Best Way to Clean Wood Floor

I just bought a Hoover Floormate. It's specially made for hardwood & tiled floors. I like it b/c in addition to doing a great job, it's light weight, isn't very loud & easy to clean out. All you have to do is get the Hoover Floormate cleaning solution (others work too). It's like a mini steam cleaner. I have a 3 month old & 2 dachshunds, so the mess piles up fast. It sweeps up the hair & has a cleaning function that scrubs & sucks up the water with a tight suction. Your floors will be dry before you have a chance to walk on them. Much better than a swiffer, that for me, was like smearing dirt. Ebay sells last years model for less than $100. Or look for a used one to save $ like I did on Craigs List or newspaper.

I have cleaned houses for a living for years and have used the vinegar and water (one cup vinegar to one gallon of water) solution with good results. The problem is, if you want the floors to SHINE you might need to cover it with a store purchased floor product. Good luck. Also, plain, warm water sometimes will do the job as well.

If your floors are hardwood, use very hot water and vinegar. I have been cleaning homes for years. If you do not have vinegar, use Windex. Get your water boiling hot and add equal parts. I use a wonder mop which you can buy at walgreens or schnuck or dierbergs. You do not want your mop to have access water in it. You have to look to look at your floors from an angle to check all the spots. If you would like to discuss this further, please call me at ###-###-####.

Murphy's Oil Soap!! It is a soap so it won't leave the slippery feeling like Pledge does. The secret ingredient to moisturize your wood is vegetable oil. You can use it in a mop bucket and mop like normal or out of a spray bottle. Good luck!

Do not use vinager it will strip the polish. I have hard wood floors and use Murpheys oil soap in a concentrate so I can water it down as much as I like. It works well but using to mauch can leave floors slick (my husband tried cleaning the floors one time - LOL) Unfortunately wood floors seem to always be dirty with dogs and kids (I have 2 kids & 2 dogs)- theres no where for the dirt to hide but out in the open. I have to sweep twice a day and mop twice a week!! Try the Murphy's oil soap concentrate and put some in a spray bottle. Then spray and mop. The also have swifter wood floor mops that I use when I'm in a hurry or in between mops. Lysol is another one that will gradually take off the finish, too.

use 1/4 cup white vinegar to 1 gallon water and damp mop your floors gives a spotless clean
That is what the guys who laid my floor suggested

Hello. I have recently put wood flooring down throughout my house. I have four small kids a dog and two cats plus a husband that runs a construction crew. I have spent the last 6 months trying to figure out what works best. I have come to the conclusion that a clorox ready mop comes in handy. I don't use the solution that comes with it though.I used it on bathrooms and the kitchen. I saved the container though and filled it with murphys oil and water mixture.I have found that it works best. It won't tarnish the wood like other products will after prolonged use. It also will not make it slippery but provide a little shine and is safe on woods.It is also cheaper than buying the pre-made solutions......

I had hardwood flooring laid throughout our house and was told the best cleaner was BONA. It is Swedish formula, non toxic, and has no dulling residue. I have been extremely pleased with it and know you will be too. Be sure to purchase the flat-head mop as that makes a HUGE difference too. You can get it at the following website: WWW.BONAKEMI.COM
Don't buy the floor restorer, just the cleaner and their mop.
Hope you'll be as pleased as I continue to be! I'm on my 3rd gallon now!
My first purchase I bought a gallon of Bona, the mop, and the spray bottle to make it easier to spray the cleaner on the floor while mopping. I mop every week and a gallon usually last me a year.

Hi~ Murphy's oil soap is great for finished floors. A non-chemical alternative is vinegar & hot water. It smells like vinegar, but only for about a half hour. Both of those have been great for our floors!

try armour floor cleaner. Works on all kinds of floors

I work for a company called ZEP an dthey have some really good products. they are located in riverside missouri. call me and i will give you the full address when i am at work

I like to use a "little" Parsons Amonia and hot water.

First, is it a laminate? Is it sealed? I have been advised to use a simple vinegar/water solution w/ warm water. Try a small area first to see what you like best. If your floor is laminate, use the mildest solution. I also use a very diluted solution of Murphey's Oil and warm/hot water. This works well on older floors! The newer floors get a residual effect. Don't let anything puddle...wring out very well! The key here is: less is more! Hope this was helpful!
I am envious! I would love to have wood floors again. Really tired of the wall to wall carpet!!! :)
p.s ZEP is an excellent product, too!

I ran a maid service in North Dallas for 6 years and we cleaned ALOT of wood floors. The best solution, not knowing what kind of wood floors you have, is about 1 cup plain vinegar in a warm (not hot) bucket of water. Damp mop-don't get alot of liquid on the floor. It should leave your floors looking great and not at all slick. Don't use ANY kind of oil,including Murphy's oil soap which will leave a residue build up over time.
Blessings!

