Wood floors are a timeless, elegant decor choice for any home or office. Their natural beauty, warmth, and durability make them a popular option among homeowners. However, from the moment they’re installed, your responsibility to maintain them begins, ensuring they remain healthy, free of dust, shiny, and pleasing to the eye for as long as possible.
Unfortunately, wooden floors seem to be a magnet for dust and scratches. To remedy this, Veronica Smith, general manager at the cleaning company Milton Maids, has used her “years of experience” to exclusively share advice with Express.co.uk on how to naturally clean wooden floors. She recommends using olive oil to keep wooden floors looking their best and noted that it can be paired with another ingredient for extra cleaning power.
Veronica said, “I know this sounds more like a cooking recipe than a cleaning routine, but edible natural products are just so good at green cleaning!
“Olive oil is definitely one of the greatest polishes for wood floors. It penetrates the surface layer of sealed wood and fills up micro-abrasions/light scuffs, making them less visible.”
She explained that when one of the cleaners at Milton Maids suggested it, she was a little unsure until she saw the “subtle, non-greasy glow” it leaves on wooden floors –being “even better than usual waxes or synthetic polishes”.
It also works as a protective film on your wooden floors by slowing down dust build-up.
While olive oil can be rubbed onto wooden flooring on its own, the cleaning pro noted that it’s made better by pairing it with some white vinegar and essential oil to add a lovely fragrance to the home.
For this hack, blend two tablespoons of olive oil with one tablespoon of white vinegar, two cups of warm water, and a few drops of essential oil.
This mixture is sprayed lightly onto the floor and buffed in with a dry microfiber cloth.
To maintain the shine and condition of your wood, regular application is key. Floors may need treatment every couple of months or as needed to prevent dullness.
Be aware that overuse can lead to build-up, so always buff thoroughly to remove excess oil and keep the surface from feeling greasy.
Adjust the frequency based on your wood’s exposure to sunlight, humidity, and general wear and tear.
