How to care for parquet, parquet boards, how to wash, what products to use

Regular cleaning of parquet is a prerequisite for maintaining the coating in a well-groomed condition and maximizing its service life. Considering that we are talking about natural wood, which is often capricious and requires special care, it is worth knowing about some cleaning features. What products are suitable for wood, how to use them correctly and how often? More on this below.

You must be very careful when cleaning parquet so as not to damage the coating.

Rules for using parquet

Since parquet consists of wood, it retains its properties - it expands when the ambient humidity level increases and shrinks when it decreases. This affects the type of coating: during the heating season, gaps may appear between the boards, and in the warm season, individual planks increase, making the surface uneven. To avoid such problems, you need to monitor the humidity level in the room and, if necessary, adjust it. Optimal conditions: temperature – 18-25 °C, humidity – 45-65%.

If the humidity level has dropped, you can use a humidifier. An easier method is to place several open containers of water around the room. If the recommended value increases, it is enough to ventilate the room.

To protect the surface from damage, you need to promptly clean it from dust and sand. Solid particles scratch the top layer of the coating, causing the shine to disappear and the parquet to become dull. Laying a hard-pile rug in front of the front door will help reduce the amount of sand. In addition, you should give up house shoes with heels, and put on special pads made of dense soft material on furniture legs. This will prevent scratches.

Protective and decorative compositions from the store

Maintenance is not limited to washing the floors: it is recommended to systematically cover the parquet with special substances that prolong the life of the floor.

Parquet wax

This type of surface treatment tool allows you to very quickly and effectively “fix” various scratches on the board, allowing you to restore not the entire surface, but only the necessary points, without leaving visible boundaries.

Important: the product does not interfere with air circulation and is highly waterproof.

There are several categories of parquet wax:

Bun. Easiest to use. To apply it, just arm yourself with a spatula.
Liquid. The advantages include the absence of the need for preliminary preparation of the substance, as well as the ability to treat hard-to-reach places.
Solid. It allows you to adjust the shade of the surface depending on the amount of injected water required to obtain the desired consistency.

This is interesting: there are also types of wax that allow you to change or emphasize the shade: transparent, darkening, brightening.

Varnish

The varnished coating has a sufficient number of disadvantages:

this is not a “breathable” coating;
sensitive to temperature changes;
quite a labor-intensive application procedure.
are subject to mechanical stress, so special bearings must be secured under furniture legs;

Features of caring for different types of parquet

The parquet board consists of a base made of wood of various species and a special protective coating. Cleaning methods for different types of hardwood floors vary.

Oak parquet

A board made of oak does not tolerate prolonged contact with water, so you need to wash it quickly using a well-wrung out cloth. Conventional detergents cannot be used; you need to choose formulations that are intended for oak surfaces. Any products that contain ammonia should be discarded - they can damage the coating.

Expert opinion

Anton Makarov

Expert of our site. She has been selling and installing floor coverings for over 7 years. Can give really valuable advice.

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It is important to remember that ultraviolet radiation negatively affects the condition and appearance of oak parquet, so curtains should be hung on the windows in the room where it is installed. It is recommended to lay carpets in areas of the floor where the greatest load occurs. This will protect the coating from scuffing.

Parquet board

Parquet boards have a more complex structure than parquet. Its base is made of coniferous wood, and the outer layer is made of valuable wood. The top layer is quite thin, so this type of floor covering can only be scraped once during its entire service life. Therefore, you should handle the parquet board especially carefully: immediately remove any dirt, and if the slightest scratch appears, restore the protective surface.

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Oiled parquet

Before you wash oiled parquet, you need to learn how to do it correctly. Do not use universal detergents. Only special formulations containing oils are used. They carefully remove dirt from the surface, restoring the protective oil film, refreshing the parquet, giving it shine.

It is recommended to wash this type of flooring as rarely as possible - for residential premises it is enough to do this every 3 months, and the rest of the time remove dust and dirt with a vacuum cleaner.

The protective layer must be renewed periodically. To do this, you do not need to clean off the old coating; the new composition is applied directly to it. First, the floor is cleaned and washed, wait until it dries, and then oil is applied with a roller or brush.

