Mop for Cleaning Hard Wood Floors?

Instead of getting the Swiffer refills, just use regular rags. You should be able to put a rag on the Swiffer mop just the same as the refills. This way you can wash & reuse the rags. My mom cleans houses & this is the method she uses. I also once worked for a maid service in town & they used the same idea.

I use water and vinegar w/ a water rinse, on my hands and knees. It's very old school, but the vinegar cuts through the grime. The kids think it's "fun" to help me dry... and we all get some exercise. Come to think of it - time to clean it again!!!

HI KL,

Those octopus mops hold way too much water to use on hardwoods, even when you wring then out with the heavy duty wringer. The floor would start to warp after a while. The swiffer-type is the best and you can pick up one at Lowe's or Home Depot that has a cloth pad that you can rinse and ring out. No costly disposables. I use a solution of gentle, nontoxic cleaner mixed with water on mine but I barely get the floor wet with it, just enough to get the spots cleaned.

M.

I totally agree w/the suggestion about the Shark Steam Pocket Mop. I spent $120 on it as well, and it rocks! The nice thing about it is that there isn't a bunch of water all over, because too much water will seep into the seams and swell/warp your floor. We bought it because it has amazing sanitizing properties without chemicals, and we LOVE it! (Even the hubby uses it!)
In any case, good luck!

Shark steamer! No chemicals, just steam - it does a great job on wood floor, ceramic tile and linoleum. Wouldn't use anything else. No need to get on your knees to clean your floor. The steam gets grime, gunk and dirt off without much effort. There ins't anything it hasn't cleaned up yet and I have two boys, a husband and three dogs that track in all kinds of stuff. It is about 120.00, but it is one of the best 120.00 dollars I have ever spent! You won't ever have to buy cleaning solutions and there isn't any yucky water to pour out or a nasty mop to clean. AND, your back won't hurt when you're done :)

I hope you get some good responses, but all I know is....be super careful with the mop and bucket routine on your hardwood floors. Depending on the type, too much moisture can buckle the wood and ruin it. Then, you've got other problems. The steamers clean very well and also a good sponge mop that you can sqeeze most of the liquid out of. Just don't soak your wood floors.

You're in luck -- the New York Times recently ran an article comparing various mops: Saluting Mops That Can.

Here is the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/garden/18roadtest.html?...

I like a sponge mop, the kind where a lever folds the sponge in two to ring out the water. That way I can use a lot of water on the kitchen linoleum or very little on the hard wood floor. The woman who helps me clean sometimes likes an old-fashioned string mop.

There is somethng called the shark. I saw an infomercial on it and it has an actual cloth pad (a big one) ans you can wash it. My coworker has it and loves it.

Try BONA. We have hard wood floors in the kitchen and dining room and it became a mess after our daughter started eating solid foods. We were also using Swiffer (dry and wet) but then moved to BONA. My husband claims it works better. You can get it at BB&B -- use one of their 20% off coupons that you get in the mail.

I have a Hoover Floormate & only have tile. I have a few friends that use it on their hardwood. I do want to try the shark steam mop though.

I realy like the steam mops . They clean good and no chemicals need just water and steam and you can use it on all types of floors .

I use a regular "roller" mop that I got from Walmart. I only have hardwood and tile floors also. I use Murphy's oil soap on my hardwood and Mr. Clean on my tile floors. I always wring out the mop really well as to use as little water as possible on the floors. Good luck!

I too was using the Swiffer dry and wet refills when our home was 834 square feet, but 2 years ago, my husband and I added 1100 square feet and now our home has a little over 300 square feet of tile and the rest is hardwood flooring. I tried every kind of mop including the "octopus" then I found the best mop ever! http://www.vileda.ca/en/mops/flat/ultramax.aspx You will never need another mop again! (I need to purchase a replacement mop head after 2 years!) I purchased mine at Walmart, but they no longer carry it in my area. I love the swivel head, it works great under the beds and furniture. The best part is you don't have to ring out the mop, the bucket does it for you, and when you are done, throw the detachable mop head in the washing machine (I have used bleach with mine and it did not come apart!) Hope this helps! :o)

R., Santa Clara California

Yep! I use the traditional cotton mop (with loop ends, so it can be washed in the washing machine and not tangle), and the janitor bucket. I use Pine Sol and Bleach in hot hot water, and that gets my wood floors very clean!

Yes use the good 'ole mop water is sometimes better. I use any kind of pine scented stuff. (because it makes the place smell better) Don't pour too much into the bucket; go with about a half a cup and then fill the bucket to about 3/4 full and then go to town. i think that the octopus looking one works really well. Just make sure that you sweep before you clean otherwise you will have to same problem that you did before with it moving the mess around. I hope this helps!!! Good Luck!!!

Be careful what you use on hardwood floors. Too much water buckles and warps the wood and cleaners with oil (like Murphys') make it impossible to refresh the finish with a "screen and coat" (light sanding with 1 coat finish) when the floors get dull and worn. A complete refinish job becomes necessary and is quite expensive.
Bona Kemi is designed for wood floors, as is the "mop" they make to use with thier cleaners. It is also the cleaner recommended by most flooring companies for hardwood floors. Use the "dry" mop cloth to remove bits of dust and dirt, then use the "wet" cloth to clean and polish. It's also easy to use; spray a section, then mop it off. No rinsing required, no excess moisture.
I use a sponge mop on my tile floors. The Container store used to sell a really nice one. The sponge part is made from natural sea sponge and doesn't fall apart like the synthetic ones.

