Wood Floor Knowlege - Just in Case You Need to Know

You may have picked up on my floor cleaning frustration a few blogs back. It has been a task. When Justin and I purchased our floors we just went and bought them and had our contractor put them down. He did a great job but since we did not have the place of purchase install it we forgot to ask what to clean them with. (On a side note, we got a GREAT deal on all of our hardwood and tile. If anyone is in the market for flooring we got ours at Tile Liquidators in Gadsden. Ask for Sherry). So, I began to ask friends, family and the Internet what was best. The first thing that was suggested heavily by Justin someone was spraying pledge, endust, etc. on a dry mop and go to town. Well I did that and I noticed how you could see very faint streaks. I moved in to the next suggestion, my trusty steam mop. This left horrible streaks, like using cheap window cleaner on glass.

In an effort to remove the streaks I used the most popular thing on the Internet.....Murphy's oil soap. BIG MISTAKE. You may notice that Murphy's oil soap says ON THE LABEL "good for all finished woods". Don't believe them it is a lie, a lie I tell you. This just left a film on my wood. I began to notice that we could see exactly where we had stepped. There were perfect feet prints EVERYWHERE!!!!!! So I called the Colgate Company (makers of Murphy's) and asked how to remove the film. You know what they said???? They told me to use more Murphy's......you have got to be kidding me.

I then called the National Wood Flooring Association (yes there is such a thing...who knew). I was told to try 2 cups vinegar to one gallon water. I was however warned to wipe it off. Apparently extended use of vinegar and water can erode the polyurethane protective coating on your floors. It doesn't hurt them right away but it lessons the life of your wood.

I Finally did what I should did in the beginning. I went back to Tile Liquidators. They suggested using Bona Hardwood Cleaning products. I was told it could get the film off after a few cleanings and WILL NOT hurt your floors or their coating. It is actually produced by one of the top companies that produces the protective coating for residential flooring.  May I just say HALLELUJAH, the film is slowly fading and it is easy. Like a swifer but specially made for wood.

Also I may add that I found out through the NWFA if you have anything but sand and finish in place hardwood...NEVER NEVER use the bucket and mop technique. Any, prefinished solid or engineered hardwood has crevices the moister can get into and cause the hardwood to expand and buck up.

Lastly never use a steam mop. Yes they say ON the LABEL "safe on Wood flooring" but they lie. The heat can shock the wood and cause in to expand also. Who knew.

Apparently all you should ever do to your hardwood is dust it with a dry mop and every now and again mist it with cleaning solution and mop it with a micro fiber mop.....easy enough.


Notice I had done all of the bad things first...... I guess I should not automatically trust what the Internet and other owners say.