How to care for your real wood flooring

Real wood flooring has an unmistakable beauty, fitting your home no matter what your style. But even with its hardwearing and durable properties, maintenance can be a major task requiring much-needed attention to stay in great condition.

Knowing the right methods, tools, and products to use to properly care for real wood flooring can keep it looking as fresh as the day it was installed. We’ll be exploring the best cleaning routines, advice for maintaining oiled flooring and our top tips for ongoing maintenance.

Cleaning methods for real wood flooring

From everyday spot-cleaning and maintenance to the deepest of cleans, knowing how to clean your real wood flooring the right way can make all the difference.

Immediate spot-cleaning

Noticed a spillage? There’s no time to waste! Water damage can be the biggest cause of real wood flooring warping, splitting, and swelling, so be quick on the ball and make sure that any spills are cleaned immediately. Use a slightly damp paper towel or cloth and remember to wipe dry so that any remaining water isn’t left to soak into the wood.

Aside from spills, a regular routine means you’ll be ready to clean up any food, debris or dirt left behind as quickly as possible. If you have pets in the house, keep their nails trimmed well to avoid scratches to your flooring as well.

Everyday maintenance

Sometimes the old ways are the best ways. Recently, we investigated how effective different cleaning methods are for removing dirt and bacteria on different flooring types. For daily cleaning and general upkeep, dusting with a dry cloth, sweeping and vacuuming were found to be the best methods to care for real wood flooring. 

Vacuuming in particular cut bacteria by 98% when we tested the method on real wood. Before you begin vacuuming, however, make sure to pick up or sweep away any larger debris to prevent scratches or damage to the flooring during the process. We recommend sweeping or dusting daily while vacuuming at least once every few days for the best results.

Deep cleaning & stain removal

Every one to two months, depending on your lifestyle and usage of the room, it might be time to perform a deep clean. It’s essential that the right methods are used here: a rung out wet mop is the perfect way to keep on top of intensive cleaning and get rid of stubborn marks. 

Unlike other flooring types, using flooring wipes or a drenched mop is not ideal as the water can seep underneath and between your planks or parquet flooring. Any liquid left sitting on real wood floors can lead to damage so it’s important to avoid excessive water as much as possible.

Tips for maintaining oiled flooring

Oiled floors provide an additional layer of protection by soaking into the wood grain and hardening. This means it can last much longer than other wooden types, even including lacquered wooden floors, but it does require a few extra maintenance steps. 

Fortunately, oiled wooden flooring can be easily topped up with maintenance oils and kept in good care with cleaning soaps. The type of cleaning product you’ll require depends on how it was treated so make sure to take note of this when looking at which care you’ll need.

Dos and Don’ts for cleaning wooden floors

Tips for wood floor maintenance

With the best cleaning methods under your belt, here are a few additional maintenance tricks that will keep your flooring looking as new as possible for years to come.

Invest in a doormat

High-traffic areas such as hallways, doorways, and landings where people pass through regularly can be the most vulnerable to wear and tear. Give your real wood an extra layer of protection by using good quality doormats, rugs and runners that will support the constant wear over time, while catching any outside debris from shoes. 

Add cushion pads to feet of furniture

Prevention is better than cure - and it’s no different when it comes to flooring. Over time, moving furniture around the room for daily use or a spring clean can cause unwanted scratches. Add cushion pad protectors to the feet of chairs and tables to prevent scuffs, scratches and dents on your real wood flooring. 

Don’t lay flooring in high humid areas

While it can be tempting to bring the beautiful styles of real wood flooring into your bathroom, there are a few reasons why you might want to reconsider. With little in the way of waterproofing qualities, real wood does not tolerate humidity well which can eventually lead to discolouration over time. Due to this, we recommend avoiding placing real wood in high humidity areas such as bathrooms, instead opting for alternatives like tiles or vinyl flooring.

The best maintenance isn’t just about the right methods - it’s about investing in the right care products for the job. When it comes to choosing cleaning and maintenance, oils, cleaner sprays and lacquers are the go-to products for keeping wood flooring in the best condition.

As real wood is a natural material, it’s important to pick out cleaning products that avoid harsh chemicals which could damage the floor by choosing specialist solutions tried and tested on wood.

Choose your real wood flooring

Good flooring should always be an investment. By choosing the right flooring now and keeping up careful maintenance, you can ensure that your real wood lasts for years to come. 

Are you ready to find your perfect real wood flooring? Take a look through all the colours, styles, and types of real wood flooring that could suit your home. With our room area calculator, you’ll be able to get an idea of how much it’ll cost, too.

If you’re still undecided about what floor type is more suitable for your budget and needs, get in touch with our team today —we’ll be happy to send you two free samples, and offer expert guidance to help you make the best choice for your property.

View our range of real wood flooring