Two questions: What is recommended for cleaning (everyday) hard wood floors? Seems like in some areas the top coat has come off. What is to be done to address this.

really need help with the upkeep of my maple hardwood floors, everything we have tried do not work, we do not have pets or small kids. please can you help. Thanks

HELP! A friend recently bought a 90 year old house with beautiful hardwood floors in the main part of the house. The floors feel tacky and are dull. I suspect that the previous owners uses…..yikes Mop and glow on the floors. How do I get this off and what do we put back on them to protect the floor?

We really can not afford to strip and refinish at this time, and the floors are in very good shape with this exception. Any help would be appriciated.

Thanks SKC :)

Is it okay to use the cleaner “method” for our hard wood floors?

we have hard wood floors, about 10 years old,not been cleaned very often, but would like too clean them. what would i use. we do not wear shoes in our home.someone said vinegar. thanks tom vallier

What is a good cleanner for my solid oak floors. I heard vinegar and water?

What is a good floor cleanner for my 7 year old sold wood oak floors? My kitchen and family room area are becoming dull. I have been using the manufacturers recommended product (they make it) and now I have a build up.

Sounds like my troubles are the same as Rosemarys. I have hardwood in almost every room. There is an area ( a strip actually) that is lighter then the rest of the floor. and then there are several area that only a board or two is doing the same thing. those areas are not exposed to direct sun light. I feel as though the boxes may have had some defects in the wood. Do I need to take up the flooring to fix it? My next question is how do I care for the rest. I have heard use Murrphy oil, use viniger(if so what ratio?) or use orange cleaner for wood floors. I want that shine back in my floors. Thank you for your help

Hi, We have lovely oak floors pre finished.There is some wear where the main traffic is, not really bad but beginning to lose its glaze What can I do or apply to get it back looking like new ?

Would appreciate any advise, Thanking You, Yours Sincerely, Mike Ahern .

I have hard wood floors that were previously carpeted over them. The carpet has now been removed so how do I clean the fragment spots of carpet let on top of the floors. There are also a few scuff marks on them. Can I get by with just buffing the floors, with a cleaner? After they are buffed does a finish need to be put on the floors?

Looking for a machine to clean hard wood and ceramic tile flooring. What do you recommend. I recently purchased a Shark steamer. Please advise. Thank you.

I have new cherry wood floors nothing seems to keep them from printing when you walk on them. (socks, shoes and even clean bare feet leave prints). With four children this is very frustrating is there a product that can help prevent this?

I have hard wood floors have used several different cleaners but the floor are still dull. What products should I be using?

I cleaned our oak hardwood kitchen and living room floors with Murphy’s oil as directed,but with a mop. At first they shined but in 2 days were very dull and had streak marks. They looked better before i cleaned them! the livingroom is only a few mths,& never cleaned. The kitchen has been 1 yr & i just had washed it with warm water before. how can i get them back to look clean???

We just installed Bruce gunstock oak flooring with a polyurethane finish. What is the best way to clean it and what is the best cleaner to use?

I am having trouble finding a cleaner for my hardwood floors, they have a milky film over them and nothing seems to help. I used the vinegar and water but didn’t seen to remove all.

Thanks

I have the same problem as Lisa, nothing that I use keeps foot prints of the hard wood floor and it’s a big problem because we have cherry wood floors. I have two kids and it’s frustrating to keep cleaning every time someone walks on it. Please help me and tell me what can I do so solve my problem.

I am having the same problems as several other on this site, I wish you would put your answers to them on this site so we can all get the benefit of it, not just one person. But I have about 4 or 5 year hardwood floors that once had a beautiful shine and now have streaks and are dull. I have heard that Orange glow leaves a film. Unfortunately i didn’t hear that until I had already used it. How do I remove the Orange glow film and what is the best way to clean. I have two dogs that go in and out. In the spring or winter I have wet footprints even with a rug at the door. If you clean with vinegar and water, what ratio. I don’t want to have to get on my hands and knees to clean this floor constantly since this is a large floor area on my main floor. I am really confused about hardwood products, because they all say good for hardwood floors. How do you know which ones will leave a film and which ones are the best for cleaning.

