We are in the process of installing hardwood floors in our house. They look beautiful, I really like them, but I’m at a loss as to how to take care of them. The folder that came with the wood says not to use water or any water-based cleaners on them.
Okay…
So what the heck do I use? The store that sold me the flooring would probably be more than happy to sell me their (overpriced) floor care system, but to be honest, I’m not going to do that long term.
It’s 3/4" pre-finished oak. So what say ye, Dopers?
I’ve never really heard that…I thought water was fine as long as the finish was in good shape. If the finish is worn through, you don’t want to use water as it will get into the wood, but otherwise, I hadn’t really heard that. You don’t slosh on the water like you’d mop a floor, you just use a damp mop or cloth. Lots of people use water and vinegar.
Murphy’s Oil Soap gets used a lot for hardwoods, but I’ve heard that’s not a good idea as you’re just putting vegetable oil on top of your wood’s protective finish, which can harm the finish.
There’s a product called Bona that’s specifically for hardwoods, but it might be exactly the type of overpriced, hard-to-find thing you’re trying to avoid.
I’d find out what the manufacturer recommends and try to find a cheap version of it…either that, or be brave and just use water-based products sparingly.
Your floors are sealed with polyurethane, aren’t they? I just run a dust mop sprayed with Endust over them as needed. For actual dirt, I use a damp sponge, yes, using water, over the spills or whatever, and then rub lightly with an old t-shirt. They look fine, I can’t see this system doing any harm. It’s dust and grit that are injurious to a hardwood floor, as is lemon. A bit of vinegar should be OK, but I don’t use it. Maybe they tell you not to use water because a LOT of water can leak down into the little spaces between the boards and hurt the wood.
If your floors are not sealed - that’s a whole other thing. Someone will be along to tell you.
You’re not supposed to use Murphy’s full strength for that application, which is where a lot of people start to go wrong. For floor mopping you use a very dilute solution, just as you’d use a dilute solution for the water-and-vinegar mix. If you get very dirty floors - near entranceways, for example - Murphy’s can get all sorts of grease, dirt, and grime up. I used it all the time. Then I rinsed with plain water, because why would you leave soap on the floor any more than on a countertop or on your skin? And in all cases, as noted, you don’t slosh on great quantities of fluid, it’s called DAMP mopping, not incredibly-soaking-wet-and-dripping-mopping.
But yes, most regular cleaning just a barely damp dust mop or sponge should do it.
I use Bona Xon my Oak floor.
I think that’s the key. Even with a very dilute solution of Murphy’s and water, the water will evaporate, leaving some amount of vegetable oil-based soap on your floor. Rinsing obviously takes care of that so it doesn’t break down the finish.
Bona is the product the pros recommend. Bona also makes the best finishes for site finished hardwood so that is why. As far as I can tell it is simply water with a mild detergent. The significant difference is probably that it is sprayed on so it is difficult to apply too much.
There are Bona hardwood floor mops that consist of terry cloth. They work fine with warm water and a small amount of mild detergent. I just rinse and hand wring them. A dust mop is best for regular sweeping.
Standing water will damage any hardwood. The finish is usually a polyurethane, the same very tough class of finish that is on vinyl flooring and laminate flooring. Wax products can make polyurethane dangerously slippery so that is why they are not recommended anymore.
Oh, and enjoy your new hardwood floors! Nothing beats hardwood for natural beauty, and it really is easy to maintain.
It will get scratched and dented, and it will change colour with age, it is a natural and somewhat rustic product. If it gets bad enough in ten years or so you can always have it refinished and even re-stained. It will look even better than new.
Our house is ten times better since we got rid of the wall to wall. Did they tell you there might be creaking and cracking due to temper fluctuations as it settles in? After we had ours put in, on a cold day I opened the windows a while to air the place out and the boards made a cracking noise so loud that my sound-asleep cat shot straight up in the air and ran away to hide under the bed!
My daughter sprayed some kind of waxy furniture polish on the flooring in front of the couch, trying to ‘clean’ a crayon mark off, and it was so slippery I went flying across the room in my stocking feet, as if on skates. Don’t do this!
We have solid oak flooring in the basement, and I use the Bona mop with the built in sprayer. It works great.
I agree.
The great thing about Bona is not cleaning solution; it’s probably just a mild detergent. It is the mop and mop head. It’s designed to *not *drench your floor with cleaning solution. (As you mentioned, putting too much of any kind of liquid on a hardwood floor can cause the flooring to warp.) And when the mop head gets dirty, you simply throw it in the washing machine.
You guys rock!! I bought a dust mop, but I think I may get one of those Bona mops.
I see what you’re saying about water- big difference between soaking the floor and damp mopping. The Mister keeps telling me the floor is tougher than it looks, but I can’t seem to relax. Maybe in a year or two… 
Thanks all. This is exactly what I was looking for!
It is tougher then it looks. Add to that even damage to the floor doesn’t stand out as much as you’d expect.
This is Bruce hardwood floors care guide. It’s consistent for any polyurethaned flooring.(Which is almost all new hardwood flooring)
Once a week is pretty thorough, if you manage to dry mop it once a month you’re doing better then most households.
If it looks dirty run a dry mop over it. If it looks dingy use some spray with the dry mop to bring back the shine.
Don’t use any cleaners or protective care products intended to leave a protective coating, the floor already has one. adding to that just makes it cloudy and creates future headaches. No wax’s, oils, or glazes.
The only really effective way I’ve seen people really ruin floors is to have large dogs running around, especially if you’re lazy about trimming claws.