Table of Contents
The best way to clean hardwood floors and keep them in shape is to stick to a regular schedule of maintenance. Sweep, dust or dry mop daily. Vacuum weekly. Clean heavy-traffic areas with a damp mop twice a month. Clean with recommended hardwood floor cleaner once a month.
What is the best thing to use to clean wood floors?
You can use a commercial wood-cleaning product, like Bona or Murphy Oil Soap. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. You can also make your own cleaner by mixing one part vinegar to 10 parts warm water. Add a few drops of liquid Castile soap.
How do you clean really dirty hardwood floors?
Tip Sweep the floor thoroughly with a vacuum cleaner. Pour 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar in a clean mop bucket. Dip a cotton cleaning cloth in the vinegar solution. Wipe the cloth over a 3-by-3-foot section of the wood floor to remove dirt and grime buildup.
Is it OK to clean wood floors with water?
Avoid using water and vinegar, soap-based cleaners, wax or steam cleaners on hardwood floors. Vinegar and water can dull the floor’s finish over time, while soap and wax leave a residue. Steam cleaners put heat and excessive water on your floor, which can lead to cupping and long-term damage.
Can you mop hardwood floors?
Instead of a bucket of water and a mop, here’s how to mop wood floors. Use a microfiber mop head to sweep up dirt and debris. Follow that up with a wet microfiber mop and spray with a recommended hardwood floor cleaning solution. You can clean them just as well with a microfiber mop and hardwood safe cleaner.
Is Murphy’s oil soap good for hardwood floors?
THOROUGHLY SATISFYING For a deep, conventional cleaning, consider using a concentrated product like Murphy® Original Formula. Whether you’re cleaning one area or all of your flooring, Murphy® Oil Soap is safe to use on hardwood floors.
Can I use Pine Sol on hardwood floors?
We like using Pine-Sol® Original Pine Multi-Surface Cleaner on hardwood floors. You can also use Pine-Sol® Original Squirt ‘N Mop®. It’s safe for wood and hard, nonporous surfaces. You can apply it to the floor directly from the bottle.
Is it safe to use vinegar to clean hardwood floors?
Just don’t use vinegar and water to clean hardwood floors. The finish is the protective layer of your hardwood floors. Since vinegar is an acid, it will actually break down the finish on the surface of your floor, and over time it will reduce the shine and leave a dull appearance.
Why are my hardwood floors still dirty after mopping?
This is because some floor cleaners include chemicals and additives, and these can put a lot of residue onto the floor. The more you use the cleaner, the more layers of the residue will build up onto the floor. This can make your floor lose some of it’s shine, and it’ll just look perpetually dirty.
How can I make my old hardwood floors look new again?
Refinish Hardwood Floors in One Day: How to Refinish Wood Floors Step by Step Step 1: Buy special hardwood floor refinishing kit. Step 2: Clear the floor and clean the room. Step 3: “Sand” the floor with liquid. Step 4: Damp mop and touch up the floor. Step 5: Apply the new finish…fast!.
What should you not put on a hardwood floor?
Don’t use straight ammonia, alkaline products or abrasive cleaners. They’ll dull or scratch the finish. Don’t rely on lemon juice or a vinegar-and-water solution to clean hardwood floors. “I don’t recommend using vinegar or lemon juice, at least not in large quantities, as these can damage the floor’s seal,” said Wise.
Is Swiffer safe for wood floors?
You can safely use Swiffer products on hardwood floors. For a quick clean, try Swiffer WetJet Wood Starter Kit. With just the right amount of solution, it breaks up tough, sticky messes, brings out the natural beauty of your floors and won’t damage them. Go with the grain to ensure the best clean possible.
Can you steam mop hardwood floors?
Avoid Using a Steam Mop on Wood Although it may be tempting to deep clean your hardwood floors with a steam mop, don’t. “Drastic temperature changes and moisture may warp the wood,” says Steve Stocki, manager of marketing and merchandising at Lumber Liquidators.
Can you mop wood floors everyday?
It is good to give your floor a daily once over with a broom or a vacuum, especially in high traffic areas. Once a week, wood floors should be cleaned in high traffic areas with a damp mop. Low traffic areas can be done less frequently, like once a month or once a quarter.
Is Dawn dish soap safe for wood floors?
How do we clean wood floors? An alternative natural cleaning solution is warm water and dish soap (1/4 cup of dish washing liquid for a bucket of warm water). ● For spot cleaning needs, sprinkle baking soda on the affected area and scrub with a sponge.
Do you have to rinse Murphys oil soap?
Answer: You use 1/4 c. soap in 1 gallon of warm water. I have never rinsed the floor afterward, but I do make sure that I get up all excess with a soft, dry towel or rag.