Maintenance for natural Oiled wood flooring and Wood Floor Cleaning



  1. Immediately on installation it is recommended that the flooring is cleaned and another coat of maintenance oil is applied.



2. Please follow the Woca oil Cleaning and Maintaining instruction. To apply the Maintaining product according to the oil company instruction (www.woca.info/woodcare/woodcare.php)



3. Never wax a urethane floor. A majority of floors installed today have urethane finishes.


4. Never use sheet vinyl or tile floor care products on wood floors. Self-polishing acrylic waxes make wood become slippery and appear dull quickly. The only remedy in this situation is to
sand and refinish the floor.



5. Consult with an installer, the finisher or the manufacturer if there is any doubt of the kind of floor finish. Never use the common house hold cleaners othe than professional wood
 flooring cleaning products which are recommended (for example, Woca maintenance oil kit).



6. Place mats and throw rugs at doorways, exteriors and interiors to help prevent the tracking of grit, dirt and sand.



7. Sweep or vacuum wood floors regularly to avoid dust and grit from building up and possible scratching the surface.



8. Never wet-mop a wood floor. Standing water can dull the finish, damage the wood and leave a discoloring residue.



9. Wipe up food and other spills immediately with a dry or slightly dampened towel (wipe dry), as wood will absorb liquids which could lead to staining and/or expansion.



10. For a wax floor, buff to restore shine. You may want to invest in a buffer.



11. Do not over-wax a wax floor. If the floor dulls, try buffing instead. Avoid wax build up under furniture and other light traffic areas by applying wax in these spots every other waxing session.



12. Put plastic or fabric-faced glides under the legs of furniture to prevent scuffing and scratching.



13. Remember: cleats, sports shoes and high heels can dent any floor surface.



14. When moving heavy furniture, protect wood flooring by slipping a piece of cloth or pile, protective pads or cups, under the legs or covering each leg with a heavy sock or half of a milk carton.



15. For wood flooring in the kitchen, place an area rug in front of the kitchen sink to catch water and changes regularly before any dirt or water is building up underneath.



16. For the best protection of the flooring, it is recommended that oiled floors need to be re-oiled every 6 to 18 months or whenever the flooring starts to look worn or tired. It is vital that the flooring is thoroughly cleaned beforehand, by lightly applying a water and sugar soap solution then wiping off immediately. Once cleaned, re-oiling can then commence. (Deeply ingrained dirt may require professional sanding and cleaning).



17. For repairing, cleaning oil needs to be used first before carrying out any repair work.


Worn, scratches or heel marks --- to be repaired by re-waxing the area and hand buffing to a shine;
Stains --- For dry stains from spillage liquid or food grease and oil etc, please first try gently rub the area with slightly damp cloth, rub from the outer circle  gradually toward the middle. 
If the spot remains, it will need to lightly sand the affected patch with sandpaper until the marks are removed. Clear the sanding dust before applying another coat of maintenance oil.




Following a few simple maintenance steps, will help protect your investment and keep your floor like new.
  • Use a damp cloth to blot up spills and spots as soon as they happen. For tough spots such as oil, paint, markers, lipstick, ink, tar or cigarette marks, use acetone/nail polish remover then wipe with a damp cloth. Always avoid allowing liquids to stand on your floor.
  • Regularly vacuum, (using the hard floor attachment not the beater bar), dust mop  or sweep the floor to prevent sand or abrasive dust from accumulating and  scratching the finish.
  • Periodically clean the floor with us or approved hardwood floor cleaner, which are specially formulated for the finish.
  • Do not use oil based, wax, polish, or strong ammoniated or abrasive cleaners, steel wool or scouring powder to clean the floor.
  • Do not wash or wet-mop the floor with soap, water, oil soap detergent or any other liquid cleaning material. This could cause swelling warping, delaminating and joint-line separation, and void the warranty.
  • DO NOT use any type of polisher.
Hardwood floors are also prone to damage due to time, weather, and accumulated wear and tear. This potential for damage is enhanced even more by the fact that hardwood is an organic material. So knowing how to protect them is also important. Here are a few tips for you.
•  Use quality area rugs and doormats by outdoor entrance areas to prevent dirt, sand, grit and other substances such as oil, asphalt or driveway sealer from being tracked onto your floor.
•  Sweep, dust or vacuum the floor regularly to prevent accumulation of dirt or grit that can scratch or dull the floor finish.
 
•  Use floor protectors and wide bearing leg bases/rollers to minimize indentations and scratches from heavy objects. As a rule of thumb, the heavier the object, the wider the floor protector should be.
 
•  Do not use rubber or foam backed plastic mats as they may discolour the floor. To prevent slippage use an approved vinyl rug underlayment.
 
•  Maintain a normal indoor relative humidity level between 40% and 55% throughout the year, to minimize the natural expansion and contraction of wood. Failure to provide adequate relative humidity in the home by the use of a humidifier or a dehumidifier will void the warranty.
 
•  Avoid gouges or cuts in your floor from sharp objects. While your floor is one of the most wear resistant floors on the market, sharp or pointed objects can nevertheless damage it.
 
•  Don’t walk on your floor with stiletto-style heels, spiked golf shoes or cleats; they may cause indentations in your floor.
 
•  Rearrange area rugs and furniture periodically so the floor ages evenly. UV sunlight will soften or darken the tone of different species of hardwood to varying degrees
 
•  Use a dolly when moving heavy furniture or appliances. But first, put down a sheet of quarter inch plywood or Masonite to protect the floor. Never try to slide or roll heavy objects across the floor.
 
•  Keep pet’s nails trimmed or consider “booties” available at pet stores.