{"id":942,"date":"2023-01-25T19:18:11","date_gmt":"2023-01-25T19:18:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wood-soap-finish-floors\/"},"modified":"2023-01-25T19:18:11","modified_gmt":"2023-01-25T19:18:11","slug":"wood-soap-finish-floors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wood-soap-finish-floors\/","title":{"rendered":"Wood Soap Finish Floors (Authentic Danish Soap Finish)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps you recall reading about Almanzo Wilder scrubbing their wood floors with lye. Perhaps you\u2019ve seen the white wood \u201cNordic look\u201d floors featured in a magazine. Or, perhaps you\u2019re looking for the most natural and safest wood floor finish option for you family. Whatever your reason, we\u2019ll talk all about how to apply a wood soap finish on floors along with the pros and cons we\u2019ve seen after 2+ years of use.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How we applied a natural wood soap finish to our wood floors and what we&#039;ve learned after 2 years\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Inn_B0FrY-I?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why We Chose to Soap Finish our Wood Floors<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was an exciting day.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I sat down with Felte as he worked out the totals\u2014entirely by hand\u2014of our white oak wood flooring purchase.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Felte ran the Amish sawmill where we currently lived in central Wisconsin. The foreclosed, 5-acre homestead property we had just purchased back in our home state of Illinois was missing a key ingredient\u2014floors!<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So before moving back, we knew the Amish mill would be our best bet for the old-growth hardwood floors we were after.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/raw-white-oak-wood-floors-from-amish-sawmill.jpg\" alt=\"raw white oak wood floors from amish sawmill\" class=\"wp-image-2770\" style=\"width:563px;height:750px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/raw-white-oak-wood-floors-from-amish-sawmill.jpg 750w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/raw-white-oak-wood-floors-from-amish-sawmill-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/raw-white-oak-wood-floors-from-amish-sawmill-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/raw-white-oak-wood-floors-from-amish-sawmill-585x780.jpg 585w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/raw-white-oak-wood-floors-from-amish-sawmill-250x333.jpg 250w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/raw-white-oak-wood-floors-from-amish-sawmill-550x733.jpg 550w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/raw-white-oak-wood-floors-from-amish-sawmill-135x180.jpg 135w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/raw-white-oak-wood-floors-from-amish-sawmill-375x500.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The question that loomed on our minds, however, was how we would finish them?<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We wanted something safe for our growing family. No VOC\u2019s. No off-gassing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Going the industry standard route and coating these Amish-sawn wood floors in plastic with polyurethane just didn\u2019t seem right. And we couldn\u2019t find another finish option out there that was both budget friendly and preserved the natural white tones of the wood without turning it yellow.<\/p>\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Digging deep, we came across SOAP FINISH.<\/h5>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Soap finish? What in the world is that?<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re frustrated with a lack of information out there on soap finished wood floors, we were right there with you.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But, as we\u2019ve discovered time and time again, learning new skills and choosing the unconventional path in life often leads to the greatest joy and fulfillment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, in 2019 we soap finished our floors! This meant scrounging together whatever little info and advice we could gather for wood soap finish floors and going to work on all 1,700 sq. ft. of our ranch home.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-finished-wood-floors-in-hallway.jpg\" alt=\"soap finished wood floors in hallway\" class=\"wp-image-2772\" style=\"width:600px;height:900px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-finished-wood-floors-in-hallway.jpg 800w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-finished-wood-floors-in-hallway-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-finished-wood-floors-in-hallway-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-finished-wood-floors-in-hallway-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-finished-wood-floors-in-hallway-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-finished-wood-floors-in-hallway-585x878.jpg 585w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-finished-wood-floors-in-hallway-250x375.jpg 250w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-finished-wood-floors-in-hallway-550x825.jpg 550w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-finished-wood-floors-in-hallway-120x180.jpg 120w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-finished-wood-floors-in-hallway-333x500.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The results?\u2026 Stunningly beautiful!<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The practicality?\u2026 Keeping them that way is a lot of work!<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The verdict?\u2026 We\u2019ll let you come to your own conclusions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regardless, we\u2019re glad we went for it. This time-tested, traditional wood finish method has added beauty, warmth, and truly safe, eco-friendly flooring to our world.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are We Soap Finish Flooring Experts?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before digging in much deeper on the topic, it\u2019s best to make something clear: <strong>We are NOT necessarily experts on soap finished floors!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019ve researched this topic you know that information is few and far between &#8211; especially in English! There\u2019s tutorials on soap finish for furniture, but very little exists on using it for floors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We have had to gather as much information as we could, make some assumptions along the way, learn from mistakes, learn from more mistakes, and forge our own path.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/applying-wood-soap-finish-with-bath-towel-on-floors.jpg\" alt=\"applying wood soap finish with bath towel on floors\" class=\"wp-image-2773\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/applying-wood-soap-finish-with-bath-towel-on-floors.