You have chosen to purchase a new parquet, adapted it to the environment where you live and work based on the advice we provided, carefully maintained it and taken useful precautions to keep it in good condition.
Knowing the allies of your wooden floor is important, but equally valuable is the knowledge of its numerous enemies.

Parquet does not like steam

You might be tempted to clean the parquet with a cleaning machine or a steam mop.

This would be a serious mistake because, although these systems are certainly valid and effective on other types of surfaces, they are not suitable for wooden floors.
This is because the heat generated, along with the large amount of water, risks affecting and seriously damaging the boards, thus compromising their appearance and quality. For a deep cleaning, it is better to use specific products, preferably entirely natural, organic, and without chemical solvents.

Wooden floors cannot withstand alcohol (nor ammonia and bleach)

Parquet does not like aggressive treatments and products: therefore, bleach, alcoholic solutions, and ammonia should be avoided.

At Woodco, we advise against using these products even if diluted, because they end up removing the protective surface layers of the wood, resulting in the boards becoming porous and losing their waterproof characteristics.
Furthermore, as is well known, bleach has whitening properties that are highly undesirable for parquet, because, in this case too, the natural protection of the wood is lost, and unwanted stains may appear, impossible to remove.

Moreover, a serious threat is posed by products with a pH that is too acidic or too basic, which are characterized by aggressiveness and are therefore detrimental to parquet.

The perfect parquet with little water, plenty of air…and no DIY

You might come across suggestions from those who recommend using vinegar or baking soda, which parquet, on the contrary, fears because they are aggressive and potentially harmful, just like all abrasive, foamy, acidic, and corrosive substances.

It is better to carry out the periodic cleaning of the boards with a vacuum cleaner with special brushes or electrostatic wipes, staying well away from abrasive brushes.
As for water, be careful to use it sparingly: you should not pour it directly on the parquet, which should be wiped with a damp and well-wrung cloth.

If the parquet has been treated with oil, then you will need to renew the treatment, always with oil, periodically. If the original finish is varnish, the advice is to use polishing solutions and emulsions preferably wax-based, to keep its lacquer in good condition. Last but not least, a trick is to frequently ventilate the rooms where the parquet has been laid, as wood is a living material and breathes, and not to leave it covered by carpets for too long.