Oiled wooden floors: cleaning, care and re-oiling
An oiled wooden floor has that warm, matt surface that many choose precisely for its natural look. The trade-off is that it requires a little more daily attention than a lacquered floor. In return, the floor rewards your efforts: the oil can be refreshed again and again, even locally, without the entire floor needing to be sanded down.
This guide is about the ongoing care of oiled floors: cleaning without wearing down the oil, re-oiling at the right time, and the signs that indicate sanding has become necessary. If you have a floor that has just been sanded and treated, special rules apply for the first few weeks. We have covered these in the guide on care of a newly sanded wooden floor, so here we will focus on everyday life thereafter.
At a glance: Keep an oiled wooden floor in good condition with a cleaner suitable for oiled floors and re-oil every 1 to 3 years, depending on wear. If water soaks into the surface instead of forming beads, it may need fresh oil. Sanding is needed when damage reaches the wood itself. Our standard floor sanding, including a standard finish, costs 175 kr per m2 including VAT from 36 m2. A light surface refresh is assessed and quoted separately.
What does the oil do for the floor?
The oil penetrates the pores of the wood and protects the floor from within, instead of forming a film on top. Lacquer creates a hard film on the surface; oil saturates the wood itself and leaves an open, matt surface where you can still feel the texture. This is why an oiled floor feels more natural underfoot.
The open surface also explains why oiled floors are easy to repair. A scratch or a worn area in front of the sofa can be treated locally with a little oil, whereas similar damage to lacquer usually means a larger area needs to be sanded and re-lacquered. The downside of this flexibility is that the oil gradually wears down from foot traffic and cleaning. Maintenance, therefore, involves keeping the wood saturated so that it does not become dry, grey, and rough.
How do you clean an oiled wooden floor daily?
With dry cleaning as a basis and a well-wrung mop with oil floor soap as a weekly supplement. It sounds simple, and it is, as long as you use the right products and keep the water quantity down.
First, remove sand and grit
Sand and grit wear down an oiled floor more than anything else because the grains act like sandpaper under shoes and chair legs. Sweep or vacuum with a brush attachment a couple of times a week, and more often by the entrance door and in the hallway, where most dirt enters. A good mat on both sides of the front door catches a large part before it reaches the floor.
Wash with soap for oiled floors
Use a floor soap specifically designed for oiled wooden floors. It cleans gently and simultaneously deposits a small amount of oil, which continuously maintains the surface. All-purpose cleaners and other alkaline products are too harsh; they break down the oil and leave the floor dry and susceptible to stains.
Wring the mop out thoroughly so that the floor is only lightly damp and dries in a few minutes. Standing water is a wooden floor's worst enemy because it penetrates the joints and can cause the boards to swell. If you spill something, wipe it up immediately.
The floor should be kept free from
- Water allowed to stand on the surface
- Steam mops, which are both too wet and too hot for oiled wood
- Unsuitable strong cleaners, including limescale removers and degreasers
- Wax and polish, which close the pores and block future oil treatments
- Scouring pads and steel wool, which scratch the surface
How often should an oiled floor be re-oiled?
As a general rule, every 1 to 3 years: a living room with normal traffic typically manages with re-oiling every second or third year, while hallways, kitchens, and commercial premises often need fresh oil every year. The interval is indicative, as it is the floor itself that tells you when the time is right.
Keep an eye out for these four signs:
- Water penetrates: drip a little water on the floor. If it beads and can be wiped off, the oil layer is intact. If it absorbs and leaves a dark spot, the protection has worn down.
- Grey and matt surface: the floor loses its lustre and looks dry, especially in high-traffic areas.
- Rough to the touch: raised wood fibres mean the wood lacks saturation.
- Stains that won't go away: water rings and discolouration that cleaning doesn't affect are embedded in the wood itself.
Use the same type of oil as used in the original treatment, or a product compatible with it. If you mix types, you risk a surface that neither adheres nor saturates properly.
Can you re-oil the floor yourself?
Yes, in most cases. If the floor is merely dry and dull but otherwise even and without deep damage, a meticulous homeowner can easily manage a re-oiling. Here's how:
- Clean the floor thoroughly with oil floor soap and let it dry completely.
