Maintaining Your Oiled Wood Floors

Posted on: December 15, 2015

7059496 Natural oil finished floors have a very different appearance from traditional UV finished or polyurethane floors. Over time, as applications of oil and maintenance occur the floors will tend to look better as it ages and develops a rich patina. Natural oil floors are easy to maintain and will look great for a lifetime when maintained properly. Renovation and care of oiled floors are very economical in comparison to other wood floors.

Natural Properties
Fading: All natural floors contain organic pigments and are subject to fading when exposed to direct sunlight. Where possible, use drapes or other systems to protect your floor from excessive light.
Joints: A natural plank floor system expands and contracts in response to fluctuations in temperature and humidity. By controlling the environment, maintaining an adequate temperature and relative humidity, you will minimize the visible effects of the seasonal contraction and expansion of your floor. Optimum recommended temperature is 68°F – 72°F and relative humidity is 30% – 50%. In very dry climates, the use of a humidifier might be necessary. To purchase recommended maintenance products, please stop in to Flooring Solutions.

AFTER INSTALLATION:
If the floor needs to be covered to prevent wear and dirt penetration due to additional construction, use paper or cardboard. Do NOT tape paper or cardboard in place.NEVER use plastic, which does not let the floor breathe.
After ALL installation/construction work is completed in the space, remove the protective paper or cardboard:

If your product was installed by Flooring Solutions, we will have completed this first coat for you.
Vacuum the floor, then clean the floor thoroughly using a solution of WOCA REFRESHER diluted in water using:
ONE CUP OF WOCA REFRESHER PER 5 QUARTS OF WARM WATER
Damp mop only using a hardwood floor mop with a Terry cloth.
Make sure you rinse the cloth in another bucket of clean water, as you do not want to reincorporate the dirt back onto the floor.
Do not resume traffic for 4 hours to let the oil residue penetrate the surface of the floor.
WOCA REFRESHER is available in natural (for natural and colors other than white) and white (for white oiled floors).

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WITH WOCA REFRESHER:
Please note that it is not recommended to mop an oiled floor more than once or twice per month.

Perform normal daily or weekly cleaning by vacuuming or dry mopping grit, dust etc.
To prevent damages never use any other cleaner on your oiled floor.
Damp mop only with the following solution:
HALF CUP OF WOCA REFRESHER PER 5 QUARTS OF WARM WATER
Make sure you rinse the cloth in another bucket of clean water, as you do not want to reincorporate the dirt back onto the floor. Traffic can resume when dry, generally within an hour.
After cleaning with WOCA REFRESHER a thin nourishing and protective film layer remains on the floor.

RENOVATING THE FLOOR (generally once a year):
When the floor becomes dull or starts to show wear patterns, it is possible to rejuvenate the appearance by using WOCA REFRESHER in a more concentrated form with the following ratio:

ONE CUP OF WOCA REFRESHER PER 5 QUARTS OF WARM WATER
Damp mop only using a hardwood floor mop with a Terry cloth.
Make sure you rinse the cloth in another bucket of clean water, as you do not want to reincorporate the dirt back onto the floor.
Do not resume traffic for 4 hours to let the oil residue penetrate the surface of the floor.

REMOVING STAINS, SCRATCHES AND BURNS:
Light scratches are best repaired by hand rubbing WOCA Master Oil or the Colour Oil on your floor on the affected areas using a cloth.

If necessary, first clean the area to be repaired with lukewarm water.
Be sure area is dry before applying oil. It is very important to let the floor dry completely before any Master Oilor Color Oil is applied. Any trapped moisture under the oil may cause mildew to develop, which causes black or dark blotches in the floor. It may also greatly increase drying time of the oil.
Leave the oil to absorb for a short period of time before thoroughly buffing with a cloth and then removing the oil from the surrounding area with a clean, dry cloth.
Deeper scratches or gouges should be sanded until they are no longer visible. Do not use a sand paper that is too fine. An 80-100 grit sandpaper will usually suffice, then clean the spot with lukewarm water and let dry completely. Then follow directions for light scratches above.
Whenever an area of the floor has been cleaned or repaired with new oil, it is important to remove all new oil from the surrounding area. This is easily done using a polishing cloth or a cotton rag, which then allows both areas to blend by having approximately the same sheen level. If necessary, steel wool can also be used to eliminate the “halo” effect of a slightly higher gloss level in the area around the repair.

PROTECTION:
A natural plank floor system expands and contracts in response to fluctuations in temperature and humidity. By controlling the environment, maintaining an adequate temperature and relative humidity, you will minimize the visible effects of the seasonal contraction and expansion of your floor. Optimum recommended temperature is 68°F – 72°F and relative humidity is 30% – 50%.In very dry climates, the use of a humidifier is necessary.

Before walking on your floor, make sure it has been cleaned after installation according to the instructions above.
Do not mop your floors more than twice monthly.
To help eliminate fine particles of dirt/grit that act like sandpaper and will scratch any floor, vacuum or sweep as needed.
Wipe up spills immediately.
Do not use any cleaning products other than the ones recommended in these instructions.
Use walk-off mats at entrance doors and in front of kitchen sink. Avoid rubber backed or other non-ventilated mats or rugs.
In possible reoccurring wet spill areas, such as the sink, use a rug in front of those working areas to prevent local premature wear.
Install proper protectors under “feet” of furniture.
Furniture will require different types of protectors in order to achieve maximum weight distribution.
Resilient pads such as those made of felt, flexible rubber, and saucer-shaped plastic glides will work for most furniture.
Caster wheeled chairs should have wide casters. A protective mat should be used under office chairs.
Maintain a minimum humidity level in the room.!If necessary, use a humidifier.!Never use tape or other adhesive products on this surface.
Periodically check floor for signs of wear.
When signs of wear are visible, it is time to renovate your floors following the instructions above.

Provided by USfloorsllc.com