Murphy floor cleaner (Murphy Oil Soap) is highly polarizing. While it is excellent at cutting through grime and adding a natural shine to fully sealed, polyurethane-finished wood, it can leave a cloudy residue if not diluted properly and may void warranties for some modern factory-finished or laminate 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.
The best floor cleaner depends on your floor type. For hardwood, Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner is the gold standard. For tile and grout, Zep Neutral pH Floor Cleaner provides the best deep clean. For an all-in-one vacuum and mop, the Tineco Floor ONE S5 is an industry favorite.
For Water Based Finishes
Cleaners such as Pledge and Murphy's Oil Soap are not recommended because they leave a dull residue on the finish. Water based surfaces may be cleaned with a damp cloth or General Finishes Orange Oil.
The best floor cleaner brand depends heavily on your flooring type. Bona is the gold standard for hardwood, Swiffer dominates quick multi-surface cleaning, Zep is best for heavy-duty/commercial floors, and Tineco makes top-rated wet/dry smart mops.
Manual tools such as mops and brushes are selected with care to match the surface they're intended for, whether it's a shiny office floor or a gritty industrial space. However, it's the mechanical tools and industrial-grade machines that make professional cleaners so efficient.
To restore shine to dull floors, first deep clean to remove dirt and residue that hide the gloss. For a lasting finish, apply a high-quality polish like Bona Floor Polish or Quick Shine using a microfiber pad.
To make your house smell amazing while mopping, use a simple DIY mix of hot water, 1 teaspoon of dish soap, and 5–10 drops of essential oils (like eucalyptus and lavender, or lemon and peppermint). If you prefer pre-made options, heavily scented commercial products like Clorox Scentiva Floor Cleaners work beautifully.
Bona and Murphy Oil Soap serve different needs. Bona is a pH-neutral, water-based cleaner intended for routine maintenance on polyurethane-finished floors. Murphy Oil Soap is a plant-based oil soap designed for deep-cleaning unsealed, oiled, or older traditional wood floors, but it requires rinsing to prevent residue.
While the traditional mop and bucket method has stood the test of time, newer hard floor cleaning technologies offer a compelling alternative. The efficiency, hygienic benefits, and time-saving features make wet floor cleaners an attractive choice for those seeking a modern approach to floor cleaning.
House cleaners create that coveted "fresh, clean" aroma not just by masking odors with artificial fragrances, but by deeply sanitizing, eliminating odor sources at the molecular level, and incorporating targeted natural or botanical scents.
To protect your hardwood floors from warping, scratching, and dulling, you should avoid using excessive water, harsh chemicals, abrasive tools, and all-purpose or wax-based cleaners. Stick to pH-neutral cleaners and damp microfiber mops.
**Vinegar for Shine:** - Mix equal parts of water and white vinegar for cleaning ceramic tile or vinyl floors. It removes dirt and gives a natural shine to the floor.
The best approach to cleaning hardwood floors is using a pH-neutral, ready-to-use liquid cleaner or a simple DIY mix of mild dish soap and warm water. Always avoid saturating the wood, and ensure your mop is only slightly damp.
Avoid using Murphy's Oil Soap on modern finished hardwood floors, unsealed or raw wood, nitrocellulose guitar finishes, and laminate or vinyl planking. The soap contains vegetable oils that can leave a dull, sticky film on water-resistant finishes and seep into wood or laminate seams, causing swelling or peeling.
For the vast majority of polyurethane-sealed hardwood floors, Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner is the industry standard and best overall choice. This ready-to-use, pH-balanced formula removes dirt without leaving a dulling residue and dries rapidly.
To restore the shine to your hardwood floors, deep clean them to remove surface grime, then apply a specialized water-based hardwood polish to fill in microscopic scratches. For a completely restored finish without sanding, you may need to scuff and apply a new coat of polyurethane.
The characteristic "old age smell" is scientifically known as nonenal (or 2-nonenal). It is a chemical compound produced when the skin's natural oils and fatty acids break down and oxidize as we age.
Yes, you can use Dawn dish soap to mop your floors, but you must use it sparingly. Because Dawn is highly concentrated, using too much will leave behind a sticky, slippery residue that attracts dirt. Always use a highly diluted mixture and rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Some of the hardest and worst smells to get rid of are pet odours, mold, and cigarette smells.
To clean and shine hardwood floors without causing water damage, start by thoroughly sweeping or vacuuming. Next, mop the floor in the direction of the wood grain using a neutral pH cleaner or a DIY water-and-vinegar solution. Never oversaturate the floor. Finish by applying a dedicated hardwood floor polish every 2 to 6 months.
In 2026, flooring trends revolve around warmth and natural textures, with cool, flat grays officially on their way out. The most popular colors include:
Polish and Buff to Restore the Shine
Now that your floor is clean, using a hardwood polish or wax is a good way to fill in microscratches and add a shine. If you have hardwood floors with a polyurethane finish, a water-based polish is best.