Need Some Ideas on How to Clean a Wood Floor

This is going to sound so simple it's ridiculous, but it really does work. I used to use the Swifter and the Orange Glo stuff and it never really cleaned it well. Just use hot water and add some vinegar to it. I usually fill a 3 gallon bucket about 1/2 full and add roughly 2-3 T of vinegar. It takes a couple of weeks, but you'll be amazed at the shine and the dirt you'll get up.

I use a product call BonaX,recomended by the person who installed my hardwood floors. I dont have to rinse, just put some in a bottle and dilute with water (about 80/20-soap) and then use a dry terry cloth and wipe it up. I have been using this for about 10 years now.

Hi A.,
The best thing I have found to clean wood floors is warm water & vinegar. It cleans without stripping. Gets rid of the cloudiness & is non-harmful to your wood floor. I am a hands & knees cleaner (LOL) but you can use a mop & bucket no problem. Also if you make sure your floor is completly dry before you allow little feet through it should help with not getting footprints. How to get rid of the "oily" type footprints I haven't figured that one out yet, sorry. ;0) Have a great day!!!

It's not natural but the Pledge multi-suface floor cleaner works awsome on wood and tile with out leaving a film.

I use Old English stain that is to help cover up scratches and I don't remember the name of the wash I use but you just add it to water and mop it. It's next to the Old English stain at Smiths in a flat square bottle with a red lid and a circle emblem on the front of it. Sorry to be vague but if you shop at Smiths, you'll see it there on te the top shelf. It works great and I it doesn't leave a residue.

As PP have said, vingear and water work great! If the smell bothers you, a little essential oil (lemon, citrus, peppermint, etc....) takes care of the smell. I just use that in a bucket of water and mop. Also, I have a flat mop, with a microfiber cover that I wash after each use. I don't know the name--I got it at target--but it gets rid of persistent foot prints that don't come up with other types of mops.

1/2 cup of white vinegar mixed with 1 gallon of warm water.
Plain and simple.
L. P.

I don't know that I've officially decided what to use either. When I had a professional housecleaner (ah, those were the days) he used the vinegar that so many have mentioned. Then I read in a home magazine that it can strip the floors. I was using orange glo and actually liked it, but we had some addditional hardwoods put in and the owner of the company said that orange glo was bad- something about the oil in it. They recommend Bona, which I've heard a lot about. I use it now and like it, but I hate that it is more expensive.

Use Bona for hardwood floors, it's the most reccommended wood floor cleaner by hardwood floor companies. You can get it at Lowe's or sometimes Costco carries it. Kohl's just started carrying a really cool Bona Wood floor cleaning kit, it's a mop type gadget similar to swiffer and you can buy the bona cleaner that hooks into it.

The EXACT same thing happened to me! I also used Orange Glo and my floor was so shiny. But it eventually left a film and then when some of the kids toys were pushed across the floor it scratched away some of the film and made the rest of the floor look dirty and gray. I was told by so many people (including the guy that installed my floor) that it was that cleaner. Everyone (including the floor guy)now recommends Bona cleaner. It is natural and won't leave a film. I was told it would also help lift some of the residue left by Orange Glo. I've learned that using Bona straight (and not wetting the mop with water) cleans better and I'm noticing the residue is getting better. At first I would wet my mop and didn't notice much difference. I get Bona at King Soopers, I know Target doesn't carry it. Good luck A.! I hope you get it out. I'm still working on mine. It's so embarrassing having a "dirty" floor. I feel like I have to explain it to everyone who comes over so they know I really do clean!!

I've actually heard that the Orange glo is very bad for wood floors because of exactly what you mentioned: the film. Since moving into this house that has tons of wood, I've been using Murphy's oil soap. Basically, I put a little in a spray bottle, then dilute it with water. I spray on, mop off. Too much water (wet mopping) on the wood floor is eventually going to damage it. I've also heard that a vinegar/water solution works well for cleaning as long as it's applied the same way (spray on, dry mop off), but I really hate the smell of vinegar, so I don't use that. I like the Murphy's Oil Soap. It does the job, is natural, leaves the floor clean and shiny, and keeps it that way until the next time my kids spill something! Maybe give it a try.

