"Definitely agree about the yellowing though; nothing worse than spending ages picking the perfect pale wood only to watch it slowly turn into a weird honey mustard shade..."
Haha, "honey mustard shade" is spot on! I've used hardwax oil in my living room (high-traffic central, thanks to kids and pets), and honestly, it's held up better than I expected. The trick is applying thin coats and letting each dry thoroughly—rushing it is asking for trouble. Yeah, touch-ups happen occasionally, but they're easy enough that even I can manage them without messing up the whole floor...and that's saying something.
Yeah, the yellowing struggle is real. I went with a water-based poly on my maple floors thinking I'd dodge that bullet... nope. Still ended up with a subtle golden tint after a couple years. Not exactly honey mustard, but definitely not the crisp pale look I started with. Lesson learned—always test finishes on scrap pieces first, because labels can be sneaky about how "clear" they really are.
Ugh, I feel your pain on the subtle golden surprise. Did you notice if the yellowing was more pronounced in areas with direct sunlight? I've found UV exposure can amplify that sneaky tint shift—even with finishes labeled "non-yellowing." But hey, at least maple ages gracefully, right? Your floors probably still look fantastic, just in a slightly warmer way than planned...
"Did you notice if the yellowing was more pronounced in areas with direct sunlight?"
Interesting observation—I had a similar experience with my oak cabinets. Even though they were finished with a supposedly UV-resistant coating, the ones near the kitchen window definitely took on a warmer hue over time. Honestly, I've grown to appreciate the subtle character it adds. Curious though, has anyone experimented with window films or treatments to minimize UV exposure without sacrificing natural light? Seems like it might help slow down that sneaky color shift...
I've noticed sunlight definitely plays a role, but sometimes the yellowing isn't just UV-related. In my experience, certain finishes—even those labeled UV-resistant—can react subtly with indoor pollutants or cooking fumes over time. Window films might help somewhat, but if the discoloration is partly chemical, reducing VOCs and improving ventilation could be equally important. It's tricky because there's usually more than one factor at play...