My husband just installed engineered wood flooring in our kitchen. We put the felt pads underneath the chairs and table. It didn’t take our kids long to wear the pads and the adhesive is now on the floor. Could you tell me what to use to get it off the floor. I hate to use the wrong thing and damage the finish. Thank you

I had hardwood flooring put in 11 mos ago and I now notice that the wood is not flushed together, does the wood shrink? and in some parts it creeks. they were nailed in…. can anything be done? I would appreciate some advise. thank you

What do you recommend to clean my brand new oak hardwood floors? I am waiting a reply as I will need to clean them.

please help - my floors seem to have a dullness or film - can you tell me what to use to restore the shine and how to keep it that way. Thanks

My hardwood floors are getting dull and are losing their lustre. They have a polyurethane coat on them.How do you recommend cleaning them? Dilute vinegar–how often?.Would appreciate your advice

We have hardwood floors that are about 10 years old. We just moved in and everywhere our big dog walks, he leaves his footprints. I’ve tried cleaning with special cleaners made for hardwood and I’ve tried Murphy’s Oil Soap and water with vinegar. I’ve even scrubbed on my hands and knees. Nothing works - HELP!!!!

I am about to clean my hardwood floor with diluted vinegar and water. What ratio do you recommend?

I have a small section of water damage (where water came in around a window during hurricane Ike). What can I do to repair the damage? Can I refinish just the small section or will I need to do the entire floor? My hardwood floor goes from entry hall to dining room, office, living room and kitchen with no separation. It seems like a huge area to do for only a 1x1 square foot of damage. Please help!

My wood floors are only about a year old. What should I use to keep them clean? I started using just white vingar and water because other cleaners seemed to build up and the floors began to have a dull, sticky feeling. With the vingar and water alone, I don’t feel that the floors are really clean and I have tried various mops but they all leave streak marks. What is the best and safest clearer to use on my floors so that they are clean and shine?

Is vinegar and water the best method? If so, how much and how often? Should I use anything else?

HEY…..I see great questions, but how the heck do I get to the answers? I’ve never seen a site like this……The questions are a tease, but where are the answers or a link to them??

Thanks LP

We just installed prefinished hardwood floors. They look beautiful, but do need more than vaccuuming and dusting. How do you recommend washing them? Thank you

I agree with Linda Patterson…could you also post the answers. My question is that I see tv ads with steamers on hardwood floors…would you recommend?

Thanks for the fabulous feedback and comments on this page. We are working on getting our experts to review and answer your questions!

I apologize for any delays! We hope to get all of your burning questions answered quickly!

Our hardwood is very noisey when you walk on it. What can we do to quiet the floors? Also, is a wet mop harmful to the floors?

I have bruce prefinished floors. I mopped them with orange glo for hardwood. Now they have a white film on them. What can I use to take this film off?

We have a home with Brazilian cherry hardwood in all rooms on the main floor. The hardwood is protected with polyurethane. When I try washing the dirty areas with water and a cleaning pad the floor look streaked in these areas. Is water and vinagar the answer?

What kinds of wax are best for laminated wood floors?

mil

In how many years is expected to treat this kind of timber floor. Specially to protect the shines and the surface ,does it need any special kind of materials , chemical to clean it. Any suggestion will be appreciated.

We just installed Bruce Hickory hardwood floor in our kitchen. Please let me know how to best take care of it. Should we use no wax floor cleaner, or vinegar and water, etc. Thank you, Mary

We have hardwood flooring in our cafe and have been cleaning it with vinegar and water. This seems to act as well as any commercial product we’ve tried from Walmart or Home Depot to remove stains but leaves a haze.

Winter foot traffic is a real problem (we do have mats at the entrance to try catch snow melt and salt) so any tips would be appreciated.

