General Cleaning

Keeping your Richard Marshall flooring clean will help maintain its beauty and luster between professional maintenance visits. Dirt and grit, when combined with foot-traffic, will wear the flooring’s finish and cause scratches. You can remove dirt from the flooring using a dry, static cling dusting cloth (such as Swiffer or Grab It), vacuum cleaner, or broom. We recommend that if you wipe your flooring with a damp rag, use Richard Marshall Fine Flooring, Inc. Premium Floor Cleaner Concentrate, diluting it according to the instructions on the bottle, then dry the surface with a soft terry cloth towel. Never mop your flooring, as this may permanently damage the finish and could void your warranty. 

 

Vacuum

 

We recommend that the unit you select have a long hose with a soft-bristled wand. The model should also have soft wheels, as plastic wheels may scuff the flooring.

 

Broom

 

We recommend a soft bristled broom and a soft plastic dustpan to avoid scratching. 

 

Food and Liquid Spills

 

Food and liquid spills should be cleaned immediately using a cloth lightly dampened with water. If the spill is oil-based, such as grease, and will not wipe up with water, apply a small amount of liquid dish soap or Richard Marshall Fine Flooring, Inc. Premium Floor Cleaner Concentrate, diluted with water, to a rag and lightly wipe the area. Wipe the area dry with a clean soft cloth. If you use soap for this solution, clean small spots only, not an entire floor.

 

Professional Maintenance

Richard Marshall flooring is finished with a natural oil that must be periodically reapplied in order to maintain the flooring’s finish. This service should be performed when the “traffic areas” look dry or dull when compared to the other areas. Under normal conditions, Richard Marshall recommends that once a year you have a full coat of Richard Marshall Coat of Arms Finish applied to your flooring. Certified Richard Marshall flooring professionals experienced in oil finishes are available to provide this service. Our technicians have the tools and expertise to perform this method efficiently and thoroughly. 

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The purpose of maintaining your flooring in this manner is to ensure you have the correct amount of finish protecting the color. If you wear through the finish, you may damage the color, which can lead to extensive and specialized color repair procedures. 

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Please note: All work on Richard Marshall flooring, staircases, or finish pieces must be completed by Richard Marshall Certified Technicians. Any work done by someone other than Richard Marshall Certified Technicians voids your warranty. By request, Richard Marshall can certify and train your preferred maintenance person to properly care for your flooring. If you are uncertain if someone is a Richard Marshall Certified Technician, please call our Customer Service Department at (800) 689-5981.

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Preventative Maintenance
 

Apply stick-on felt glides to the bottoms of chairs, tables, couches, cabinets, and all heavy objects. These are available at most hardware stores. Do not use glides that require a nail or hard surface to attach it to the chair. These types of glides may wear and scratch your floor. Clean and/or replace the glides on a regular basis. 

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We suggest the use of area rugs for especially heavy use areas such as in front of the sinks and in hallways. If you are going to utilize a pad under an area rug to keep the area rug from slipping, only use pads made from natural fibers with little to no plastic or rubber. These raw materials may contain plasticizers that can leech into the finish.

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Improperly maintained high heel shoes can cause significant damage to your floor. Heels that have lost their protective cap, and that have an exposed fastening nail, can exert over 2,000 pounds of pressure per square inch when worn by a 150lb woman. The resultant pressure will cause small dents to occur wherever the person has walked. The exposed nail may also scratch the flooring, causing damage to the color and finish of the wood.

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Please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Department at 800-689-5981 with any questions you may have about your flooring. Our goal is to provide you with the finest flooring available – flooring you will enjoy and be proud to own for many years to come.​