How to care for a newly sanded and restored wooden floor

You've had your floor sanded and refinished and it looks fantastic. A little care now will keep it that way for years. Here's our simple guide to looking after a newly restored wooden floor.

The first two weeks

Finishes need time to fully cure. For the first couple of weeks, treat the floor gently: avoid washing it, hold off on putting rugs back down, and lift rather than drag furniture into place. Walking on it in socks is fine almost straight away — it's wet cleaning and heavy loads that need to wait.

Everyday cleaning

• Sweep or vacuum regularly with a soft brush head to lift grit
• Clean with a well-wrung, barely-damp mop — never a soaking wet one
• Use a pH-neutral wood floor cleaner, not household detergents
• Avoid steam mops, bleach and vinegar, which damage the finish

Protecting your floor

• Stick felt pads under chair and table legs
• Use doormats at entrances to catch grit
• Add rugs in high-traffic areas and under rolling chairs
• Keep indoor humidity reasonably stable to limit movement
• Trim pets' claws to reduce scratches

Oiled or lacquered — slightly different upkeep

An oiled floor benefits from being re-oiled now and then in busy areas, which keeps it nourished and refreshes the look. A lacquered floor just needs regular cleaning, and a re-coat every several years if it starts to look worn. Not sure which you have? Our post on oil vs lacquer explains the difference.

When to call us back

If your floor starts looking tired in walkways, a maintenance coat or re-oil is far cheaper than a full restoration and brings it straight back to life. Just get in touch and we'll advise.