Can i mop hardwood floors

Otherwise, try the natural route with a homemade cleaning solution for your floors. To clean wood floors naturally, use a common kitchen staple: vinegar. Learning how to clean hardwood floors with vinegar will save you money on top of providing a safe cleaning method for your floors.

Follow the tips for how to clean hardwood floors with a mop, above, to prevent water damage. Then use vinegar to naturally clean the rest of your home! Editor's Note: Vinegar can dull certain hardwood flooring finishes, so always test your solution in an inconspicuous spot before using the ingredient to clean your floors. Consider your flooring's finish before trying to remove a stain from wood floors. If the stain is on the surface, your floor probably has a hard finish, such as urethane.

If the finish stain has penetrated through to the wood, the floor probably has a soft oiled finish, common in older homes whose floors have not been refinished and resealed. For floors with a hard finish, wipe surface stains with a soft, clean cloth. Never use sandpaper, steel wool, or harsh chemicals because they can permanently damage the finish. The following remedies are for hardwood floors with soft oiled finishes.

If needed, end each treatment by staining the wood, then waxing and buffing the spot to match the rest of the floor. By Jessica Bennett Updated September 10, Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team.

If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. Save Pin FB More. Kitchen with green cabinets and white island seating. Credit: Anthony Masterson Photography, Inc. Mopping with a string mop and bucket of soap and water. Credit: Kritsada Panichgul. Person mopping floor with string mop. Credit: Jason Donnelly.

Remove dark spots and pet stains: Rub the spot with No. If the area is still dark, apply bleach or vinegar and allow it to soak into the wood for about an hour. Rinse with a damp cloth.

Remove heel marks: Use fine steel wool to rub in floor wax. Mop less-trafficked areas once a month or once a season. Remember: Water is wood's worst enemy even on sealed floors! Begin by dusting or sweeping your floors well. Then make a cleaning mixture using 4 cups warm water and a few drops of castile soap or dish soap. Do not shake, but gently mix this, then mop or scrub small sections at a time, drying them with a clean cloth or dry mop after.

Do use a floor-cleaning product recommended by the floor finisher or opt for plain soap and water. If the recommended product is hard to find or costly, and other floor cleaners contain ingredients that violate your floor's warranty, try soap and water. Don't use oils, waxes or furniture sprays.

Use a damp-mop with a flat-head mop and microfiber pad or a microfiber string mop that has been thoroughly wrung out when it looks dingy.

Move with the grain, and control the amount of cleaning solution by using a spray bottle, aiming for a heavy mist or gentle squirt of about a half teaspoon per 2 square feet. No need to rinse. No need to buff either, but cloth diapers and soft socks do work well here. Did an ice cube just shoot under the table? Go get it. You can damage the finish by attacking with a broom meant for the garage or a floor-cleaning machine designed for tougher flooring.

Avoid applying the wrong cleaning product. Experts say Murphy Oil Soap can leave a residue on polyurethane. Paste wax simply makes it slippery. As for acrylic polishes that claim to remove the glow while putting more on? They can dull polyurethane—just remove the grime and it will shine. Be aware of flooding the zone. Standing water and overly wet mops shoot moisture between boards and through tiny tears in the finish that form when wood shrinks and expands with the weather.

Over time, moisture can damage the wood.