10/21/2013
Copy of Hardwood Floors Magazine article :
Q&As: Penetrating Oil Maintenance
Going Gray
I got a call from a homeowner who just moved into his house and tried using his usual wood floor cleaning product (from a wood flooring manufacturer) on his wood floor. He said the floor started to turn gray. What would cause this?
Brett Miller, director of certification & education for the National Wood Flooring Association, answers:
It sounds like the existing finish on that floor was likely a penetrating oil finish. As these finishes are becoming more popular again, we’re seeing more problems with homeowners attempting to use typical wood floor maintenance products on them and damaging their finish. Usually penetrating oil finish turns a grayish or milky color when it comes into contact with a standard wood floor cleaner. The solvents in these cleaners actually break down the waxes and/or oils and can damage the finish.
Once the damage is done, the good news is that it’s usually relatively easy to repair the floor by re-oiling it with the finish. Once repaired, the floor must be maintained with the recommended maintenance product (often referred to by the manufacturer as a soap or oil). Many times these maintenance products are a derivative of the actual finish; they are designed to be part of the finishing system.
One way to identify a penetrating oil finish is by looking at the finish build on the floor. Penetrating oils won’t appear to have very much build, because they soak into the wood. When in doubt, it’s best to try any new maintenance product in an inconspicuous spot like a closet before cleaning the entire floor with it.