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/applying-wood-soap-finish-with-bath-towel-on-floors-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/applying-wood-soap-finish-with-bath-towel-on-floors-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/applying-wood-soap-finish-with-bath-towel-on-floors-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/applying-wood-soap-finish-with-bath-towel-on-floors-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/applying-wood-soap-finish-with-bath-towel-on-floors-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/applying-wood-soap-finish-with-bath-towel-on-floors-585x390.jpg 585w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/applying-wood-soap-finish-with-bath-towel-on-floors-263x175.jpg 263w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/applying-wood-soap-finish-with-bath-towel-on-floors-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/applying-wood-soap-finish-with-bath-towel-on-floors-550x367.jpg 550w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/applying-wood-soap-finish-with-bath-towel-on-floors-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/applying-wood-soap-finish-with-bath-towel-on-floors-270x180.jpg 270w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/applying-wood-soap-finish-with-bath-towel-on-floors-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/applying-wood-soap-finish-with-bath-towel-on-floors-750x500.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But, being over two years in now, we feel we\u2019ve learned enough to share our knowledge and experience so far. As we keep learning, we\u2019ll update this post to make it as helpful as possible to anyone else considering soap finishing their floors!<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are an expert or have experience, please share your advice!<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re researching wood soap finish floors, let us know your questions!<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alright, now let\u2019s talk wood soap finish!<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a Traditional Wood Soap Finish?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Soap finish, or Danish soap finish, is a traditional Nordic or Scandinavian wood finish method. In countries like Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, you will commonly find light wood floors finished with soap. These countries also use soap finish extensively in furniture making.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of the main characteristics of soap finished wood floors are the warm, organic, and smooth wood grain feel they offer, paired with a low-sheen or matte finish.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps the most standout attribute of wood soap finish is the ability to preserve, or even enhance, the beauty and character of light colored woods. Lye, a key ingredient in soap, has a whitening effect that keeps light woods from darkening or yellowing over time.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/white-oak-soap-finished-wood-floors.jpg\" alt=\"white oak soap finished wood floors\" class=\"wp-image-2774\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/white-oak-soap-finished-wood-floors.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/white-oak-soap-finished-wood-floors-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/white-oak-soap-finished-wood-floors-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/white-oak-soap-finished-wood-floors-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/white-oak-soap-finished-wood-floors-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/white-oak-soap-finished-wood-floors-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/white-oak-soap-finished-wood-floors-585x390.jpg 585w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/white-oak-soap-finished-wood-floors-263x175.jpg 263w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/white-oak-soap-finished-wood-floors-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/white-oak-soap-finished-wood-floors-550x367.jpg 550w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/white-oak-soap-finished-wood-floors-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/white-oak-soap-finished-wood-floors-270x180.jpg 270w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/white-oak-soap-finished-wood-floors-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/white-oak-soap-finished-wood-floors-750x500.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Soap acts to clog or fill the pores on wood surfaces keeping dirt and oils out. Because of the degreasing nature of soap, when reapplied it also acts to remove or release buildup of oil, dirt, and other stains on the surface.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On soap finished floors in particular, a regular reapplication of soap is required to keep the wood conditioned, resistant, and clean. Reapplying soap finish gives wood a stabilizing benefit by slowing the woods transfer of moisture with the surrounding environment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The whitening that soap offers, combined with the buildup of soap finish layers over time, are known to produce an attractive patina to your wood floors that improves with age.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">History of Soap Finished Floors<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traditional soap finish has been used on wood floors in Denmark and other Scandinavian countries for hundreds of years. Early settlers from these countries brought this tradition to the Americas and soap finished floors became common in farmhouses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Laura Ingalls Wilder\u2019s book, Farmer Boy, documents this trend in the mid-19th century:<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201dThe kitchen was bright with the glitter of snow outside. The floor and tables were scrubbed bone white with lye and sand. The tin saucepans glittered silver, and the copper pots gleamed gold on the walls, the teakettle hummed, and the geraniums on the window-sill were redder than mother\u2019s red dress.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our ancestors discovered soapmaking by pouring tallow (beef fat) over the ashes of wood from a fire, making wood-ash soap.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-flakes-for-wood-soap-finish.jpg\" alt=\"soap flakes for wood soap finish\" class=\"wp-image-2775\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-flakes-for-wood-soap-finish.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-flakes-for-wood-soap-finish-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-flakes-for-wood-soap-finish-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-flakes-for-wood-soap-finish-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-flakes-for-wood-soap-finish-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-flakes-for-wood-soap-finish-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-flakes-for-wood-soap-finish-585x390.jpg 585w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-flakes-for-wood-soap-finish-263x175.jpg 263w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-flakes-for-wood-soap-finish-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-flakes-for-wood-soap-finish-550x367.jpg 550w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-flakes-for-wood-soap-finish-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-flakes-for-wood-soap-finish-270x180.jpg 270w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-flakes-for-wood-soap-finish-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/soap-flakes-for-wood-soap-finish-750x500.