TIRED FLOOR BOARDS

[HOWCLEAN]

Hello forum people.
Can anyone suggest a good (possibly natural ingredient) method to clean and restore abused floor boards that exist in a kitchen and have been spilt on by all manner of liquids or food over a 10 year period?

The boards are not beyond repair but are quite distressed which could effectively leave a dramatic look once restored.

Any help would be much appreciated as the last thing I want to do is replace or cover them as they are original boards about 60 years old.

look forward to response.

Thanks

 

[shiznit76]

white spirt should do the job, might take a bit of elbow grease though

 

[HOWCLEAN]

Hi Shiznit

So this wouldnt damage the wood in any way being a strong spirit?

 

[king.module]

white spirt should do the job, might take a bit of elbow grease though

shirly that won't get rid of water stains Et al?

 

[shiznit76]

it wont damage the flooring and will clean them up fine

 

[masona]

How about cleaning the floor with a floor belt sander (available from hire shop ) then polish off with wood wax or oil.

 

[HOWCLEAN]

dont want to use industrial tools if I can help it but thanks for the advice and may do this if all else fails.

 

[WoodYouLike]

How about cleaning the floor with a floor belt sander (available from hire shop ) then polish off with wood wax or oil.

If I understand correctly HowClean wants to keep the destressed look of the 60 years old boards (oak, by any change?)
Sanding would destroy that particular look (for which people now are willing to pay over the top for and manufacturers are cashing in on this trend by aging and destressing new floor boards artificially and chemically)

After cleaning with (indeed) white spirit apply HardWaxOil (Natural or coloured) which is suitabel for heavy traffice areas and more moist areas (like kitchens).

 

[HOWCLEAN]

Woodyoulike - thats more like it.

Cheers

 

[geoff1147]

Lift the boards, turn them over and re-lay them, nice and clean
_________________________________
Lynda, moderator

Nice idea geoff1147 but late by over 2 years please check the date a post was made before you reply.

Welcome to the forum

 

[Bluesybloo]

Hi geoff1147.

Thought Moderator's comment was a bit negative. I have come in here THREE years later than your comment, but I was searching for just such information, and it's just as useful and relevent FIVE years later than the original first query, as it was probably then.

 

[mac391]

Well said Geoff and having read the last post where the advice was to use "hardwax oil" ... had her beloved rustic floor been pine she'd be back on here asking why it had turned "orange"

Hi geoff1147.

Thought Moderator's comment was a bit negative. I have come in here THREE years later than your comment, but I was searching for just such information, and it's just as useful and relevent FIVE years later than the original first query, as it was probably then.

 

[Bluesybloo]

Hi Mac391

I have pine floorboards in my kitchen. I haven't done anything to them yet but am tired of feeding the mice underneath them with crumbs falling on the floor! So, any tips on sealing the gaps (I heard using string was used by some flooring "experts", but if it works, I'll give it a go!) and also what is the best oil to use on them? I don't want to restain them, so someting neutral and nourishing is what I'm looking for.

 

[WoodYouLike]

If your floorboard don't have T&G's using a mix of woodfiller and sand-dust will only help temporarily, eventually - due to seasonal movement - it will fall in the void again.
"Splinters" of wood could work, or indeed the -old-fashion way of string - never used it ourselves but heard success stories.

As for applying a new finish - after sanding, maximum grit 120 if you plan to oil the floor - every natural oil could turn the pine boards "ugly orange" after a while. Best it to use a colour oil, like Blanchon Golden Oak HardWaxOil which will only slightly "stain" the floor but prevents it turning orange.