2. It’s required to use after some WOCA pretreatments.
It removes surface pigments and neutralizes surface tannins, which allows for a more uniform look and better oil absorption. Always read the WOCA product labels and follow the recommended instructions for best results.
3. For oiled floors that have been neglected, filthy and seem hopeless, sanding is not necessarily the solution.
Often, the floor can be revived by wet buffing the floor with WOCA Intensive Wood Cleaner. Repeat if necessary, until clean. Let dry completely and then apply a maintenance coat of WOCA oil.
4. For oiled floors that have been maintained with Soap and Oil Refresher, but it’s time for a maintenance coat of oil- sanding is not required.
The floor may look clean, but WOCA Intensive Wood Cleaner is imperative to remove the WOCA Natural Soap and WOCA Oil Refresher residue for best oil absorption.
5. To clean tough stains and soiled areas- clean as needed but be sure to touch up those areas with a maintenance coat of oil.
WOCA Intensive Wood Cleaner is a strong, heavy-duty cleaner and will dry out an oiled floor if used on a regular basis. WOCA Intensive Cleaner Spray is the ready to use, already diluted in a spray bottle version of WOCA Intensive Wood Cleaner. Always touch up with one of the WOCA oils to reseal the surface after using WOCA Intensive Wood Cleaner or WOCA Intensive Cleaner Spray.
6. WOCA Intensive Wood Cleaner can be diluted
Depending on the severity of dirt/filth on a floor, WOCA Intensive Wood Cleaner can be diluted in a range of 3 ounces to 6 ounces of Intensive Wood Cleaner per 1 gallon of water.
7. WOCA Intensive Wood Cleaner is NOT for regular cleaning and mopping.
It will eventually strip the finish and dry out the wood. WOCA Natural Soap is the “cleaner” to use for regular cleaning. Check out WOCA’s recommended cleaning and wood maintenance guide.
8. If a WOCA Master or Color Oiled floor is going to be topcoated with a waterbased finish
Once cured, the surface must be cleaned with WOCA Intensive Wood Cleaner to prep the surface before abrading. This prep step is mandatory for proper adhesion.
9. If a WOCA Pretreatment is going to be topcoated with a water-based finish
WOCA Intensive Wood Cleaner must be used to prep the surface before abrading. This prep step is mandatory to remove surface pigments and neutralize the sodium hydroxide which is present in some WOCA Pretreatments. This step is mandatory for proper adhesion.
10. WOCA Intensive Wood Cleaner is step 1 for most WOCA finishing projects
WOCA Intensive Wood Cleaner opens the grain and neutralize surface tannins. There are exceptions to this rule when some WOCA Pretreatments are involved. WOCA Antique Lye, Active Stain, and Driftwood Lye are dependent on the tannin in Oak for a reaction to occur. For these 3 Pretreatments, WOCA Intensive Wood Cleaner is not applied before the Pretreatment but is applied after WOCA Antique Lye, and Driftwood Lye have been de-nibbed.
11. Don't reintroduce the dirty mop water back onto the floor
When mopping with WOCA Intensive Wood Cleaner it’s important to not reintroduce the dirty mop water back onto the floor.
12. All dark wood species, particularly tropical, exotic wood species, must be washed with Intensive Wood Cleaner TWICE.
This ensures that floating color pigments and tannins are washed off or neutralized, as these may not allow the oil to fully harden and may cause water spots to show. If such spots occur, due to inadequate or sloppy mopping with Wood Cleaner (see #11), on a floor that has already been oil finished, then the floor needs another cleaning with WOCA Intensive Wood Cleaner and another application of WOCA Oil.
