What is a good regimen for caring for Osmo-finished surfaces?

The basic maintenance plan for Osmo-finished surfaces is to frequently remove dirt, dust and debris (by sweeping, especially with a microfiber mop or vacuuming), regularly wash the surface gently and, as needed, revitalize the surface.

To remove dust and debris, sweep (especially with a microfiber mop or cloth) or vacuum.

Osmo sells a Maintenance Kit that includes two products (also sold individually) that are ideal for maintaining the great Osmo look.

For regular cleaning, Osmo’s Wash & Care is a gentle cleanser based on natural vegetable oils that cleans without drying out wood. It’s also biodegradable and free of solvents, color and perfumes. You can also use it on stone, plastic, PVC and other surfaces. (Interestingly most of the Wash & Care we sell is for floors that have never been touched by Osmo finishing oils - it’s just recommended by a lot of flooring manufacturers as an effective but gentle cleaner. So feel free to use it on non-Osmo surfaces as well.)

Over time, the surface you finished with Osmo will be subjected to wear and tear, especially “high traffic” surfaces that you walk on or use as a table every day. The protective wax barrier of the finish will wear away with your use. You can fight this erosion with Osmo’s Liquid Wax Refresher to restore the protective wax.

A product that is very similar to Liquid Wax Refresher is Liquid Wax Cleaner which works very well on tough-to-remove spots. A few differences between the products. Liquid Wax Refresher comes in a jug and Liquid Wax Cleaner comes in a tin container. Liquid Wax Refresher is a water-based version of the Liquid Wax Cleaner designed especially for those who prefer a water-based (not solvent-based) option.

Trick question:

• Q: Osmo sells a product called Maintenance Oil. Is this a product you should use in your maintenance regimen?
  A: Possibly. For spaces with high traffic - and this can mean floors in public spaces, for example - you can use Maintenance Oil to clean and refresh periodically. This can pre-empt the need to redo the floors, A: Possibly. For spaces with high traffic - and this can mean floors in public spaces, for example - you can use Maintenance Oil to clean and refresh periodically. This can pre-empt the need to redo the floors, although Polyx is great for spot-refinishing. (One of the best reasons to use Osmo products like Top Oil and Polyx is because they are really easy to reapply. Unlike polyurethane, Osmo products can be used in localized areas when a floor or other surface needs revitalization.)

The Maintenance Oil has a very quick dry time compared to Polyx Oil - 3 - 4 hours. So the answer to “What is Maintenance Oil and should I use it for routine care of my Osmo floors?” is probably no. Maintenance Oil is a quick drying thinner version of Polyx Oil. So if you are refinishing the floor of a gallery or restaurant, for example, you could go in there after closing, apply Maintenance Oil and it would be dry in the morning. It’s also a nice option if you are oiling a floor by hand because it is very easy to spread. Just bear in mind that the thinner formulation means you might be refinishing on a more frequent schedule than you would with. Polyx Oil.

• Q: What about other Osmo maintenance products?
  A: Osmo’s Intensive Cleaner is, as its name suggests, a heavy-duty cleaner that can be used for non-routine cleaning. Think of it as an alternative to sanding wooden surfaces that have a coating of waxes and oils that you want to refinish. The Intensive Cleaner will remove wax and oil, so you will need to refinish the piece with Polyx Oil or it will look dry and lifeless. Only use it if you intend to refinish the surface! You can also use this slightly alkaline cleaner for cleaning plastics, stainless steel and other waterproof surfaces in addition to wood.

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