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The process of making soap today is much the same; mixing lye (sodium hydroxide) with an oil. When combined, the oil neutralizes the alkali lye in a process called saponification making the resulting soap 100% safe.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, lye based soap can be purchased as soap flakes, which is ideal for mixing as soap finish. Your Grandma or Great-Grandma likely would have used Ivory Soap Flakes made with vegetable or plant based oils. Many soap flakes that are currently available come in the form of Sodium Tallowate, or lye mixed with tallow. This is most similar to the the traditional method and what we use for soap finish.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While soap finished floors are a rarity in the US today, traditional soap finish is making somewhat of a resurgence in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.woodshopnews.com\/.amp\/columns-blogs\/soap-can-be-a-surprisingly-good-furniture-finish\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">woodworking<\/a> as a natural wood finish option and among home designers to achieve the sought after \u201cNordic look.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Type of Soap is Best for Making Soap Finish?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are a decent amount of Sodium Tallowate soap flake options out there. You want soap flakes that are pure with no added preservatives, chemicals, or fragrances.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After researching the options, we landed on purchasing our soap flakes from <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3iLWiwi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Earthborn Elements<\/a>. They offer a variety of sizes depending on your needs and square footage of wood flooring you have. A <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3iLWiwi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1 gallon bucket<\/a> might be a good place to start, or we purchased the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3iNDZqE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">5 gallon bucket<\/a> and should be set for life!<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/sodium-tallowate-soap-flakes-for-soap-finish.jpg\" alt=\"sodium tallowate soap flakes for soap finish\" class=\"wp-image-2776\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/sodium-tallowate-soap-flakes-for-soap-finish.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/sodium-tallowate-soap-flakes-for-soap-finish-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/sodium-tallowate-soap-flakes-for-soap-finish-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/sodium-tallowate-soap-flakes-for-soap-finish-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/sodium-tallowate-soap-flakes-for-soap-finish-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/sodium-tallowate-soap-flakes-for-soap-finish-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/sodium-tallowate-soap-flakes-for-soap-finish-585x390.jpg 585w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/sodium-tallowate-soap-flakes-for-soap-finish-263x175.jpg 263w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/sodium-tallowate-soap-flakes-for-soap-finish-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/sodium-tallowate-soap-flakes-for-soap-finish-550x367.jpg 550w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/sodium-tallowate-soap-flakes-for-soap-finish-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/sodium-tallowate-soap-flakes-for-soap-finish-270x180.jpg 270w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/sodium-tallowate-soap-flakes-for-soap-finish-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/sodium-tallowate-soap-flakes-for-soap-finish-750x500.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another good soap flake option we\u2019ve come across is from <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3QMNseg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pure Organic Ingredients<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Type Of Wood is Best For Using Soap Finish?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Light colored woods, both hard and soft, are an ideal fit for a soap finish.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hard wood species can include: <strong>white oak, white maple, ash, and beech.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Soft wood species can include: <strong>white pine, spruce, and fir.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Soap finish can be used on any species of wood. However, you lose the whitening effect on darker woods and will likely end up muting or detracting from the innate dark or colored tones of other wood species.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wood Soap Finish \u2014 PROS vs. CONS<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Soap finish floors are not for everyone. They don\u2019t exactly fit into the modern mold maintenance-free, quick, or convenient. These floors seem to meld best with a more old-fashioned, slow-paced way of life.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That said, there are good reasons to consider soap finished floors, and good reasons to avoid soap finished floors. Let\u2019s look at the pros and cons.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">PROS<\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Safe<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the construction industry is beginning to wake up to the health risks of VOC\u2019s, off-gassing, and harsh chemicals from materials, many finishes and sealers still remain highly toxic. Flooring covers an enormous surface area in your home and you are constantly in contact with it. You want something safe, and soap finish is as safe, pure, and natural as it comes. Zero VOC\u2019s or toxic materials. Applying it is literally the same as washing your hands!<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stunning!<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Nordic look is popular for a reason. The white, soft tones of soap finished floors give both an aura of warm and inviting along with minimalistic and simple. Whatever species of white wood you have or plan to use, the raw and organic tones and grains of the wood will really stand out. And they\u2019ll get better with age!<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-floors-finished-with-soap.jpg\" alt=\"wood floors finished with soap\" class=\"wp-image-2777\" style=\"width:600px;height:900px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-floors-finished-with-soap.jpg 800w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-floors-finished-with-soap-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-floors-finished-with-soap-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-floors-finished-with-soap-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-floors-finished-with-soap-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-floors-finished-with-soap-585x878.jpg 585w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-floors-finished-with-soap-250x375.jpg 250w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-floors-finished-with-soap-550x825.jpg 550w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-floors-finished-with-soap-120x180.jpg 120w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-floors-finished-with-soap-333x500.