Ciranova Maintenance Oil DIY guide
Ciranova Maintenance Oil: How to Re-Oil Your Floor
Ciranova Maintenance Oil is a top-up oil for oiled timber floors. To refresh yours at home: vacuum and clean the floor, let it dry, spray on a thin coat of oil, buff it in along the grain with a micro-fibre mop, then leave it to cure before you wash it again. No sanding needed.
New guide: how to clean wood floors, oiled vs lacquered.
What Ciranova Maintenance Oil is for
Oiled timber floors are finished with a penetrating oil that soaks into the timber rather than sitting on top like a lacquer. Foot traffic gradually wears that oil back. Ciranova Maintenance Oil is designed to top the oil up, which helps refresh the look of a tired floor and keeps the surface easy to care for.
It is made for oiled and hardwax-oiled floors only, not lacquered or UV-cured ones. If you are not sure which finish you have, our guide to floor finishes explains how to tell.
When to re-oil
Most oiled floors in a home want a refresh roughly once a year, sooner in kitchens, hallways and other high-traffic areas. The usual signs are a floor that looks dry or dull, or one that marks and stains more easily than it used to. We cover this in full in how to know when it is time to re-oil your timber floor. Top up busy zones on their own when they need it, rather than doing the whole floor too often.
Dispose of oily cloths safely
Oil-soaked cloths and mop heads can catch fire on their own as the oil reacts with air. As soon as you finish, seal any used cloths or micro-fibre heads in a plastic bag, soak them with water, and put them in an outdoor bin. Never leave them screwed up in a pile indoors.
What you need
- A sponge mop and bucket to clean the floor first.
- A micro-fibre mop to spread and buff the oil.
- A plastic spray bottle with a squirt nozzle.
- A cleaner made for oiled floors.
- A pair of socks, so you can stay off a fresh coat in shoes.
For everyday mops and cleaners, our floor-care brand FirstFloor stocks the kit.
How to apply the oil
1. Clean the floor first
Vacuum, then damp-mop with an oiled-floor cleaner so you are working on a clean surface. Let it dry fully before you start. The right products are on our floor care hub.
2. Shake and decant
Shake the maintenance oil well, then pour a small amount into your spray bottle. Set the nozzle to squirt, not fine mist.
3. Spray a thin coat
Squirt the oil onto the boards a section at a time. A little goes a long way. Keep it off skirtings and spread in the direction of the grain. Work around any heavy furniture you cannot move.
4. Buff it in
Using firm pressure on the micro-fibre mop, spread and buff the oil in evenly. Aim for a thin, even film, with no puddles or thick patches that will not dry.
5. Dry, socks only
Give the coat time to dry before walking on it, and only in socks so shoe prints do not set into the oil. Move furniture back a day or two later.
6. Let it cure
Hold off washing the floor for the curing time on the product label so the oil can fully harden, then return to your normal cleaning routine.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep it thin
- A thin coat, buffed well, beats a thick one. Too much oil stays tacky and will not cure.
- Test a small, out-of-the-way area first if you are unsure.
- Work in good light so you can see your coverage.
- Lay oiled floors after plastering and painting, and protect them from dust and paint splashes, which are hard to remove from a textured surface.
What to skip
- Do not use solvents or harsh cleaners. They can lift the finish.
- Do not scrub hard at paint or glue. Wipe paint while it is wet, or lift dried glue gently with a thumbnail.
- Do not oil a lacquered floor. The oil cannot soak into a sealed surface.
- Do not leave oily cloths lying around. Bag, wet and bin them straight away.
Handy next steps
Ciranova Maintenance Oil
The matt top-up oil for oiled and hardwax-oiled floors, the same one this guide uses.
Floor care, start to finish
Cleaners, mops and the full routine for oiled and lacquered timber floors.
When to re-oil
The signs your oiled floor is ready for a fresh coat, and how often to top it up.
Common questions
Can I use Ciranova Maintenance Oil on a lacquered floor?
No. It is made for oiled and hardwax-oiled floors, where the oil soaks into the timber. Lacquered and UV-cured floors are sealed on top, so the oil cannot penetrate. If you are not sure which you have, our guide to floor finishes explains how to tell.
Do I need to sand the floor before re-oiling?
No. Re-oiling simply tops up the oil already in the timber, so there is no sanding. Sanding back is only needed to strip and refinish a badly worn or damaged floor.
How often should I re-oil an oiled floor?
For most homes, roughly once a year, sooner in high-traffic areas or when the floor looks dry or marks easily. See our guide on when it is time to re-oil for the full picture.
Can I do it myself, or do I need a professional?
Most homeowners can do it with a micro-fibre mop and a spray bottle. For very large or commercial floors, a professional will use a buffing machine for an even finish.
What should I clean the floor with first?
Use a cleaner made for oiled floors, not a general or soap-heavy product that can leave residue. You will find the right options on our floor care hub.
More questions? See our full FAQ page.
Planning a new oiled floor?
Our European oak floors are engineered overseas to our specification and come oil-finished or lacquered. Order free samples to see the colours at home, or ask us for a quote on your space.
