Browse Forums Flooring & Floor Covering 1 Nov 24, 2009 5:58 pm Hi guys, Do any of you have Tasmanian Oak flooring, if so what do you recommend I use to clean my Tasmanian Oak floors? Ours are pre-finished. I have been looking into getting a steam mop, has anyone used one of these on solid timber floors? Re: What should I use to clean my Tasmanian Oak Floors 2Nov 24, 2009 7:14 pm Warm water. Nothing more. Re: What should I use to clean my Tasmanian Oak Floors 3Nov 24, 2009 7:15 pm Steam mop is fine. If you need to use a detergent make sure its ph neutral Re: What should I use to clean my Tasmanian Oak Floors 4Nov 24, 2009 7:29 pm You could use pH neutral cleaner however when it comes to re-coating whatever you have used for your floors it will react to the polishing of the floor, hence why only water/damp mop should be used. Re: What should I use to clean my Tasmanian Oak Floors 5Nov 24, 2009 8:34 pm If the cleaner is non-residual it will be fine. Floors are sanded before re-coating so any traces of dirt, oil or other foreign matter are removed anyway. Laminate floating floors even are cleaned with a water-based floor stripper or floor-prep before recoating Re: What should I use to clean my Tasmanian Oak Floors 6Nov 24, 2009 8:49 pm Yes floors are sanded prior to re-coating but does not always eliminate any contaminates that may have seeped down the cracks etc. My floors will be cleaned with no chemicals therefore ensuring the surface quality is maintained. Re: What should I use to clean my Tasmanian Oak Floors 7Nov 28, 2009 5:56 pm Hi Dollar, I like to keep chemical use to a minimum, but I think your penchant for NO chemicals is not gonna 'cut the mustard'. Basic fact is... water itself is a very poor solvent. Timber floors (like any floors) will develop a bit of a film over time, from airborne oils and other stuff in the indoor environment. Other sticky substances like sugars, fats etc may be spilled and track across the floor. Water alone will have trouble emulsifying these, and even with microfibres, will benefit from a very small amount of diluted neutral detergent. It doesn't need to be used every time, but every now and again, a good clean is required, and you cannot achieve this with a no chemicals policy. This is a fundamentally recognised fact of cleaning science. Ash. Re: What should I use to clean my Tasmanian Oak Floors 8Nov 28, 2009 9:54 pm Each to their own I guess. For longevity and future re-coats of your timber floors, keep chemicals away. We own a floor sanding business which is 3 generations old so I thought I would add my 2 cents worth. We have seen time and time again floors that have reacted to re-coats which have been cleaned with like turps, bleach, other chemicals and the like when they were clearly told not to use any chemicals. It can end up being a very costly exercise and people start wondering why their floors don't end up looking the same as when they first had it done. Anyways enough from me ranting about the floors. Re: What should I use to clean my Tasmanian Oak Floors 9Nov 28, 2009 10:59 pm Dollar, I don't doubt your experiences. Certainly, people are too ready to use (usually far too much and the wrong type of) chemicals on their floors. This often applies to carpets, tiles and other floors too. The residues can cause probs, including resoiling. But to say ' no chemicals' in one broad statement doesn't help for reasons already stated. Microfibres are great and should be totally embraced with hard floor care. Using very small amounts of a good neutral detergent provides surfactants to make the job so much more efficient at removing the film that otherwise will accumulate. About 500ml of concentrate will last the average house about 2-3 years if used about weekly. Ideally, mopping with a microfibre mop and diluted detergent solution, followed by a second mop with just hot water gives the best results. The first mop emulsifies the soil, and the second mop recovers most of the residue from the floor. Then a quick go over with a towel will further recover residual moisture. Cheers! Ash. Re: What should I use to clean my Tasmanian Oak Floors 10Jan 01, 2010 11:32 pm Are steam mops ok to use on a solid timber floor? I would like to use one but thought it would damage the wood? Sonya Re: What should I use to clean my Tasmanian Oak Floors 11Jan 02, 2010 10:01 am Brad & Sonya Are steam mops ok to use on a solid timber floor? I would like to use one but thought it would damage the wood? Sonya Hi Sonya, Steam mops, by their very nature, inject boiling hot water into your timber floor. The water will cause your timber to swell and over a period of time will also cause the product to delaminate. I always reccomend NEVER using them on a timber or laminate floor. A static mop, designed to collect dirt, hair, dust is best, followed by a "dry mop" (where the mop has been wrung out big time) is all you should need. Remember that water and wood do not mix. 2 4669 3 5580 Old Home Restoration / Renovation To reduce noise transfer without compromising the aesthetic of your exposed I beams, consider filling the 100mm gap between the I beams and the floor above with dense,… 6 9122 |