How to Care for Your Timber Floors — Maintenance Tips That Work
15 January 2026
A freshly sanded and finished floor looks fantastic. The question I always get is: how do I keep it that way? Here is what actually works, based on years of seeing what goes right and wrong in Lake Macquarie homes.
Daily and Weekly Care
Sweep or vacuum regularly. Grit and sand are the enemy of timber floors. They act like sandpaper under your feet and slowly wear through the finish. A soft-bristle broom or a vacuum on the hard floor setting is all you need.
Do not use a wet mop. Damp is fine. Wet is not. Excess water seeps between boards, causes swelling, and damages the finish from underneath. Wring your mop thoroughly or use a spray mop with a microfibre pad.
Cleaning Products
Use Bona Floor Cleaner or a pH-neutral product designed for polyurethane finishes. Avoid anything with vinegar, ammonia, or bleach. These strip the finish over time and leave a dull haze that looks terrible.
Never use steam mops. I cannot stress this enough. Steam forces moisture into the timber and will cloud or peel the finish. I have had to resand floors that were damaged by steam mops within two years of being finished.
Furniture Protection
Put felt pads under every piece of furniture that touches the floor. Replace them every six months because they collect grit. Chairs are the worst offenders, particularly dining chairs that get dragged back and forth daily.
When moving heavy furniture, lift it. Do not slide it. Even with felt pads, dragging a heavy couch will scratch the finish. Get a mate to help or use furniture sliders designed for hard floors.
Dealing With Scratches
Light scratches in the finish are normal wear. They do not mean your floor needs resanding. A maintenance recoat every five to eight years will deal with surface scratches and refresh the protective layer.
Deep scratches that go through to bare timber need spot repair. Do not try to fix these with hardware store products. Call a professional. A poorly done patch job looks worse than the scratch.
Seasonal Considerations
Timber expands in summer humidity and contracts in winter dryness. In Lake Macquarie, our humid summers can cause slight cupping, and winter can open up gaps between boards. This is normal timber movement, not a defect.
If gaps bother you, gap filling during the sanding process helps, but some movement will always occur in solid timber. Engineered floors are more stable if this concerns you.
When to Call a Professional
If your finish looks worn, dull, or scratched across large areas, it is time for a recoat or resand. Do not wait until you can see bare timber. Catching it early means a simple recoat rather than a full sand, which saves time and money.
Have a look at our FAQ page for more common questions, or contact me to discuss your floors. I am happy to come out for a free assessment anywhere in the Lake Macquarie and Newcastle region.