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Easy To Apply<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ll talk more about application methods below, but using soap finish is not rocket science. In fact, we did it without buying any special equipment by just using old bath towels. You don\u2019t need to be a professional woodworker to nail this one. The process is simple and forgiving no matter your skill level.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Budget Friendly<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We bought a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3iNDZqE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">5 gallon bucket<\/a> of soap flakes for around $150 and we might just be set for life! Other oil based floor finishes can get pricey when you consider the per sq. ft. cost and multiple coats being needed. You\u2019ll see below that the long term cost comes in maintenance time requirements, but the up-front cost is friendly to any budget!<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Feels Great<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The build-up or layering of soap finish is minimal, so what you feel underfoot is the raw wood of your floors. They feel soft and warm to the touch. If you\u2019re accustomed to more high-sheen or glossy wood floors with a layer of sealer on top, soap finished floors will feel as pure as can be.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Easy To Repair<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s a beauty to the fact that a soap finish is not a permanent finish. With many floor finishes, if an area gets stained or scratched, you may need to refinish the entire floors to cover it up. When dings or marks appear on soap finished floors, you can simply treat that spot (maybe with a light sanding) and apply more soap finish for easy flooring repairs.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gets Better With Age<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re only two years in, but when you look at pictures of woods floors that have been regularly maintained with soap finish for 100 years or more they look fantastic! Where most floor finishes dull, wear down, or get marred over time, you\u2019ll continue to enjoy the natural beauty and patina your floors develop over the years as the layers of soap finish preserves and enhances them.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">CONS<\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">High Maintenance<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re not going to lie\u2014with young kids, a dog, and living on a farm we were a bit on-edge as we broke in our floors and learned what soap finished floors do or don\u2019t like. Oil for instance can be its arch nemesis! Most recommend you reapply soap finish to your floors every three months after they are initially sealed. That\u2019s no small task. Yes, there\u2019s the multi-tasking factor that maintaining your floors and cleaning them are one-and-the-same\u2014reapplying soap finish also cleans them. But, there\u2019s no getting around that this can require a good bit more time than a simple vacuum, sweep, or quick mop.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spreading-wood-soap-finish-on-white-oak-floors.jpg\" alt=\"spreading wood soap finish on white oak floors\" class=\"wp-image-2778\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spreading-wood-soap-finish-on-white-oak-floors.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spreading-wood-soap-finish-on-white-oak-floors-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spreading-wood-soap-finish-on-white-oak-floors-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spreading-wood-soap-finish-on-white-oak-floors-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spreading-wood-soap-finish-on-white-oak-floors-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spreading-wood-soap-finish-on-white-oak-floors-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spreading-wood-soap-finish-on-white-oak-floors-585x390.jpg 585w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spreading-wood-soap-finish-on-white-oak-floors-263x175.jpg 263w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spreading-wood-soap-finish-on-white-oak-floors-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spreading-wood-soap-finish-on-white-oak-floors-550x367.jpg 550w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spreading-wood-soap-finish-on-white-oak-floors-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spreading-wood-soap-finish-on-white-oak-floors-270x180.jpg 270w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spreading-wood-soap-finish-on-white-oak-floors-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spreading-wood-soap-finish-on-white-oak-floors-750x500.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Shoes Off!<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Knowing that a soap finish isn\u2019t waterproof, we started a strict no shoe policy in the house right from the start! We\u2019ve since discovered this is also the norm in many Scandinavian countries. This con isn\u2019t any sort of deal breaker, but it does get old needing to constantly educate every visitor that comes through your door on why shoes stay at the doormat.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spots And Scratches<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you go with soap finish floors, you need to be ok with embracing imperfection. Like buying a new car off the lot, it\u2019s only a matter of time before the first door-ding shows up. Except in your home, the likelihood of spills, splatters, drops, and any other number of accidents is all the more likely. And because there is no active ware layer on top, scratches happen. These floors aren\u2019t impervious. Part of their charm is the character they\u2019ll develop over time. The berry that smashed into our kitchen floor and then proceeded to sit there, soaking in unnoticed for some time can likely come out with enough elbow grease and sanding, but we\u2019re still living with it. Most spots, however, can be removed or reduced with regular maintenance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">There\u2019s A Learning Curve<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re in the US like us, or anywhere outside of northern Europe, it\u2019s likely that floors with a Danish soap finish are a bit of an anomaly. Your local flooring contractor, woodworker, or lumberyard might not even be able to offer help. As we\u2019ve learned, you\u2019ll figure out a process that works for you over time along with some do\u2019s and don\u2019ts. You can\u2019t expect to nail it the first time. For better or for worse, it\u2019s not a one-and-done type method. You get regular opportunities to learn, adapt, and keep your floors looking great!