Parquet covered with wax

A parquet board covered with wax cannot be wiped with soapy water: alkali can cause a change in the color and appearance of the coating. For wet cleaning, special products containing wax are used. Light stains can be removed by dry cleaning.

When washing wax-coated parquet, you need to be especially careful to ensure that no water remains on the surface after cleaning - this causes gray spots to appear on the surface. After washing, the floor should be wiped dry with a soft cloth. Then it is treated with any wax-based protective agent.

Periodically (for residential premises - twice a year) the wax film on the parquet needs to be renewed. This can be done even at home, without inviting a specialist.

Folk recipes

Parquet floors are not a new invention; our distant ancestors knew how to maintain unpainted wood in a brilliant, well-groomed condition. Home remedies are quite affordable and effective.

White clay

Clay diluted to a thin paste will return the parquet to a fresh look and shine. Apply the mixture in a thin layer to worn, damaged areas of the floor and leave for 5-7 minutes. Then rinse with lukewarm water.

Starch

Dry starch pulls oil stains out of wood. It is poured onto the stains, pressed with your hand, covered with a thick cloth and rubbed with a heated iron several times.

Ammonia

Ammonia dissolves many contaminants. They remove stains from drinks and old blood. Lightly moisten the swab and apply it to the stain without using excess product. Then wash with water and detergent.

How to care for artistic parquet

Artistic parquet is made from boards of different types of wood, color, texture; also during assembly they use additional elements from various materials (metal, amber and others). This must be taken into account when cleaning - the detergent must be safe for all materials. The floor should be washed only when it becomes dirty; dust and small debris should be collected with a vacuum cleaner. If you don't have a vacuum cleaner, use a broom with soft bristles.

Artistic parquet needs to be coated with mastic - the surface is rubbed with this product to protect it from damage and add shine. Mastics vary in composition: they are water-based, wax, turpentine.

Expert opinion

Anton Makarov

Expert of our site. She has been selling and installing floor coverings for over 7 years. Can give really valuable advice.

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Mastic is selected taking into account the type of wood, type of varnish and other factors. It is difficult to choose the right product on your own; it is recommended to entrust this to a professional. Otherwise, you can ruin the expensive coating.

Varnished parquet

Varnished parquet needs regular treatment with polishes: 2 weeks after applying the varnish, and then every 4 months.

By the way, you can read about how to varnish parquet here:

The polish can be:

colorless or impart a tint to the coating;
for matte and glossy surfaces.

Before applying the composition, the floor is cleaned of dust, dirt and stains. It is important to wash away any remaining detergents previously used. After this, polish is applied using a special brush. It is important to process the entire surface at once, without interruptions, otherwise the boundaries of the areas will be noticeable.

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Removing a stain from a felt-tip pen or permanent marker

These stains can also be removed using one of the methods described below.

Method No1. Isopropyl alcohol

Step one . Pour a small amount onto a paper towel and then begin wiping the stain. As a rule, it only takes a couple of minutes to completely remove the latter.

The stain is wiped with alcohol

Step two . Use little force to remove stains. It usually disappears after intense rubbing.

Use a little effort to remove the stain

Method No2. Nail polish remover

Step one . Apply a thin layer of this liquid to the desired area of the parquet floor.

Liquid is applied to the stain

Step two . After this, using a paper towel, vigorously rub the stain.

The stain is wiped off with a paper towel

Method No3. Expo marker

Step one . To begin, take this marker and use it to draw lines along the stain you want to remove.

Lines are drawn with an Expo marker

Step two . Then wipe the stain, again, with a paper towel. This procedure should help remove stains even from a permanent marker.

Wipe the stain with a paper towel

Method No4. Toothpaste

Step one . Take toothpaste and apply it to the desired area of the hardwood floor. It will act as an abrasive, so you can easily remove the stain using a brush.

Toothpaste is applied to the stain

Step two . Next, take a brush (not too hard) and start cleaning the stain.

Removing stains with a brush

Step three . Then wipe the desired area of the floor with a damp cloth or rag. If you do everything correctly, the parquet will look the same as before

Use a damp cloth

Table. Replacing parquet boards is a last resort.

Steps, photo	Description of actions
Step one	If none of the described methods yielded results, all that remains is to replace the fragment (if the stain really greatly affects the attractiveness of the parquet).
Step two	To do this, remove the stained board in order to install a new one in its place (the same one or, as an option, as similar as possible).
Step three	Clean the new board thoroughly. Apply a layer of stain or varnish to it in the same color as the rest of the floor. This way the board won't stand out too much.

