Hardwood Floors ~ What do you use to mop?

[WeirdEyes]

I have hardwood floors and they look awful! I can't seem to mop them without streaks from the mops. I've tried the sponge kind, the cotton kind, and the "fabric" kind. I mop them with vinegar and water. I just hate the streaks! I hired a housekeeper who says she can get them looking better, but she is only coming every other week and hasn't started yet. I can't stand to look at them much longer. Any advice or suggestions?? Thanks!!

 

[Christine]

The "mop" is your issue. I only clean with a rag (water and vinegar). Once you clean them with the wet rag, immediately go over it with a dry rag. You never want to let water sit on a hardwood floor.

 

[Southern4sure]

The "mop" is your issue. I only clean with a rag (water and vinegar). Once you clean them with the wet rag, immediately go over it with a dry rag. You never want to let water sit on a hardwood floor.

When you say use a rag are you meaning you get on your hands and knees? I have a very large area and I cannot imagine doing this.

Thanks

 

[Christine]

When you say use a rag are you meaning you get on your hands and knees? I have a very large area and I cannot imagine doing this.

Thanks

Yep, that's what I'm saying. Believe me, I understand your horror. I have 2500 square feet of hardwood flooring (no I don't clean them all at one time ). Anyway, when I get lazy, I will just put the rag on my foot and swirl it all over the floor and then go over it the same way with a dry rag. But on the dirtier parts (the kitchen and under my son's dining chair), I get down on my hands and knees.

 

[Southern4sure]

Yep, that's what I'm saying. Believe me, I understand your horror. I have 2500 square feet of hardwood flooring (no I don't clean them all at one time ). Anyway, when I get lazy, I will just put the rag on my foot and swirl it all over the floor and then go over it the same way with a dry rag. But on the dirtier parts (the kitchen and under my son's dining chair), I get down on my hands and knees.

Heading off to get my cinderella outfit..... Thanks!

 

[merrily]

I use a Hoover Floormate. I guess it could be described as an electric mop. It washes the floor and then with a flick of a switch you vacuum up the water. No streaks and I love it.

 

[mickeyboat]

I usually use a damp microfiber cloth on my hands and knees. This weekend DH strapped the cloth to a dry swiffer and did them that way. The microfiber cloth will not leave streaks, and we don't have to go over it with a dry cloth.

Denae

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Well..I don't have wood floors, but we have installed quite a few and the floor company always says NO WET MOPPING on the cleaning instructions. The water can cause the wood to get in the gain and expand..causing the floor to buckle...trust me, we have had to replace floors from people using water.

 

[aprincessmom]

I have a great soft "mop" from Bona. It's ultra fine cloth and can be washed in the machine when it gets dirty. It's the best thing I've found in the 7 years I've been doing the floors...they look great after.

 

[WeirdEyes]

Well..I don't have wood floors, but we have installed quite a few and the floor company always says NO WET MOPPING on the cleaning instructions. The water can cause the wood to get in the gain and expand..causing the floor to buckle...trust me, we have had to replace floors from people using water.

How do you actually clean it then, if not with water?

Thanks for all of the advice. I started to use a cloth on my hands and knees this past weekend. Gosh, I dread doing that! LOL My back and knees will definitely be killing me!

 

[vacanut]

I was told the same thing not to use water on the floors. I am going to get hardwood cleaner at Home Depot and start using this, I've just been using a broom but it needs to be cleaned.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well..I don't have wood floors, but we have installed quite a few and the floor company always says NO WET MOPPING on the cleaning instructions. The water can cause the wood to get in the gain and expand..causing the floor to buckle...trust me, we have had to replace floors from people using water.

Well you have to clean it. I have 2 puppies running on it. What do you suggest?

I do have a Hoover Floor Mate. I might have to try the "wash" feature!

 

[stinkerbelle]

I use my hoover floormate with the old english cleaner(or whatever it's called - it came with the floormate) once a month.

yes - i'm horrible - I don't wash my floors weekly.

if I'm lazy - I'll use those wet swiffer cloths.

 

[Crankyshank]

I use the swiffer wet jet with the hardwood cleaner. I've heard good things about the orange glo system so I might check that out

 

[m&m's mom]

I mop the floors w/ regular mop in diluted vinegar solution and pay the M's a $1.00 to follow along on hand and knees w/ a towel to wipe dry. But the dang dog comes in and no matter how clean her feet are - there are puppy paw prints everywhere!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

http://www.woodfloorsonline.com/techtalk/maintenance.html

Here is a link..Like I said, I don't have wood floors...I know the restaurants that we have installed the floors in have used a very light damp mop to clean marks, but if it has too much water, then it will get in the grain of the wood and expand...I would LOVE a wood floor but I know in Florida, the sand would eat the finish!

 

[Princess Dot]

I also use the Bona mop and the Bona floor cleaner as they were reccomended by place that sells and finishes hardwood floors in my area.

They also sell Bona products including the mops at Home Expo. They work great and are easy to use--no hands and knees!

BTW, I am talking about hardwood with a polyurethene finish, not unfinished or waxed hardwood. My floor installer also told me to stay far away from the wet Swiffer pads as they can damage the finish. For polyurethene finishes I was told to use only water based cleaners.

 

[WeirdEyes]

I have a Swiffer mop that I've used in the past and it is what caused my floor to have a dull film on it. I've tried and tried to get it off. I was told that using vinegar/water was the best. I guess I can mop it, but dry it right after. Oh boy, the fun begins!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

 

[Christine]

Yes, water is a killer for all hardwood floors. But, with kids and dogs and a kitchen, none of the other products really seem to clean well. I've tried all the hardwood floor cleaning products and they just seem to leave something on the floor or the floor looks dull.

So, I'm just sticking with the vinegar/water mixture and getting up the water right away.

 

[JoyG]

I use swiffer wet jet with the hardwood floor cleaner also, and i mop with the grain not against. It doesn't leave my floor shiny...but I don't like them shiny. When they start looking shiny they seem dirty to me.