wooden stairs

Wood Stairs Restoration Tips

With our top tips, wood stair restoration doesn't have to be difficult. We've created this guide to make the whole process easier and ensure your staircase looks brand new again. 

11 July , 2023
reading time: 5 mins
Tags
Staircases

 

Tools & Resources You'll Need

Firstly, let's go over the tools and materials you'll need to restore your stairs:

Prepare the Wooden Stairs

If your wooden staircase has endured any scuffs, scratches or light gouges you can prepare it for restoration by sanding it down. Use a medium-grit sandpaper until all surfaces are even.

If your staircase is particularly worn down or has deep gouges, you may want to invest in an electric sander to speed up the process. When sanding, make sure that you wear protective goggles and a dust mask so as not to get any dust particles in your eyes or lungs.

Once you've finished sanding, use a vacuum cleaner to remove all dust particles from the surface before moving onto the next step. Here, you can use Rubio Monocoat's Cleaner which is an effective cleaning solution for untreated wood. It allows you to remove small dust particles, ready for the next step in wood restoration.

Wood Staircase Restoration

Once your wood staircase has been properly prepped and cleaned, you can start the restoration process. Rubio Monocoat's Oil Plus 2C is the best choice for this stage. Oil Plus 2C is a VOC-free hardwax oil that colours and protects your wooden surfaces in just one single layer. It enhances the natural beauty of your wooden stairs, and it causes no overlaps or marks thanks to just one layer being necessary. Thanks to the molecular bonding technology that exists within the oil - it's perfect for high-traffic areas such as your staircase as it helps to create a protective barrier from dirt and damage.


In order to apply this product, beige scrubby pads work best. Simply pour a small amount of the oil onto your wood stairs and rub the solution in with the pad, as one layer is necessary - you only have to wait up to 5 minutes for the oil to bond to the wood, before removing the excess oil from the surface.

Maintaining Your Wooden Stairs

To keep your wooden staircase looking fresh, it's important to discuss maintenance and care. Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive materials as this can damage the wood. Dust the stairs weekly and use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to remove any accumulated dirt.


To achieve a thorough clean, we recommend using our All Natural Wood Cleaner. This product is a probiotic cleaner and provides long-lasting effects while preserving the natural beauty of the wood and preventing new soiling. If you need to remove any stains from your stairs, we suggest using our Stain Remover Set. It's an ecological and easy-to-use kit that can effectively remove difficult stains.


To maintain and refresh the protection of your wooden stairs that was treated with Oil Plus 2C, you can use Universal Maintenance Oil 2 Mix. To use Universal Oil 2 Mix, you should mix it with Oil Plus 2C component A in the same colour that was used on the wooden surface. The ratio of Universal Maintenance Oil to Oil Plus 2C should be 3:1. In terms of maintenance, regular dusting and wiping down of surfaces is recommended.

Top Tips to Keep in Mind

  • Always wear protective gear such as face masks and safety goggles when sanding and using chemicals
  • Clean your staircase regularly using Rubio Monocoat's All Natural Wood Cleaner to ensure that dirt doesn't build up on the surface
  • Use Oil Plus 2C to colour, protect and enhance the natural beauty of your wood stairs
  • Avoid using harsh cleaning products - they can damage the wood
  • Refresh the protection with Rubio Monocoat's Universal Maintenance Oil 2 Mix every 12-18 months.

By following these steps you'll be able to restore your wooden staircase in no time. With regular maintenance, you can keep your staircase looking fantastic for years.