Hardwood Flooring Care & Maintenance

How to Keep Your Hardwood Floors Looking Their Best

Quality hardwood flooring can last for generations, but how you care for it makes a significant difference.

On Vancouver Island, hardwood floors also have to contend with seasonal changes in temperature and indoor humidity, wet winters, grit and moisture tracked indoors, pets, furniture and everyday household traffic.

At Plank + Saw, we recommend establishing a simple maintenance routine rather than waiting until your floors begin to look worn. Regular removal of dirt and grit, proper damp cleaning and periodic maintenance of the finish can help protect the wood and extend the time between professional refinishing.

Our Recommended Hardwood Floor Cleaning Products

For floors finished with compatible products, we recommend LOBA cleaning and maintenance products. LOBA produces different products for finished hardwood and oiled or waxed hardwood, so homeowners should first know which type of finish is on their floor.

For Finished / Sealed Hardwood Floors

LOBA Cleaner / Hardwood Floor Cleaner

This should be your primary cleaner for routine maintenance. LOBA recommends removing loose dirt first and then damp wiping the floor with its cleaning solution. Importantly, hardwood should never be saturated with cleaning water.

LOBA Mop / Mop Pad

A flat mop designed for LOBA cleaning and care products helps control the amount of moisture being applied to the floor.

How Often Should Hardwood Floors Be Cleaned?

For most Vancouver Island homes, we recommend following a simple routine:

  • Wipe spills and tracked-in water promptly
  • Sweep or vacuum high-traffic areas several times per week
  • Vacuum or dry mop the entire floor weekly
  • Damp clean with an appropriate hardwood floor cleaner weekly, or as required
  • Consider monthly maintenance care where appropriate for the floor’s finish
  • Periodically inspect high-traffic areas for wear, scratches or finish deterioration
  •  Professional deep cleaning, maintenance coating or refinishing as required

LOBA’s homeowner guidance similarly recommends approximately weekly maintenance cleaning and periodic care, with actual frequency determined by how heavily the floor is used.

Homes with dogs, children, frequent entertaining or entrances directly from outside will generally need more frequent dry cleaning.

The biggest rule is simple:

Use as little water as possible.

Hardwood floors should be damp cleaned, not wet mopped.

For everyday cleaning:

  1. Remove grit and loose dirt first. Vacuum using a suitable hard-floor attachment, sweep with a soft broom or use a dry microfiber mop.
  2. Remove spills promptly. Don’t allow water, drinks or wet footprints to sit on the floor.
  3. Use a hardwood-specific cleaner. Follow the manufacturer’s dilution and application instructions.
  4. Use a well-controlled damp mop. The floor should never have puddles or standing water.
  5. Allow the floor to dry before replacing rugs or exposing it to heavy traffic.

LOBA specifically notes that dirt and dust can act like sandpaper on a finished surface and recommends dry cleaning before damp cleaning. Standing water should be avoided because it can damage wood flooring.

Victoria’s wet fall and winter months create a different maintenance challenge.

Rainwater itself is only part of the problem. Dirt and grit carried indoors on wet footwear can become abrasive underfoot and gradually dull the finish.

During the rainy season:

  • Use quality entrance mats at exterior doors.
  • Remove wet footwear rather than walking across hardwood.
  • Vacuum entrance areas frequently.
  • Wipe up water and wet footprints promptly.
  • Don’t leave wet jackets, umbrellas, pet towels or boots directly on hardwood.
  • Check underneath entrance mats periodically for trapped moisture.

For homes with dogs, keeping a towel near the entrance for wet paws can also make a noticeable difference.

Wood is a natural material and responds to changes in its environment.

As indoor conditions change throughout the year, hardwood can expand and contract. Small seasonal changes between boards aren’t necessarily an indication that something is wrong with the floor.

The objective isn’t to eliminate all movement, but to maintain a reasonably stable indoor environment.

Winter

Heating can dry indoor air considerably. Extremely dry conditions may cause boards to contract and small gaps to become more noticeable.

A properly managed humidifier may help maintain a more consistent indoor environment where needed.

Summer

Warmer or more humid conditions can cause wood to absorb moisture and expand.

Air conditioning, ventilation or dehumidification can help if indoor humidity becomes unusually high.

Aim for Stability

Rather than chasing a single humidity number, homeowners should follow the humidity and temperature requirements provided by their flooring manufacturer and installer.

This is particularly important with engineered hardwood, as construction, wood species, plank dimensions, installation method and manufacturer specifications can all affect acceptable environmental conditions.

Engineered hardwood is generally more dimensionally stable than traditional solid hardwood, but it isn’t waterproof.

The same fundamental rules apply:

Vacuum regularly.

