How to Care For & Maintain Your Bamboo Floors
Bamboo flooring is an extremely hard flooring, making it a tough,durable,yet beautiful flooring choice. Bamboo's density and strength surpasses almost any other flooring type in the world. Most of the bamboo manufacturers treat their bamboo flooring with a scratch resistant coating, to help prevent scratching. Bamboo flooring is tough, but all hardwood flooring is susceptible to dents, scratches, discoloration or other natural or man-made damage.

Prevention is a big part of the care for bamboo floors.


General Guidelines

  • Most Bamboo manufacturers recommend you vacuum or sweep the floor (see dust mop kits) on a regular basis or as needed to remove dirt, sand or grit. (Use hard surface vacuums only, without beater bars. Dust mops work very well)
  • Soak up spills immediately using a dry towel or dry mop.
  • For general cleaning, use Pallmann Hardwood Floor Cleaner & a good microfiber hardwood floor mop or Pallmanns Hardwood Floor Cleaning Kit.
  • Fit furniture legs with felt tap-in furniture pads. Fix rolling furniture with soft rubber casters. Pick up heavy furniture or appliances; do not slide. (see floor scratch concealer)
  • Install protecting glides under all major appliances to safely move appliances for routine cleaning or retrieving items.(see Glide-n-guard floor protectors)
  • Keep pets nails trimmed to avoid excess scratching.
  • Limit direct sunlight on floor by using curtains and blinds in areas that are exposed to high UV rays.
  • Maintain relative humidity between 40%-60%.
  • Never wet-mop a hardwood floor. Standing water may cause permanent damage.
  • Never use any of the following products on your floor: ammonia-based cleaners, mineral spirits, acrylic finishes, wax-based products, detergents, bleach, polishes, oil soap, abrasive cleaning soaps, or acidic materials such as vinegar. Never apply wax treatments to your floor.
  • Use interior and exterior doormats at entrances to prevent dirt and moisture from being tracked onto the floor.
  • Area rugs are also recommended in front of kitchen sinks and in high traffic areas.
  • Do not use rugs with solid rubber or vinyl backings. Rugs must be made of a breathable material to prevent moisture entrapment. We recommend using a breathable rug underlay. Mesh or grid patterns are best.


Follow these easy tips for touch ups

Finish Scratches - If the scratch is white, simply use a floor repair kit to eliminate the mark. If the scratch is deeper but the raw wood is not exposed, light buffing with a white polishing pad can shine up the dull area or use a top coat sealer, after coloring the scratch , to fill in the scratch.
Board Damage - A chip or gouge may be repaired with color filler, touch-up pens, markers & top coat sealant. (See Hardwood Scratch Concealer)
For severe damage, board replacement is typically the best option,seek a professional for this scope of work.

Hardwood floors have a comfort level, too

All species of hardwood flooring are subject to environmental changes. Flooring will gain moisture and expand with periods of high humidity, and release moisture and contract during periods of low humidity. This seasonal movement is a normal characteristic of hardwood, and can be minimized by using an HVAC system to maintain relative humidity between 40-60%. The National Wood Flooring Association & most flooring manufacturers, recommend maintaining relative humidity between 40%- 60%, and temperature between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, to keep hardwood floors performing well for years to come.(Talk to your local heating & cooling professional for more info) The map below shows average moisture conditions by region.