March 18, 2026
Good floor care and maintenance is mostly about keeping grit off the surface and water out of the joins. Sweep or vacuum often, mop with a mop that is only just damp, and use the cleaner your floor’s manufacturer recommends. This guide covers timber, hybrid, vinyl, laminate and bamboo, plus seasonal care for Sydney and Queensland homes.
Avoid steam mops unless your floor’s manufacturer says they are allowed. The care guidelines for our Royal 6.5mm Premium and Royal Hybrid Pro 9mm hybrids, Royal Procore Laminate and Royal 14/2mm Oak engineered timber all say not to steam clean the floor or use a wet-and-dry electric vacuum. They also rule out wet mopping and harsh detergents.
Use the cleaner your floor’s manufacturer recommends, as set out in each range’s care guidelines. The Royal 6.5mm Premium product page has a Care and Maintenance Guidelines PDF, as do Royal Procore Laminate, Royal 14/2mm Oak and Royal Hydro Bamboo. As a general rule:
| Floor type | Everyday care | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Engineered timber | Dry clean, then a light mist and microfibre mop | Standing water, strong sun, big humidity swings |
| Solid timber | As above, plus the care advice for its finish | Moisture and grit wearing the finish |
| Hybrid | Dry clean, then a damp or spray mop | Water in the joins, wax and polish |
| Vinyl | Sweep, then damp mop with a pH-neutral cleaner | Rubber-backed mats and sharp grit |
| Laminate | Dry clean, then a light mist only | Wet mopping, steam and puddles |
| Bamboo | As for timber; follow the range’s guidelines | Moisture and strong sun |
Real timber changes colour in sunlight and moves with humidity. Wipe spills quickly, as wet timber can swell and buckle, and keep rooms within the humidity range in your care guidelines. The Royal 14/2mm Oak guidelines suggest leaving rugs off a new floor for two months so the colour settles evenly. Solid timber such as Traditional Solid Flooring is sanded and finished on site, so it can be sanded again when the finish wears. Browse our timber flooring.
Royal 6.5mm Premium and Royal Hybrid Pro 9mm have a waterproof core, but their care guidelines warn that water left for a long time can get into the joins and cause mould underneath. Wipe spills, mop lightly, and never wax, polish or sand a hybrid floor. See our hybrid flooring.
Sweep or vacuum vinyl, then damp mop with a pH-neutral cleaner. Royal 5mm Vinyl Plank has an anti-stain coating and its own care guidelines. For Karndean ranges such as LooseLay Originals, follow Karndean’s care advice. Keep rubber-backed mats and rubber furniture feet off vinyl, as rubber can permanently discolour it. See our vinyl flooring.
Our Royal laminates are water resistant, not waterproof: Royal Laminate 8mm offers 48-hour water resistance and Royal Procore over 72 hours. Wipe spills quickly and clean with a light mist only, never a wet mop or steam. RoyalStep Laminate 12mm has care guidelines too. See our laminate flooring.
Care for bamboo much like timber. Royal Hydro Bamboo has care guidelines on its product page. For Royal Bamboo, ask us for the care information. See our bamboo flooring.
Choosing a new floor for a busy room? Our guide to the best flooring for kitchens compares the options, or book a free measure and quote and we will talk you through the options for your rooms.
Strong sun changes the colour of real timber, and the Royal 6.5mm Premium and Royal Procore care guidelines note that long UV exposure can change their colour too. Window coverings on large windows and doors also stop the floor getting too hot. Blinds and shutters both work well: blockout and sunscreen roller blinds cut glare, and shutters let you angle the light away from the floor.
Timber and bamboo respond most to humidity. Boards expand in humid months and shrink in dry months or when heating runs for long periods, so small winter gaps are normal for real timber. Floating floors also need their expansion gaps at the edges kept clear.
| Season | What to do |
|---|---|
| Summer | Run air conditioning or a dehumidifier on humid days, wipe up water tracked in after storms and close blinds in the heat of the day. |
| Autumn | Clean or replace door mats, check felt pads and look for boards lifting near doors and wet areas. |
| Winter | Keep heaters away from the floor and avoid drying the room right out. Expect small gaps in timber. |
| Spring | Do a deeper clean, check trims and silicone in wet areas, and book repairs before summer. |
In Queensland, long humid stretches make airflow and air conditioning even more important. Our guide to the best flooring for Queensland homes explains which floors suit it.
Our flooring installation and repairs service fixes damaged and worn floors. For solid timber with a tired finish, floor sanding and polishing removes scratches and applies a fresh finish. If old boards have paint on them, have it tested for lead before sanding. Hybrid, vinyl and laminate cannot be sanded, so repairs mean replacing the damaged boards or section. Our installation comes with a 2 year installation warranty, and product warranties come from the manufacturer; see our warranty page.
Avoid steam mops unless your floor’s manufacturer says they are allowed. The care guidelines for Royal 6.5mm Premium, Royal Hybrid Pro 9mm, Royal Procore Laminate and Royal 14/2mm Oak all say not to steam clean.
Sweep or vacuum with a soft brush first, then lightly mist with water or a pH-neutral cleaner and wipe with a microfibre mop. Avoid wet mopping, wax, polish and household detergents.
Timber shrinks a little in dry air and expands again when it is humid, so small seasonal gaps are normal.
No. Hybrid, vinyl and laminate floors should not be sanded, and damaged boards are replaced instead. Solid timber can be sanded and polished when its finish wears.
Visit Royal Floors in Penrith, Campbelltown, Hornsby or Logan to see our hard floor ranges, book a free measure and quote, or call 1300 980 501. With over 20 years of experience, we can help with new floors, repairs and sanding.
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