Hardwood Flooring Maintenance Guide for Ontario Homeowners

Hardwood flooring is one of the best investments you can make in a home — but only if you take care of it. The good news is that maintaining hardwood in an Ontario home is straightforward once you understand a few key principles. Here's everything you need to know.

The One Thing That Matters Most: Humidity

Wood is a natural material that expands and contracts with changes in moisture. In Ontario, this matters more than in most climates because we have significant seasonal swings — dry winters when the furnace runs constantly, and humid summers. The target indoor relative humidity for hardwood floors is 35–55% year-round.

When it drops below 35% (common in Ontario winters), hardwood planks shrink and small gaps can appear between boards. When it rises above 55% (common in humid summers without AC), boards expand and can cup or buckle. Neither situation is permanent if you correct the humidity quickly, but chronic extremes cause lasting damage.

What to do:

• Run a humidifier in winter to keep levels above 35%
• Run AC or a dehumidifier in summer to keep levels below 55%
• Get an inexpensive hygrometer (humidity monitor) for the room with hardwood — they cost $20–$40 at hardware stores

Daily and Weekly Cleaning

Sweeping and Vacuuming

Sweep or vacuum hardwood floors weekly — more often in high-traffic areas or if you have pets. Use a vacuum with a soft floor attachment (not a beater bar, which can scratch the finish). Microfibre dust mops work excellently and don't scratch.

Sand and grit are hardwood's biggest enemy. Tiny particles tracked in from outside act like sandpaper under foot traffic, gradually dulling and scratching the finish. Entry mats inside and outside every door are one of the best investments you can make for hardwood longevity.

Mopping

Use a damp mop — never a wet mop. The mop should be just slightly damp, not dripping. Standing water on hardwood will damage both the finish and the wood itself over time.

For regular cleaning, a hardwood-specific cleaner (Bona Hardwood Cleaner is widely available and reliable) diluted as directed is all you need. Avoid vinegar, bleach, ammonia, steam mops, or general-purpose floor cleaners — these can dull or damage the finish.

Protecting Your Floors

Furniture Pads

Put felt pads under every piece of furniture. Replace them when they wear through — a worn pad is worse than no pad. For furniture that moves frequently (chairs especially), use felt glides rather than stickers, which fall off. Avoid rubber pads on hardwood — rubber can discolour the finish over time.

Area Rugs

Use area rugs in high-traffic zones like hallways, the kitchen work triangle, and in front of sofas. Make sure rugs have a non-slip pad underneath that is safe for hardwood — look for pads labelled as safe for hardwood floors. Some rug pads can stain or discolour hardwood finishes.

Pet Nails

Keep pet nails trimmed. Long nails are one of the most common causes of scratching on hardwood. If you can hear your dog's nails clicking on the floor, they're long enough to scratch.

Seasonal Maintenance

Fall / Transition to Winter

As the furnace season starts and humidity drops, watch for small gaps between boards — this is normal and will close when humidity returns in spring. Start your humidifier before gaps appear, not after. Clean the floor thoroughly before laying down winter rugs or mats.

Spring

Deep clean the floor after winter. Check for any finish wear in high-traffic areas. If there are surface scratches that haven't penetrated the wood, a screen-and-recoat (applying a fresh top coat without full sanding) can refresh the floor without a full refinish — ask us about this service.

When to Refinish

Most hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished 3–5 times over their lifetime, depending on thickness. Signs that refinishing is needed:

• The finish is worn through in high-traffic areas and wood is exposed
• Deep scratches that go through the finish into the wood
• Water staining that has penetrated the finish
• The floor looks dull and doesn't respond to cleaning

A screen-and-recoat (less aggressive than full sanding) can extend the time between full refinishes by years if done before the finish is completely worn through.

Questions or Concerns?

If something doesn't look right with your hardwood — cupping, gaps, a finish issue — bring us photos or give us a call. We've installed and serviced hundreds of hardwood floors in Kitchener-Waterloo and can usually diagnose an issue from a description and photo.

Advanced Flooring: 519-279-8456 | sales@advancedflooring.net | 11A-283 Northfield Dr E, Waterloo