I have severe allergies, I cant use harsh or heavy duty cleaners, I need to remove the wax on my tile floors to rewax as well as the rest of my home is done in all hardwood floors, which need cleaned as well. But due to the fact I cant use cleaners I can only use naturals cleaning, anyone have any idea’s on how I can clean these and still keep my lungs? If anyone knows please email me and give me your idea’s. Thanks in advance for all the help.

It never fells that I clean my hard wood floors and I turn around and there are feet prints all over them. Does not matter if you wear socks or not. How do I keep this from happening? This of course is after the floors are dry.

I would appreciate any answers you can post on caring for old hardwood floors that have been refinished with a polyurathane finish. I have been using a damp mop after sweeping/vacuuming.

I have a new prefinished hardwood floor, used murphys oil and then tried another make from costco. Both looked good for a day or so and now I cannot get the floor to shine to its original state. What am I doing wrong and what should I be cleaning this floor with to get the best results. Thanks Annette

Hi,

I installed Bruce prefinished hardwood flooring in my home 25 years ago. It is Gunstock and 3/4” thick with the beveled edge. Needless to say it is in need of help with 25 years of kids and traffic.

I had an estimate from a floor refinisher to sand and refinish this floor. He told me te prefinished floor had a wax finish. Is this true?

What and how do you recommend cleaning this floor?

What and how do you recommend restoring this floor until I have the floor refinished?

Thanks, Charles

I have bruce prefinished floors. The floors are gunstock. I mopped them with orange glo for hardwood. Now they have a white film on them. What can I use to take this film off? I want them to look like they did four years ago when they were installed. Thanks you.

Brenda

Rosemary - My floor was horribly dull and faded from pets and everyday wear-and-tear…I would suggest making sure to rid your house of these dangers…trim dogs nails regularly, place foot-paddings underneath all of your furniture. These steps will prevent anymore damage to your wood. To correct the problem, apply another layer of finish to the floor. If you are really in the mood for improvement, re-sand the floors and apply a brand new finish!

Lin, I use a 4:1 ratio…water:vinegar. It looks great at the end! Good luck…

George…swifer for hardwoods — easy and cheap! Those are the best results we have had. My friends use a little shark steamer to maintain and clean the wood once a week…Hope that helps!

Angie - I LOVE MY SHARK STEAMER! My son has asthma and I get headaches from strong smells, so the steamer is the best solution! Go to www.trysteammop.com - this is one variation of the steamer and explains how it works! I love mine and I think you are just going to love yours!

Carol, I understand. Everyone keeps talking about these steamers and I have to agree. Because of my asthma, harsh chemicals take my lungs down for the count. The steamers clean without giving off an bad emissions - just steam!

For Rosemary: You can do 1 of two things; Hire someone to come in a strip your floor and re-coat it, or If you are handy enough you can go through the steps and do it yourself. As far as cleaning hardwood floors, we like using the swifter as well as a steamer mop. Hope this helps.

to Bremda use a concentration of vinegar and water and it may take you a couple of rotations but it will get it up. Honestly that is what we use to mop our floor once a week.

Please Help I just cleaned a friends house and she asked me to use orange glow and i did I put in on the mop and at the end I decided to squeeze the bottle on to the floor well it freaked me out it left streaks and spots on the floor. Help please what do i need to do? can i get an answer asap? Thanks, Worried Sick

I am about to uncover hardwood floors from under my dirty stained old carpets. Can’t afford to have some one refinish them at this time, what is the best treatment I can give them so that they look half way decent? Is there a solution, cleaning product or wax I can buy?

I have hardwood floors that are 1 year old and are very dull with a buildup. What can I do to get the shine back and to get the build up off.

We just built a house and had Bruce -oak hardwood floors put in. I want to know the proper way to maintain a clean floor with a healthy shine.

I have also used orange glo, oil soap and pledge I now have a film on my floor I did try vineger and water doesn’t seem to help and have been on several sites that take me to this book offer on how to clean wood floors I don’t want to purchase a book I just want to get the film off my floors can anyone please help my floors are only a 9mths old and are DULL!!

