How to wash and clean wooden floors
Wash your wooden floor with a well-wrung mop, lukewarm water, and a product suitable for the surface: neutral floor cleaner for varnished wood, care product or oil soap for oiled wood, and floor soap for soap- or lye-treated wood. First, vacuum, then wash along the grain of the wood, and dry thoroughly to prevent standing water. Keep steam mops, brown soap on varnish and oil, and chlorine completely away from the floor.
- 175 kr/m2Including VAT and a standard finish, from 36 m2
- 24 hoursResponse with fixed price
- Workmanship guaranteeOn all performed work
Contents of this guide
- The most important things in brief
- How to wash a wooden floor correctly
- Is your floor varnished, oiled, or soap-treated?
- Which product and how often for each floor type?
- How to clean a parquet floor without damaging it?
- What should never be applied to a wooden floor?
- What does incorrect washing cost in the long run?
- When does washing no longer help?
The most important things in brief
- First, vacuum or sweep. Sand and grit act like sandpaper when the mop glides over them.
- The mop must be so well-wrung that the floor is dry again within one minute.
- Gulvfakta, published by Gulvbranchen under Dansk Industri, explains that wooden floors are sensitive to excess water regardless of finish. Use as little water as possible and dry off any remaining moisture (accessed 2026).
- Product according to surface: neutral floor cleaner for varnish, care product or oil soap for oil, floor soap for soap and lye.
- Washing will not save a worn-out floor. It then needs sanding, and the number of sandings is limited by the thickness of the wear layer.
How to wash a wooden floor correctly
Wash the wooden floor in six steps with as little water as possible and a product that matches the surface treatment. Gulvfakta's guidance on cleaning wooden floors (accessed 2026) recommend sweeping with a soft broom or vacuuming with a soft brush attachment, and only washing with a well-wrung cloth when sweeping is no longer sufficient - and always drying thoroughly afterwards.
- Vacuum with a soft attachment, or wipe the floor with a dry microfibre mop. Sand and grit must be removed before water is applied.
- Mix lukewarm water with the product suitable for your surface. Dose on the lower side of the instructions on the bottle.
- Wring the mop thoroughly. It should be damp, not wet. There should be no streaks of water left behind the mop.
- Wash along the grain of the wood so that any streaks follow the grain instead of going across.
- Change the water when it becomes murky. Dirty water leaves a grey film on the floor.
- Wipe with a dry cloth or mop if there is still moisture. Oiled floors should be polished afterwards with the care product recommended by the oil supplier.
If you use a bucket with a wringer, wring twice. It takes five seconds and is the single most effective way to avoid streaks.
Is your floor varnished, oiled, or soap-treated?
Place a drop of water on the floor in an inconspicuous spot and wait 30 seconds. If the drop remains like a pearl, the floor is varnished. If it slowly penetrates and darkens the wood, the floor is oiled. If it is absorbed quickly and the surface is light and matt, the floor is soap- or lye-treated.
The finish determines which cleaner to use. Gulvfakta refers to the supplier's instructions: use a suitable cleaner for lacquered floors and the oil supplier's recommended care product for oiled floors. Your floor's own documentation takes precedence over general advice, including this guide. If a dull finish needs renewing, see our comparison of varnishing vs. oiling wooden floors.
Which product and how often for each floor type?
The surface treatment determines the product, water quantity, and re-treatment. Varnished floors tolerate the most water, oiled floors require a care product or oil soap and subsequent polishing, and soap-treated floors need a soap that seals the wood's pores. The table summarizes the choice of product according to Floor Facts and frequencies according to our own practice.
| Surface | How to recognize it | Product in wash water | Washing in a normal home | Re-treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varnished | Water drop remains like a pearl. Uniform, slightly shiny film | Neutral floor cleaner, sparingly dosed according to manufacturer's instructions | Every 1-2 weeks in living room and bedroom, 1-2 times a week in kitchen and hallway | New sanding and varnish when the varnish film is worn through to bare wood |
| Oiled | Drop slowly penetrates and darkens the wood | Care product or oil soap according to oil supplier's instructions, polish afterward | Every 1-2 weeks, more often in the kitchen | Re-oiling as needed, often every 1-2 years with normal wear. Can be spot-repaired |
| Soap- or lye-treated | Light, matt, and rough surface. Drop is absorbed quickly | Floor soap that seals the wood's pores | Weekly in rooms with daily use | Soap washing is the maintenance itself. Sanding when the wood is grey or stained |
| Engineered parquet with a thin wear layer | Narrow strips in a pattern, thin top veneer on board | As the surface dictates, but with even less water | Every 1-2 weeks, never with a wet mop | Fewer sandings available than solid wood |
The frequencies are our practical recommendation for a normal home, not a norm. If you have dogs, children, or an entrance directly to the street, the kitchen and entrance floors will increase in frequency, while the bedroom can easily suffice with vacuuming for several weeks.
How to clean a parquet floor without damaging it?
Clean parquet with the same care as other wooden flooring and keep water use to a minimum. Engineered parquet has a layered construction, and moisture entering the joints can cause swelling or separation. Use a nearly dry mop and a cleaner suitable for the finish; avoid steam mops and unsuitable all-purpose cleaners.
The season also plays a role. Gulvfakta's review of general conditions for wooden floors (accessed 2026) assumes 20 degrees Celsius as a reference temperature and states that the average humidity content in the air during the most humid period, late summer, can reach 65 percent RH with a resulting moisture content in the wood of 12-13 percent. The wood is already working throughout the year, and extra water from a wet mop adds to that movement. If the floor is on underfloor heating, there is even less room for excess moisture. If a parquet floor needs more than washing, you can see what is possible under sanding of parquet floor.
What should never be applied to a wooden floor?
