Mountain Lumber in Martha Stewart Living

In the October issue of Ask Martha, one reader asked “I have reclaimed-wood flooring in my home. How should I care for it?”

Answer: ...“Nothing beats a few capfuls of white vinegar in a bucket of water,” says John Williams, senior sales representative at Mountain Lumber, in Ruckersville, Virginia.
Whether or not you use a suggested cleanser or a vinegary-water solution, it is important to wring the mop until it is only slightly damp, Williams says. Too much water can soften the finish and possibly warp the wood.
Weather can also affect wood floors. “Depending on the region and the climatic controls in your home, your floor will try to equalize itself by absorbing or releasing moisture,” Williams says. Wood is stable at fairly standard room temperatures, from 65 degrees to 73 degrees and levels of humidity, from 35 percent to 50 percent. (A humidifier can help keep it in that range.)