Swiffer Wet Jet. they make a special formula for wood floors. I love the swiffer.

I have wood throughout my house and I use Method's wood floor cleaner. It has less chemicals than leading brands. It smells good too.

J.,

I used to clean houses professionally. We never used any store-bought cleaners on wood floors. The best product is homemade! Pour about 1 cup white vinegar in a 1 gallon bucket of warm water. Wet a clean mop head in the water and squeeze out excess water. After you mop a section of floor, rinse the mop in the sink then, dip in bucket again and squeeze out excess water. Never dip a dirty mop in the clean mixture in the bucket. Your floors will be shiny clean and degreased, never slippery. I no longer clean houses but I always clean my wood floors this way. Enjoy your clean floors! S..

J.- I always stick with white vinegar and water with a mop. I also dry them so they do not streak. I have used Tablespoon of Vegetable oil now and then for a shine, but I have found it can make them slippery. So I use Murphy’s Oil soap 1-2 times a year. Good luck!

Hi J. I also have hard-wood floors and I had a swiffer wetjet but it seemed to srike my floors-SO I went to Lowes or I am sure a home depot would have this also-and bought a a cleaner called BRUCE HARDWOOD &LAMINATE FLOOR CLEANER -it cost around $25-30 but it came with the mop also-you just spray a small section at a time and it works wonderful -no streaking!!smells good too!!it lasts a long time too!! good luck-D.
A little about me:I am 34 been married for 13 years my husband and I have 3daughters and 2 sons ages-5*7*9*10*and 12

I use WOW! Wood Floor Cleaner by Black Diamond. It has worked better than anything else I used. It comes in spray bottle and I bought it at Wal-Mart. ~J. B

We have had really good luck in the past using hot water and vinegar only. Makes the floor shine!! Approximately 1 gallon water and 1 cup of vinegar. Cider or white doesn't matter.

I just sweep them and swiffer them for daily quick clean ups. I like the Murphy's Oil Soap and a damp mop....not soaking wet. The soap really gets gunk off the wood and then it is fine. Hard wood is very low maintenace. You get it refinished about once every 10 years and it lasts forever.

My hardwood floors are old and need to be refinished, but this makes them looke very clean.

LOL, about the pledge. That must have been like ice skating in your socks! Fun!

H.

try murphy's oil soap. It is safe for wood and I like it because you can use it on all your other floors, too (vinyl, ceramic, etc.)

Plain water is the best. I have a Floor-Mate because I have large areas of wood flooring. It sprays the water on the floor and vacs it dry. It's great.

I had to revise my reply as the recipe given in it was incorrect portions. This is the correct one.....
My oldest son has a business installing Hardwood floors. He recommends the following:
The best choice is to take a gallon of water to one capful of vinegar and you have what the industry recommends. The best "mop" to use is one like the Swiffer style but you might use a tarry cloth the first couple of times, ringing it out every so often. Then you can get on to the lighter application. be careful to dampen the cloth and not slosh as you might have cracks and that can cause damage.
Using Murphy's oil or Pledge is oil and will not clean the floors it will only make them slick. If you want more suggestion then go to library and get book on old cleaning recipes like they used in 1800's or early 1900's before industrial chemicals were used. Stay as far from chemicals as possible even in regular cleaning. Note: the suggest here can also be used anywhere in house to disinfect and clean (trash cans, litter box, garabage disposal, sinks, everything...vinegar mixture(and small amount of Tea tree oil) will also work wonders on removing pet accidents as well as kids accidents (urine, fecus etc) along with odors and smells from house. Adding vinegar to wash will disinfect laundary and added to rinse cycle will make a great fabric softener. The more natural the better I always say.
Hope this helps.

The people that refinished our wood floors at our previous house recommended vinegar and water when mopping.

The problem with a lot of the store-bought products is that they build up on wood floors.

We also use a swiffer with wet cleaning pads (which you can buy any where) for spot cleaning.

First you need to find out if the floor has been polyurethaned. If they haven't been sealed, just spot clean the floors. If they have, the best way to clean the wood floors is with water and very little white vinegar. Mist the mixture on the floor and mop it up with a microfiber mop. That way you get very little water standing on the wood floor, it dries fast and streaking will be minimal. Straight water also works very good.

I had my wood floors refinished at my house, and the gentleman who did the job recommended a home made solution. 1 part vinegar to 6 parts water. I have used that formula ever since, it works great and no chemicals.

i use a small amount of vinegar in bucket of water for cleaning & the swiffer wet cleaner for wood floors for the quick spills & clean-ups!

We use a Eureka Enviro Steamer. It's awesome! You don't need any cleaners...the steam does it all! and then you just throw the cleaning pad in the laundry and it's ready for the next time.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Eureka-Deluxe-Enviro-Floor-Steamer_W0...