Five things damage more Danish wooden floors than ordinary wear and tear: steam mops, brown soap on varnish and oil, chlorine, all-purpose cleaner, and a mop with too much water. Gulvfakta from the Danish Woodworking Industry (accessed 2026) states that wooden floors are sensitive to water regardless of treatment, and that drying thoroughly is always necessary.
- Steam mop: forces hot moisture into joints and under the lacquer. The damage is often permanent.
- Brown soap on varnished or oiled floors: strongly alkaline and does not belong on these surfaces.
- Chlorine and scouring powder: bleach the wood and leave matt areas that can only be removed by sanding.
- All-purpose cleaner: over time creates a sticky film that binds dirt.
- Oil-soaked rags: Gulvfakta directly states that oil-soaked rags must be destroyed or stored safely to prevent spontaneous combustion. Place them in water or destroy them immediately after use.
If you have an oiled floor, continuous oiling is more important than washing itself. We have compiled the routine in the guide on maintenance of oiled wooden floors, and if you want it to run automatically, there is a fixed oil maintenance plan available.
What does incorrect washing cost in the long run?
Incorrect washing does not cost money the day you wash - it costs wear layers, and the wear layer is a limited resource. Every time a floor is completely sanded down, a part of the wood is removed, and a floor can only be sanded a certain number of times. Floor manufacturer Junckers states in its comparison of solid wood and engineered parquet (accessed 2026) specific numbers for how many times different floors can be sanded.
| Floor type | Thickness or wear layer | Number of sandings in its lifetime | What it means for washing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid parquet floor | 14 mm solid wood | Can be sanded 5 times | Tolerates the most, but each water damage still costs a sanding of the room |
| Solid parquet floor | 22 mm solid wood | Can be sanded 8 times | Largest margin. Junckers states that well-functioning solid floors over 50 years old are not uncommon |
| Engineered parquet | 3.6 mm wear layer on board | Can be sanded a maximum of 3 times | Smallest margin. One avoidable water damage can use a third of the floor's total reserve |
The point is not a specific monetary amount, but that the reckoning is made in wear layers. On a 22 mm solid floor, a single extra sanding is manageable. On engineered parquet with a thin wear layer, the same sanding is a significant portion of all the floor can ever tolerate. Prices for specific square metres can be found in the overview of what floor sanding costs per m2.
When does washing no longer help?
When the varnish is worn through to bare wood, when stains are dark and penetrate the wood, or when the floor has turned grey in high-traffic areas, washing is no longer the answer. Then the floor needs to be sanded and treated anew.
Standard floor sanding costs 175 kr per m2 including VAT from 36 m2, including a standard finish. Smaller areas use fixed prices, and the final quotation confirms the floor condition and any additional work. Standard lacquer, oil, lye and soap finishes share the same base rate. See when a wooden floor needs sanding and how to care for a newly sanded floor.
If you'd like us to inspect your floor, you'll get a fixed price before work begins, a response within 24 hours, and a workmanship guarantee on the execution. See our services under floor sanding and floor treatment, or call 20 98 88 11.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I use a steam mop on my wooden floor?
No. A steam mop forces hot moisture into joints and under the varnish or oil, and the damage manifests as bulges, white stains, and loose planks. Gulvfakta from the Danish Woodworking Industry (accessed 2026) states that wooden floors are sensitive to water regardless of surface treatment, and that drying thoroughly is always necessary. Use a well-wrung mop instead.
Can I use brown soap on a varnished floor?
No. Brown soap is strongly alkaline and does not belong on varnished or oiled surfaces, where it leaves a dull, sticky film. Use neutral floor cleaner for varnished wood and a care product or oil soap for oiled floors. Floor soap belongs on soap- and lye-treated wood, where it seals the wood's pores.
How do I remove white water stains?
On an oiled floor, stains can often be spot-repaired: lightly sand in the direction of the grain and oil the area so it blends with the rest of the floor. On a varnished floor, the damage is in the varnish film itself, and spot repair is rarely possible. Then the room typically needs light sanding and re-varnishing, which is why it is cheaper to avoid stains than to remove them.
How often should a parquet floor be washed?
In the living room and bedroom, washing every 1-2 weeks is sufficient, while the kitchen and entrance often need washing 1-2 times a week. This is Øens HåndværkerCentral's practical recommendation for a normal home. Vacuum in between. Gulvfakta recommends sweeping or vacuuming first and only washing with a well-wrung cloth when sweeping is no longer enough.
When can a newly sanded floor be washed for the first time?
Wait until the treatment is fully cured. The curing time depends on the product, number of coats, and room temperature, so follow the instructions on the oil or varnish. Gulvfakta consistently refers to the supplier's own instructions. Until then, a vacuum cleaner and a dry mop will do the job, and you will avoid embedding dirt into a surface that is not fully cured.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a steam mop on my wooden floor?
Can I use brown soap on a varnished floor?
How do I remove white water stains?
How often should a parquet floor be washed?
When can a newly sanded floor be washed for the first time?
- Gulvfakta, Gulvbranchen under Dansk Industri: Cleaning of wooden floors (accessed 2026)
- Gulvfakta, Gulvbranchen under Dansk Industri: General conditions for wooden floors (accessed 2026)
- Junckers: solid wood or engineered flooring for private homes (accessed 2026)
- Træinformation: Free publications on wooden floors, including TRÆfakta 10 on sanding and TRÆfakta 14 on wooden floors and indoor climate (accessed 2026)
Øens HåndværkerCentral
We sand and treat floors, stairs, balconies, wooden decks, and worktops - based in Aarhus Ø and working nationwide. You get a fixed price before work begins and a workmanship guarantee on the work performed.
Do you live in Aarhus or Copenhagen? See our local pages on floor sanding in Aarhus and floor sanding in Copenhagen with price examples and references from your area.