Daily Care to Make Wooden Floors and Fittings Last

Caring for a solid-wood floor starts with dry wiping. After lifting dust with a vacuum or broom, simply wiping with a dry cloth keeps it clean enough. When you do wipe with water, use a firmly wrung cloth. A soaking-wet rag lets the wood absorb water, causing warping and darkening. Detergent is generally unnecessary too. The knack is to let the wood's own humidity-balancing ability work as much as possible.

For an oil-finished floor, applying a thin coat of dedicated oil roughly once every six months to a year brings back a moist texture and sheen. Over-application leads to stickiness, so the knack is to spread it thin and wipe off with a dry cloth. When a sliding fitting starts to drag, rubbing candle wax or a dedicated glide material on the sill makes it move lightly again. These small acts of care are the secret to living comfortably with a wooden home for years.

One of wood's strengths is that scratches and dents can often be repaired. For a shallow dent, laying a damp cloth over it and applying a light touch of iron can let the wood take in moisture and swell back, making it less noticeable. For deep scratches, it's safer to consult us than to force a fix yourself. Unlike plywood or sheet flooring, solid wood can be refinished or repaired in part — a great advantage.

At Yoshino Koumuten in Fujimino, we welcome inquiries about repairing and renovating wooden floors and fittings — from small jobs like refinishing a cutting board to replacing a floor. If you're troubled by anything to do with wood, feel free to get in touch.