- Lightly sand the surface with very fine sandpaper, grit 240-320, to open the pores. No wood should be removed, only the outermost, worn layer.
- Apply the oil in a thin, even layer in the direction of the wood grain with a mop, sponge, or lint-free cloth.
- Allow the oil to penetrate for 20-30 minutes, then wipe off all excess with a clean cloth. Oil left on the surface will result in a sticky film.
- If the floor is very thirsty, you can apply another thin layer after 24 hours of drying time.
If you are unsure about the type of oil, or if the floor is scratched, stained, and uneven, professional treatment is likely a better investment. The entire care routine for both oiled and lacquered floors, from weekly plan to annual cycle, can be found in our guide to maintaining your floor.
When is re-oiling not enough?
When the damage is in the wood itself: deep scratches, black spots, water damage, and a surface that is rough and uneven, no matter how thoroughly you clean it. In these cases, the floor must be sanded down to fresh wood before a new treatment can properly penetrate. Even a well-maintained oiled floor will reach that point eventually; expect a full sanding approximately every 10 to 15 years, depending on the wear and tear.
Our standard floor sanding costs 175 kr per m2 including VAT from 36 m2, including a standard finish. Standard oil and lacquer finishes use the same rate. As illustrative calculations, 65 m2 costs 11.375 kr and 80 m2 costs 14.000 kr, including VAT, before any separately agreed additional work. A light surface refresh requires its own assessment and quotation. Read more about our floor sanding service.
Is an oiled floor harder to maintain than a lacquered one?
It requires more regular care, but it is much easier to repair. A lacquered floor can go 5-10 years or more with no treatment other than cleaning; however, worn-through lacquer usually means the entire surface must be sanded and re-lacquered. Oil needs to be renewed more often, but you can do it yourself, zone by zone.
| Parameter | Oiled floor | Lacquered floor |
|---|---|---|
| Daily cleaning | Soap for oiled floors | Neutral cleaner or clean water |
| Treatment interval | Re-oiling every 1-3 years | Typically 5-10 years or more |
| Local damage | Can be repaired spot by spot with oil | Often requires sanding the entire surface |
| Appearance | Matt and natural | From matt to glossy, more uniform look |
If you are considering switching from one treatment to another, or need to choose a treatment for a newly sanded floor, we review the pros and cons in the article on lacquering vs. oiling wooden floors.
Get an honest assessment of your floor
Are you in doubt whether your floor just needs fresh oil, or if it's time for sanding? Send a couple of pictures and a short description of the floor's condition, or call us at 20 98 88 11. We will reply within 24 hours and honestly tell you if re-oiling is sufficient. If sanding is needed, you will receive a fixed price before work begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of soap should I use for an oiled wooden floor?
Use a cleaner or floor soap recommended for your particular oil finish. Avoid unsuitable all-purpose cleaners, limescale removers and other strong products that can damage the finish. Follow the oil supplier's maintenance instructions.
How often should an oiled floor be re-oiled?
As a general rule, every 1 to 3 years. A living room with normal traffic typically manages with re-oiling every second or third year, while hallways, kitchens, and commercial premises often need treatment every year. Test the floor with a drop of water: if it absorbs, it's time.
May I use wax or polish on an oiled floor?
No. Wax and polish form a film that closes the wood's pores, preventing future oil treatments from penetrating. Stick to products specifically labelled for oiled wooden floors.
How can I tell if the floor needs oil?
The clearest signs are that water is absorbed into the wood instead of beading up, that the surface looks grey and dry, and that the floor feels rough. Stains and water rings that don't disappear with cleaning also indicate this.
When should an oiled floor be sanded instead of re-oiled?
Sanding becomes relevant when there are deep scratches, water damage or rough areas in the wood itself, rather than wear in the oil alone. Some floors can go 10 to 15 years between full sanding, depending on use and maintenance. Standard sanding with a standard finish costs 175 kr per m2 including VAT from 36 m2; a lighter refresh is quoted for the actual work required.
We operate nationwide, but most of our floor projects are in East Jutland and the capital area. Read more about floor sanding in Aarhus or floor sanding in Copenhagen, and get a fixed price for your job.