ᐅ Wood flooring as a surface material in the kitchen

We also have oiled oak in the kitchen. Just like with the tiles in our previous apartment, I immediately wipe up anything that falls or splashes with a damp cloth (what else?). We haven’t had a single stain yet, despite all the colorful sauces, vegetable bits, and other kitchen messes that inevitably happen while cooking. No concerns at all.

Off-topic:
The real issue is the area around the dining table. A begging dog produces quite a bit of saliva. And THAT causes stains within a few minutes. But even those have so far always disappeared after the next oiling.

We had this as tenants. It was fine, but I wouldn’t do it in my own home. As a tenant, I was always worried something might get damaged if water ended up on the floor again. Or juice, milk, or tea (with small children). For that reason, it wouldn’t be an option for me in my own home.

The trick is to use an oiled floor and maintain it by regularly re-oiling. In our case, hot pasta water or tomato sauce simply beads up on the oil. Nothing soaks in. Just wipe it away, and you’re done. If you don’t take the maintenance seriously, of course, it’s a different story. But with a properly oiled floor, nothing soaks in quickly.

11 years of wenge, oiled and brushed in the condominium kitchen, now oak, hand-planed, smoked, oiled in the new house.
Cooking is done intensively. No problems.

We have had it for 8 years. No problems.

We are also planning to install hardwood flooring (planed & oiled) in the living areas, including the dining room and kitchen. Since we are not overly meticulous and don’t immediately wipe up every little splash when unloading the dishwasher, there is some hope that the hardwood will still look good after one or two years.

Are there any technical aids or tools available to make regular cleaning and oiling of the hardwood floor relatively easy, without having to work on your knees?