Sandy, I used oil soap and then another product and the result was a streaky mess! Someone told me the combination of different oils made it look streaky.

It took several cleanings with 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water to get all of the residue off of the floors, but it did work eventually and now our floors look great.

Now, I use the Orange Glo products exclusively and never mix in another cleaning product. That seems to keep them looking even and “like new.”

I’ve read many of the requests listed at this site and I’m more confused now. My floors are from the original builder but had always been carpeted. We have had the floors sanded and restained and sealed. Later this week the contractor will put an oil-based poly finish. So all I will ever need is to dust or vacuum? What about the problem of foot prints that so many people are inquiring about? At some point I probably will feel I need to clean the floors, but from all the comments I read there doesn’t seem to be a particularly good product. Please instruct me on the best route. Thanks.

I live in an 80-something year old apartment with wood floors. The patterns differ from room to room. To the best of my knowledge the floors have not been polyurethaned and I don’t want to have that finish put on.

Do I ever want to wax the floors? If yes, how do I do it? What else do I want to do to care for them? I have never lived with old wood floors and I’m totally in the dark.

Do NOT use this Orange Glo product nor buy any of the ebooks folks are trying to sell you on how to remove the build up/haze. I called Orange Glo’s customer service line directly and found out how to remove this product off the floor. Their solution? Plain old ammonia and good old fashioned hands and knees elbow action! My entire main level is hardwood so imagine how long it took me an entire weekend to get the floors back to their original luster because there was so much build up on them.

Directions from Orange Glo’s customer service line:

1. Mix 1/2 cup of ammonia with 1 gallon of warm water.
2. Apply solution to floor with mop in inconspicuous place first to test.
3. Once you determine it’s okay to use on your floors…apply to floor and let stand for 5 minutes.
4. Wipe up the solution with a clean soft cloth.
5. Wipe with circular motion if there is more of a build up.
6. According to how much build up you have…you might have to repeat the process until it’s all off.

We’ve been using this product and at first it really looked nice but then the floors started looking dull and very scratched up. I didn’t understand why and then noted streaks where some parts of the floor were shiny and others were dull so I scraped with my fingernail and removed some product. Underneath it was shiny. So I decided to Google and found that lots of people were having the same problem!

I’m very disappointed this product is still being sold in stores as no one should ever use this on their floors!

We moved into a beautiful home with Southern Ontario Maple floors throughout. The wood is faded in several spots from area rugs and the rest is kind of “dingy” looking although cleaned thoroughly. There are also some black spots of stain where a pet food / water bowl has been left and we can’t seem to lift them. What to do? We also would like to know the best way of weekly cleaning these floors to bring them back to beautiful.

The best way I have found to clean my floor is to use the vinegar and water solution. As for removing the stain, you might want to invest the time buffing the floors and reapplying the floor polish?

In general, you should avoid using vinegar to clean hardwood floors frequently. Cleaning with vinegar can be damaging your hardwood floors in the long term. Vinegar is basically acidic; acidic substances tend to slowly chew through surfaces. Thus, when you use vinegar to clean hardwood floors on a regular basis, the vinegar will eventually damage the finish, giving the floors an uneven look. Vinegar won’t drastically damage your hardwood floor’s finish if you use it to clean your floor once or twice a year. However, it will cause your floor’s quality to degrade if you repeatedly use vinegar for cleaning for two or more months.

