Cleaning
The Monocoat oil finish can be cleaned once fully cured - please assume seven days after shipment. Cleaning should only be done with Monocoat care products:
- Monocoat Care Kit: includes one 100ml bottle of the concentrated Natural Soap formula and one 750ml refillable spray bottle, available for purchase here.
- Natural Soap: includes one 100ml bottle of the concentrated Natural Soap formula, perfect for refills, available for purchase here.
Tannin Reactions
Wood surfaces can develop stains and/or spots when exposed to water and/or acid reactions (i.e. black rings left by aluminum cans). Rubio Monocoat’s Tannin Remover can be used on untreated or oiled surfaces to help remove those stains in both indoor or outdoor applications and is available for purchase here.
Restoration [if color restoration is not required]
Over time, you may start to notice wear on the finish due to improper cleaning or in areas of high use. The restoration process works to bring the surface back to its freshly oiled state without the need for sanding. Most residences will need to perform a restoration within 3-6 years while commercial applications will need to do so within 1-3 years. The time frame varies based on use, care and maintenance, and abrasion.
Depending on your project, the following products can be used according to the manufacturer’s recommendation:
- Renew: used to restore the look and protection of Monocoat’s 2C oiled finish when it starts to look dry or has been worn down due to use or improper cleaning, available for purchase here.
-Brings the surface back to a freshly oiled state
-Restores the depth and vibrancy of your surface
-Masks scratches in the finish
-Surface use in 4-6 hours
-Can be applied in sections or to the entire surface
- Refresh Eco: used to refresh and restore all wooden surfaces that have been treated with oil, available for purchase here.
-Acts similarly to Renew but can treat all oiled wooden surfaces
-Sprayable and easy-to-use
-Not suitable for use on floors or stairs due to risk of slipping
-Surface use in 6 hours
- Universal Maintenance: Used to increase the sheen of the 2C Oil finish, available for purchase here.
-Can be used to convert surfaces finished with another hard wax/drying oil to a Rubio Monocoat finish
Spot Repairs [if color restoration or blending of scratches is required]
Due to the limited protective nature of hard wax oils, you may begin to see shallow scratches on the surface of the finish or deeper scratches that reach down to bare wood with regular use over time. While this wear can add to the patina of the piece, there are options for repair depending on the level of damage present:
- If minimal damage is present: you may find that simply dabbing some of the 2C oil (in the color which your project was finished in) in the scratch will camouflage the mark(s) without the need for sanding.
- If color restoration or blending of scratches is required, please follow the below steps:
1. Lightly scuff sand the area to be repaired with 180g sandpaper (or a 180g sanding pad) in the direction of the grain. You can lightly feather out your sanding to help the newly oiled finish better blend with the existing finish. Depending on the depth of the scratch and the level of cohesiveness desired for the repair, you may want to sand the entire board evenly up to a glue joint to diminish the sheen difference of a "spot" repair.
2. Wipe off any dust with a lint-free rag.
3. Mix part A & part B of the 2C oil (3:1 ratio). Note: it is recommended to use your mixture within 4-6 hours, but it can often last up to 24 hours if stored in an airtight container.
4. Apply the mixed 2C oil with a lint-free rag in the direction of the grain and allow it to react for approx. 5-10 minutes before wiping away the excess with a clean rag. Be sure that any finish that has overlapped with the surrounding area is also wiped clean.
5. Allow the area to dry for 24 hours.
6. Using a piece of 2000g sandpaper lightly run over the surface in the direction of the grain. That's it! Your surface will be fully cured within 5 days from oil application and can be used as you normally would.
If you are experiencing dents or deeper gouges, please refer to this video that details how to steam out dents prior to following the sanding steps above.
If you’re unsure of the pigment used on your top, please reach out to one of our team members. While we do not stain our products, we may use certain pigments to counteract the natural aging of certain wood species to encourage a beautiful, long-lasting color.
This information is also available on Rubio Monocoat’s website.
NOTE: RAGS SOAKED IN OIL MAY SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUST. PLEASE BE SURE TO DISPOSE OF YOUR RAGS PROPERLY.