How to care for wood flooring

Simple, honest advice from a local Taunton flooring specialist

One of the first things people ask after having a new wood floor fitted is:

“How do I actually look after it properly?”

The good news is, wood flooring isn’t hard to maintain. Most problems we see aren’t from wear and tear, they’re from using the wrong products or a bit of neglect over time.

Here’s a straightforward guide to keeping your floor looking good for years.

This is where a lot of damage comes from.

• Steam mops
  These push heat and moisture into the wood, not a good mix. 
• Too much water
  Leaves boards swollen or marked over time. 
• Harsh chemicals
  Can strip the finish and leave the wood exposed. 
• Cheap cleaning products
  Often leave a residue or dull the finish. 

If in doubt, keep it simple.

Small habits make a big difference.

• Use felt pads under furniture
  Stops scratches when things move. 
• Take care with shoes
  Especially heels and anything with grit stuck in the sole. 
• Door mats help more than you think
  Particularly in the UK where wet and muddy days are common. 

Rugs in high-traffic areas
Hallways and entrances take the most wear.

We get asked this a lot.

Wood flooring and pets can work fine, just take a few precautions:

• Keep claws trimmed (particularly big dog’s claws)
• Clean up water spills around bowls 
• Consider a more textured or matt finish to hide marks 

It’s more about managing wear than avoiding it completely.

Spills happen, especially in kitchens and busy homes.

• Wipe them up quickly 
• Don’t let water sit on the surface 
• Use a slightly damp cloth for marks 

Most modern finishes give you good protection, but they’re not waterproof.

Wood naturally reacts to its environment.

In the UK, we get:

• Damp winters 
• Drier periods with heating on 

Ideally, you want to keep indoor humidity stable.

You don’t need to overthink it, but:

• Avoid extreme dryness 
• Avoid excessive moisture 
• Normal lived-in conditions are usually fine

Over time, all wood floors will show wear, that’s normal.

Signs it might need attention:

• Dull or worn areas 
• Surface scratches building up 
• Finish starting to fade 

The good thing is that wood flooring can be brought back to life.

Depending on the floor:

• Light recoat (scrub and re -seal) 
• Full sand and refinish (refurbishment) 

We do a lot of this and it can completely transform a tired floor.

Not massively.

The day-to-day care is pretty much the same.

The main difference is:

• Solid wood can be sanded more times 
• Engineered wood has a limit depending on the top layer 

But in terms of cleaning and looking after it, treat them the same.

Just remember the solid wood floors tolerate moisture even less then engineered floors, so ensuring spills etc and cleaned up quickly is a must! 

You don’t need to be overly careful.

Wood flooring is meant to be lived on, not tiptoed around.

A few simple habits will keep it looking good without turning it into a chore.

Whether your floor just needs a bit of advice or it’s looking tired and needs restoring, we’re happy to help.

We’re based in Taunton and cover homes across the Southwest.

Get in touch for a free, no obligation quote