Maintaining Your Oiled Wooden Floor

Two of the biggest selling points of wooden floors are a) aesthetic appeal and b) durability.

An oiled finish on hardwood flooring enhances both of these.

The oil accentuates the grain of the wood and helps to hide scratches as well as making it more water resistant. Oiled floors are also very easy to maintain.

This article will detail the best methods of oiled hardwood floor maintenance including product recommendations, dos and dont’s of maintaining your oiled wood floors, how often you should clean your oiled wood floor and re-oiling your wood floor to keep it looking fresh.

Maintaining Your Oiled Wooden Floor

Regular maintenance is key to ensuring the longevity of your oiled wooden floor and of preserving its beauty. However, one of the huge benefits of oiled wooden floors is how easy this is. The following tips and advice are all you need.

Cleaning Your Oiled Wooden Floor

Daily Cleaning

Sweeping your oiled wooden floor with a soft brush to remove any debris, grit and dust will help to prevent scratches. Checking the floor for any missed spills and cleaning them with a damp mop and a recommended cleaner if required will help prevent staining and damage.

Weekly and Monthly Cleaning

Cleaning with a natural soap cleaner specifically designed for wooden floors with an oiled finish is recommended such as our own brand of liquid oil care natural soap. This should be applied after diluting as directed and using a soft, microfibre cloth that has been thoroughly wrung out. It can also be used with a Spray Mop System or can be used for spot cleaning on difficult-to-clean marks.

Annual Maintenance

An annual re-oiling of your oiled wooden floor is recommended to keep it looking fresh and to keep the high level of protection for the hardwood or engineered wood flooring that an oil finish provides.

How to Re-Oil Wooden Floors

As well as regular cleaning with a specially formulated product for oiled wood floors you should re-oil annually or as required. One of the benefits of oiled wooden floors is that there is no need to sand the floor before refinishing.

Signs Your Floor Needs Re-oiling

• The wood looks dry.
• It feels less smooth.
• Dirt and grime stick to your floor more.
• The floor becomes less water-repellent.
• Surface scratches become more noticeable.
• The floor looks tired and worn.

Re-Oiling Your Wooden Floor Step-by-Step

• Sweep the floor.
• Clean the floor with a recommended cleaning product.
• Allow to fully dry.
• Apply a thin coating of floor oil using a clean lint-free cloth.
• Follow the natural grain of the wood.
• Apply to small areas at a time.
• Wipe with a clean lint-free cloth for a matt finish.
• If you require a sheen finish, you can use a buffing machine.
• The floor should be usable again in 4-6 hours.
• Following re-oiling do not get the floor wet for 10 days and avoid heavy use.
• Always follow the guidelines and instructions for your particular oil and flooring.

Do’s & Dont’s of Maintaining an Oiled Wooden Floor

Do Wipe Up Spills Straight Away

Oil acts as a great protective and water-repellant finish for your wooden floor. Nevertheless, it is still important to wipe up any spills as soon as possible. This will avoid staining and the breaking down of the oil from the acids and other compounds found in many foods, drinks and cleaning products.

Don’t Use a Steam Cleaner

Despitewhat many steam cleaner brands will claim you must not use a steam cleaner on your oiled wood floor. Steam can damage the finish, making your wooden floor vulnerable to water penetration leading to staining, warping and irreparable damage. It can also make the finish look uneven too. Using a steam cleaner or steam mop is also likely to void to warranty of your floor because it is likely to do such damage.

Do Re-Oil Your Floor as Required

It is generally recommended that you re-oil your floor annually for normal household use or as required if there are signs that the protection is no longer as effective as it should be or if it is beginning to look tired and/or dry. Allowing the floor to dry out too much from lack of re-oiling can eventually cause the wood to split.

Don’t Use Regular Cleaning Products

However tempted you might be to clean up an unsavoury mess with general household cleaners, bleach or homemade cleaning products such as vinegar don’t use them on your oiled wood floor (or any hardwood floor). The corrosive effects of these substances will damage the finish of your oiled wood floor and potentially the wood itself.

Do Sweep Regularly

Daily sweeping with a soft brush will help keep your oiled wood floor at its best. Any particles that might scratch the floor will be removed rather than tracked across it with furniture or feet.

Don’t Use a Regular Vacuum Head

Whilst vacuuming your wooden floor might seem like a good time saver and effective way to keep your oiled wooden floor dust free, many of the heads of vacuum cleaners can scratch and otherwise damage your floor. Some vacuum cleaners come with a specific wooden floor attachment which should limit the chance of it scratching your floor. However, the best option is to use a soft brush to sweep instead.

Do Clean Your Oiled Wooden Floor Regularly

Regular cleaning using the methods previously mentioned in this article will help keep your floor looking its best for years to come.

Don’t Use Abrasive Products or Materials

Abrasive cleaning products or materials will damage the finish of your oiled wooden floor. They might also damage the wood underneath causing issues with the durability and the aesthetics of your floor.

Further Advice on Maintaining Your Oiled Floor

If you would like more information on the best products, accessories and methods for maintaining your oiled wooden floor then do get in touch with us at Wooden Floors UK.

We can advise you at every stage of your wooden flooring journey from choosing the right flooring and finish for your home to selecting the best products to keep your wooden floor looking beautiful for years to come.