It is imperative to the long-term success of your floors to only clean with the specific, recommended cleaning and maintenance products, as well as follow the directions for each product. Other cleaning products not specifically recommended, or incorrectly using the recommended products, may damage your floor.
The following instructions are specifically for OIL-FINISHED floors. If you are unsure about how your floor is finished, please contact your flooring salesperson.
We recommend using Rubio Monocoat (RMC) for all your cleaning and maintenance needs of oiled floors. Suggested cleaning and maintenance products may be purchased through your Sawyer Mason dealer, or an authorized Rubio dealer. A full list of Rubio’s maintenance products, dealers and instructions may be viewed at Rubio Monocoat’s website.
Post Installation
It is recommended to apply a coat of RMC Universal Maintenance Oil. This product is used for protecting and refreshing the finish of your Sawyer Mason oil finished floors. This additional coat of oil is not required for the warranty, but we find that people with busy households often choose this option to add extra layer of durability.
RMC Universal Maintenance Oil is offered in many color tones. The most common color tone to choose is simply the ‘Pure’. Use of a colored maintenance oil will modify the existing color of your installed floor and should be tested on a sample piece prior to purchase or use.
Before applying the maintenance oil, the floor must be cleaned. It is recommended to use an experienced flooring installer to apply Maintenance Oil. Read the follow instructions as well as the video link before beginning the process.
View the application video here.
To begin cleaning post installation, use a microfiber hardwood floor sweeper and/or vacuum with soft brush attachment to remove dust and particles.
Using a microfiber mop and RMC Natural Soap and water, clean your floors following the dilution directions on the back the bottle. Allow the floor to sufficiently dry before proceeding to the next step.
Using a floor polishing machine, pour a small amount, no more than ¼ cup, of oil onto the floor. Use a white polishing pad on the floor polisher and cover as much floor as possible for five minutes.
Application Notes:
Each .5L bottle of oil covers 750 sf, so gauge accordingly.
RMC Maintenance Oil may NOT be diluted!
Do not overuse product to avoid the floors from becoming too heavy with oil and sticky.
For corners and next to baseboards, apply oil by hand and buff off by hand.
- After applying the oil for five minutes, now it’s time to buff.
- Attach a clean white polishing pad onto the floor polisher and buff off excess oil on the area you just treated. Remember, you can never buff off too much oil.
- You can also use a white terry cloth towel in addition to the white pad to buff the floors. Lay a clean white towel under the white pad and buff the oiled section. When the towel becomes coated with oil, use the other side or use a new towel.
- After buffing the section of flooring, go back and repeat buffing with the white pad and a towel until the towel is free of oil and the floor is dry to the touch. Avoid walking on any section that has been treated.
- Continue applying oil in sections, repeating the above process, until the entire area has been treated. Each treated area should be buffed dry within 10-15 minutes of application. Never allow treated floors to dry for more than 15 minutes before buffing off excess oil!
- Allow the floor to dry 6-8 hours before walking on it or adding furniture. Wait one week to lay down area rugs to allow the finish to fully cure.
- During the first week, clean only using a wet cloth. Later, diluted RMC Natural Soap may be used.
- The frequency of using this product will depend on the intensity of the floor traffic. Keep any unused Maintenance Oil to buff out minor scratches in your flooring.
WARNING: Cloths, saturated with oil, may spontaneously combust. Cloths need to be soaked in water before disposal.
Weekly Maintenance
Sawyer Mason Wide Plank flooring of all finished types should be regularly swept or vacuumed in order to remove dirt, dust and grit from the surface of the floor.
Furthermore, the floor should be cleaned once a week using water and a dilution of Rubio Monocoat (RMC) Soap, accompanied by a clean microfiber mop, following this procedure. RMC Natural Soap was developed to remove dirt and grease without leaving a film, all the while retaining the matte look of your oiled floor.
- Use by mixing 1⁄4 cup of RMC Natural Soap into a gallon of cold water. The mix ratio is 66 parts water to 1 part Soap. Alternatively, RMC Surface Care Spray is a premixed solution of RMC Natural Soap and water and may be used by directly misting the floor.
- When cleaning with RMC Natural Soap, the best working method is with two buckets: one with the soap mixture and one with clean water to rinse the dirt out of the mop.
