Cleaning old oak floor

[PTH]

Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere.

We have a 1950's house with original oak flooring throughout the ground floor. Can anyone advise suitable cleaning methods. I've tried a few proprietary products and vinegar/water solution but nothing seems to have much effect. The main problem is that where rugs from the the previous occupiers have been removed there is a distinctly different colour to the wood, presumably this is partly from dirt, wear and light.

If I can't get the floor a bit cleaner I suppose I will have to resort to a light sanding.

Thanks in advance.

 

[2scoops0406]

You can also have 'em sand blasted, seen it done, very effective, and very very messy !

 

[WoodYouLike]

Sounds like your oak flooring hasn't seen to much maintenance in its life. The colour differences will disappear over time. It's hard to advice you from a distance: do you know what kind of finish the floor has (Lacquer, wax?)

 

[PTH]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm not sure that it has seen any maintenance, although it has survived fairly well considering. At first I though it was thin planks glued to a ply board, but, having exposed an edge when removing one of the original fireplaces it seems to be 3/4" t&g double strips giving a plank width of about 4". The planks mus be secret nailed through the tounge as there are no visible fixings, no loose planks and hardly any gap between the planks

I think it was probably waxed. I'll have a really close look at the areas that have been protected when I get home tonight.