Sirs: I have oak hard wood floors ,I have used orange glo and they have a filim on them . They aren’t as bright as they us to be.I got Holloway House Professional for woodfloors a concentrated cleaner and also Holloway House Quick Shine ,you use after you use the cleaner . When I cleaned the floor there was a like a film that was comming off of the floor. I was sacared to death afraid I had destroyed my floor,but when it dryed it has a shine. I want you to tell me is this Holloway House cleaner any good or should I not use it. I’m afraid to try the Quick Shine. Please tell me , and can you tell me what I should use on my floors. My floors are sealed. They are beautiful I just want to keep them that way. Thank You so much Sharon

help very dull floors after using pledge floor cleaner we buffed rubbed uses h2o vingar alittle alcohol omg they are a mess help will they ever shine again

Im definately not an expert at this wood floor thing, but I do know that my floors look just fine…for now at least……I live in a 1940s style home that is roughly about 2500 square feet all of which are oak flooring….The floors have had a thin coat of polyurethane put on them so they are sealed but not super shiny by any means…..My wife and I swiffer them about once a week and then once a month we use Water & Murphy Oil Soap….It seems to work fine but I would like to know if there is something else that I can do to make them really shine without having to Poly the entire house….Ive Polyed an entire house before and its not a really quick job and then move back in……its a go stay at friends for a week while it dries and the fumes go away kind of job……

We just put in hardwood floors and I dropped a glass casserole cover on it and it made a big gouge in the floor. I have to look at it every day because it’s right by the fridge. Any suggestions on filling the hole or what should our plan be? Thanks

I would like to know if I should try and fill a whole in my new wood floor.

We have just had installed Scandian Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Floors throughout our entire home that we just purchased. They were expensive and they are beautiful.

Because the dining, living and family rooms, along with the kitchen are also about finished being remodeled, there is a lot of dust from the remodeling work to be cleaned off of the floors. I have read that a shop vac is a good place to start and was wondering if this were true.

We also have Bona hardwood floor cleaner which has come highly recommended, and plan to use that too.

My main question which we have received several different answers is this.

I have seen several TV infomercials that says these new STEAM MOPS are safe for lifting up dirt and dust from hardwood floors and they will not damage or hurt them. Has anyone had any experience using one of these, and if so, did they do a good job without causing any damage? Or should we play it safe and just stick to the vacuum first, then Bona hardwood floor cleaner on the micro fiber mop cloths>

Thank-you all for any help.

I have streaks on my hardwood floors from orange glow 2 in 1 clean and shine. Orange glow told me to clean them with 1/2 cup amonia to a gallon of water. I did that and cannot tell a difference at all. What will get the streaks out?

I have new hickory wood floors. What do I clean them with?

I had a minor leak in my fridge and it has had some affect on the floor. Anything I can do to help the situation?

Just installed Scandian Brazilian Cherry Solid Hardwood Flooring in majority of new house. How do I clean? Scared to death after reading the comments. I don’t want the finish to become dull, please help.

We have maple hardwood floors in our home which is 4 years old. For the last 3 and a half years we have had several rugs on top of the hardwood floors to protect them from scratches etc. When I took the rugs up to have them cleaned I noticed that the color of the wood that was under the rug is different from the other wood. Is there a way that I can get all the flooring back to the same color? It has now been 6 months since we had the rugs down and there hasn’t been any noticeable changes.

Hello, I am sick over this one. I have a new cleaning lady that I asked specifically not to use anything on our brand new hardwood floors. She took it upon herself to use orange glow cleaner made for wood floors, after I asked her to only dry mop and vacuum it. My floor is terribly streaked and dull in several spots where it looks like build-up from the cleaner. What can I do to fix this?? I am sick over this, PLEASE HELP!!! Pam

David; Yes steamers are fine on hardwood floors I use one weekly on mine and do not have a problem with it. My finish looks great.

Pam; use a concentrated mixture of vinegar and water you may have to mop over your floor a few times to get the mixture to break up the orange glo.

Hope this helps

We have prefinished hardwood floors that we have been cleaning with “recommended” prefinished hardwood floor cleaners. The flooring , after about a year started loosing it’s satin finish, becoming hazy when viewed with the grain, but still shinmy when viewed cross grain. The dealer has no reccommendations as to why this happened and what we can do about it. Can we use a hard paste wax and buff it much like the old oak flooring? How do we “occasionally” clean off the old wax buildup without destroying the original “prefinish”?