- Dampen a terry cloth mop with the cleaner mixture. Clean a part of the floor. Rinse the terry cloth with clean water and wring it out. Repeat this routine on the rest of the floor.
- Always use a damp mop, and not a wet mop. Do not leave any water on the floor. Let the floor dry (approx. 15 minutes) before you walk on it.
Storage: The product can be stored for up to 12 months. Store in dry conditions and in the original packaging. Do not allow to freeze.
Spot Cleaning with RMC Surface Spray
Rubio Monocoat Surface Care Spray is a ready-to-use cleaning product for the weekly or monthly care of surfaces treated with oil. Also suitable for the easy cleaning of localized stains.
- Sweep, dry mop or vacuum your floor with a soft brush attachment.
- Spray the product on to the spot to be cleaned.
- Wipe dry with a mop or microfiber cloth
- Allow the area to dry for approximately 15 minutes
Storage: The product can be stored for up to 12 months. Store in dry conditions and in the original packaging. Do not allow to freeze.
Packaging: Available in a 750 ml spray bottle.
Treating Stains with RMC Tannin Remover
Rubio Monocoat Tannin Remover is a ready-to-use product for removing stains and spots on wood caused by a reaction to acid and water. These spots tend to occur after coming into contact with moisture and metal.
- Apply RMC Tannin Remover to the stain or spot.
- Allow several minutes for absorption.
- Use a damp cloth or paper towels to wipe off product.
- For stubborn marks, it is recommended to repeat this method as many times as needed to achieve the desired result.
- Allow the surface area to dry completely.
Storage: The product can be stored for up to 24 months. Store in dry conditions and in the original packaging. Do not allow to freeze.
Packaging: Available in a .5L and 1L spray
Restore with RMC Eco Refresh Spray
Rubio Monocoat Refresh Eco Spray is a ready-to-use revitalizing treatment oil that refreshes, restores and protects your floor. RMC Refresh Eco Spray is used when the surface feels and looks dry or rough in areas where the finish has worn due to heavy traffic. Maintenance with RMC Refresh Eco Spray will replace the oil that has worn away and add protection to that area. This can be used several times a year as needed.
- Eliminate dirt and dust from the floor. It is also recommended to clean the entire surface with RMC Natural Soap or Surface Care Spray before application of the Refresh Eco Spray.
- Spray RMC Refresh onto the surface to be treated, or apply the product with a cloth or mechanical buffer. Use a minimal amount of the product to prevent the floor from becoming sticky.
- Allow the product to react for a couple of minutes.
- Wipe the surface dry with a cloth, paper towel, or a cloth under a buffer with a white pad. Polish until the surface feels completely dry.
- Work in zones that can be fully wiped dry within 15 – 20 minutes.
- The surface can be walked on after 4 – 6 hours.
- Rubio Monocoat Refresh Eco Spray may NOT be diluted! After usage, cloths need to be soaked in water before disposal. Cloths, saturated with oil, may spontaneously combust.
Coverage: 1 liter = +/- 1,075 sf
Storage: Store in dry conditions and in the original packaging for up to 12 months
Packaging: Available in a .5L and 1L spray
Minor Scratch Repairs
Superficial scratches can be repaired with RMC Universal Maintenance Oil. Using a clean cloth, apply a small amount of oil to the cloth and buff the scratched area. Wait 2-3 minutes, then buff off excess oil using a clean cloth. Allow to dry one hour.
CLEANING DON’Ts
- Never use ammonia, vinegar, petroleum-based cleaners, wax, polish, household dust treatment chemicals, abrasive cleaners, scrubbing pads, furniture cleaners, or any other product not specifically for oil-finished floors.
- Do not wash your floors with Rubio Natural Soap concentrate without diluting with water. Excess dosages of soap can leave unwanted footprints on your freshly washed floor.
- Rubio Monocoat Cleaner is a separate product and is not intended for regular cleaning. Do not use RMC Cleaner unless you are preparing the floor for a new coat of oil.
*Always refer to the specific manufacturer instructions for all oiled flooring maintenance and cleaning products.
WHERE CAN I FIND RUBIO?
Suggested cleaning and maintenance products may be purchased through your Sawyer Mason dealer, or an authorized Rubio dealer. A full list Rubio’s maintenance products, dealers and instructions may be viewed on their website at www.rubiomonocoatonline.com.
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