After we had our floors done the floor guy left us Bona Swiss Formula. It came with the swiffer peice with velcro and two types of fabric to use and the spray bottle. It makes the floors shine and look new but sometimes it doesn't get the harder spots so everyones in a while I will mop using luke warm water and squeeze the mop so that it is just moist. Toom much water isn't good for the floors. I used Murphy's Oil once because it said it was good for wood floors but my infant who was crawling at the time broke out on her knees and feet so be careful with that one.

The best way that I know of to clean wood floors is a warm water/vinegar mixture. You only want to do this every once in a while. On a day to day basis sweep them and/or dust mop them and clean up any spills with a damp cloth as soon as possible.
I hope this helps!!

Hi J.,

We recently got hardwood floors and I purchased a product called Woodwise No-Wax hardwood Floor Cleaner from Mid-west Flooring. Great Stuff and I think that it is only found at Mid-west. Easy to use - spray on and shines the floor right up with no wax or reside. Hope this helps.

I use Bruce Hardwood cleaner. I'm told you are not supposed to use anything with Water and Murphy's oil soap products aren't good on wood floors either. The person who owned our house b/f us used Murphys and it took the finish right off.
Good luck.

J., I clean my wood floor in my kitchen (and the rest of the house) with Orange Glow Hardwood Floor Cleaner and a wide microfiber/terry cloth-ish mop. The floor product sprays on, and you just follow it with the mop. The cloth can be washed and dried in your machines. The Orange Glow keeps your floors really pretty and shiny, but not slick like polish. For a messy, dried-on spot, I first use a Swiffer Wet Jet (for wood floors), and then follow up with the Orange Glow. I also would be interested in hearing from people who might have ideas on a natural product!

i have wood floors also and i use just water and a mop, you can use a little vingar but not too much ok hope this helps you

The best wood floor cleaner that I have found is Bona. It is a spray-on type that you use the large flat duster-like mop. If you live in the Springfield area you can get the Bona stater kit at The Carpet Shoppe. And I also saw Bona at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. The other o[tion is going to a home store like Lowes and asking the sales associate which is the best for you type of floors.

I always use a little bit of vinegar to clean wood floors- it works really well, you can do it as often as you want and won't make the floors slippery. Any vinegar will work, but I usually just use white vinegar

Hi J.!
I have had hard woods in many of my homes and the simplest and easiest way to clean them is to take a midsize rag or cleaning towel and get it wet, but not so wet that it is dripping, and wipe down your floors that way. A lot of wood cleaners say they preserve the wood, but if your wood is sealed with a polyurethane covering, the cleaner should not be penetrating the sealer. Just a light damp mopping of the wood will get it cleaned up and it shouldn't affect your wood sealer. The only time water becomes a problem is when it is left standing on a wood floor for longer periods of time. But a damp mopping of the floor won't cause that.
Good Luck!
D. -SAHM of three: 16, 13, and 9 (2 boys and a girl) - two dogs :-)

We have wood floors and our builder said not to use any products except vinegar and water on them. Otherwise you get build up and then eventually you will have to sand them down and refinish. Vinegar works pretty good. I also have a steammer that I use and really like. With that I just use water and then then steam from the machine cleans the floors.

I have the same problem, been trying for years to keep wood floors clean without ruining them. I have used Bruce hardwood cleaner. You get it at Home Depot and use their terry cloth mop. Works pretty well. A friend has recently turned me onto Restoration Hardware's hardwood cleaner, again it works. As for natural, be careful with Vinegar, I've heard it can be drying. But when my floors are bad, I use very diluted Pine Sol with hot water and rinse the mop then wring it out very well.
By the way, I have a big dog too, and I my vacuum is a Dyson. If you can afford it, it is the best vacuum I've ever used. I love it, in fact I asked for it for Christmas one year and use it almost daily.

I clean houses...have for over 15 years!~ Best ever is Vinegar and Water! about oh, 1/2 cup or more to a bucket and a good square mop..at Walmart. They have terry cloth covers that you put on them, they are flat and have a stick handle and you buy extra covers. Put Vinegar and water in spray bottle and after a good sweeping, or vacuuming (CRUCIAL) spray the water ahead of yourself and wipe up w/ terry mop. THere are other products, a good one by Mc Donalds Hardwood...maybe online. Mine lasted forever so dont know, but it makes it real shiny too.

There is a product at Home Depot that works great. We use "Zep" hardwood and Laminate floor cleaner. It comes in a white spray bottle with a yellow and navy sprayer. You simply spray it on (after sweeping) and then use a terry cloth mop (available in the same aisle...picture of one on the front of the ZEP bottle) and mop it in. It cleans, shines and enhances the floor in on easy step.
I would avoid the Orange Glo brand. While it works great on just about everything else, my experience has found that it leaves a residue on the floor and actually makes it look worse in the long run.
Enjo your new floors!
A.