Parquet care products

Specialized household chemicals for parquet care are divided into 2 types:

detergent compositions that clean the surface from dust and other contaminants;
polishes that eliminate minor imperfections (scratches, discoloration) and protect against external influences.

Detergents

The composition is selected taking into account the type of parquet.

Name	Parquet type	Purpose
VerMeister Soap.Oil	Covered in oil	Detergent for removing dust and dirt. Leaves a protective film on the surface
VerMeister Detergente Neutro	Varnished	Concentrated cleanser. Does not require rinsing
Idronet	Varnished	Concentrated composition for removing dirt and protecting wooden surfaces from damage
Bona Care Cleaner	All types	Concentrated composition. Non-toxic, does not require rinsing. Adds shine to the surface, copes with various types of dirt
Pallmann Clean	Varnished or oiled	Concentrated composition for cleaning parquet. Does not require rinsing
Kraft Zwerg	Varnished	Removes dirt, adds shine, disinfects surfaces

Protective compounds

Polishes are applied to previously cleaned floors. The frequency of their use depends on the composition and is indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging. As a rule, such products are used no more than 1-2 times a month.

Procedure for polishing:

apply a little product to a soft cloth;
rub a small area of the floor until the composition is completely absorbed and shine appears;
treat the entire surface sequentially.

Name	Parquet type	Purpose
Osmo Wachspflege	Covered in oil	Creates a water-repellent protective coating, eliminates minor damage
Vici Lux	Waxed	Protective compound for polishing and adding shine. Forms a film on the surface that is not washed off with water. Available in 3 variants: clear, brown and orange
Emsal	All types	Creates a protective film that protects boards from swelling, refreshes color, and helps mask minor surface imperfections
HG	Varnished	Gives water-repellent properties, protects against scratches and abrasions, adds shine, eliminates slipping

Regular parquet maintenance

Once every 1-3 days, the parquet needs to be cleaned of dirt and dust. If you do not do this, dirt will get into the joints between the boards, and you will have to disassemble the covering to put it in order.

Cleaning is carried out according to the following scheme:

Large debris is collected by hand.
Put a soft attachment on the vacuum cleaner (preferably a special one designed for parquet) and vacuum it. A regular vacuum cleaner is used for cleaning; it is not recommended to clean the parquet with detergents.
If there are stains on the surface, remove them.

Important! Do not use a broom to remove dust - hard rods can leave microdamages on the coating, which will increase over time, shortening the service life of the board.

What to do with darkened areas?

If you find dark areas on the parquet, it means that the wood of the boards in these places has simply lost its appearance. In this case, the only way to remove dark spots is to ride a bike.

The main stages of parquet scraping

How to properly clean parquet

Wet cleaning

Wet cleaning is carried out approximately once a week or as the coating becomes dirty. Before washing the parquet, you need to prepare equipment and select detergents.

To work you will need:

mop;
microfiber cloth;
a bucket for water, preferably with a wringer;
detergent;
protective composition.

The bucket is filled with clean warm water and detergent is poured in the proportion indicated on the label. Stir and put a rag in there. Wring out the rag thoroughly so that no water drips from it. Use a mop to wipe the entire surface, starting with the wall farthest from the door. Corners and areas near the baseboard are treated with particular care. If drops of water remain on the floor after washing, remove them with a dry cloth.

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Service

Parquet maintenance includes cleaning, waxing and other procedures.

How to properly wash parquet

If you wash parquet correctly, you can avoid negative consequences such as swelling, damage to the fastening and changes in the geometry of the pattern. Parquet floors have all the properties of wood products. When wet, the planks absorb water and swell, this leads to a change in the geometry of the installation pattern and disruption of the attachment of the parquet flooring to the base or substrate. To avoid such damage, use a damp cloth rather than a wet one when cleaning parquet flooring. After washing the floor, wipe it dry. Do not use laundry detergents or shampoos on regular floors and tiles. Use special cleaning products for parquet.

To clean hardwood floors of stuck and dried chewing gum, cool it with ice wrapped in a plastic bag. When the temperature drops below zero degrees, the gum will easily separate from the coating.

