# Keeping hardwood floors shiny **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 10, 2002, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-hardwood-floors-shiny/113304 "2002-06-10T20:16:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Alexxandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/278dde/32.png) [@Alexxandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alexxandra)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2002, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-hardwood-floors-shiny/113304/1 "2002-06-10T20:16:21Z")
I recently moved into an apartment with hardwood parquet floors. They are a bit scuffed and dull, nothing major. I’d like to wash them with something to shine 'em up, but I heard the Future or Mop and Glow would do more damage than good. Are there any similar products intended for wood floors? ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2002, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-hardwood-floors-shiny/113304/2 "2002-06-10T20:54:54Z")
Murphy Oil Soap, for one. If the floors are “finished” (most wood floors are), you really want to clean the finish w/out removing it. For that, a natural and mild soap that removes pollutants and other agents that tarnish finishes should be removed. So, essentially you want the finish good and clean w/out removing it. That protects the longevity of the floor and helps it look good in the interim. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2002, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-hardwood-floors-shiny/113304/3 "2002-06-10T20:56:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Philster \* > \*\*Murphy Oil Soap, for one. > For that, a natural and mild soap that removes pollutants and other agents that tarnish finishes should be removed. > > \*\* I should have said…“should be USED” in that last blurb. Use somethng mild/natural to remove contaminants from the finish… Murphy Oil Soap comes to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2002, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-hardwood-floors-shiny/113304/4 "2002-06-10T20:57:36Z")
If they are really scuffed up (feeling rough to the touch, or lighter in the center where people walk/darker on the edge) they they just need to be refinished and no quantity of cleaning will improve that. Murphy’s will do what it can… ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2002, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-hardwood-floors-shiny/113304/5 "2002-06-10T22:22:51Z")
We had a good discussion about cleaning hardwood floors [last year](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=92928&highlight=hardwood+floors). The most important thing is to determine what kind of finish your floors have, and then clean them accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2002, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-hardwood-floors-shiny/113304/6 "2002-06-10T23:10:29Z")
Caveat – if you have a polyurethaned wood flloor, current wisdom is to NOT use Murphy’s or any oil-based soap. The problem is that when you want to refinish the floor, the oil will interfere with the adhesion of the new coat. So instead of just “screening” and refinishing, you will have to sand down to the bare wood (and might have trouble even then). Some of what I’ve read indicates vinegar and water, Spic and Span, or to go to a flooring store and see what they recommend. If you use water-based cleaners, use it sparingly and dry well to avoid problems with warping or raising the grain. ``` (For a cite, go over to deja news and do a search on "Hardwood floors" and "Murphy Soap". The issue comes up pretty frequently in the consumer newsgroups. Note that there's not a 100% concensus on this advice.) ``` ---
**Author:** ![Alexxandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/278dde/32.png) [@Alexxandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alexxandra)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-hardwood-floors-shiny/113304/7 "2002-06-11T05:56:46Z")
I’m in a rental apartment, so refinishing is not an option. Murphy’s Oil Soap it is then. Thanks, guys!