Care & Maintenance of Wood Floors

Maintaining a suitable environment

As wooden flooring is made from a natural material, wood reacts to changes in ambient conditions. Maintaining this environment is the key to your parquet’s long life and good condition.

An RAH (relative air humidity) of 45% to 60% represents an ideal environment for timber floors. In winter, artificial room heating tends to make the flooring shrink, which can lead to splitting. Use special humidifiers to prevent the air in the rooms becoming too dry. Hygrometers and thermometers should also be used to keep an eye on room conditions.

Room temperature should be kept at 18-22° If using under floor heating, the temperature of the wood floor should not exceed 27°.

Tips to caring for your wood floor

Caring for a pre-finished parquet involves just a few simple rules:

• Use entrance matts to removed grit and dirt from shoes
• Use a broom or vacuum cleaner for daily cleaning, and stains should be removed with a damp cloth.
• Only ever use the recommended cleaners, NEVER ammonia-based products.
• Wear is an inevitable characteristic of a living material such as wood but, over time, it actually contributes to the floor’s beauty by creating a ‘lived in’ feel. Accidental damage can be avoided by sticking felt pads onto the base of chair legs and any other furniture that is often moved around.
• Areas which are most frequently walked over, such as doorways and hallways, can be protected with rugs; flower and plant pots should be provided with.

Know your wood floor finish

Your wood floor will have a protective finish to the floor to stop moisture and chemicals damaging the floor. You should always follow the instructions for the type of finish applied to your floor.

Lacquered (Varnish)

Routine Cleaning:

• Wipe with a damp mop or cloth using diluted Neutral Cleaner. Work on one area at a time, rinsing the mop or cloth regularly. It should always be well wrung out to avoid getting the wood to wet. A buffing machine fitted with a micro fibre
cleaning pad is also suitable
• Frequency: From once a week on light-traffic floors to daily cleaning in high-traffic areas.

Suggested products: Bona Floor Cleaner for Lacquered Floors

Maintenance:

• Deep cleaning and removal of wax build up on floors use wax removal product such as L94 Cleaner, Bona Polish remover followed by coating of polish such as Everclear Matt/Gloss or Bona Polish

Hard Waxoil

Routine Cleaning:

• Wipe with a damp mop or cloth using diluted Neutral Cleaner or Treatex Floorcare. Work on one area at a time, rinsing the mop or cloth regularly. It should always be well wrung out to avoid getting the wood to wet. A buffing machine fitted with a micro fibre cleaning pad is also suitable
• Frequency: From once a week on light-traffic floors to daily cleaning in high-traffic areas

Suggested products: Treatex Cleaner for Oiled Floors, Bona Floor Cleaner for Oiled Floors

Maintenance:

• Deep cleaning and removal of wax build up on floors use Treatex Preparation Cleaner
• Re apply with Treatex Wax Polish or apply an additional coat of Hard Waxoil

Natural oiled

Routine Cleaning

• Wipe with a damp mop or cloth using diluted PH balanced Neutral Cleaner. Work on one area at a time, rinsing the mop or cloth regularly. It should always be well wrung out to avoid getting the wood to wet. A buffing machine fitted with a micro fibre cleaning pad is also suitable
• Frequency: From once a week on light-traffic floors to daily cleaning in high-traffic areas.

Maintenance

• Deep cleaning and if present remove wax build up
• Refinish with maintenance oil

Suggested products – always test a small area first:

  • Wax removers – L94, Bona wax remover, Liberon Floor Cleaner
  • Natural oil cleaner – Bona Cleaner, Osmo Wash & Care, Treatex cleaner
  • Natural Oil maintenance oil – Bona Oil Care, Marbec Velux

Wax Finishes

Waxed wood floors provide a beautiful lustre to a wood floor. The wax gives a glossy finish bringing out the colours and texture in the timber. Waxed floors are typically applied as a top coat to protect the underlying coats of finish such as a varnished, lacquered or oiled floors. 

Routine Cleaning

  • Weekly dry mop the floor with a microfiber cloth or pad, vacuum clean with the brush attachment to remove dust and grit.
  • Avoid excessive wet mopping with water as water can make the wax go cloudy. 
  • Wipe with a well wrung out damp mop or cloth using diluted PH Neutral Cleaner. Never use a wet mop or cloth, the cloth or mop should be slightly damp. Work on one area at a time, rinsing the mop or cloth regularly. It should always be well wrung out to avoid getting the wood too wet. A buffing machine fitted with a micro fibre cleaning pad is also suitable
  • Frequency: From once a week on light-traffic floors to daily cleaning in high-traffic areas

Suggested products – Always test small area first: Bona Cleaner, Osmo Wash and Care, Treatex Cleaner, Berger Bio-Soap, A-Lungo, Detersoap.

Maintenance

Re-wax wood floors when old wax has worn off, every 1-3 years depending on traffic. Note excessive build up of wax will make the floor look unsightly, ensure floor is clear of wax before applying more wax.

  • Deep cleaning and removal of wax build-up on floors use L94 or suitable wax remover
  • Re-apply wax with lint free cloth when using a solid wax or a sponge mop if using liquid wax. Wait for each coat to dry before applying additional layers. Solid wax requires less layers. When the floor has a cloudy or hazy finish the floor is ready to buff.
  • Buff the floor by hand or with a mechanical buffing machine with a buffing pad. A high power buffing machine will provide a more glossier finish

Suggested products – always test a small area first:

  • Wax removers – L94, Bona wax remover, Liberon Floor Cleaner
  • Wax cleaner – Bona Cleaner, Osmo Wash & Care, Treatex cleaner
  • Wax finishes – Velux, Fiddes Floor Wax, Liberon Floor Wax, Liberon Liming Wax (for white/ limed wood floors)