This is the blog post about when we traveled around Lake Malgomaj to the village of Skansholm to scrub an old wooden floor with soap from the 1930s. Follow along to see how it turned out—and maybe you’ll want to watch the film we made too!?

 

How to clean old wooden floors with soap – gently and effectively, step by step

Old wooden floors are beautiful, full of character, and steeped in history, but they require a little care when cleaning. In this guide, we show you how to easily clean an old wooden 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 for wooden floors?

Soap is a gentle and eco-friendly alternative to harsh cleaning products. A superfatted soap, such as Soapa, 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)
• - Scrub brush, one soft and one hard
• - Dish brush (for dissolving solid soap)
• - Scrubbing cloth
• - Linen cloth with good absorbency

 

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 scrub brush for ordinary surfaces. If you have stains (such as marker, paint, or rings from furniture), use a harder brush, but be careful not to damage the soft wooden 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, cleaner, and regains its natural luster.

 

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 damp soap fat gives the wood a soft, treated surface, completely without sanding.

 

The old wooden floor now looks clean, warm, and lively, 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; 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 scrubbing floors with soap

 

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

 

Good luck

Order natural cleaning products here: Soapa