Thanks, we appreciate any help you might give us

I have Brazilian cherry hardwood floors - less than 2 years old. I have used a variety of products - both on line, and on the shelf - (Orange Glo, steam cleaning, PolyCare floor cleaner, Bruce Floor products) etc over that time. Now, the floor is now dull, streaked and looks very bad. I have heard that using vinegar and water may help to help, but have also heard that it will degrade the floor’s surface so now I’m afraid to use that.

Please, does anyone know how to clean hardwood floors, and bring back the life in its appearance? After spending a fortune to have these installed, it is very upsetting to say the least.

My cleaning lady used Murphy’s oil soap on my new pre-finished hardwood floors. Now everytime you walk on it , there are prints. It seems to be an oily film. My swifter dry mop won’t glide over the floor anymore. I tried amonia and water. Seemed to help a little bit. Should I try water and white vinegarand how much? Help.

what can i use to clean hardwood floors

I work for a hardwood floor refinishing company and people ask me this all the time! Do not use Murphy’s oil soap on wood floors (and don’t feel bad… everyone uses it). It leaves a film and residue (oil soap… think about it) that stays on the floor and as you walk on it it gets ground in more to the urethane (or shellac, or laquer, or vari-thane) finish which dulls and eats into the finish.

Do not use Orange-Glo either (it is a poly-acrylic which shines your floors for a few days but eventually flakes and chips off).

What to use?

Any alcohol water-based product (sold at many hardware stores and home improvement places - can be $$$$ at times) which doesn’t leave a film is the way to go. We use our Sandfree Phase 3 hardwood cleaner in our refinishing and general maintenance for residential homes and commercial accounts like The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The U of Penn, Swarthmore College, The Curtis Institute, etc. You can use vinegar too (3 ounces per gallon of water). The most important thing is of course… WRING YOUR MOP OUT TIGHT. It should be damp only. You can e-mail me if you have any questions. Best of luck!

Mike www.sandfree.com mhelmle@sandfree.com

Wow! I can’t believe how many people are having the same problem. I have a one year old hardwood floor with a polyurethene finish. It is a huge space covering the living room, dining area and kitchen. I have 2 dogs and I am continuously cleaning with Bruce floor cleaner. I now have all the streaks and oily residue. What should I do? It would be helpful if the other folks questions were answered for all to see also.

Thank you in advance for your help.

We have hardwood floors,less than a year old, I have tried everything to keep them nice, only to find that every day walking on the floors are leaving footprints, and a look like water on wax. I really need help with this, we have a
beauiful home but my hardwood floors are driving out of my mind. Need help please Brenda

hello, I just bought new hardwood floors for my dining room, Bruce maple with a natural fininsh http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=236497-972-CM3700&lpage=none. Whats my best method for cleaning these floors, and also keeping them shining.

thanks Tom

I have about 1300 square feet of Brazillian Cherry (BR-111) in my home. It is beautiful. It is also frustrating my husband and I to the point that we want to put our house on the market. We’ve had the floors for 5 years and they still look brand new. Everyone who comes in comments on how beautiful they are. But we are KILLING OURSELVES to keep them looking that way. It shouldn’t be this hard. I feel like I can’t even live in my own home. If you walk around with socks on or barefoot, your feet leave smudges on the floor, requiring us to mop EVERY DAY to keep it looking smudge free. We have an Oreck Orbiter, which we love, and we use the wood cleaner Oreck sells. It does a fine job of cleaning smudges and scuffs, but I want to know how to prevent them. These floors don’t seem to be able to tolerate normal daily wear without looking TERRIBLE at the end of the day. You can’t walk on them. PLEASE HELP!

Thanks, Shelly

Need to know the answers to the above coments…I have more of the same.

A few months ago several people posted questions with the same issues we are having. We have prefinished hardwood floors and made the mistake of using Orange GLO hardwood cleaner and polish on them. The first time was not so bad but there is now a build up and the floors are very dull. The product leaves a coat similar to nail polish. Can this be removed? We want the original beauty. Your suggestions are appreciated.

