# Mop hardwood??? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 8, 2000, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mop-hardwood/10270 "2000-04-08T21:51:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2000, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mop-hardwood/10270/1 "2000-04-08T21:51:00Z")
My roommate wants me to mop the _hardwood floors_. I think he’s tripping. He thinks he’s Hints from Heloise. Who’s right? ---
**Author:** ![24KaratGold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/cc9497/32.png) [@24KaratGold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/24KaratGold)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2000, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mop-hardwood/10270/2 "2000-04-08T22:02:00Z")
Mop 'em. But don’t use anything other than water and a clean sponge mop. You’ll be amazed at how dirty that water gets. Goldie * * * Gentlemen certainly DO prefer blondes – and with good reason! ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2000, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mop-hardwood/10270/3 "2000-04-09T00:21:00Z")
I used to use Murphy’s Oil Soap to clean my hardwood floors in another house. Works great and leaves a pleasant smell. Use a warm bucket of water, some Murphy’s Oil Soap or something similar, a sponge type mop but don’t “soak” the wood. Use it where it is damp but not too dry. ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Incognito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guy_incognito/32/3920_2.png) [@Guy\_Incognito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Incognito)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2000, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mop-hardwood/10270/4 "2000-04-09T01:07:00Z")
There are a few good products out there specifically for mop-cleaning hardwood floors, but Murphy’s Oil Soap is pretty good, though. Just remember to never, ever try to clean hardwood floors with furniture cleaner/polish (not unless you’ve got fantastic homeowner’s insurance or a high tolerance for back pain injury). Check some of your local home improvement stores to see what they offer. * * * “It’s only common sense, There are no accidents 'round here.” ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2000, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mop-hardwood/10270/5 "2000-04-09T01:18:00Z")
Back in the olden days I used to manage the clubhouse at the local golf course. I would dry mop the floors during the week then depending on how busy we were I would wet mop then wax and buff on mondays. It worked pretty well. I used to get compliments all the time. I don’t remember what products I used though.As long as you wax after washing it probably doesn’t make a lot of difference what soap you use. I have used Murphys and I like it. ---
**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2000, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mop-hardwood/10270/6 "2000-04-09T01:18:00Z")
If you are planning on using oil, make sure it is a genuine hardwood floor and not a synthetic or blend like Pergo. The synthetics don’t need oil or wax, just a light cleaning with a soft cloth or _barely_ damp mop. Even regular hardwood floors really don’t need oil that often. Try a “Swiffer”(is that what it’s called?) Or something that just picks up the dust bunnies. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2000, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mop-hardwood/10270/7 "2000-04-09T15:51:00Z")
An excellent resource for any kind of home care questions is _Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House_ by Cheryl Mendelson. She suggests cleaning hardwood with a little Murphy Oil Soap added to warm water once a year, and a little mild soap added to water (dishwashing detergent would work) for in between cleanings. On my floors, in order to avoid “soaking” them, I dip a towel in the soap/detergent mixture and wipe the floors by hand. I then go back with a clean, dry towel and dry them. I feel like Cinderella a bit, but the result is great. ---
**Author:** ![Rich\_G7subs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@Rich\_G7subs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rich_G7subs)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2000, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mop-hardwood/10270/8 "2000-04-10T01:56:00Z")
DO NOT USE MURPHYS! It will make it impossible to refinish your floor without sanding to bare wood! Use ammonia and water…make the mop Juuust barely damp.Then go over with a dry mop…don’t leave any standing water! * * * Rich “G7SUBS” ---
**Author:** ![Rich\_G7subs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@Rich\_G7subs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rich_G7subs)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2000, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mop-hardwood/10270/9 "2000-04-10T01:59:00Z")
Oh…I forgot…the above caveat came from my home builder and the installer of my hardwood floor.I was told using anything BUT ammonia and water voided my flooring warrantee. * * * Rich “G7SUBS” ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2000, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mop-hardwood/10270/10 "2000-04-10T16:14:00Z")
Use Mop Glow, the stuff is cheap, covers a lot of area, doesn’t need buffing, makes even the dirtiest floors shine. Just mop it on & youre all set. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2000, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mop-hardwood/10270/11 "2000-04-11T05:26:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Rich G7subs: > \*\*DO NOT USE MURPHYS! > > It will make it impossible to refinish your floor without sanding to bare wood! > > \*\* ## If you want to refinish a wood floor properly, you need to sand it down to bare wood anyway. The Stanley Cup: A repeat is in the STARS! ---
**Author:** ![Rich\_G7subs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@Rich\_G7subs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rich_G7subs)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2000, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mop-hardwood/10270/12 "2000-04-10T21:56:00Z")
:::::If you want to refinish a wood floor properly, you need to sand it down to bare wood anyway.:::::: Nope…not true…you can scuff sand it and recoat with poly urethane IF you never use wax or oils! * * * Rich “G7SUBS” ---
**Author:** ![writefetus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9de053/32.png) [@writefetus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/writefetus)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2000, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mop-hardwood/10270/13 "2000-04-13T14:24:00Z")
I have been lead to understand that it all depends on how the floor was finished.If your floor has a polyurathane finish you can mop away with any type of detergent based cleaning solution you wish because you are cleaning only the surface of the poly’, if, on the other hand, you have an oil finished (Tung or other naturaly derived oil) surface,sealed w/wax you will strip the protective wax layer and have to re-apply it (and buff it up)if you use anything containing a detergent, like Murphys. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2000, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mop-hardwood/10270/14 "2000-04-13T14:58:00Z")
The OP said he wanted to mop the hardwood floors. Whats the big deal? What are you supposed to do? Take them outside & wash them with a hose?