In order to keep your wooden floor in flawless condition for longer, you have to take care of minimising the impact of the environment and make sure you have a proper maintenance and cleaning routine, as recommended by the experts. Ideally, the perfect environment for real wood floors consists of a temperature between 18 and 22 Celsius and interior humidity between 45-65%. In fact, when it comes to wood floor maintenance and care, you have to take into account not only the specific wood species your floor is made of but also the finish applied.
Keeping the finishing protective layer in good condition for longer is a key moment because it will protect the bare wood underneath for longer, working as a protective barrier on the surface from scratches, quicker wear and tear and other imperfections. When it comes to wood floor finishing, there are two main categories – those that leave a film when applied, including lacquer and varnish and those that don’t leave a film, which include wax and oils.
If your wooden floor is finished with lacquer, you are lucky, because when lacquered it doesn’t require any specific maintenance. Your simple daily cleaning routine consisting of vacuuming and mopping with a damp mop should be just enough to keep the floor clean and in good condition. Make sure to remove spills and splashes immediately, otherwise, they can leave a stubborn stain. If needed, every week you can clean the floor with a mixture of warm water and a cleaning product.
Simply make sure the washing cloth is damp and you use the proper cleaning products, which are designed especially for wood and are not abrasive, neither bleach nor vinegar because their acid nature can ruin the finish with time. Lacquer is also overall a pretty hard-wearing finish and doesn’t suffer that much wear and tear and other issues. However, when completely worn off, lacquer can be easily re-applied with the help of wood floor recoating and refinishing experts.
Oiled wood floors require slightly more care and attention. Because of the specifics of the oil finish, it doesn’t leave a film on the surface but penetrates and adheres to the pores of the wood, adding durability and longevity to the whole structure. In general, everyday cleaning consists of vacuuming and mopping with a damp mop, just like with lacquered floors. Once again, you have to make sure you use cleaning products that are designed especially for oiled wood floors.
However, oiled wood floors require professional treatment more often. In general, every half year they have to be re-oiled, otherwise, they wear off quickly. For spots and areas that suffer frequent traffic and heavier footfall, the recommended re-oiling treatment is every 2-3 months. No matter the required maintenance, oiled wood floors look great and pay off with the natural beauty of the wood’s texture and grade boosted.
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