Remove abrasive dirt before it scratches the finish.

Use minimal moisture.

Never flood or soak an engineered wood floor.

Clean spills promptly.

Use products compatible with the factory finish.

Follow the flooring manufacturer’s care instructions.

This last point is particularly important. LOBA itself recommends consulting the flooring manufacturer’s instructions when using maintenance products on engineered wood because engineered products are available with many different types and qualities of factory finishes. Testing compatibility in an inconspicuous area is also recommended.

Cleaning is only one part of hardwood floor maintenance.

A few simple habits can substantially reduce everyday wear:

  • Put felt protectors underneath furniture legs.
  • Replace worn or dirty felt pads periodically.
  • Never drag furniture across hardwood.
  • Use protective mats underneath rolling office chairs where appropriate.
  • Vacuum grit and sand rather than allowing it to accumulate.
  • Keep pet nails appropriately maintained.
  • Use rugs or runners in particularly high-traffic areas.
  • Avoid rubber or other rug backings unless the flooring/finish manufacturer confirms they are compatible.
  • Lift heavy furniture rather than sliding it.

One of the biggest enemies of hardwood is grit.

Tiny particles of sand and dirt can become abrasive when walked across repeatedly. Regular vacuuming is therefore one of the easiest ways to protect a floor.

Newly finished floors need time to cure before rugs are placed back down or the floor is subjected to normal use.

Always follow the curing instructions provided by Plank & Saw for your specific finish.

Once the finish has fully cured, rugs are a great way to protect entrances and high-traffic areas. Move rugs and furniture occasionally where practical so the floor is exposed more evenly to natural light.

Wood naturally changes colour over time, and areas continuously covered by rugs or furniture may age differently than exposed areas.

Large windows and beautiful natural light are common features of Vancouver Island homes, particularly older and heritage properties.

However, UV exposure can gradually change the colour of natural wood.

Depending on the species, some floors darken while others become lighter or warmer over time.

Blinds, curtains and UV-filtering window treatments can help reduce prolonged direct exposure. Occasionally moving rugs and furniture can also help the floor age more evenly.

Unless specifically approved by the flooring or finish manufacturer, avoid:

Steam cleaners

The combination of heat and moisture can potentially damage hardwood flooring and its finish.

Excessive water

Never soak or flood hardwood floors.

Abrasive cleaning pads

These can scratch or dull the finish.

Household cleaners not designed for hardwood

General-purpose cleaners can leave residues or potentially affect the finish.

Wax or polish on incompatible finishes

Never assume that a product labelled “wood polish” is appropriate for your particular hardwood floor.

When in doubt, use the maintenance system recommended for your specific finish.

Cleaning removes dirt. It doesn’t restore a finish that has already worn away.

Contact Plank & Saw if you begin noticing:

  • Significant dulling in high-traffic areas
  • Finish that appears to be wearing through
  • Widespread scratching
  • Discolouration that doesn’t disappear after cleaning
  • Exposed or unprotected wood
  • Water damage
  • Movement or changes that seem excessive
  • A floor that no longer improves with normal cleaning

Addressing finish wear before the bare wood is significantly damaged can sometimes make restoration simpler.

For heritage hardwood floors in particular, preserving the existing wood should be the priority wherever practical.

Weekly

Vacuum → Inspect → Damp Clean if Necessary

Remove grit throughout the house, check high-traffic areas and use a compatible hardwood cleaner when the floor needs it.

Monthly

Inspect → Clean → Maintain

Take a closer look at entrances, kitchens, hallways and other high-use areas. Perform the appropriate maintenance care for your particular finish when required.

Seasonally

Humidity → Mats → Furniture → Finish

As the seasons change, check your indoor environment, clean entrance mats, inspect furniture pads and look closely at the condition of your floor’s finish.

Every Few Years

Professional Assessment

There isn’t one refinishing schedule that applies to every hardwood floor. Traffic, pets, wood species, finish, maintenance and household use all affect how quickly a floor wears.

Having the floor assessed before the protective finish is completely worn through can help preserve the original hardwood.

Every hardwood floor is a little different.

Solid versus engineered construction, wood species, age, existing finish and previous refinishing work can all influence how a floor should be maintained.

This is especially true in Victoria’s heritage homes, where Plank & Saw regularly works with older hardwood floors that deserve a more careful approach than simply sanding everything down and starting over.

If you’re unsure which cleaner to use, what finish is currently on your floor, or whether your floors need maintenance or refinishing, contact Plank & Saw. We can help you determine the appropriate next step for protecting your floors.

For homeowners who want the manufacturer’s detailed instructions, LOBA also maintains a Canadian library of hardwood cleaning and care documentation. LOBA Canada Care & Maintenance Guides