Best hardood floor cleaner?

[DarleneW]

My DH and I are in the process of remodeling our 20 year old kitchen. So far only the floors are in and we have gone with hardwood floors. We've never had hardwood before and would like your suggestions as to what to use to keep them looking as good as they do now. I've seen the Swiffer and wonder if that is good for daily upkeep. Thanks for any help everybody can give us

 

[moongirl]

The swiffer works great to keep it dust free and does really well picking up dust - much better than a conventional broom. I highly recommend getting a steam cleaning mop like the Shark for when you need to "mop" the floor. The thing literally eats the stuck on food off the floor and leaves them looking shiny and clean. Every other "mopping" method we have ever used has left "droplet" drying marks on the floor.

 

[minnie1928]

I thought I read that steam cleaners weren't good for hardwood

I've used nothing but Bona brand cleaner for 10+ years for actual cleaning.

As far as dusting, just get a swiffer and a microfiber cloth to use on it. You can throw the cloth in the wash and then you aren't stuck buying swiffer cloths every other week.

 

[bettymae1121]

As long as the wood is sealed, and as long as the steam mop you use leaves the floor dry to the touch (or VERY close to it) steam works very well on hard woods. That said, if you don't want to invest in a steam mop, I've used Murphy's Oil Soap with great success when I need to mop. As for Swiffer, they work well but what I find that works better is a good quality wash cloth. I still us my Swiffer broom and use the wash cloth instead of a Swiffer cloth and pick up WAY more stuff. Plus the wash cloth is, well, washable, so it's cheaper in the long run than buying Swiffer refills.

 

[puffkin]

I thought I read that steam cleaners weren't good for hardwood

I've used nothing but Bona brand cleaner for 10+ years for actual cleaning.

As far as dusting, just get a swiffer and a microfiber cloth to use on it. You can throw the cloth in the wash and then you aren't stuck buying swiffer cloths every other week.

The steam cleaners will work great as long as the floors are sealed properly. All new floors should come sealed, I might be a bit leary on older floors that the sealant might be worn off. The big thing with wood floors is not leaving a residue from the cleaners, and a steam cleaner will prevent that since it is just water.

My mom uses Bona on her floors and they look fantastic. She has used my shark too, and likes it as well.

 

[hsmamato2]

what is Bona? I use orange glo cleaner,my floors are older so I wouldn;t steam them

 

[Mouseless2Long]

My brother was a professional hardwood floor installer for years and his recommendation is white vinegar and water. I use this myself and my hardwood floors come out beautiful! If you ask any hardwood floor professional, I would be surprised if they said anything other than white vinegar.

 

[MattMatts-Momma]

I also use the white vinegar and water on our wood floors. The results were better with the vinegar, than with the Murphy's Oil. The Murphy's Oil was leaving the floor "oily" and all of the footprints would show on the floors.

 

[DarleneW]

Thanks everybody for all your help. Now I can't wait for my kitchen to be done. Hopefully, in a few weeks. Right now we have our refrigerator in our living room. I usually find myself walking in circles because everything is in a different place.

 

[lovesmurfs]

When I have time (mine are very old and need to be sealed...), I use Murphy's Oil Soap, and when dry, I use Old English.

 

[KLAIT]

I also would suggest White vinegar and water. My father in law had a 45 year career in floor installation and he suggested taking a spray bottle with vinegar and water with a microfiber mop as he said he would not take any chances with over wetting. I take the solution in a spray bottle, spray a small area, mop with the microfiber mop and it is almost instantly dry and sanitized. Love this method!

 

[Mrs. Charming]

My brother was a professional hardwood floor installer for years and his recommendation is white vinegar and water. I use this myself and my hardwood floors come out beautiful! If you ask any hardwood floor professional, I would be surprised if they said anything other than white vinegar.

That's exactly what my mom was told when her house was finished. She's been using vinegar since 1997, and they're still beautiful and new-looking. (Oh and the smell fades once it dries, and your house won't smell like a salad.)

 

[amamax2]

What ratio of vinegar to water is best?

Thanks!

 

[virginiamama]

I also would suggest White vinegar and water. My father in law had a 45 year career in floor installation and he suggested taking a spray bottle with vinegar and water with a microfiber mop as he said he would not take any chances with over wetting. I take the solution in a spray bottle, spray a small area, mop with the microfiber mop and it is almost instantly dry and sanitized. Love this method!

I use the Bellawood floor cleaner sold by Lumber Liquidators where we bought our flooring. I'm willing to bet it is a fancy version of vinegar and water. They gave us a ginormous box of it, so I'll be using that for a while. I love it, the bottle sprays a very fine mist rather than big drops. I quickly buff it over with a microfiber mop and it shines great with no buildup. Please be careful about overwetting! We installed new prefinished flooring, so the top of the boards are sealed, but on the ends where the boards are cut are not finished. We have a geriatric dog who has had a few accidents and if it happens to hit on a cut end, the board soaks it up and has cracked the finish on top. We always clean it right up, but the damage has already been done. I have a steamer and it works great on my tile, but I don't use it anywhere near my wood floor.

 

[mlittig]

I, too, would like to know the ratio for the mixture of vinegar to water

 

[shortbun]

My brother was a professional hardwood floor installer for years and his recommendation is white vinegar and water. I use this myself and my hardwood floors come out beautiful! If you ask any hardwood floor professional, I would be surprised if they said anything other than white vinegar.

Water and vinegar here too. I grew up with hardwood, have had nothing but hardwood my whole life. Vinegar. Definitely NOT Murphy's Oil Soap, it leaves a horrible residue and it stinks.

 

[shortbun]

I, too, would like to know the ratio for the mixture of vinegar to water

I pour a heavy cup into a 2/3 filled five gallon bucket with very warm water. How's THAT for a 'ratio'? lol!!! Just eyeball it.

 

[Mouseless2Long]

I pour a heavy cup into a 2/3 filled five gallon bucket with very warm water. How's THAT for a 'ratio'? lol!!! Just eyeball it.

That's what I do too. Eyeball it using those same amounts. I use one of those mops with a removable microfiber pad. I just dip the pad in, wring it out and go to town! You may have to do this several times depending on the size of the floor. When I'm done, peel off the pad and into the washer it goes. Could not be easier.

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

I do half and half white vinegar and water. I use a squirt bottle and just wipe it up with a towel for my brazilian cherry floors. Was told to do this by my brother in law who has sold hardwood floors all his life. Whatever you do be careful buying store products. I accidently bought a cleaner and used it that had polyeurethane in it and eventually floors had to be stripped because of it.( I had ignored my brother in laws advice and bought something fancy at the store) vinegar smell goes away as soon as it dries.

 

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

We have an entire house full of hardwood, and we also use Bona. We really like it, and as a plus it is "green" and non-toxic.