How to Clean & Maintain Wood Floors - The Essential Guide

Perfectly finished wooden floors can be the highlight of any home. Wood has been used for centuries for its natural strength and beauty and remains the material of choice for flooring to this day.

If you’ve stripped back an old Victorian floor, had new solid wood or engineered flooring installed, or even used reclaimed boards, looking after and maintaining your floors once they’ve been oiled or varnished is key. It’s a simple fact that wooden floor finishes that have been well maintained will look better and last much longer than those that have not.

So, what is the best way to look after and maintain a wooden floor? Well, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s not that difficult and doesn’t require a great deal of work. To help, we’ve produced a lovely infographic guide to help you keep your wooden floors looking amazing.

We hope that the above guide will set you on the path to wood floor heaven, but to help further, here are some of our floor care product recommendations.

Cleaning oiled wooden floors

Oiled floors should be cleaned with a dedicated pH-balanced wood floor cleaner to protect and preserve the finish. Using domestic household cleaners can actually degrade or strip oil finishes from floors over time, as they are designed to break down oil and grease. Floor cleaners are available in ready-to-use formulations and as concentrates that are diluted with water. Here are some of our most popular oiled floor cleaners.

• Osmo Wash and Care (8016) – A water-soluble cleaning concentrate for interior oiled floors.
• Bona Wood Floor Cleaner Spray – A ready-to-use cleaning solution for use on oiled wooden floors.
• Woodleys Wood Surface Cleaner – A ready-to-use cleaning solution for removing dirt and stains from oiled floors and other surfaces.
• Fiddes Floor Surface Cleaner – An everyday cleaning concentrate for interior wooden floors.

Maintaining oiled wooden floors

Maintaining the finish of oiled floors is both quick and easy with the right maintenance products. Even high-traffic areas that have become dull or worn can be easily restored without the need for sanding. Here are some great floor maintenance products that will keep oiled floors looking like new.

• Osmo Maintenance Oil – A high-quality, protective oil for the maintenance of oiled wood floors and furniture.
• Fiddes Floor Reviver Kit – An all-in-one floor reviver kit for previously oiled wooden floors.
• Osmo Liquid Wax Cleaner – A double-action refresher and cleaner for oiled and waxed wood surfaces.

Cleaning varnished wooden floors

Stubborn scuff marks and surface dirt are a common issue with varnished floors. Using the right floor cleaner will help to remove these marks whilst retaining and protecting the varnish finish.

• Bona Cleaner Concentrate – An everyday concentrated cleaner for all types of interior wooden floors.
• Woodleys Wood Surface Cleaner – A ready-to-use cleaning solution for removing stubborn dirt and scuffs from varnished floors.
• Bona Wood Floor Cleaner Spray – A ready-to-use cleaning solution for use on varnished wooden floors.

Maintaining varnished wooden floors

• Bona Freshen Up – A ready-to-use, waterborne maintenance coating for use on interior varnished floors.
• Bona Wood Floor Refresher – A ready-to-use, waterborne maintenance coating for previously varnished or painted wooden floors.
• Bona Polish – An all-in-one maintenance coating for interior wooden floors. Creates a durable wear layer suitable for heavy foot traffic.

Wood floor mops

Specialist floor mops offer a convenient and effective way to clean and maintain wooden floors. Some have interchangeable, Velcro-backed cleaning heads. Others have built-in refillable cartridges that contain cleaning solutions, and some have both. Here are some of the more popular wooden floor mops on the market.

• Bona Wood Floor Spray Mop – An effective, all-in-one spray mop system for cleaning interior wooden floors.
• Bona Microfiber Floor Mop – A microfibre floor mop specially developed for mopping wooden floors.
• Bona Oiled Floor Spray Mop – A spray mop for easy, streak-free cleaning of oiled wooden floors.

Need help with your wood floor?

Need to speak with an expert? Our resident floor care experts are on hand to offer free advice on the best way to clean and maintain your wooden floors. If you have a question or query about which is the best wood floor mop for your floor, contact us here.