I hear you on the patchy absorption—old floors are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get. I’ve had boards that just drank up oil like they’d been stranded in the desert, and others that stayed shiny no matter what. I’m partial to hardwax oil for the same reason you mentioned: spot repairs are way less of a headache than with poly. Still, I’ll admit, the dulling in traffic lanes bugs me. I’ve tried buffing in a bit of maintenance oil every year or so, but honestly, sometimes I just throw a rug down and call it a day. At least with oil, you’re not stuck sanding the whole floor every time life happens.
“I’ve tried buffing in a bit of maintenance oil every year or so, but honestly, sometimes I just throw a rug down and call it a day.”
I hear you—sometimes a rug really is the most practical solution. I do think hardwax oil is the sweet spot for old floors, though. The way it lets the wood breathe and age naturally just feels right, even if it means you’re chasing dull spots in high-traffic areas. Poly might look flawless longer, but that plastic-y vibe never sits right with me. I’d rather deal with a little patina than lose the character.
Rugs totally save the day when you just can’t deal with floor upkeep, I get that. Hardwax oil’s been my go-to too, even if it means chasing after scuffs now and then. I tried poly once and, yeah, it looked perfect for a while, but it felt like I’d wrapped my floors in saran wrap. I’d rather touch up spots than lose that old wood vibe. Little bit of character never hurt anyone.
Title: Wood wax vs. oil finish for hardwood upkeep
I tried poly once and, yeah, it looked perfect for a while, but it felt like I’d wrapped my floors in saran wrap.
Couldn’t agree more. Poly’s all about that showroom shine, but it kills the warmth. Buyers notice when wood feels “plastic”—I’ve seen it turn people off. Hardwax oil’s more work, sure, but it keeps the charm and lets you spot-fix without a full refinish. That lived-in character actually adds value in the right market.
I get the appeal of hardwax oil, but is it really that much easier to spot-fix? I’ve heard you still have to sand a bit if there’s a deep scratch. Also, how often are you reapplying? I’m all for character, but I don’t want to be oiling floors every few months...
