Hardwood Floor Owners -

[Jack_Dawson]

I have a really really stupid question.

How do I clean them? I mean I have a dust mop for the big stuff, but I've had mine for a year now and have never mopped them or polished them or anything. My question...do I buy an actual mop and that janitorial tub thingie to squeeze the mop out in, or will a Swiffer do it? And what kind of solution do I buy? I've heard Swedish X is good, but seriously I have no clue.

I'm having a SB party and want to get my shyte together. Thx in advance, knowledgable DUers.

:toast:

[Jessica]

1. I bought a Hoover bagless vacuum for hard floors ...

and it works like a charm. It has a setting for carpets as well, so you can clean your rugs. When I need to mop, I just use one of those Libman replaceable mops & some Murphy's Oil Soap in hot water.

[Jack_Dawson]

4. Thx

Anyone else?

[MonkeyFunk]

21. Agreed. Just use a sweeper and Murphy's once in a while.

And a dry swiffer to round up the dust every other day.

[Sanity Claws]

2. I'd like to hear the answers too

After sweeping, I mop them with Murphy's wood soap diluted in water and then wipe dry because water is not good for wood floors.
However, the floors are not as shiny as I'd like them to be.

[Maine-ah]

10. don't use oil base cleaners

they build up . use a neutral ph cleaner.

[Sanity Claws]

12. Can you name a brand?

I just don't know what's a neutral ph cleaner

[Maine-ah]

16. no harsh alkalies, low foaming usually no rinse.

much better for your floors. also you need to keep an eye on the humidity in your house. 40%-50% is recommended. if the floors dry up, then it's easier for dirt to get trapped, and scratch up your floor. too much humidity and you will have warpped boards. furniture polish is great for scratches if you can find one that is a good match to your finish.
http://www.safehomeproducts.com/SHP/ES/Bona_Kemi.asp

[seriousstan]

3. mop and glo

[Jack_Dawson]

9. For Linoleum, yes

I'm talking about WOOD!

[mr_hat]

5. Vacuum, mild vinegar/water mop.

[Red State Rebel]

6. It depends....

Are they solid wood? How are they sealed? Are they laminate?

All of these things will effect how they need to be cleaned.

[Jack_Dawson]

8. Wood Planks

Oak, I think. Glued down. 3/8" thick

JD

[Sanity Claws]

13. Glued?

Are you sure there are no nails? If glue is what's them them, I would be afraid of water affecting the glue.

[Jack_Dawson]

15. Positive

No nails.

[Sanity Claws]

19. Is it possible it's not real wood?

Could it be laminate? A new product came out within the last ten years that looks like wood but isn't.
I hope someone who knows construction jumps in. I thought all hardwood had nails. Could it be tongue and groove? (I hope this doesn't sound too dumb -- it's just that wood is too good for just glue.)

[Jack_Dawson]

20. Real Wood - Lowe's

The reason it's glue is cause it's thinner than most...3/8" They went through 4 tubs of it. It's a great floor trust me...I'd just like to treat it well.

[RetroLounge]

7. Swiffer Wet work well for in between scrubbings

RL

[flvegan]

11. Method Wood for Good

From Target works great.

[NewJeffCT]

18. thanks

I'm interested in this, too. My wife is a wonderful woman, but always seems to forget to wipe up the splashes on the wood floor. so, I always get a lot of spots that I have trouble cleaning up...

[patdem]

14. If your floors are well sealed a damp mopping will not hurt them

Plain water...wrung out as much as you can ((a plain cotton mop..no industrial wringer required..hand wring as hard as possible(hot,as hot as you can stand cause it drys quickly))...vinegar stinks! Plain water will remove the dust particles that seem to gather .. if your floors are well sealed. If not, there are wood floor cleaners...very dangerous, make sure you have it well ventilated and DO NOT SMOKE or if you have pilot lights make sure they are OUT..this is a very flamible product. Then you can wax with a bowling alley type wax (Johnson & Johnson makes both products) but you have to buff the floors with either a buffer or ALOT of elbow grease. I LOVE wood floors and they are well worth the effort!

[Maine-ah]

17. please read post #16

i grew up with hardwood floors, and my parents were rather anal about them.

[luckypunch]

22. What's the finish?

You have to know what the finish is before you clean them. Restoration Hardware sells a great hardwood floor cleaner..I've been using it for 2 years and love it.