To tell if your wood floor is sealed, find an inconspicuous area, dab a drop of water on the surface, and see if it soaks in or beads on top. If the water drop beads on top of the wood, your floor is sealed. Surface-sealed floors are stain and water-damage resistant and easiest to clean.
Because wood is a fibrous, organic material, hardwood floors must be sealed to protect the wood from moisture, stains, scratches and everyday wear and tear. Most wood flooring receives a stain before it is sealed with a protective finish. Stain merely provides color; it does not count as a sealer.
On average, you should reseal your hardwood floors every seven to ten years, depending on how much use they are given and how worn they are.
Damp mopping
You can use a dry to damp mop and a natural cleaner to clean your unsealed hardwood floor with care. Ensure there is no moisture film or excess lukewarm water left standing on the surface. You can also buy a static dust mop to help gather it up as well.
Use Murphy's Oil Soap
It's a gentle cleaner that is safe to use on all types of flooring, including all finished and unfinished hardwood floors. It's a safe option for those who want a non-toxic family-friendly solution. Start by adding four capfuls or Murphy's Oil Soap into a gallon bucket filled with warm water.
If you have a large area of unsealed wood that is in need of cleaning, the odorless mineral spirits can be sprayed on the floor and spread with a microfiber mop. The microfiber mop will allow the mineral spirits to clean the unsealed floor and dry it at the same time.
To tell the difference in a pinch, just rub your finger across the floor. Be sure to do this on a clean floor. If no smudge appears, the floor is surface sealed. If you do create a smudge, the floor has been treated with a penetrating seal, oil finish, shellac, varnish or lacquer, and then waxed.
Dip the corner of a clean, soft rag into lacquer thinner. Rub the hidden area on the floor or furniture. If the surface layer dissolves, the finish is lacquer. If the surface remains unchanged, the finish is polyurethane.
Polyurethane, Shellac, Varnish and Lacquer – Use a cotton swab with acetone on it and apply to the wood. If it becomes tacky, than it is shellac or varnish and if it beads, it has a polyurethane finish. If it is lacquer, the lacquer will dissolve completely.
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. To ensure the area is thoroughly clean, rinse with warm water and dry.
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. That's true whether you have solid or engineered wood floors, and for bamboo, too.
Pine-Sol is safe on hardwood floors and can be used to clean and disinfect them. What is essential is to use the right concentration and correctly follow the instructions: Sweep or vacuum the floor to remove loose dirt and debris. Take ¼ cup of Pine-Sol and mix with a gallon of water in a bucket.
Appearance : An oiled hardwood floor looks warm, the natural characteristics and beauty of the wood can be appreciated as the floor is not sealed by a surface coating of varnish or lacquer.
Polyurethane is actually the most durable hardwood floor finish.
Oil based stains are somewhat more water resistant than the water based finishes. Due to this, by sprinkling a little water onto the stained area you can tell if the stain is water or oil based. Simply wait for a minute and see if the water beads up. If it does, then you have an oil based stain.
How to Fix Cratering of Polyurethane Finish? To fix cratering of polyurethane finish you need to sand the surface lightly and wipe the surface with a clean cloth and re-apply a thin polyurethane coat. Once it is completely dried, you won't notice any craters on the surface.
Test for shellac by placing a shot glass over a single drop of alcohol and checking if the material dissolves; if yes, you have shellac. If that test is negative, the film coating is varnish, polyurethane or aluminum oxide.
An oil finish penetrates the wood fibers to harden them while not altering the natural beauty of the wood. With no visual film on the surface, oiled floors are distinguishable by their elegant patina. They are easy to care for and are repairable.
Steps to Clean the Floor:
Fill the bucket with warm water and add a small amount of vinegar (1/4 cup per gallon of water). To apply the cleaner to the floor, a mop or a cloth can be used. Regardless of which one is used, ensure that it is thoroughly rung out to prevent dampening the wood any more than necessary.
Over time a wooden floor may lose its lustre or sheen and need refreshing and reviving with an application of wood floor oil. Alternatively, an unfinished floor will need protecting with oil or varnish to eliminate the chance of damage to the surface of the floor.
Murphy oil soap will bring natural shine to your wooden floors. All you need to do is dilute it properly and follow cleaning tips mentioned above. It's unique blend of natural oils, mixed with a hint of pine scent will clean away your dirt and grime while leaving behind an anti-slip and shiny finish to your floors.
Do NOT clean your floors with Murphy's Oil Soap, Mop and Glo, Orange Glo, Swiffer Wet Mop, furniture polish such as Pledge, vinegar, ammonia, or any pine cleaners! All of these cleaners, over time, will dull and damage the finish.