How and why to rub parquet with wax and mastics

Mastics increase the moisture resistance of parquet, improve the appearance of the floor, and protect it from the adhesion of dirt. Mastics are applied with a construction lint-free roller. The drying time of mastics is individual and indicated on the packaging. After the mastic has dried, the floors are rubbed with a cloth rag.

Professional care

Even with regular cleaning, dirt will become embedded in the flooring over time. The usual way to eliminate it is not possible. In this case, the use of special compounds – cleaners – is required. They cope with even the most difficult stains that have penetrated deep into the pores of the wood, and the darkening of the parquet board.

Professional care compositions:

Berger Everclear for varnished surfaces washes the floor from various contaminants; for difficult stains, use undiluted;
LOBA Cleaner for oiled parquet removes old dirt, grease stains and others;
LOBA BodenReineger for varnished surfaces has a neutral pH, leaves a pleasant smell and removes stubborn dirt.

What to rub until shiny

In order for the parquet board to shine, it is treated with special means. Rubbing allows the floor covering to maintain a presentable appearance for a long time.

Cleaning detergents from the store

On the shelves you can find a lot of offers for caring for parquet boards, which are selected depending on the desired result. Some of them are universal cleaners not only for wooden but also other surfaces. Others perform deep processing and have a nutritional effect on the material. Still others allow you to get rid of the remnants of the previous coating layer during cleaning.

Among these are:

Soap Oil;
Idronet;
Parquetpro.

Parquet cleaning

During operation, various liquids fall onto the floor surface. Some of them leave traces that are difficult to remove. Complex contaminants are removed with special potent compounds or improvised means.

From stains

Before you clean parquet floors from dirt, you need to find out the type of dirt in order to choose an effective product. It is recommended to first try the chosen method on an inconspicuous (hidden by furniture, for example) area of the floor before trying to remove the stain. Only if the coating has not changed color and structure should they begin to clean the stained area.

Folk remedies for eliminating stains on parquet floors:

Marker or felt-tip pen stains. A cotton pad is moistened with white spirit and gently wiped over the problem area. Afterwards, wash off the residue with a damp cloth.
Shoe marks. You will need a piece of nylon fabric - use it to rub off the black stripes until they disappear.
Chewing gum, drops of paraffin or wax. Apply an ice cube to the adhered mass, wait until the composition hardens, and carefully remove it with a silicone or wooden spatula.
Oil traces. To get rid of greasy stains, combine washing powder with a small amount of water, distribute the resulting paste over the stained area and rub in with gentle movements. Leave for half an hour, then wash off with a damp cloth. Old traces of grease are removed by rubbing with a soft cloth moistened with turpentine. Afterwards wipe with a damp cloth.

Some types of stains cannot be removed either with improvised or specialized means, and then it will be necessary to remove the protective layer, polishing and applying a new protective coating.

After renovation

To prevent paint and other building solutions from getting on the parquet during repair work, the coating must be covered with film. If this has not been done, you will have to remove the stains.

How to clean parquet after renovation:

Collect large debris by hand.
Remove dried plaster with a plastic spatula. You can soften it first by placing a damp cloth on it for a few minutes.
Collect construction dust with a vacuum cleaner with a soft attachment.
To remove traces of paint from unvarnished parquet, apply a cotton pad soaked in cologne or hand cream. After treatment, wipe the area with a damp cloth.
Remove traces of water-soluble compounds (water-based paint, putty, etc.) with a sponge soaked in a detergent solution.
Wipe off stubborn stains (glue, primer, polyurethane foam) with a cotton pad soaked in white spirit or kerosene.

Regular cleaning, proper care and careful handling will help keep your natural flooring looking presentable. The main thing is to choose suitable detergents and do not forget to cover the surface with a protective composition several times a year.

We wash linoleum after repair

Using the means listed above, linoleum can also be washed. It is better to exclude kerosene - not all types of coating can tolerate it. You cannot use gasoline or ammonia - not all types of linoleum are friendly with them either. These solvents, along with dirt, can also dissolve the protective coating, so we don’t take risks.

To clean linoleum after repair, you need a lot of rags

But you can add laundry soap and turpentine to the list. It is better not to use more aggressive means.