hardwood floors

[cjnix29]

Ok, since this is my go to budget board...always such good advice. We just moved into a house with hardwood floors. They are shiny, how on earth do I clean them without ruining them!??!?

 

[kymom99]

You can buy cleaners. But honestly I have old hardwood floors that my husband refinished and I have only dust mopped them.

 

[slickpoetry]

We haven't used anything on ours over than regular old water.

 

[alymae1010]

I use a microfiber spray mop filled with Bona.

 

[havaneselover]

Bona or wood wise. I got a huge bona refill at Costco. I think it was $20. My entire downstairs is hardwood and it will probably last 5 years.

 

[LJSquishy]

White vinegar very diluted with water is the best...no chemicals...but dilute a lot. Or, just use water!

If you want to buy an actual cleaner, buy a water-based cleaner like Bona.

Don't use the crap like Swiffer, Orange-Glo, or oil soaps. They just build up.

I looooove having hardwoods!

You can also use a steam mop if you have site-finished hardwoods and not prefinished.

 

[pixiewings71]

I just damp mop mine but if I want to shine them up I use Murphy's Oil Soap.

 

[texasroni75]

We had hardwood floors in our previous home, throughout the entire house with the exception of the bathrooms and kitchen. I mainly used a swiffer, and when I did mop we used Murphy's oil soap (rarely since as a previous poster mentioned, it can build up and actually make your finish look cloudy). I preferred to dry them with towels purchased solely for that purpose instead of letting them air dry. Although they probably would have been fine without doing that.

FYI - We had sanded and re-finished them when we purchased the house, and only needed to sand and put a new coat of finish on them 10 years later - even with the wear and tear of 5 people. The key is, have your family take off shoes at the door and wear either slippers or their socks around the house. The dirt you track in on your shoes can scratch and scuff the finish. And, if anyone comes to visit and is wearing high heels, have them remove them as well (some heels will dent the finish, making your shiny floors look beat up).

 

[glss1/2fll]

We just had our hardwood floors refinished and the professional sander said just to damp mop them with water only. He said to have your mop very dry and never have more than 5 square feet wet at a time. I haven't followed that rule, but I do squeeze my mop pretty dry.

 

[cjnix29]

thanks! This is the first time I have ever had hardwood floors. My husband bought the bona cleaner. We'll try it tomorrow. Feels weird being so worried about the floors! Thanks so much for all the advice.

 

[Eddygirl]

I work in flooring so can answer this.

Use a designated hardwood cleaner like Bona with a microfiber mop. You can also use the Rubbermaid or Vileda microfiber mops with the hardwood cleaner.

Just do not use a mop you have to "wring" out...even if you think it is only damp it will be too wet. Do not use vinegar or dish soap and water should be kept to a very minimum if at all. And for heavens sake do not use a steam mop no matter what the salesperson/commercial/box says. You will void your warranty.

I have had to turn down many warranty claims because of over washing with the above. It is heartbreaking! I had one lady tell me in tears that vinegar and water must be okay..."it was on Pinterest"!.

Even a finished on site floor needs to follow these rules. Just ask yourself if you wold take a mop you your grandmother's antique dining table....that is a good gauge of what should be used on your wood floors.

Hope this helps!

 

[3Gsandme]

We haven't tried bona, but we use plain old water. I get my microfiber mop head wet using water as hot as I can stand it. I wring the mop head out and mop with people following me to dry.

 

[JandJ]

I like Eddygirl's advice. We had our existing hardwoods refinished and new, matching hardwoods added in the dining room, office, and even the kitchen about 5 years ago and our installers all said Bona. And no more than once a month - over mopping can be damaging. I usually use a Swiffer dry sweeper or my Mieli vacuum once or twice a week and Bona once a month. With this regimen, even years later, they still look shiny and new!

The most damage you'll have is if you allow water to stand on them. We got a new puppy (he's 3 now) and had him in his crate overnight. Well, one night he must have spilled his water dish and it ran under the crate. I didn't notice it, the water was gone, but I figured he drank it. A couple days later when I moved his crate there was a damp spot. I dried it and let a fan run on it for days. Unfortunately, it turned the wood very dark in that spot. Our installers said they could bleach it out, but I haven't bothered to have it done because it's small and now that's where the dog's bed is. Thankfully, he doesn't spill water anymore

FYI - Every hardwood company I spoke with when we were pricing out getting our floors re-done said to never use Murphey's Oil Soap on your hardwood floors. It will dull the finish. I use it on my wood kitchen cabinets (diluted in warm water) but never on my floors. My in-laws didn't take that advice and ruined their finish. They're beside themselves that they ruined their new floors.

 

[Swimalie]

I use a microfiber covered mop and Method's wood floor cleaner. About once a year I use a cloth diaper and Murphy's Oil while I clean by hand. Our hardwood floors are 12 years old now (8 years of us in the house) and have yet to get a dull finish nor need refinishing and we have a cat and a little boy that are rough on them.

 

[Dean1953]

If it's a pre finished floor, find out what the manufacturer recommends to clean. On floors that I re-finish, I tell people to use 1 cup of white vinegar to 1 gallon of lukewarm water and do not over saturate the floors. The reason that you don't want to use anything that causes a build up is because, particularly in high traffic areas like kitchens, the floor should be top coated periodically to prevent worn areas. Finishes that cause a build up could prevent the top coat from adhering properly.

 

[Theaberdeenkid]

Bona or wood wise. I got a huge bona refill at Costco. I think it was $20. My entire downstairs is hardwood and it will probably last 5 years.

This or grab a bottle of Bruce floor cleaner at Home Depot and a swifter type mop.

 

[aprilgail2]

My hardwood floors are 60 years old- I have only used a vinegar damp mop on them and they still look brand new.

 

[cjnix29]

what's good for picking up pet hair. Omg, I had no idea just how much my dog shed!! my dust mop doesn't seem to get it all. Is there a good vacuum for that?

 

[havaneselover]

what's good for picking up pet hair. Omg, I had no idea just how much my dog shed!! my dust mop doesn't seem to get it all. Is there a good vacuum for that?

Swiffer works. I use my Oreck on my hardwoods.