Care and maintenance
How to care for timber and hybrid floors
Good floors last decades if you avoid a few common mistakes. Here's a simple routine that works.
By the Austt Flooring team · · 2 min read
The biggest cause of worn floors isn't heavy use — it's grit and the wrong cleaning products. A few simple habits keep timber, hybrid and laminate looking new for years.
Daily and weekly
- Vacuum or sweep with a soft brush head to remove grit before it scratches.
- Damp mop with a well-wrung microfibre mop and a pH-neutral floor cleaner.
- Wipe up spills straight away, especially on timber and laminate.
What to avoid
- Steam mops — heat and moisture can damage coatings and joints.
- Soaking wet mops or buckets of water on the floor.
- Vinegar, bleach, ammonia or abrasive cleaners.
- Wax or polish products not recommended by the floor manufacturer.
Preventing scratches and dents
- Felt pads on all chair and table legs — replace them when they wear.
- Mats inside and outside every external door.
- Lift, don't drag, heavy furniture.
- Keep pets' nails trimmed; see our pets and kids flooring guide.
- Close blinds in strong afternoon sun to reduce fading.
When timber needs more
Coated timber floors eventually show wear in traffic paths. A recoat (light sand and new top coat) refreshes the surface before wear reaches the timber. When scratches go into the wood itself, a full sanding and polishing brings it back to new. Read what to expect from floor sanding.
