For oiled or unfinished bamboo floors, the best options are specialized hardwax oils that penetrate the grass fibers to protect from within, such as Osmo Wood Wax Finish Extra Thin. For general maintenance of oiled bamboo, dedicated products like Houe Bamboo Care Oil are recommended to protect against UV fading and moisture.
Bamboo flooring tends to be sensitive to harsh cleaners, but the material is sustainable enough to Clean Naturally. Avoid using oil or bleach, which can damage the finish, and follow the flooring manufacturer's guidelines.
Bamboo floors can be damaged by harsh chemicals, so you should always use a pH-balanced cleaner. It's also important to avoid cleaning with oil, soap, ammonia-based cleaners, wax-based products, bleach, and acidic materials such as vinegar, as these can damage the bamboo.
Also avoid using oil soaps (like Murphy Oil Soap, which might be good for hardwood but not bamboo) and citric-based liquid dish detergent or the floor can become dull, streaked, or hazed.
Get a more thorough clean than sweeping, and clean hard-to-reach areas with a vacuum or microfiber mop. When mopping, lightly mist your floor with a gentle floor cleaner and mop along the grain. If floors are looking dull, restore the shine and renew your floor's protective layer with floor polish.
Bamboo flooring is relatively hard wearing and durable but after years it can start to become dull and tired looking. To revive its natural beauty, you can get a professional to sand the surface of the bamboo and re-lacquer it. This will immediately bring back its lustre and sheen.
Yes, Dawn dish soap can be used on wooden cutting boards, including bamboo and acacia, as long as you: Use a small amount of diluted soap, not neat gel left on the surface. Scrub for less than 60 seconds per side. Rinse thoroughly for at least 10 seconds so no bubbles remain.
Select the Proper Cleaner
Choose a pH-neutral bamboo or hardwood floor cleaner suitable for sealed finishes. Avoid vinegar, ammonia, or abrasive cleaners — they can damage the protective coating and dull the surface over time.
The Best Oils for Wooden Floors
Cleaning bamboo floors isn't difficult; in fact, it's very similar to cleaning regular hardwood floors. The key is always to use a slightly damp mop in combination with an approved hardwood floor cleaner for polyurethane finishes. Swiffer wet-jet mops work well, as do microfiber mops.
Bamboo flooring is sensitive to moisture and humidity fluctuations, which can lead to warping, swelling, or shrinkage. This makes it less suitable for areas prone to moisture, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. Proper sealing and regular maintenance are essential to mitigate moisture-related issues.
Oil Sealer
Oil sealers have been used for centuries to seal and finish floors. Oil sealers have a couple of great things going for them: they are easy to apply, and spot touch-ups are incredibly simple. Another nice benefit is that because the oil penetrates the wood or bamboo, it enhances the color and grain patterns.
Should you use a Swiffer Wet Jet on bamboo? Nope! It's best to spritz your microfiber mop head with a pH-neutral hardwood floor cleaner. If you spray the cleaner directly on the floor, it can seep into the seams between boards and damage the floor over time.
Safe oils for bamboo boards
A wooden floor mop is the ideal partner for bamboo flooring. It offers a gentle but effective clean with an easy to use handle. We would recommend using a Bona Spray Mop. It has removable and washable, microfibre cleaning pads, with a spray bottle attached to the handle.
Cleaning & Maintaining Bamboo Flooring
Fertilising bamboo with home remedies
The slurry is finally ready when it stops bubbling. Everything is diluted with water in a ratio of one to ten and the plant watered with it. Other home remedies such as coffee grounds also provide untold amounts of nitrogen.
Never use wax or furniture polish. Furniture polish, oils and waxes can leave a slippery residue on you bamboo floor so should be avoided. A PH neutral wood floor cleaning spray is ideal as it will clean your floor without leaving any residue or streaks.
For best effects, we recommend you oil wooden floors and doors every 2 years.
So if you're looking for a wood oil with either a matt finish, or being 100% natural and environmentally friendly is key, then Tung Oil is the best bet. Otherwise, for most surfaces we would actually recommend Danish Oil as it dries quicker and provides a harder wearing finish to wood.
Yes. Dish soap is a mild cleaning solution that can be safely used to clean hardwood floors. For best results, mix ¼ cup of dish soap into a bucket of warm water. After mopping with Dawn, mop again with just water to remove the excess soap.
Simply mix one part white vinegar to four parts warm water, and apply to a microfiber flat mop until it's damp. Natural remedies can work just as well as synthetic ones when it comes to bamboo floor cleaning!
Bamboo plants are heavy eaters. Beginning a month after planting, feed bamboo with Miracle-Gro® Shake 'n Feed® All Purpose Plant Food, which contains natural ingredients to help feed plants both above and below the soil. Be sure to follow label directions.
With proper maintenance, bamboo floors can last up to 30 years with a typical lifespan between 10 and 25 years.