Wooden floors have become a popular alternative to carpet in many households due to their easy maintenance, but as spring arrives, they often need a thorough clean to combat wear and tear. It is common for floors to lose their shine during this season, as warmer weather leads to open windows, allowing dust and pollen to accumulate indoors. This debris forms a thin layer that makes floors look tired and dull. If left untreated, these fine particles can gradually erode the finish, potentially causing permanent scratches.
Fortunately, Nell Regan Kartychok, a DIY expert and founder of Rhythms of Play, shares an old-fashioned cleaning trick that requires only a few drops of olive oil. She explains that olive oil is a fantastic natural cleaner for wood, and this recipe provides the best mixture to clean wood without harsh chemicals.
Why Use Olive Oil to Clean a Floor?
Adding a splash of olive oil to your mop bucket may seem unusual, but it acts as a natural polish that restores the wood's original shine. Olive oil nourishes the wood without heavy mopping, reviving its colour and leaving it looking richer. Buffing olive oil into the floor can also help disguise minor scuffs and light scratches, offering a noticeable improvement without the need for expensive products. Combining olive oil with an acidic ingredient like vinegar creates a solution that breaks down floor residue, keeping dust at bay throughout spring.
How to Deep Clean a Wooden Floor
To create the cleaning solution, you will need 400ml of water, 60ml of white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar for darker wood), two tablespoons of olive oil, and optionally, 20 drops of lemon essential oil. Lemon essential oil contains limonene, which helps cut through grease and has antimicrobial properties. However, note that essential oils can be toxic to pets, so avoid this ingredient if you have cats or dogs.
It is important to use olive oil sparingly, as too much can make the floor extremely slippery. Only a few tablespoons are needed for effectiveness.
Method
Pour the water, olive oil, vinegar, and essential oil (if using) into a 16-ounce glass spray bottle. Spray bottles are widely available in supermarkets, pound shops, garden centres, or online. Shake the bottle thoroughly before each use, then lightly mist the floor with the solution. Avoid saturating the floor, as excessive moisture can damage the wood. Mop the floor in small sections, misting and mopping as you go, to prevent any area from staying damp too long.
Once finished, run a microfibre cloth or dry mop across the floor to ensure it is thoroughly dry, which also prevents streaks. Your wooden floor should now be spotless and gleaming, ready to cross deep cleaning off your spring checklist.
