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How to Clean an Oiled Hardwood Floor

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

Clean an Oiled Hardwood Floor

Rate: (19 Ratings)

Some older hardwood floors have oiled surfaces. To keep them in top shape, periodic cleaning and re-application of oil is necessary. It's a lot like polishing a large tabletop. Let's run through the process.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Brooms
Dustpans
Rags
Oil Soaps

Step1

Sweep or use a good vacuum to pick up any dirt and debris.

Step2

Use clean rags to apply oil soap or any cleaning oil designed for wood floors.

Step3

Apply the oil to the rag, not the floor, and wipe the floor with the wet rag.

Step4

Use firm, straight strokes going with the grain of the wood.

Step5

Spread the oil as evenly as possible to ensure that color is affected equally over the entire surface.

Step6

Change to a new, clean rag as often as needed. An average-size room will require several rags.

Step7

Let oil seep into the wood for 1 to 2 hours.

Step8

Make a second, lighter pass with the oil as needed to even up any light spots.

Step9

Continuing to buff the floor with clean, dry rags will heighten the shine and bring out the patina of the wood.

Tips & Warnings

Sweeping any hardwood floor on a regular basis will prolong the life of the finish by years.
Oil cleaners or polishes are best used on older, unwaxed and bare-wood floors only. Wax- or polyurethane-finished floors generally need only to be mopped with regular soap and water, or with water and vinegar. Add 1/2 cup vinegar to a gallon of water to keep your vinyl no wax floors clean and shining.
Pouring oil on the floor and wiping it with a dry rag may cause the oil to spread unevenly and may stain the floor.

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Comments

Anonymous said

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on 7/13/2006 Continued use of vinegar on urethane and vinyl floors will cause eventual hazing and removal of the finish. People invariably use too much vinegar, and as an acid, it will eventually damage floors.

Anonymous said

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on 12/9/2005 Our floors are 160 years old and clean up great if I wash them with shampoo or hair conditioner mixed with water, then rinse thoroughly after 20 minutes.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Always remember to clean up the excess oil. The oil tends to make the floor very slick and can cause accidents. I go over mine with a damp mop.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 A simple (Murphy) oil soap mixed according to directions and mopped once a week works well here. The floors in my old colonial are so old the nails have square heads. Vacuum frequently! Use mats at doorways. Keep dirt out and you won't have to mop it.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 You should never use an oil product to clean a floor that has a urathane top coat. The best way (maunufacturer'S recomodation) is to use 1 cup of white vinegar to a gallon of water. Wipe with a damp cloth, then let air dry.

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