How to Temporarily Restore a Worn Hardwood Floor

You've been meaning to refinish your worn hardwood floor, but moving all the furniture, renting a sander, keeping everyone out when the polyurethane dries is a big job. Meanwhile, the in-laws are on the way over and the floor is embarrassing. Here's a quick, easy and cheap fix to tide you over until the job can be done properly.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Orange or lemon oil
• mop or an old towel

1. 
    
   Ugly, worn floor

   Sweep your floor thoroughly.

2. 
    

   Apply a generous amount of orange or lemon oil to the worn area of your floor.

3. 
    

   Using a mop or old towel, rub the oil evenly into the floor. Here I used a Swiffer with an old washcloth tucked into the tabs.

4. 
    

   Let the oil absorb for at least a few hours so it does not have a "greasy" sheen. I usually do it before I go to bed the night before, so it has all night to sink in and is not slippery. The rich color lasts several weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• Orange oil is slightly more effective than lemon oil.
• Floor can be slippery after application. Either rub in thoroughly or let soak in overnight.

[EarthMother]

on 8/5/2009 How to Temporarily Restore a Worn Hardwood Floor is right on time as I am having gurst over August 16 and would like my floors to look much better. Thanks. Smile!

[skyedanzer]

on 6/17/2009 Terrific hardwood floor info!