Oil Wood Floor Care + Maintenance
Maintenance on a MADERA Oiled Floor
Maintaining an oiled hardwood floor is both satisfying and easy. The key is remembering that your new floors are made of wood, beautifully natural, and perfectly imperfect. The first step in keeping your floors looking great is to accept that wood will weather and age with the passing of time. The more life you invite into your home, the more character and life your floors will exude. With that out of the way, let’s talk about cleaning!
If you clean your floors regularly with the recommended cleaning products, you may never need to do anything more. There are, however, products that can be used down the road to re-vitalize and re-fresh an oiled floor. The beauty of oil is that it is open pore and, like a cutting board, can be oiled as much or as little as you want. It’s up to you.
Some of the nicest floors we have ever encountered are those that show the passage of time and speak of a house well lived in. That’s why we love oiled floors as much as we do: they are honest, pure, and, at the end of the day, tell a story.
Daily Protection
- Place walk-off mats at all entrances, elevator banks, and high traffic areas to help collect dirt and debris.
- Install felt floor protectors underneath all furniture.
- A shoe-off environment will help keep your floors cleaner, of course, but we also know this is not always possible. A general rule of thumb is that fewer outside shoes will result in less dirt and grime.
- Same goes for pets. A pet-less household is usually a cleaner household, but that’s not a reality for some. Just make sure to sweep and clean after your dog to ensure they aren’t bringing in dirt and grime.
- Work boots and shoes that may have pebbles lodged in the soles should be removed before entering. Rocks are hard and scratch floors. Pretty straightforward.
- Sweep and vacuum frequently.
- Clean floors using a Swiffer, nonabrasive pads, or a well-wrung-out mop. Never wet mop!
- All mats or rugs should be cleaned regularly. When you remove a rug or carpet to clean it you may see some discoloration where the rug once lay. Don’t freak out! This is normal. All wood changes color with exposure to light. Over time, the color will correct itself and blend in once again.
Cleaning Your Floors
What you will need:
- A good broom (soft bristle)
- A good vacuum (with nonabrasive wheels and soft brushes)
- A high-quality, non-abrasive mop, preferably cotton, that can be easily cleaned
- A bottle of MADERA concentrated oil cleaner
- A high-quality spray bottle
- A dry mop with a removable pad
- High-quality nonabrasive cotton cloths
How to:
- Sweep and vacuum regularly to keep dust, dirt, and abrasive debris off your floor as much as possible.
- For daily cleaning--Spray a light coat of mixed oil soap cleaner over the desired area and mop up with a wet/dry mop.
- For more intense cleaning: Fill a bucket with warm water and the proper amount of MADERA oil concentrate cleaner and use a well-wrung-out mop to clean the area.
- After cleaning, let the oil cleaner dry for at least 1 hour before walking on it—the oil cleaner leaves natural oils on top of the wood floor that will penetrate the wood and further protect your floors.
- For hard-to-remove stains, spray oil cleaner on the area, let it sit for 2 – 3 min and vigorously scrub the area with a microfiber cloth.
- For stains that persist, use Ciranova Intensive Cleaner. Use sparingly and always follow up with a spray of the oil cleaner and a good wipe. Never let an abrasive cleaner sit on the wood floor for longer than 10-20 seconds.
Below is a list of products that can be used for long-term maintenance and/or re-oiling if that becomes necessary. As stated above, if you take care of your floor and clean it regularly, you may never need to do another thing. The one product that we regularly use on our oil floors is the Maintenance Oil which applies a healthy coat of oil to your floors. It’s quite simple to apply and does not require much prep or a professional assistance.
Additional Products
- Ciranova Intensive Cleaner- Thoroughly cleans oiled wood. Specifically for removing stains and soap residue. It is recommended to use the intensive cleaner before applying the maintenance oil.
- Ciranova Maintenance Oil (White or clear) - Universal fast-drying oil for the maintenance of oiled wooden surfaces. Dull or heavily used wood can be refreshed with Ciranova maintenance oil. Regular application may avoid expensive and time-consuming renovations. For direction on how to apply, reference the Ciranova website and product guide.
- Ciranova Hardwaxoil TITAN – Can be used on fully sanded floors if you ever re-finish your oiled floors. Hardwaxoil TITAN is an innovative oil that is suitable for finishing wooden floors and furniture. Hardwaxoil TITAN provides good filling and natural protection and provides the wood with excellent chemical and mechanical resistance.
Please reach out to our customer support team with any questions.
