Undoubtedly, wood stairs are beautiful, offering a highly desirable detail for any home. However, stair treads are exposed to constant wear and tear over time, which can detract from their appeal. 

Although you don’t want to add more items to your to-do list, maintaining your wood stairs helps extend their life span. 

Ten Insider Maintenance Tips for Wood Stairs

1. Keep Them Clean!

Oof, sorry to start here, but it’s just good old-fashioned common sense. We recommend that you consider your stairs when you vacuum or clean your floors. They need the same TLC and cleaning to help maintain their look. 

Also, do you want to have all that dust building up week after week? Wood stairs are dust magnets, which can irritate allergies and worsen asthma symptoms. So, add dusting and cleaning your steps to your weekly cleaning list and enjoy cleaner air and tidier stairs. 

A quick sweep with a duster or dry mop will do the trick to keep stair treads dust free.

Why is dust harmful?

Although dust seems harmless, it consists of tiny particle debris that scratches the protective finish of your wood stairs.

How to Clean Wood Steps

On top of dusting, you should clean your steps monthly. Choose a cleaning solution safe for the type of finish on your wood stairs. You can dilute mild dishwashing liquid in water for an easy, safe cleaner. 

Apply as little liquid as possible, rinse away the detergent, and then thoroughly dry your stairs with a dry, clean, soft cloth.  

2. Never Use Abrasives

If your stairs seem sticky, you might be tempted to use an abrasive cleanser to clean up the goop. However, harsh or abrasive cleaners will damage the finish. So instead, stick with mild dish detergent, which should break down most greasy, sticky build-up.

3. Remove Waxy Build-up

Sticky steps could be related to a build-up of waxy finishes or protective seals applied too heavily. Sticky steps are even worse than dust magnets, so you should remove the stickiness as soon as possible following these steps:

  • Apply Mineral Spirits: Apply mineral spirits to a soft cloth and gently rub it into the sticky area following the wood grain. If the fabric becomes sticky with wax, use a different area of the cloth to avoid reapplying the polish as you work.
  • Apply Gentle Rubbing with Steel Wool: Switch to steel wool when most of the wax is removed. Dampen the wool pad with more mineral spirits and rub along the wood grain until it feels smooth and no longer “tacky.”
  • Mop with Hot Water: Once the step is wax free, use a soft mop and hot water to remove the residue.
  • Remove Water: Immediately follow up with a dry, clean, soft cloth to remove all signs of moisture.

4. Have a Shoe Off Policy (Including Slippers!)

Shoe soles carry all kinds of debris that can scratch the surface of wood stair treads. Have a shoe-off policy for your stairs to reduce wear and tear on treads. The worst shoes are those highly fashionable heels that can put dents in your wood treads. 

So, remove your Jimmy Choo’s (or high fashion discount designer shoes, no judgement here) before using the stairs!

5. Consider a Runner

Consider installing a runner on your wood stairs. Runners protect the wood but add a stylish look to your home. Runners made of natural materials such as highly durable wood provide comfort underfoot and are great for sound absorption. 

Also, as a bonus, runners keep stairs safer by reducing the slip factor when wearing socks.  

6. Don’t Drag Things Down the Stairs

We get it. Some stuff is just heavy. However, whether it’s a laundry basket (or even a soft laundry bag), luggage, the furniture you’re moving, or anything else, dragging stuff down the stairs is one of the best ways to dent, scratch, and damage your wood stairs. 

If the item is too heavy to carry yourself, enlist some help! Your back and stairs will thank you.

7. Wax Dents and Scratches Immediately

When you spot a dent or scratch, use a wood-safe wax or wood polish product to minimize the damage and appearance. 

We can recommend the best product based on the type of wood stairs you have. It will buff out marks nicely and help keep the finish looking its best.

8. Apply a New Finish

Wood steps will become worn down the center due to traffic patterns running up and down the stairs. Please pay attention to how your step finish looks, and try to refinish the worn areas as soon as they show signs of unevenness. It’s a bit of a pain, but it will maintain a consistent look to the finish. 

We might point out that some people like that look, so if that rustic feel appeals to you, you can save yourself some time and effort. Just keep resale value in mind before you decide to skip this tip. 

Also, before you refinish your stairs, speak to an expert to avoid making things worse. 

9. Wipe Up Spills

Whether you spill your coffee on your way up to your home office, slop water around when cleaning, or have a leak – wet and wood don’t mix. 

If spills or leaks impact your stairs, immediately wipe the liquid. If left there, it can leave a stain or watermark and eat away at the finish.

In most cases, you can use a damp cloth to wipe up the mess and then finish with a dry, soft cloth to remove any moisture.

10. Replace Damaged Treads

If your stair treads are beyond basic maintenance due to significant damage, such as cracks, it’s best to replace them. Uneven stair treads create a tripping hazard and should be dealt with immediately. 

Unfinished wood treads make it easier to match the tone and finish of your existing steps for a unified look that maintains the beauty of your stairs. 

As the saying goes, beauty is pain! If you want to keep your wood stairs looking their best, it takes a little effort, but it’s worth it.

Whether you are replacing a tread or are ready for a whole new staircase, the team at Cosmaroma can help. We’re ready to provide tips, ideas, and instructions for your DIY stair projects. So visit us today, or click here to start shopping.