How to properly care for wooden floors?

Choosing natural wood and parquet flooring for your home is a good way to bring style to it and create a warm and cosy ambiance. However, in order for this type of flooring to serve a long time, and to look as great as it can, it must be taken good care of. Together with SIA Abschliff Latvija, we will find out what proper care of varnished, oiled and waxed surfaces involves, and what products one should use.

Varnished surface care

For varnishing, SIA Abschliff Latvija recommends environmentally-friendly and durable varnishes by Berger-Seidle. Using these varnishes, you will be able to highlight the natural appearance of the wood, and protect the surface against moisture, dirt and stress.

What should one keep in mind after varnishing a surface?

Stressing the surface is only allowed 8—14 days after varnishing. You should also avoid walking on freshly varnished floors for the first 48 hours. According to specialists, the gentler you treat the flooring during the first few days after varnishing, the better and more resilient that coating will become. During the initial 8—14 days after varnishing, only a broom or a vacuum cleaner should be used to clean the floor.

Before applying any significant loads onto the floor, coat with the undiluted L93 Everclear liquid wax. Do not apply the liquid wax sooner than 8—14 days after varnishing. If floor is dirty, clean it with the L94 Cleaner before waxing. Then, you should apply the L93 Everclear liquid wax, in a thin and even layer. Abschliff Latvija offers this product in glossy, matte, anti-static and anti-slip variants.

Everyday cleaning and care of varnished surfaces

It is not recommended to ever clean varnished floors with a very damp mop, or a steam vacuum cleaner. For everyday cleaning, Abschliff Latvija recommends using the L93 Everclear liquid wax, with 100—200 ml of this product diluted in 10 litres of warm water. You may use the L94 Cleaner product for very soiled surfaces.

How often should I use the products suggested by Abchliff Latvija, and in what quantities?

Abschliff Latvija recommends using the L93 Everclear liquid wax undiluted, with 1 litre for every 30 square metres, or diluting it for everyday care, with 100—200 ml per 10 litres of warm water. L94 Cleaner should be used in 2 situations: for everyday cleaning, diluting it depending depending on how dirty the floor is, e.g. 100—200 ml per 10 litres of warm water, or for degreasing the floor before you reapply pure L93 Everclear wax onto the floor, in which case you should dilute L94 in water 1:1. For floors that see average use, the L93 Everclear liquid wax should be applied 1—3 times a year, or even more frequently, if there is much stress on the floors.

Oiled and waxed surface care

For oiling and waxing, SIA Abschliff Latvija recommends using natural oils and care products by Avalon. High-quality professional care products will help you protect the floor against moisture, dirt and stress. It is worth remembering that after a surface is oiled or waxed, it should only be stressed after 2—4 weeks. This is the time it takes for the oil and/or wax to harden. Do not walk on the floor during the first 48 hours after treatment. During the initial 2—4 weeks, only a broom or a vacuum cleaner should be used to clean the floor. Avoid wet cleaning, dragging furniture or putting carpets on the floor.

Initial care after oiling and/or waxing

After 2—4 weeks, apply the undiluted Avalon Bodenmilch floor milk in a thin and even layer onto the surface. This product dries up in about 30 minutes. Cleaning and fully stressing the floor is only allowed after this initial treatment.

What should one keep in mind for everyday cleaning?

Do not use a very damp mop or steam vacuum cleaner for everyday cleaning of oiled and/or waxed floors. For regular cleaning, Abschliff Latvija recommends using the already mentioned Avalon Bodenmilch floor milk, with 30—50 ml of the product diluted in 10 litres of water. If the floor is very soiled, you may use the Avalon Pflanzenseife soap concentrate: dilute 40—100 ml in 10 litres of water, depending on how dirty the floor is.

How often should I re-wax the floor?

For floors with average use, waxing should take place once a year; severely stressed floors should be waxed once every three months. In extreme cases, waxing should take place regularly, at least once a month. SIA Abschliff Latvija recommends using natural waxes: Avalon Refresher, Avalon Fußbodenwachs, Classic Pflegeöl, Woca white restorative waxes. SIA Abschliff Latvija will find the best wax for every floor.

Where can I buy all I might need to take care of my wooden floors?

SIA Abschliff Latvija is the Latvian branch of a German company. It has been operating in Riga for more than 15 years, offering all kinds of top-quality products for parquet and wooden surfaces. Thanks to its extensive experience, environmental thinking and high product quality, the company is a leading consultant for architects, construction companies, wooden furniture producers, restorers, woodworkers, as well as house and flat owners who want to install, repair or restore wooden floors, treating them with high-quality materials, and learning how to care for them correctly in the future.

You can buy all of the previously mentioned and many other products at SIA Abschliff Latvija, at A. Čaka iela 107. You will also be provided with competent advice helping you buy exactly what you need!