Wooden floors have been well-loved across history for a lot of reasons. They’re sturdy, they’re gorgeous in any home, and they bring a touch of nature indoors for everyone to enjoy. But if there’s one thing that tops the charts, it’s their shine.
Beautifully polished wooden floors are a sign that someone has put a lot of love and care into their home. Not to mention, polishing helps the floors last longer so that they can be enjoyed well into the future.
If you have a set of wooden floors, you know they need a regular polish to keep that shine up. Wood polishing is our bread and butter here at Floorsanding, so in this blog post, we’ll take you through how to polish wood floors, including the biggest dos and don’ts of the industry.
How to Polish Wood Floors
Before we dive into the “dos” and “don’ts”, let’s run through a quick guide on how to polish wood floors. We do this all day, every day, so we’ve got the steps down to a science. That said, we’re working with professional equipment and materials, so the guide below is more geared toward a DIY polisher.
1. Clean them thoroughly, first with a broom and then with a mop and a neutral cleaner designed for wooden floors, working in sections to make sure you get the entire expanse.
2. Let the floors dry completely (you don’t want to put polish down on damp floors).
3. Sand down any major imperfections. This step isn’t necessary every time, but if you’ve left a long time between polishes, it’s a good way to keep your floors healthy.
4. Pick out the right polish and apply it carefully.
5. Let the polish cure completely before walking or bringing furniture back inside. Cure times on different polishes can vary, so make sure to consult the back of the product you’re using for what the manufacturer recommends.
Keep in mind, this is a dirty, dusty job, and it will take a long time to tackle on your own (especially if your whole home has wooden floors). Not only do professionals tackle the work quickly, but we also clean up after ourselves and point out any important repairs or wooden floor restoration opportunities as we go.
That said, if you’re sticking with the DIY route, there are a few things to keep in mind.
The “Dos” of Polishing Wood Floors
DO give your floors a good clean first
Before you kick in with the polish, make sure the floor is properly cleaned. Sweep, vacuum, and mop (just a damp mop though, not sopping wet) to get rid of dust and grit. Polishing over dust is a big no-no, because all it does is trap the grit and make your floor feel like sandpaper underfoot.
DO choose the right type of polish
There are a lot of different polishes out there, and the most important thing when it comes to how to polish wood floors is to pick out the right mixture. If your floors have a polyurethane finish, go for a water-based polish. If they’re oiled or waxed, you’ll need something that’s made to suit.
Not sure what finish you’ve got? Test a small patch in a corner to see what it does to the wood (better safe than sorry).
DO work in small sections
Divide the room into small chunks and work your way through. It makes life easier, especially around edges and tricky spots like baseboards.
DO use a microfibre applicator
Grab yourself a clean, dry microfibre mop or applicator. These spread the polish evenly and don’t leave behind any annoying lint or streaks. It helps to buy these new and give them a thorough wash before you start, as this will get rid of any lint clinging from the manufacturing process.
DO ventilate the space
Even with low-VOC or water-based products, it’s important to open windows and keep air circulating while polishing to make sure your lungs stay healthy. On top of that, this helps the polish dry evenly and speeds up curing.
The “Don’ts” of Polishing Wood Floors
DON’T use household cleaners before polishing
Steer clear of supermarket cleaners unless they’re made for wood floors. Some of them leave behind residue or contain chemicals that mess with the polish. Many places sell cleaners designed for wooden floors, so make sure to trust these first and foremost.
DON’T apply too much product
It’s tempting to pour on loads of polish, but it’s actually better to do thin coats. Too much product can lead to a streaky, tacky finish that takes ages to dry. If you notice your polish is pooling at all, you’re using too much.
DON’T walk on the floor too soon
You’ll notice most floor polishes hardening enough to touch within the first hour or so, but don’t let that fool you. It will take up to two days for the polish to fully harden, so only step on the floors after a few hours of curing, and don’t bring furniture back into the room until a couple of days later.
DON’T polish the floors too often
Most people look up how to polish wood floors because they think you need to do it every month, but that’s not the case. You don’t need to polish your floors all the time. For most Kiwi homes, twice a year is ideal. Any more and you could actually end up with a build-up that dulls the shine.
When in doubt, get in touch with a professional for a free consultation. Even if you don’t get them to do your floors, it’s worth having a professional cast their eyes over the panels if you’re tackling the job for the very first time.
Take your time, use the right polish, and be sparing with your materials; your floors will thank you for the effort.
Trust the experts to put the shine on your floors.
There’s nothing better than giving your wooden floors a good polish, except getting the professionals to do it for you. We’ve been topping the charts in the wooden floor polishing game for over a decade, so you can be sure we’ll be in and out in no time and leave a sparkle behind.
Count on us for superior floor polishing. Get in touch for a free quote today.