How can I clean my hardwood floors naturally?

[Anonymous]

I am looking for a non-toxic way to clean my hardwood floors, I think they are finished with polyutherane, but they are old and look a little dull. I tried a steam mop, but it made them duller and then I googled it and it said never to use a steam mop b/c unfinished areas can get too wet and warp. Then I read to use vinegar and water , but then i read that will dull the finish! I am getting conflicting info! Someone please help me?!?! How about water and a little eco-friendly dish detergent??

[Anonymous]

I use vinegar and water for spot cleaning. I use my steamer once per month. My floors have not yet warped.

[Anonymous]

thanks!! maybe i will just stick to vinegar and water

[Anonymous]

We use a cup of vinegar to a gallon of water, with a couple drops of dishwashing detergent. I mop with this solution but also keep some in a spray bottle for touch-ups with a microfiber mop. Basically like a homemade swiffer.

[Anonymous]

I use castile soap diluted in water most of the time and vinegar and water occasionally to disinfect. I have 1940s oak floors and while they are not pristine by any means, they don't look any worse now than when I moved in 5 years ago.

I had a cleaning lady for a short while who used Murphy's Oil Soap, and while it made the floors shine like the top of the Chrysler Building it also made them very slick, and my husband slipped on the stairs and broke his coccyx. So we don't use Murphy's anymore.

[Anonymous]

Vinegar and water won't poison your family or damage your wood, but it's not going to make it shinier either. Your floors are dull not because they are dirty but because the finish is worn. For more shine you're going to need to refinish. Perhaps you could get away with just putting another coat of polyurethane over the existing finish rather than sanding it down and starting from scratch. Either way it's something of a production. Personally, I don't love a highly buffed shiny wood floor. I think a duller look is more natural, so it wouldn't bother me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I use castile soap diluted in water most of the time and vinegar and water occasionally to disinfect. I have 1940s oak floors and while they are not pristine by any means, they don't look any worse now than when I moved in 5 years ago.

I had a cleaning lady for a short while who used Murphy's Oil Soap, and while it made the floors shine like the top of the Chrysler Building it also made them very slick, and my husband slipped on the stairs and broke his coccyx. So we don't use Murphy's anymore.

Murphy's is bad for wood floors because it leaves a film. If you've used Murphy's and ever want your floors resealed/refinished (or whatever the term is), they'll have to completely redo the finish - take it down to the wood and start over because of the film. I, and others, learned the hard way personally or dealing with Murphy's use by previous owners.

I alternate between Bona spray, vinegar and water, and steam mop depending on how deep a cleaning I'm doing.

[Anonymous]

I only use vinegar and water for cleaning in the home but I read that this is bad for hardwood floors because it can strip the finish. We just got new hardwood floors put in and now I use Bona, which is a fragrance free cleaning product, as non toxic as it gets. No smell at all (I can't tolerate cleaning smells). I use that once in awhile and just Swiffer the rest of the time. Highly recommended.

[Anonymous]

Vinegar just stinks too much . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vinegar and water won't poison your family or damage your wood, but it's not going to make it shinier either. Your floors are dull not because they are dirty but because the finish is worn. For more shine you're going to need to refinish. Perhaps you could get away with just putting another coat of polyurethane over the existing finish rather than sanding it down and starting from scratch. Either way it's something of a production. Personally, I don't love a highly buffed shiny wood floor. I think a duller look is more natural, so it wouldn't bother me.

I agree. Also, the only way a steam mop (or any other kind of mop) is going to warp your floors is if you saturate them and leave them wet. No matter what kind of mop or rag you're using, you should be getting them that wet. It's unlikely you have any unsealed areas you don't know about. It's pretty apparent where the polyurethane is and where it isn't. Using vinegar occasionally won't hurt your floors and, in fact, if used properly won't hurt them at all. However, most people use too much vinegar and since it's slightly acidic, repeated use isn't good for the floor. Vinegar is really only needed if you use polish on your floors since it removes build up. Since most people don't, there's really no need to use vinegar and even if you do use polish, you only have to use vinegar when there is build up.

I use a steam mop and really like it. Until you get all the other cleaning products off the floor, it will leave streaks. It will also streak if the pad isn't changed frequently and you allow it to get saturated or if it's dirty. Make sure you vaccum before using a steam mop and don't expect it to clean up messes. It's really more like a dust mop.