How do I clean hardwood floors?

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Forum -> Household Management -> Cleaning & Laundry

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amother

OP ↓

Tue, Jul 23 2024, 10:47 pm

We just moved to a house. Dh says it's bad to mop our wood floors but I have no idea how to clean them otherwise. Please help!

amother

Dimgray ↓

Tue, Jul 23 2024, 10:50 pm

You need to use a wood floor cleaner like bona
https://www.target.com/p/bona-.....49425

613mitzvahgirl

Tue, Jul 23 2024, 10:56 pm

Hi. When we redid our floors our contractor told us to use the swiffer for hardwood floors only. And dont mop often, as it will ruin the floors. He also said wipe messes and spills right away and make sure there’s no water on the floor, as it can warp the floors.

oohlala

Tue, Jul 23 2024, 11:48 pm

Do not use bona! I used it for a few years but it makes the floors dirtier and duller. It just runs the dirty deep into the floors and takes away the shine. Now I switch off- one week damp mop with vinegar and water and the next week with Murphy soil soap. My floors are finally clean and shiny! Just make sure not to flood the floors, be sure your mop is wrung out and follow up with drying it if it doesn’t air dry fast enough.

amother

↑ Dimgray ↓

Tue, Jul 23 2024, 11:51 pm

oohlala wrote:

This isn’t true. It does not make it dirty or dull. Vinegar and Murphy oil both leave residue which might make you think you think it’s shiny but it’s just residue. And never use water on wood you are going to have warped floors and mold under.

amother

Khaki

Tue, Jul 23 2024, 11:53 pm

The main point is there shouldn’t be water sitting on the wood, it can warp it. So only use a damp, not wet mop. And if you have patience, dry it with a towel after you finish.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Wed, Jul 24 2024, 6:23 am

Now I am even more confused! Do I use the Swiffer for wood or not?

amother

Celeste ↓

Wed, Jul 24 2024, 6:27 am

So I recently bought a house with wood everywhere including the kitchen! I did a bit of research and have been using bona. Socfar floors look great. Hope it lasts

amother

↑ Celeste ↓

Wed, Jul 24 2024, 6:28 am

amother OP wrote:

Now I am even more confused! Do I use the Swiffer for wood or not?

I use the swiffer wet jet special for wood only once in a while for a quick cleanup. I think bona is better for the floor in the long run

amother

↑ OP ↓

Wed, Jul 24 2024, 6:43 am

So once a week is ok or is that too often? Floors look rly good. Super dark and beautiful

amother

↑ Celeste ↓

Wed, Jul 24 2024, 6:45 am

amother OP wrote:

So once a week is ok or is that too often? Floors look rly good. Super dark and beautiful

I do once a week and sometimes more . Imposible not to. Cant live with dirty floors

amother

↑ Dimgray ↓

Wed, Jul 24 2024, 7:28 am

amother OP wrote:

So once a week is ok or is that too often? Floors look rly good. Super dark and beautiful

No not too often you can do it a few times a week. Never use water no matter what anyone says they think. Not damp not anything you don’t put water on wood. If there is something spilled spot clean it.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Wed, Jul 24 2024, 8:07 am

So Swiffer for wood a few times a week seems like the verdict

amother

↑ Celeste

Wed, Jul 24 2024, 8:08 am

amother OP wrote:

So Swiffer for wood a few times a week seems like the verdict

I really wouldnt use swiffer that often it leaves a little residue. Its fine once in a while

amother

↑ OP

Wed, Jul 24 2024, 8:09 am

So what product can I use twice a week?

amother

↑ Dimgray ↓

Wed, Jul 24 2024, 8:10 am

amother Celeste wrote:

I really wouldnt use swiffer that often it leaves a little residue. Its fine once in a while

The wood floor spray mop meant for this. It uses bona doesn’t leave residue. It looks like a swiffer but with the right chemicals.

amother

↑ Dimgray ↓

Wed, Jul 24 2024, 8:11 am

amother OP wrote:

So what product can I use twice a week?

The one I linked above.

Amarante ↓

Wed, Jul 24 2024, 8:53 am

Bona or the equivalent is what should be used - never water and NEVER NEVER Murphys soap.

No one has mentioned that the real killer of wood floors is grit - the most important thing you can do is to vacuum frequently so the grit doesn't destroy the finish. You should also be vacuuming with the attachment meant for hard wood and not the spinning stiff brush that is meant for rugs and carpets.

Obviously anything that drips should be wiped up as soon as possible.

I think Bona is better than Swiffer - it is also considerably less expensive as well since the whole Swiffer system with the pads is much more expensive than a bottle of Bona - washable microfiber cloths and the kind of "mop" that you attach the microfiber to.

FWIW you spray the CLOTH and not the floor unless there is an incredible small area of shmutz that has "hardened". I had some fruit juice that had solidified and so I used that only on the spot and wiped off immediately.

Modern hardwood finishes are much stronger than the ones from the past - especially if you have factory finished floors.

amother

Orchid

Wed, Jul 24 2024, 9:02 am

Bona. Floors retain their shine!!!!!

amother

DarkViolet

Wed, Jul 24 2024, 9:20 am

amother Dimgray wrote:

How in the world can you wash without water? Anyway the floors are finished so that damp mopping shouldn't be a problem...

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