According to wood flooring experts, moisture levels of between 6-9% enable wooden floors to maintain optimal performance. Therefore, if your hardwood floor is too dry, you can rehydrate it to the recommended levels using vinegar solution, a humidifier, water-based polyurethane, or oil-based urethane.
To moisturize your wood floors, mop them with a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, and water. The effectiveness of this mixture will depend on how dry your floors are. Be careful not to saturate your floors – simply damp mop with the solution.
Why Are My Hardwood Floors Hazy? The most common causes of a hazy or cloudy film on hardwood floors after cleaning are a buildup of floor cleaner, wax buildup, trapped moisture, and bad floor cleaners. All these can make wood floors appear to have a milky, white substance on top of the surface even after cleaning.
If the wood is installed too dry, when it picks up moisture from the higher humidity environment it will expand and could cause permanent cupping. The goal is to acclimate the wood to whatever the normal living conditions are and ensure the wood flooring moisture content is within 2% of the subfloor moisture content.
You can protect your wood floors with a whole-home humidifier. Most wood flooring manufacturers require the homeowner to keep their floors in a consistent environment because wood responds to temperature and humidity changes. When the air is dry, wood shrinks.
A humidifier is necessary for your hardwood floors if you live in an extremely cold or dry environment. You should consider getting a humidifier if the humidity levels in your area and home drop below 35% for large parts of the year. You may need only to run your humidifier during certain seasons.
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.
Using pure ammonia, spray a small section of your floor and gently scrub the residue up with your fancy new non-scratch pad broom. Immediately mop with clean water then dry with a towel…. repeat. It's tedious work but you'll never make the Mop & Glo mistake ever again.
It's good waterproofing that is resistant to alcohol or oil. For wood floors, use tung oil only on unfinished wood that will allow the oil to penetrate. Apply it with a cloth, foam roller, or brush as you would for stain. Allow it to penetrate the wood for one hour, then wipe off the excess with a cloth.
Your hardwood floors would be at risk of warping, crowning, and buckling. So if you live in a place that happens to get humid, especially in the summer, then it's highly recommended that you get a dehumidifier. It could help you save money in the long run on repairs needed for your home.
For water-based finishes, the recommended wait time is 4-8 hours. For hard wax oils, this increases to 4-24 hours. Finally, for oil-modified Polyurethane, the surface will take between 12 & 24 hours to dry. The benefit of the dry time is that it allows us to access our floors in between coats.
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.
For heavier cleaning and to restore a durable shine, use a regular microfiber mop and gentle cleaner specifically designed for finished wood floors, such as Murphy® Oil Soap.
Olive oil naturally hydrates and polishes wood floors without leaving behind the dirt-attracting film common with store-bought products. It can clean and polish your floor at the same time or allow you to quickly buff dull areas back to a stunning sheen.
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.
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.
Proper humidity level for your hardwood floor
The National Wood Floor Association (NWFA) states that normal relative humidity levels should range between 30%-50% to ensure successful long-term performance of your wood flooring.
Cupping occurs when the edges of the board are higher than the center of the board, creating a concave shape. In addition to ruining the appearance of a room, cupped floors can lead to serious structural problems. If the wood continues to expand and cup, it can result in gaps between the floorboards.