I see you can't get on your hands and knees. That's how I scrub the floor with a water/vinegar solution(mostly water). However, I see that you have a 4.5 year old. My daughter (who just turned 5) LOVES to wash the floor! I usually get started, and she joins in, and she does the bulk of it! Try letting your kids help!

I use water and vinegar. Especially with little ones I don't use any traditional household cleaner anymore. There are so many studies that prove higher risk of cancer rates among women who stay at home versus out in the work place. They have linked ADD/ADHD, cancer all sorts of things to traditional products. If you want more information please contact me at ____@____.com

First I Swiffer just to get the dust, crumbs, etc off. Then I use either Zep Hardwood Cleaner or Bona Hardwood Cleaner with one of those mop things that look like a fitted towel that I can take off and wash, do you know the one I mean? It looks like a Swiffer,but it's has a larger area and it's washable. Anyway, you can get all of it at Home Depot. I was told by my floor guy to never, ever use a citrus based cleaner because it can basically strip the finish on the hardwood. My entire house is hardwoods and I've found that this does the best job of keeping them clean. If it doesn't need a full cleaning, I just run the Swiffer over it and it's good to go. I also don't let my kids eat and drink anywhere in the house (just in the kitchen and eat-in area) and we're also a shoes off house, so the floors stay pretty clean, it's just a matter of maintainting it.

Hi A.,
I have hardwood floors as well. I have found the BEST product ever!!!! It puts a little seal and the best shine on my floors that lasts for 2 months or more. I have a 2 year old and 3 dogs. My floor gets scratched with the dogs nails and little cars driving all over it. This cleaner takes all of them out and looks brand new. It's AWESOME!!! I work with a lady that has a side business so I buy it from her online. Her website is: pjstates.mychoices.biz. It's call Floor Restore & More. It's really great stuff and not for a bad price. You get two bottles (I forgot the size) for $20.00, she also has some other great cleaning products on there. Check it out! Please let me know if you need help finding it. I won't use anything else after using this!!! Good luck!

I make my own 'recipe' of water, vinegar and a little bit of olive oil. The vinegar smells a bit at first but soon wears off and it's actually a natural deodorizer. The olive oil gives the floor a nice shine and doesn't make it slippery plus you have no harmful residue left on your floor.

I use vinegar with some peppermint oil in it to cut the smell or I use tea tree oil. I mix about a 1/4 cup with a bucket of hot water. They both work very well and are not harmful for your floor, are free of chemicals so they are safe for children and pets and the vinegar is inexpensive. I also prefer to do it on my knees but my housecleaner prefers a mop. Good luck

I use a steam cleaner to clean my wood floors. I use the lowest heat setting. It dries faster than anything else I've ever used and doesn't leave the floor slippery or sticky. It pulls all the dirt and crumbs from between the cracks. It leaves the floors very shinny and extremely clean.

A.,
I cannot stand the Orange Glo product (how's that for honesty!). :) Seriously though, I had the same issues with it, and switched to Bona. I bought it at King Soopers, Home Depot has it too. I bought the whole package, with the broomer/Bona sweeper and I absolutely love it. My husband loves it too, and so I always get help with the floors on the main floor! Good luck!

My hard wood floors are circle saw cut (they still have the marks from the saw, not at all smooth)Love them! So rustic, I use the swiffer wet jet to clean them. They shine after wards.I have heard that this is bad for house pets though. But you don't have to touch the ground accept with your feet of course. :)

I use a steam cleaner with water and vinegar on my dark hard wood floor.

I've had hardwood floors for 15 years now (2 different houses) and have always used Bona Hardwood Cleaner. When we sold our house after 12 years living in it, everyone commented on how our floors looked brand new. Never, ever use water or vinegar on your floors. Any liquid that falls on your needs to be wiped up right away. Do you use water & vinegar on your living room table? Probably not and there is a reason for that wood does not like water, vinegar, etc. Anyone professional wood floor person will tell you this. Bona has several products for cleaning and maintaining your wood floors and I have been a fan of this product for 15 years.