The Product Isn't Specifically for Hardwood Floors She advises seeking out a floor-specific cleaning solution to use instead. "Hardwood floors need to require special products formulated to their needs," she says. "Otherwise, the surface may not be effectively cleaned, and you may even cause damage."
For a cleaning solution, you can mix a few drops of dish soap or castile soap with warm water in a bucket. Avoid using harsh detergents that will damage the floor's wood and dull its finish. You should also not use products like vinyl floor cleaner or tile cleaner.
DON'T: Do not use anything with ammonia in it to clean your wood floors. Stay away from wax based products, acrylic finishes, detergents, bleaches, polishes, oil soaps, and vinegar. Instead, get a hardwood cleaning solution (you can pick them up at any big hardware store), spray it on a dust mop and go to town.
You can use Mr. Clean on hardwood, laminate, linoleum, and tile floors. However, the product needs to be diluted for use on wood floors.
The Product Isn't Specifically for Hardwood Floors
While you probably can use Mr. Clean for floors, Robin Murphy, the founder of the cleaning company ChirpChirp, doesn't recommend doing so specifically because the product is not formulated for hardwood floors in particular.
Clean's powerful products, the Mr. Clean Liquid is strong enough to power through tough dirt and buildup, so you get all of the muscle of Mr. Clean with less of the work. Don't worry about rinsing your floors, there's usually no need!
Bona Hardwood Floor Premium Spray Mop
In our tests, we found the mop dispenses a wide, fine spray evenly onto the floor. The long rectangular head maneuvers easily into narrow spaces, and the corners on each side are soft and flexible, so they flip up when you go along walls and baseboards to catch every speck.
The ideal mixture typically involves a mild solution of diluted vinegar with just a few drops of Dawn. This blend ensures that the cleaning power is strong enough to clean the floors without leaving any harmful residues or damaging the wood.
With the vast array of cleaners available today, consumers need to be aware of how to properly use their products to avoid health hazards and damaging surfaces. Murphy® Oil Soap is one natural cleaner that's effective on hardwood floors and more when used as instructed.
Suitable for Hardwood Floors: Bona is often recommended for hardwood floors, as it's gentle on the finish while still providing effective cleaning.
Combine a gallon of water with 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar. Then, add a few drops of dish detergent for a fresh scent and extra cleaning power. Dip a microfiber mop or a sponge into the cleaner and use it wipe down your floors.
STEP THREE: DILUTE YOUR CLEANER.
That's one gallon of water (about half a bucket of water) and ¼ cup of Mr. Clean Liquid. Mix it up and you're ready to be a cleaning machine.
You can use Pine-Sol® on wood floors, though it is not recommended for use on unfinished, unsealed, unpainted, waxed, oiled or worn wood.
Safe on granite, chrome, aluminum, marble, nickel or finished wood if wiped dry immediately. Not recommended for copper, untreated wood or brass surfaces.
White vinegar is considered by many to be the best homemade cleaner for wood floors. After diluting it with water, you can use it to clean almost every room of the house. To clean your wood floors with water and vinegar, do the following: Mix one part vinegar with three parts water.
Buff and polish it
Buffing your floor is a great way to breathe new life into it without having to go the whole hog and resand it. In very simple terms, a buffer is a machine with a heavy rotating pad that uses its movement to create a professional looking finish on tired wood flooring.
Steam cleaning is intended for tile, linoleum, and vinyl floors, and if done on a wooden floor, it may leave the floor looking dull. Avoid it. f) Never use ammonia, alkaline products, or any other abrasive cleaners on your wooden floors. g) Do not drag furniture or heavy objects across your finished wooden surface.
Since vinegar is an acid, it will actually break down the finish on the surface of your floor, and over time it will reduce the shine, and leave a dull appearance. Using vinegar and water to clean floors can also lead to an excessive amount of water on the floor, which can cause swelling and discoloration.
When you use too much cleaner, the excess creates a soapy residue that is sticky to the feet especially when you've not done enough rinsing. To tackle this potential cause of sticky floors: Try to follow the instructions on the label.
Hot water is great for removing grease, stubborn dirt and caked-on residue. It is more effective in killing bacteria and germs. Hot water is a good choice for tile floors and vinyl. Be sure to check the manufacturer's instructions to make sure your floor is resistant to hot water.
STEP THREE: CONCOCT YOUR CLEANING SOLUTION.
Then, mix in a ¼ cup of Mr. Clean Liquid. Grab your mop and submerge it in the solution. It's best for hardwood floors not to get too wet, so be sure to give your mop a good wringing before you start cleaning.