What causes a varnished floor to age?
The main cause of aging in a varnished floor is exposure to sunlight, water, and foot traffic. Over time, these factors can cause the varnish to become opaque and discolored, leading to the development of scratches, scuffs, and other forms of damage. Additionally, spills and stains can penetrate the varnish and cause discoloration, and dirt and debris can become trapped in the floor’s pores, resulting in opacity and a rough texture.
The importance of regular maintenance
Regular maintenance is crucial for keeping your varnished floor in good condition. This includes regular sweeping or vacuuming, cleaning spills and stains on the spot, and applying a new coat of varnish every few years. By following these simple steps, you can keep your varnished floor looking like new for many years. 
Essential maintenance steps for a varnished floor
Use a soft-bristled vacuum regularly
The first step in maintaining a varnished floor is to regularly use a soft-bristled vacuum. This will help remove residue that could cause an abrasive effect on your varnished floor. By removing these particles, you will prevent scratches and maintain the beauty of your floor.
Maintain relative humidity and temperature
To stabilize the movement of your wood strips, it is important to maintain a relative humidity of 50% and a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. This will help keep your floor in the best possible condition for as long as possible. Make sure your heating system, fans, and air conditioning units are in working order to maintain a stable environment for your hardwood floor.
Clean with the right products
To maintain a varnished floor, it is essential to use the right cleaning products. You can purchase them in supermarkets or specialized stores. Consult our supplier section to find the right maintenance product for your type of floor. Always carefully follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and make sure to clean your floor thoroughly before using any cleaning product.
Avoid harmful substances
When maintaining a varnished floor, it is important to avoid using harmful substances. For example, never use wax, household detergent, or oil-based soap, as these products will alter the protective glass layer of your floor and make cleaning more difficult. Additionally, mixtures of water and vinegar should not be used to clean varnished floors, as the acid content of vinegar can damage your hardwood.
Protect your floor from water
Water can cause irreparable damage to your hardwood floor, so it’s important to protect it against water. One of the main causes of water damage is placing a plant directly on your floor. To prevent this, we suggest placing mats or rugs in areas at risk of water damage. Additionally, protect outdoor access points with bordered mats and avoid walking on your hardwood floor wearing high heels, as the pressure from the heels can cause damage.
Prevent scratches and scuffs
To prevent scratches and scuffs on your hardwood floor, attach felt pads to the feet of your furniture and chairs. Regularly check the condition of the felt pads and replace any that are damaged. Additionally, avoid dragging furniture or heavy objects across the floor and cover or shield areas exposed to sunlight, as prolonged exposure to intense light can alter the color of the wood.
How to clean and preserve your varnished floor?
Our extensive experience in the wood flooring industry has shown us that many people are unaware of the maintenance methods for a varnished floor. At L’Artisan du Plancher Montréal, we believe that each of our customers should have access to a maintenance guide that would allow them to preserve their renovated floor for as long as possible. For this reason, we have developed a maintenance guide for your floors. It contains several essential recommendations for maintaining a healthy varnished floor. Take a few minutes to review our maintenance instructions below and follow them rigorously. You can also consult our maintenance guide for an oiled floor.
The maintenance guide for a varnished floor:
- – Frequently use a soft-bristled vacuum cleaner to clean all residues that could cause an abrasive effect on your varnished wood floor.
- – To stabilize the movement of your wood strips as much as possible, please maintain a relative humidity of 50% and a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius.
- – An appropriate indoor temperature will facilitate the maintenance of your varnished floors. Good temperature control will allow you to keep your hardwood floor in good condition for as long as possible. This means that heating, fans, and air conditioning devices must be functional to maintain an internal environment conducive to hardwood stability.
- – Clean your parquet with the right maintenance products for your varnished or oiled floor. You can find them in large retail stores or specialized shops. Check our Supplier section and locate the maintenance product corresponding to your type of floor. Always spray small quantities at a time and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations rigorously. Always ensure that the surface is free of dirt before cleaning your varnished parquet, as you could damage it. Use a clean mop: foreign objects could cause scratches on the varnish.
- – Never use wax, household detergent, or oil-based soap on a varnished floor. These products hinder maintenance as they alter the protective varnished layer of your floor and make cleaning difficult. They can also tarnish, attack, or oxidize your floor. Mixtures of water and vinegar are not recommended for washing varnished or oiled floors. The acidic content present in vinegar acts as an aggressive agent when it comes into contact with your wood floor. It is therefore important to use a maintenance product specially designed for the type of finish that covers your wood floor. A cleaning product for varnished floors will not be appropriate for cleaning an oiled floor, and vice versa.
- – Water can cause irreversible damage to your wood strips and can make them irretrievable afterwards. This is one of the most frequent problems encountered by our workers when they perform floor sanding work. Never place a plant directly on your wood: it will probably form a permanent ring. This is one of the main causes of water damage. When such a situation occurs, we must perform a floor repair where the damage occurred. We suggest placing mats or rugs in areas where there is a risk of water damage.
- – Protect exterior access points with edged mats. During the winter, your boots carry snow containing calcium from the salt that cities spread on streets to melt ice. This calcium directly attacks the varnish by drying it out and stripping it of its protective properties.
- – Attach felt pads to the legs of your furniture and chairs to prevent scratches on your hardwood floor.
- Periodically check the condition of the felt pads and replace those that are damaged. Avoid sliding chairs with casters on your wood surface. Only slide these chairs on a rug or carpet specially designed for this purpose.
- – Never walk with high heels on a hardwood floor. High heels are so small that the pressure can easily reach 3,500 pounds per square inch (about 250 kg/cm²). Remove your shoes to walk on your surface and put on slippers. The part in contact with the ground should be smooth, non-abrasive, and preferably cushioned.
- – Do not drag/slide furniture or heavy objects on the floor. Always lift furniture that needs to be moved or transported.
- – Cover or install curtains in areas that are overexposed to sunlight. Prolonged or repeated exposure to strong light can alter the color of the wood. The color change of hardwood is a natural phenomenon. Wood species with a pale hue may undergo even more noticeable color changes.
Conclusion
By following these maintenance steps, you can maintain a varnished floor that will be as beautiful as the day it was installed. Remember to regularly use a soft-bristled vacuum cleaner, maintain relative humidity and temperature, clean with the right products, protect your floor from water damage, and prevent scratches and scuffs. If you have questions or need additional information, please consult our maintenance guide for an oiled floor.
*To the best of our knowledge, the information contained in this document is accurate. As conditions and maintenance methods may vary, no guarantee is given on the recommendations and the final result. It is the responsibility of the user/owner to verify the suitability of the methods and ensure adequate preservation of the maintained areas.
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