<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How To Mix Soap Finish for Wood Floors<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Soap finish is very easy to make! You simply add boiling water to a specific ratio of soap flakes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But, almost every tutorial on soap finish you find out there will have a different recommendation of soap-to-water ratio.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the low end we\u2019ve seen 2 tbsp per quart of water. On the high end we\u2019ve seen a one-to-one soap-water ratio recommended.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We started on the low end and now mix somewhere between 1\/2 cup to 1 cup of soap flakes per quart of water. You can try different ratios and see what you prefer. It doesn\u2019t need to be exact. If you ask someone from Denmark, you might get a loose answer like\u2014just throw a palm full of soap flakes into a quart of water \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Here are the steps for mixing soap finish:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1. Boil your desired quantity of water.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2. Add boiling water to portioned soap flakes in a bowl or bucket and stir. At this point, the water will look like soapy bath water.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" data-id=\"2779\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/adding-soap-flakes-to-boiling-water-to-make-soap-finish.jpg\" alt=\"adding soap flakes to boiling water to make soap finish\" class=\"wp-image-2779\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/adding-soap-flakes-to-boiling-water-to-make-soap-finish.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/adding-soap-flakes-to-boiling-water-to-make-soap-finish-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/adding-soap-flakes-to-boiling-water-to-make-soap-finish-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/adding-soap-flakes-to-boiling-water-to-make-soap-finish-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/adding-soap-flakes-to-boiling-water-to-make-soap-finish-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/adding-soap-flakes-to-boiling-water-to-make-soap-finish-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/adding-soap-flakes-to-boiling-water-to-make-soap-finish-585x390.jpg 585w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/adding-soap-flakes-to-boiling-water-to-make-soap-finish-263x175.jpg 263w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/adding-soap-flakes-to-boiling-water-to-make-soap-finish-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/adding-soap-flakes-to-boiling-water-to-make-soap-finish-550x367.jpg 550w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/adding-soap-flakes-to-boiling-water-to-make-soap-finish-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/adding-soap-flakes-to-boiling-water-to-make-soap-finish-270x180.jpg 270w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/adding-soap-flakes-to-boiling-water-to-make-soap-finish-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/adding-soap-flakes-to-boiling-water-to-make-soap-finish-750x500.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" data-id=\"2781\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-soap-finish-mixture.jpg\" alt=\"stirring soap finish mixture\" class=\"wp-image-2781\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-soap-finish-mixture.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-soap-finish-mixture-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-soap-finish-mixture-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-soap-finish-mixture-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-soap-finish-mixture-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-soap-finish-mixture-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-soap-finish-mixture-585x390.jpg 585w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-soap-finish-mixture-263x175.jpg 263w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-soap-finish-mixture-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-soap-finish-mixture-550x367.jpg 550w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-soap-finish-mixture-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-soap-finish-mixture-270x180.jpg 270w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-soap-finish-mixture-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-soap-finish-mixture-750x500.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3. Let sit for 24 hours.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-soap-finish-that-needs-to-set-up.jpg\" alt=\"wood soap finish that needs to set up\" class=\"wp-image-2780\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-soap-finish-that-needs-to-set-up.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-soap-finish-that-needs-to-set-up-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-soap-finish-that-needs-to-set-up-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-soap-finish-that-needs-to-set-up-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-soap-finish-that-needs-to-set-up-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-soap-finish-that-needs-to-set-up-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-soap-finish-that-needs-to-set-up-585x390.jpg 585w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-soap-finish-that-needs-to-set-up-263x175.jpg 263w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-soap-finish-that-needs-to-set-up-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-soap-finish-that-needs-to-set-up-550x367.jpg 550w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-soap-finish-that-needs-to-set-up-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-soap-finish-that-needs-to-set-up-270x180.jpg 270w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-soap-finish-that-needs-to-set-up-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wood-soap-finish-that-needs-to-set-up-750x500.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">4. Your soap will now have formed a white, gel-like solid. Stir the soap mixture until it loosens up and becomes somewhat like a paste or cream.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" data-id=\"2783\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/jar-of-wood-soap-finish.jpg\" alt=\"jar of danish wood soap finish\" class=\"wp-image-2783\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/jar-of-wood-soap-finish.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/jar-of-wood-soap-finish-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/jar-of-wood-soap-finish-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/jar-of-wood-soap-finish-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/jar-of-wood-soap-finish-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/jar-of-wood-soap-finish-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/jar-of-wood-soap-finish-585x390.jpg 585w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/jar-of-wood-soap-finish-263x175.jpg 263w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/jar-of-wood-soap-finish-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/jar-of-wood-soap-finish-550x367.jpg 550w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/jar-of-wood-soap-finish-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/jar-of-wood-soap-finish-270x180.jpg 270w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/jar-of-wood-soap-finish-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/jar-of-wood-soap-finish-750x500.