sand and grit by using floor mats. Soil, sand and grit are abravise and a wood floor's worst enemy. The best way to keep it off a wood floor is to use outside and inside entry mats.

2. Limit the use of water on wood floors. If a floor doesn't have a good coat of finish, water can get into the wood and cause damage. You will need to clean the floor with water, but keep your mop damp so it will dry quickly - never soak your mop with water.

3. Dimples, dents and scrapes. Dimples in wood floors are often caused by high heels, and dropping items onto a wood floor can cause dents. Moving furniture across a wood floor can cause scrapes, so avoid dragging furniture across a wood floor - alway carry it. If chairs are on the floor make sure they have felt pads under the legs.

4. Spills. When spills happen, make sure they're picked up immediately. As mentioned in #2, if a wood floor doesn't have a good finish, any liquid spilled on it will cause damage unless it's cleaned up right away.

5. Avoid using harsh cleaners. Use a neutral pH wood floor cleaner to clean wood floors. Do not use oil-based products or acid-based products, as these can cause build-up and/or ruin the floor finish.

6. Frequent cleaning. The best way to keep a wood floor clean and to extend the life of the floor finish is to clean it frequently. As mentioned in #1, soil, sand and grit is a wood floor's worst enemy. The longer it is left on the floor, the easier it is to be ground in to the grain, causing major damage. Suggest to your clients that they use a microfiber flat mop or vacuum cleaner with a hard floor attachment to remove soil between your visits.

It's a good idea to sit down with your client and review potential problem areas, including their wood floors. Wood floors need constant care, so if you're not there to care for them daily, then the customer needs to understand that they should follow the above floor care tips in order to extend the life of the floor and keep it looking good.

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Steve Hanson helps owners of small cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business through his online community at TheJanitorialStore.com. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com, and sign up for weekly cleaning tips at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com.