The people I work for have wood floors and when I clean them she has me use Natursol or Auqa Mop (diluted with water)and a mop called a BonaX. I loved the mop so much that I bought one at the Better Living Store in Joplin for about $20. If you want to know more about the mop there is a web site www.bonakemi.com
I'm not sure where she gets the Natursol or Auqa Mop. I think it was at the AAA Vaccuum shop which has now moved over to 32nd street in Joplin by the Better Living Store and Panera Bread.

I use a Swiffer and I buy a spray from a Carpet Place. Doesn't matter what Brand just make sure it is for Wood Floors.

Murphy's Oil Soap will protect your floors as well as clean them. Make sure your mop is squeezed out well as you just need to damp mop them (assuming they are real wood?). Use about 1/4 cup Murphy's in a half bucket of water. You can buy it at Walmart-- You might want to be vigilant about keeping the dog's nails trimmed as they will ruin the floor over time if you're not careful. Good luck! MBest

I always use Murphy's Oil Soap on my hardwood floors. I just mix some up with water (using the directions on the bottle) then I use a mop and make sure I wring it out real good before mopping. You only want to damp mop so the water isn't sitting on the wood for too long.

I also use some in a spray bottle with a sponge to get up crusties and clean in hard to reach places where the mop can't get to.

I clean houses and I found I like Bona hardwood floor cleaner. it is sold at Erv's Vacuum. I also like a microfiber mop that is sold at Wal-mart. It has a red handle and the mop head is washable. Hope this helps.

We have wood in almost our entire house and I just found this article the other day - I'm so excited to pass it on! You can make your own wood floor cleaner with just water and distilled white vinegar. I used this last week in our living room and the floor is literally "squeaky clean!" We have a 7-1/2 month old who will be crawling soon, so I researched non-toxic cleaners. If you're worried about a vinegar smell, there was a tiny bit but nothing like I'd imagined. Also, vinegar is a natural disinfectant - perfect for your kitchen! Good luck!!!

http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/120/diy

we just had ours refinished before Christmas and I had wanted to use a cleaner with oil but we were told by the company, use nothing but warm water on the hardwood, doesnt get them sanitary clean but they look great. I love my dry swiffer sweeper on the floors, never use a broom, and thought I would try the wet one

J.- i grew up with wood floors, and have them now. The BEST way to clean them is a little dish soap and a bucket of water. To make them shiny, Halloway House has a product that you just squirt on a dry floor and mop. Dries pretty quickly and lasts about two months for shininess (depending on amount of traffic). I sometimes even cheat and just use the shiny stuuf without mopping first. Good luck with your new house!!!

We have hardwood floors all through our house and I use the Method wood for good cleaner, I get it at Target. It's fairly inexpensive and it smells great, it doesn't smell like a cleaner at all!

Have you ever used micro fiber sweepers or mops. If not get one. Because with a microfiber sweeper you can get up all kinds of dirt and it stays on the cloth until you shake it out. With the mop all you have to use is water sprayed on the floor. It cleans better than anything and you are not putting chemicals on the floor where your children crawl. Lots safer. You can probably find a "Mop Bucket" store near you and they sell these items. I wish you the best.

J. I use Murphy's wood oil soap. It is made for wood and Laminate floors. They also make one for cabinets that you spray on, I use that too. M.

White vinger and water squeeze mop out real good and go over floor. Make sure mop is where you can't see water leaking from mop. Murphy oil for wood floors.

The guys who refinished our floors recommended a vinegar/water solution. I believe they said 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water (I've used it with great success, though I see someone else said they were told to use a 1:6 ratio). They said to do one area (I do 4' x 4' or so), then go over it with a dry towel before you move to the next area. This has always worked well for me.

For daily cleanings I find Endust (small amount) on dust mop really works, also for mopping I use Armstrong wood floor cleaner in water. It leaves no residue like most of the others.

Hi there,
I am a self employed housecleaner and alot of my houses have wood floors and the best and cheapest way is to use vinegar and water. I have found on alot of darker wood floors using cold water with the vinegar works best, doesn't smear. Good luck and hope that helps!

First we need to know if the floors are real wood or laminate. If they are real wood, never use wax. Well never use wax of any kind on any wood floor or laminate. Sorry that was redundant. lol
My grandmother used to use water mixed with vinegar on real wood. You can damp mop laminate but don't pour the water on the floor. Lightly damp mop, but there are products out there for both kinds of floors. Good luck!!!

G'ma M

A little about me: I am a grandmother of two boys, 3 and 1 almost