How to maintain a varnished or oiled floor?

18 august 2022

Warm and aesthetic, parquet is a natural floor covering with an exceptional longevity. But to enjoy it for many years it is necessary to clean and maintain it with practices adapted to its material: wood

Depending on whether it is varnished or oiled, the appropriate maintenance and cleaning techniques will not be quite the same. Follow our professional advice and you will avoid any bad surprise.

Varnished parquet, oiled parquet: definitions

A varnished (or sealed) floor is a floor on which several layers of varnish have been applied. These layers block the pores of the wood and form a protective film on the top of the floor which acts as a resistant protective film

The oil finish consists of impregnating the floor with oils that penetrate the wood fibers and saturate its pores. Wax elements are put on the surface and protect the floor. With oil the wood’s grain and structures are pronounced and the oil gives a very aesthetic and natural look to the wood.

Whether it’s varnished or oiled, the floor does not like moisture, washing with large amounts of water or steam are therefore to be avoided.

How to maintain well a varnished parquet?

Varnished parquet is less fragile than oiled parquet and requires less maintenance.

On a daily basis: dry cleaning with a vacuum cleaner – preferably equipped with a brush tip to avoid scratches. A broom with a static cotton cloth is also very suitable.

In case of “sticky” dirt: A sponge broom or a wrung-out mop and a suitable neutral soap allow a simple and efficient cleaning of the floor.

For our part we recommend the product ” Berger Seidle Brilliance NeutralCleaner ” 

Application of an additional layer of protection:

It is possible to apply an additional layer of protection on the varnish that will restore the shine of your floor. This maintenance product, a kind of renovator, can be used in two different ways: diluted or pure.

We recommend using “Berger Seidle Brilliance Everclear” 

Diluted (follow the manufacturer’s recommendations): The cleaning product will leave a thin film on top of the varnish, which will provide additional protection to your floor. But make sure that the wash water is always clear, otherwise you will only apply a dirty film and this may create differences in color between the areas of passage – where the protective layer wears faster – and the edges of a room.

Pure: the maintenance product will form a thin protective layer over the varnish. The varnish will receive a new, uniform shine. But defects, scratches and stains will not be eliminated.

How to maintain a floor treated with oxidative oil?

The specificity of the oiled parquet being to keep the pores of the wood open to highlight the natural aspect of the wood, it requires to adapt its maintenance according to the situations you may encounter.

Daily: For dry cleaning, as with varnished parquet, you can use a vacuum cleaner and/or a static cotton cloth.

In case of “sticky” dirt: For a wet cleaning of your oiled parquet there are two products: a neutral soap (pH value of 7 units) or a washing product based on water and wax. The wax elements will provide additional protection for the oiled floor.

Take care that your washing water is always clear, you will prevent the color of your floor from darkening.

We recommend: “Berger Seidle Brillance NeutralCleaner” | “Berger Seidle Aqua Oil Care”

Over time, but especially with regular wet cleaning (even if it is done with low humidity), the oil can end up being removed from the pores of the wood. A regular wet cleaning will harm the oiled floor and it will be dry and “thirsty” much faster.

Maintenance of oiled parquet:

Oil can be reapplied to re-saturate the pores of the wood, which will refresh and protect your floor, thus increasing its lifespan.

We use “Berger-Seidle Brillance OilCare”

You can do this yourself with a cotton cloth (e.g. for your stairs) or rent a machine designed for this purpose, which is preferable for treating a whole room.

The process of applying the oil is comparable with putting cream on a human skin. The skin (like the wood of the floor) absorbs the cream (oil) it needs, so the excess that could not penetrate must be removed to prevent the skin (the floor) from becoming sticky.

To apply the oil in a furnished room it is necessary to distinguish three types of furniture.

Furniture whose entirety touches the floor (e.g., kitchen furniture or some sideboards). The machine passes flush, so the oil is perfectly applied and there is no need to move them.

Free-standing furniture. The machine cannot pass underneath them, so you have to apply the oil manually with a cloth, or move them.

For large tables or sofas, you can either move them to a previously treated area or do nothing, as the area under the sofa is not a traffic area and is not subject to wear and tear.

Warning: during the process of drying the oil chemical reactions occur between the linseed oil, the cotton of the cloth and the oxygen in the air, which create heat. Thus, a rag ball impregnated with oil which drags on the ground or worse in a dustbin can heat little by little and the phenomenon can go until the combustion. But rest assured, by following a few simple tips, this risk of incident can be avoided. Here is how:

• We provide our customers with a metal bucket with a tight-fitting lid to safely deposit the rags after use.
• You can also spread the rag(s) on a non-flammable surface outside and let the oil dry completely before safely disposing of them in your trash.

Quick advice to know if your floor is dry?

To find out if your oiled floor is dry, you can do this simple test: put several drops of water in one place and wipe them quickly with a dry cloth. If the floor has absorbed water, a color difference will appear. This is a sign that the pores are no longer saturated with oil and that your floor needs maintenance (the color difference will disappear once the moisture has evaporated.)

Conclusion

A parquet floor, depending on whether it is installed in a kitchen or a bathroom, requires more frequent maintenance than a parquet floor in a living room, a dining room or a bedroom. So, if you’re unsure about what to do to maintain your different rooms or to remove a stain, don’t hesitate to ask us for advice!

Absolutely avoid industrial and corrosive products that you use for your tiles or lino. Also, pay attention to the labeling of the products you can find in supermarkets. We advise you to use products specifically studied for parquet floors, like the ones you can find in our showroom.

Avoid microfiber cloths: 1. These fibers can indeed absorb the oil from your floor and make it dry. 2. If the fibers of this type of cloth are not “round”, they can create micro scratches and damage your floor (whether it is oiled or varnished).

If your floor has too many scratches, deeply embedded stains and its appearance is no longer aesthetically pleasing, it is possible to sand it back to the raw wood and then restore a protective layer. This intervention is heavier than a simple maintenance and is called renovation, and we will talk about it in a future article.

You have doubts about which products to buy?

Come and see us, we have all the products you need for the maintenance and cleaning of your floors. Ask us for advice and leave with the right products and professional advice.