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" data-id=\"2784\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-wood-soap-finish-for-floors.jpg\" alt=\"stirring wood soap finish for floors\" class=\"wp-image-2784\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-wood-soap-finish-for-floors.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-wood-soap-finish-for-floors-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-wood-soap-finish-for-floors-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-wood-soap-finish-for-floors-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-wood-soap-finish-for-floors-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-wood-soap-finish-for-floors-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-wood-soap-finish-for-floors-585x390.jpg 585w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-wood-soap-finish-for-floors-263x175.jpg 263w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-wood-soap-finish-for-floors-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-wood-soap-finish-for-floors-550x367.jpg 550w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-wood-soap-finish-for-floors-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-wood-soap-finish-for-floors-270x180.jpg 270w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-wood-soap-finish-for-floors-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/stirring-wood-soap-finish-for-floors-750x500.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After this, your soap is ready to apply to your floors! We tend to mix a gallon at a time in a 5 gallon bucket and stir with a paint stick. One gallon is about the right quantity for one solid coat in a medium to large sized room. But it depends on the soap ratio you use and how thick or thin you apply it.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How To Apply Soap Finish on Wood Floors<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are many ways soap finish can be applied to floors. One method is to use a mop. Another is use a firm bristled scrub brush on a stick, which might be the most standard traditional way of application. This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gysinge.com\/article\/1061\/skurgolv\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Swedish site<\/a> gives helpful images.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We didn\u2019t have a mop or scrub brush, but we did have old bath towels, so that\u2019s what we used and still use! It\u2019s a labor of love requiring you to get down on your hands and knees. But it\u2019s also a slow-paced and meditative process that can be refreshing to engage in.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Here\u2019s how we initially applied our soap finish:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1. Starting in a far corner of the room, pour out a small amount of soap finish onto the floor. Work the soap into your bare flooring with the towel, applying an even coat.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(This initial soaking of the wood will likely cause the grain of the wood to stand up, so wiping up the excess soap and giving your floors a light sanding a this point is optional before moving on to additional coats.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2. Continue applying soap row by row working your way toward the entrance to the room as an ending point.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finish-for-white-oak-floors.jpg\" alt=\"danish soap finish for white oak floors\" class=\"wp-image-2782\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finish-for-white-oak-floors.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finish-for-white-oak-floors-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finish-for-white-oak-floors-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finish-for-white-oak-floors-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finish-for-white-oak-floors-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finish-for-white-oak-floors-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finish-for-white-oak-floors-585x390.jpg 585w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finish-for-white-oak-floors-263x175.jpg 263w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finish-for-white-oak-floors-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finish-for-white-oak-floors-550x367.jpg 550w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finish-for-white-oak-floors-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finish-for-white-oak-floors-270x180.jpg 270w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finish-for-white-oak-floors-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finish-for-white-oak-floors-750x500.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3. Repeat steps 1 &amp; 2 until the wood seems to no longer be absorbing the soap. We did somewhere between 3-5 coats initially, but more may be needed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">4. Leave the final coat to soak in for a period, but before it begins to dry, come back through with a dry towel and wipe up any excess soap finish on the surface.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that\u2019s how you apply an initial soap finish to your floors!<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What We&#8217;ve Learned Applying Soap Finish to Floors<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One thing to note, and we learned this the hard way\u2014don\u2019t let your soap dry on your floors before going back through with a dry towel and wiping it up. You either need to come back through with another fresh coat of soap right away, or wipe it down. It\u2019s very difficult to apply a fully even layer of soap across your floors. So if it dries unevenly, it will leave a streaky finish on your floors. The streaks reduce over time. But we\u2019ve also had the headache of needing to give the floors a light sanding and starting over.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also, we only sanded our floors down to 80 grit, which is common for wood floors. Many soap finish tutorials call for a much finer grit sanding. We\u2019ve found the 80 grit to work well for our floors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it comes to what is recommended from here, there is again variation. What seems to be recommended is to reapply your Danish soap finish weekly for the first 3 months to fully condition the wood and provide a protective layer.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finished-white-oak-wood-floors.jpg\" alt=\"danish soap finished white oak wood floors\" class=\"wp-image-2785\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finished-white-oak-wood-floors.