This is the blog post about when we traveled around Lake Malgomaj to the village of Skansholm to soap-scrub an old wood floor from the 1930s. Read on to see how it went—and perhaps you’d also like to watch the film we made!?

 

How to clean old wood floors with soap – gentle and effective, step by step

Old wood floors are beautiful, unique, and full of history, but they require a little care when cleaning. In this guide, we show you how to easily clean an old wood floor with soap and the right tools, without damaging the surface. We tested the method on an original floor from 1934, and the result was fantastic!

 

Why use soap on wood floors?

Soap is a gentle and environmentally friendly alternative to harsh cleaning products. A superfatted soap, such as Västerbottenssåpa, cleans effectively while leaving a protective, soft surface that preserves the floor’s natural feel. Its high pH dissolves biological and greasy dirt without drying out the wood.

 

What you need:

 

• - Superfatted soap (solid or liquid)
• - Lukewarm water (not too hot)
• - Scrubbing brush, one soft and one stiff
• - Dish brush (for dissolving solid soap)
• - Scrubbing cloth
• - Linen cloth with high absorbency

 

Here’s how to do it – step by step

1. Prepare the cleaning solution
Dissolve solid soap in lukewarm water using a dish brush, or apply liquid soap directly to the cloth.

 

2. Scrub the floor
Use a soft scrubbing brush for regular surfaces. If there are stains (such as marker, paint, or furniture rings), use a stiffer brush, but be careful not to damage the soft wood floor.

 

3. Work section by section
Divide the floor into smaller sections and work your way forward. Apply soap, scrub the surface thoroughly, and spend extra time where there are stains.

 

4. Wipe with a linen cloth
Use a linen cloth to wipe up water and dirt. It has high absorbency but can be difficult to wring out, so it’s a good idea to have an extra cloth ready.

 

5. Let the floor dry
When you are finished, let the floor air-dry. You will see a big difference after just one scrubbing. The floor becomes lighter and cleaner and regains its natural lustre.

 

The result: A clean, light, natural floor
After cleaning, all the stains disappeared, including those from marker pens and crayons. The floor retained its natural patina but became noticeably lighter. The moist soap fat gives the wood a soft, treated surface, entirely without sanding.

 

The old wooden floor now looks clean, warm, and full of life, just as it should in an older house. And best of all? You did it with gentle, natural products.

 

Tips for those with old wooden floors

 

• - Test on a small area first if you are unsure of the type of wood.
• - Avoid water that is too hot, as it can dry out the wood.
• - Scrub regularly to keep the surface clean and fresh.
• - Repeat as needed; for stubborn stains, you can treat the same area twice.

 

 

Important when soap-scrubbing floors

 

• - New floors should ALWAYS be treated according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
• - Soap-scrub for surface treatment using cold water.
• - Always use a superfat soap, not cheap soap from the grocery store; it dries out the wood instead of treating it. Linseed soap and Västerbottenssåpa are examples of superfat soaps. Watch out for pine-based soap!
• - If you are scrubbing an old floor to make it 1. clean and 2. treated, you need lukewarm water to dissolve stains and remove dirt. Once you have scrubbed the floor clean, soap-scrub it / wipe the floor with superfat soap and cold water to create a protective surface with a nourishing effect.
• - Use a natural-material scrubbing brush with the right level of stiffness; it won’t damage the floor, and natural material (wooden floor) plus natural material, brush is an equation that adds up 😉
• - Wipe with a good cloth.
• - Scrub one section at a time.
• - Wet the floor one section at a time and scrub each section afterward, working your way through the room.
  

 

Good luck

Order natural cleaning products here: Västerbottenssåpa