Cleaning your wooden floor
You can't beat the feeling of a wooden floor underfoot
Smooth and warm to the touch, wooden floors are a popular choice in residential properites. One of the reasons is that a lacquered or oiled wooden floor is very easy to clean and maintain. Follow our easy steps for the best way to clean your wooden floor in order to keep it looking pristine for many years to come.
Cleaning your wooden floor
If you have a wooden floor at home, cleaning is usually relatively quick and straight forward. To keep your wood flooring looking its best, regular and proper cleaning is an important consideration. With the right care and cleaning routine, a wooden floor can last for generations - it pays off to take care of your investment.
How often should I clean my wooden floor?
On a day to day basis, you can vacuum, sweep or wipe the floor with a damp (not wet) cloth or mop as needed. If you want to wash your floor, make sure to kuse as little water as possible, always use a well-wrung cloth or mop, it should be no more than damp. If the floor surface is very dirty, we recommended adding Junckers Floor Cleaner to the water used to clean the floor.
Junckers Floor Cleaner:
- a universal cleaner for lacquered and oiled wooden floors
- effectively dissolves dirt
- perfect for surfaces where frequent floor washing is required
Guide: How to clean your wooden floor
Junckers Floor Cleaner can be used both for daily cleaning and if the floor is very dirty.
For daily cleaning, the mixing ratio is recommended: 250ml to 5 litres of water; and for very dirty floors, the mixing ratio is recommended: 100ml to 5 litres of water.
What you need before you start:
Make sure that the wooden floor is vacuumed or swept before cleaning.
- Junckers Floor Cleaner
- Bucket
- Cloth, mop or other cleaning equipment which can be well-wrung to contain as little water as possible
1 | Mix Floor Cleaner
Mix Floor Cleaner with warm water, mixing ratio: 100ml to 5 litres water.
2 | Clean the surface in the longitudinal direction of the floor
If the floor is very dirty, we suggest using two buckets - one for clean soapy water and a second bucket to rinse the cloth or mop in after each use.
It is important that no water is left on the floor after washing. If water spills occur, it must be dried quickly to avoid moisture damage.
Renovating your wooden floor
If the varnish or oil on your wooden floor has worn off, the floor requires sanding and refinishing with one of Junckers' floor lacquers or oils.
FAQs and tips on how to care for a lacquered wood floor
Avoid scratches on your wooden floor - use felt pads add
One of the most important things you can do to keep your floor looking great is to protect it. Using cushioned felt pads under your furniture will prevent marks, scratches or wear and tear. A chair, for example, will inevitably leave marks and scratchs over time if it is pulled in and out of a table. The scratches may eventually wear through the protective coats of lacquer or oil leaving the bare wood exposed to damage. Adding cushioned felt pads to the bottom of furniture legs and bases is one of the easiest things you can do to prevent this for happening.
Use doormats and small rugs add
One of the areas where your wooden floor is most exposed to wear and tear is by doors to the outside. Adding a doormat as you enter, be it an entrance hall or garden room, is a very effective way of protecting the floor against small stone, grit, dirt and moisture.
You can also minimise daily wear and tear of your floor under the dining table where chairs are pulled in an out as you sit down or get up by placing a rug under your table.
Can I sand my floor? add
The answer will depend on how many times your floor has been sanded before and on the thickness of your floorboards. A solid wood floor is able to handle more sandings than a laminated wood floor.
For example, Junckers' solid wood floors can be sanded back to bare wood as follows:
- 14 mm wooden floors - 5 times
- 15 mm wooden floors - 6 times
- 20.5 mm wooden floors - 8-10 times
- 22 mm wooden floors - 8-10 times
If you are in doubt about which floor you have or whether your floor can be sanded, we advise contacting a professional floor sander.
Can I sand or plane my wooden floor myself? add
More and more people are choosing to sand their wooden floor themselves, but if in doubt, always consider contacting a professional craftsman for the task.
If you are considering having your floor planed, we highly recommend contacting a flooring professional.
How long is the lifespan of a wooden floor? add
The lifespan of a wood floor depends on how you treat it. If you take good care of your floor with regular cleaning and maintenenace, the wood itself will not become worn, just the surface treatment i.e. the oil or lacquer finish.
If treated with care, a wooden floor will last for generations. Treating your floor with Junckers' Refresher or Rustic Oil at regular intervals will make sure you are able to enjoy your floor for many decades.
Some areas of the home may see more use and traffic and will therefore require more maintenance. Wooden floors in entrance halls and kitchens will typically show more wear than the floor in a living room or bedroom. If there are pets and children in the home, the floor may also see a little more wear.
To ensure the life of your floor is as long as possible, it is important to make sure it is not exposed to excessive water or unnaturally high humidity.