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finished-white-oak-wood-floors-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finished-white-oak-wood-floors-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finished-white-oak-wood-floors-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finished-white-oak-wood-floors-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finished-white-oak-wood-floors-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finished-white-oak-wood-floors-585x390.jpg 585w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finished-white-oak-wood-floors-263x175.jpg 263w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finished-white-oak-wood-floors-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finished-white-oak-wood-floors-550x367.jpg 550w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finished-white-oak-wood-floors-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finished-white-oak-wood-floors-270x180.jpg 270w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finished-white-oak-wood-floors-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/danish-soap-finished-white-oak-wood-floors-750x500.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To be completely honest, we didn\u2019t do that. We did a solid initial application. But then life hit; we had to move in our furniture, had a baby, and then scarcely applied additional soap finish in our first two years living in our home.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I can see where a three month period of weekly soap finish applications would really give you the full protection that soap finish offers\u2014especially in high-traffic and accident-prone areas like the kitchen. But even with not doing this step, or even regularly maintaining our floors as we should have, our floors still look pretty darn good two years in.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is Anything Needed in Addition to Soap?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you research other Danish soap finish tutorials, you may come across an extra step of an initial application of materials like oxalic acid, or even lye itself, to your bare wood before applying your layers of soap finish. This is to provide a further whitening or bleaching effect on the wood.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We did not do this. My assumption is that if using lye based soap, the soap itself should provide the whitening effect. And, so far, this has been our experience after the initial application and reapplication\u2014the floors come out lighter after each coat of soap, not darker.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You might be able to achieve an even whiter floor finish with an additional layer of something. But we have found this unnecessary. If anyone has differing information or ideas on this, please let us know!<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Maintaining Wood Soap Finish Floors<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the initial application of soap finish, your floors will benefit from regular maintenance and reapplication of soap on a scheduled basis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reapplying soap finish to wood floors every 3 months is most commonly recommended. You can also do it on an as-needed basis depending on the use a room receives. For instance, we\u2019ve found our kitchen requires higher maintenance than bedrooms do.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, you\u2019ll want to address any marks or spots that have shown up on the floors. The first thing to try is pouring hot or boiling water on the spot and trying to remove it manually with a towel.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/authentic-nordic-look-wood-floors-with-soap-finish.jpg\" alt=\"authentic nordic look wood floors with soap finish\" class=\"wp-image-2786\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/authentic-nordic-look-wood-floors-with-soap-finish.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/authentic-nordic-look-wood-floors-with-soap-finish-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/authentic-nordic-look-wood-floors-with-soap-finish-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/authentic-nordic-look-wood-floors-with-soap-finish-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/authentic-nordic-look-wood-floors-with-soap-finish-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/authentic-nordic-look-wood-floors-with-soap-finish-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/authentic-nordic-look-wood-floors-with-soap-finish-585x390.jpg 585w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/authentic-nordic-look-wood-floors-with-soap-finish-263x175.jpg 263w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/authentic-nordic-look-wood-floors-with-soap-finish-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/authentic-nordic-look-wood-floors-with-soap-finish-550x367.jpg 550w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/authentic-nordic-look-wood-floors-with-soap-finish-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/authentic-nordic-look-wood-floors-with-soap-finish-270x180.jpg 270w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/authentic-nordic-look-wood-floors-with-soap-finish-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/authentic-nordic-look-wood-floors-with-soap-finish-750x500.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If that is unsuccessful, you may need to give the spot a light sanding for removal. We picked up a sander on a stick from our local hardware store and have plenty of replacement sand paper sheets on hand.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next, to reapply soap finish, simply follow the same steps and process used for initial application. We\u2019ve typically just done one coat of soap finish, but multiple layers can be applied if needed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ll likely want to remove furniture, not just work around it, so a consistent finish is achieved. This process lends itself very well to keeping on top of regular seasonal home cleaning!<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Natural Alternatives to Wood Soap Finish<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019ve gotten this far, you\u2019re probably either feeling excited or uneasy about trying a wood soap finish on your floors. Either is ok! We were pretty unsure ourselves when weighing the options.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If soap finishing floors isn\u2019t for you, we thought we\u2019d mention some of the other non-toxic floor finish options we came across in our research that can also be a safe flooring option for your family.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tung Oil<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">100% Pure Tung Oil from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rmpfinishes.com\/ref\/fromscratchfarmstead\/?coupon-code=fromscratch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RMP Finishes<\/a> is as natural and solid of a wood sealer as you can find. It will require multiple coats, and does take some time to cure. But, once cured, tung oil provides a nearly waterproof coverage. You will get yellowing over time that is typical of any oil. In addition to standard tung oil, there is a Dark Tung Oil option that gives a natural dark pigment to your wood that is beautiful!