I have hardwood floors and I used the swiffer and dealt with the same issue's and much to much work! I was sooo thankful when I was able to get a floor steamer. It is unbelievable! You just fill container with distilled water and steam all your floors, baseboards, edges, etc.. They come with attachments that let you steam inside of shelves, compartments, cracks, counter tops, sinks, toilet's, window edges, anywhere and everywhere! Everyone who came in my house thought I had gotten my floors refurnished. The tile and ceramic floors looked as if they had received a high gloss polish treatment. I have never had everything look brand new, and for so little effort. Mine is an older model so it goes kinda slow. The newer ones have much more pressure and you can move quite swiftly.
When your done you remoempty excess water, rinse,

Updated

I have hardwood floors and I used the swiffer and dealt with the same issue's and much to much work! I was sooo thankful when I was able to get a floor steamer. It is unbelievable! You just fill container with distilled water and steam all your floors, baseboards, edges, etc.. They come with attachments that let you steam inside of shelves, compartments, cracks, counter tops, sinks, toilet's, window edges, anywhere and everywhere! Everyone who came in my house thought I had gotten my floors refurnished. The tile and ceramic floors looked as if they had received a high gloss polish treatment. I have never had everything look brand new, and for so little effort. Mine is an older model so it goes kinda slow. The newer ones have much more pressure and you can move quite swiftly.
When your done you remove the cloth head, put it in the washer, empty excess water, rinse, wipe dry and put away till you need it again.
I can't wait till I can get a newer one. Good luck & enjoy!

Hi Katie,
I use sponge mop which I don't like because all it really does is pushes the dirt around. I would like to read what others have to say about mops.
Thanks.

BONA. They make one for hardwood and one for laminate. No strong cleaner smell, very easy to use. washable pad, no wet mop smell. Can find at Lowe's. It is kind of like a Swiffer but with washable pads. You can buy the cleaner in large containers to refill.

I don't use the mop you are talking about, except at work. It only seems to spred the mess around unless you have the professional mop bucket and change you water alot. I use a sponge mop and the kitchen sink or in the bathroom the tub. Works the best for me.

I've tried so many different wood floor cleaners it's almost funny. Lately I've been using the Swiffer dry scented sheets, but only because we have a dog that sheds and it picks up most of the hair instead just spreading it around. However, it's kind of a losing battle if you have a dog that sheds. The two products that I keep going back to are the G2, a battery operated sweeper, for the dry stuff and for mopping and touch up I use Quick Shine by Holloway house. My Mom bought me the set as a gift and I was so surprised at how well it worked. Although it's hard to keep dark wood floors clean, I'd rather have to deal with that instead of carpet. The kids even like to use the G2 and it does a good job. So I keep on, keeping on. Hope you find something you like.

I LOVE my SHARK! And you can do chemical free steam cleaning.

I second the vinegar and water. Don't use the "octopus tentacle" mops - they are even worse about just moving the dirt around! My cleaning lady was using one of these and I had to tell her to stop because there were little piles of dirt around the edges of the room where I could tell her mop swiped it. The schools use them because they aren't really looking for a squeaky clean floor. :)

Dear K.L.,
I still use a regular mop to clean the kitchen tiles and the hard wood floor in the rest of the house. With the hard wood floor, according to the refinisher one of the best things to use is liquid dish soap. I use a floor rag for that area and immediately dry it with an old cotton rag. Also I only wet clean wood every couple months otherwise vacuming. Because wood doesn't like water. Tiles you can use the octopus mop. I also like the ones you can remove the head and wash hose in the washer with small area rugs or your cleaning rags.

At Gymboree, we use the Shark Steamer mop everyday on the mats. It works great and it's fairly easy. Some of my teachers have mentioned that they have this mop for their hardwood floors at home too and love it. It should work on all those surfaces that you mentioned.

Good luck!

J. F.

I was a housekeeper for 5 years and tried every mop under the sun! Personally my favorite is a string mop with a built in wringer. You have to be willing to rinse it WELL when done and squeeze it as dry as you can, set it where it can dry out and not mold.
Then take an old bath towel, spread your feet and "swish" the floors dry! It is a great way to buff the floor and get any dirt you may have missed. My son used to love doing the "swishing". =)

I have a Shark steam mop , I love it!

I have hardwood floors and I clean mine with a bottle of Bruce's Hardwood Floor Cleaner (found at Lowes) and I hardwood floor mop, Cedar brand found at WalMart. (it is flat, one piece )Vinegar will only dull your floors and of course thats what we hope to avoid. I never submerge the mop in water. Just spritz the Bruce's and wipe with the mop.

i bought a steamer - no chemicals and it sanitizes too. the only thing with the one i bought is you have to go pretty slowly over messy spots. they sell ones with a steam trigger and those might be better for harder to clean areas.