<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We have used their Dark Half blend (half Dark Tung Oil, half Citrus Solvent) to finish our <a href=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/tung-oil-for-butcher-block\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">butcher block countertops<\/a>. Tung oil is the other option we seriously considered to finish our white oak floors with and many product reviews speak very highly of Tung Oil as a wood floor finish.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you use promo code FROMSCRATCH you can get 10% off your order! We have been using Tung Oil from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rmpfinishes.com\/ref\/fromscratchfarmstead\/?coupon-code=fromscratch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RMP Finishes<\/a> for years now and are happy to partner with them earning a small commission on sales at no additional cost to you!<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tung-oil-for-butcher-block-turorial.jpg\" alt=\"tung oil for butcher block turorial\" class=\"wp-image-2525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tung-oil-for-butcher-block-turorial.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tung-oil-for-butcher-block-turorial-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tung-oil-for-butcher-block-turorial-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tung-oil-for-butcher-block-turorial-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tung-oil-for-butcher-block-turorial-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tung-oil-for-butcher-block-turorial-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tung-oil-for-butcher-block-turorial-585x390.jpg 585w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tung-oil-for-butcher-block-turorial-263x175.jpg 263w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tung-oil-for-butcher-block-turorial-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tung-oil-for-butcher-block-turorial-550x367.jpg 550w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tung-oil-for-butcher-block-turorial-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tung-oil-for-butcher-block-turorial-270x180.jpg 270w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tung-oil-for-butcher-block-turorial-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tung-oil-for-butcher-block-turorial-750x500.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rubio Monocoat<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another natural floor finish I\u2019ve come across in my research is from Denmark based Rubio Monocoat. Their Oil Plus 2C product is a promising floor finish option. To quote their website, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/rubiomonocoatusa.myshopify.com\/collections\/oil-plus-2c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Oil Plus 2C<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;is a revolutionary wood finish that colors and protects wood in one single layer. It is plant-based and contains 0% VOC. Each color can be mixed to create custom colors, allowing for endless color possibilities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Their color chart offers an extensive selection of colors and can show how the colors looks on different wood species. They even have colors that come close to mimicking that authentic Nordick look!<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">So What is it Going to Be?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Soap finished floors are truly an old world finish method that can connect us back to the simple and thoughtful life of our ancestors. But as you\u2019ve seen, that can mean a lot of work!<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So what\u2019s it going to be for you?<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019d love for this to be a space where knowledge and expertise are shared along with questions and troubleshooting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Drop a comment below. We so look forward to hearing from you!<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Some of the above links are affiliate links. This means we earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. We are so appreciative of your support!<\/em><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-theme-palette-1-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-theme-palette-1-background-color has-background\"\/>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:26px\"><strong>Check out more of our favorite home projects:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"font-size:26px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/simple-farmhouse-shelf-for-cast-iron-storage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Simple Farmhouse Shelf for Cast Iron Storage<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-size:26px\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/diy-library-ladder-hardware\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How To Install DIY Library Ladder Hardware<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-size:26px\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/dish-soap-bar-recipe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Homemade Dish Soap Bar Recipe &#8211; Zero Waste &amp; Works!<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"fd-form-636019b28d1a1ae7948da256\"><\/div>\n<p><script>\n  window.fd('form', {\n    formId: '636019b28d1a1ae7948da256',\n    containerEl: '#fd-form-636019b28d1a1ae7948da256'\n  });\n<\/script><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pin it for later!<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/1-6-683x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-81825\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/1-6-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/1-6-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/1-6-768x1152.png 768w, https:\/\/fromscratchfarmstead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/1-6.png 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Perhaps you recall reading about Almanzo Wilder scrubbing their wood floors with lye. Perhaps you\u2019ve seen the white wood \u201cNordic look\u201d floors featured in a magazine. Or, perhaps you\u2019re looking for the most natural and safest wood floor finish option for you family. Whatever your reason, we\u2019ll talk all about how to apply a wood&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":943,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[475,476],"tags":[586,587],"class_list":["post-942","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diy","category-natural-living","tag-home-diy-projects","tag-soap-finish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/942","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=942"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/942\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/943"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=942"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=942"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khetwise.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=942"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}