We recently stained our hardwood floors, upon wiping them down to put a clear coat on we found scuff marks and I need to know how to get the scuff marks off?

Have just oiled my oak floor - followed the instructions on the very expensive tin of oil - waited for this so called fast drying oil to dry - panicked when realised thi wasn`t going to happen and prceeded to buff with cloth some more - floor has dried in the main but has shiney and tacky streaks in places - i can only asume this didn`t absorb into the oak for some reason - i`m hoping not to sand this down if possible just lift off this tacky sheen.PLEASE HELP Thanks David

We just purchased a house. The floors are covered in 80% hardwood. I have never lived with hardwood and have no idea how to clean it to start. After I have given it an inital cleaning the up keep sounds easy. I have been reading different takes on how to do it, but they are conflicting. Can you please help me get my floor to look beautiful and clean!!

please help. i used murphys oil soap on my floors and it left a film residue that shows every step. how do i get that off? and what should I use to clean it and give it a good shine? Thank you!

We also used Orange Glo; got fooled by the commercials I guess. It never helped the scratches and ended up with a dull finish. However, our cleaning lady suggested a simple and inexpensive product “Quick Shine” which worked great, and we’ve been using it for over 3 months with no buildup. Our floors have never looked better. On the brighter side, Orange Glo wood cleaner does a wonderful job to shine up stainless steel. Go figure.

I have a 4 yr old home with Mirage polyurethane-finished maple hardwood floors in the kitchen, dining room and main entry. Up until a couple of weeks ago, I used Clorox Ready Mop and had good results. But when I could not find a Ready Mop refill, I tried Mop & Glo - twice on the kitchen floor and once on the dining room and main entry floors.

I am concerned that Mop & Glo put a wax on the floors which I understand is a no-no for hardwood floors. What should I do now? Since I have only used the Mop & Glo once (twice in the kitchen), can I simply switch to a product like Mirage Clean or maybe even Swiffer. Or do I have to try to remove the Mop & Glo wax first?

If I have to remove the Mop & Glo, what product should I use?

I own a cleaning company we use just warm water & vinegar on hardwood floors. We use a different floor cleaning product for bathroom floors. I am constantly reminding them to not use the bathroom floor product on the hardwoods because we do not want to ruin the finish. Is their a product that will work on both bathroom floors( tile, vinyl ect.) and hardwoods. The reason I use a different product on the bathroom floors is because it has a disinfectant in it. Thanks, CC

The best product to clean hardwood and laminate floors is Bruce Dura-luster. Just spray it on and wipe with a microfiber or cloth cover mop. It is the best!

Using “Bona” is the best for cleaning and maintaining hardwood flooring. I frequently vacuum in between washings and try my best to wipe up any liquid spills asap. But for washing the floor, you cannot go wrong with Bona. I have oak hardwood w/3 coats of satin polyurethene and I’ve never had an issue with streaks, film or residue. I use the microfiber mop that came w/the product. I also make sure that microfiber mop is clean every time I use it. On the product it says to “rinse cleaning pad (mop) often while washing to avoid streaking”; but I’ve never even done that and my floors look beautiful. Good luck!

I have a lot of the same questions as above. We just moved into a house that has Cherry colored Hardwoods everywhere and they are impossible to keep clean. I have two children and a dog and it shows everyones foot marks with shoes or without. What is the best way to clean the floors and with what product. I have tried orangeglo and it doesn’t take away the footprints. I bought a hoover hardfloor mate and it streaks the floor. Any suggestions would be helpful!

I only use water when I mop. Never had a problem with shine. 6 years and still shinny (as can be with 3 young kids).

I was on this web site 1 hour ago with the same problems as most others. I was always told not to put water on hardwood floors. So as everyone else I used the store bought floor cleaner. The results where nice at first, then came the streaks and footprints. The guy Mike who worked for a hardwood company and a cleaning lady named Connie both said to use water and vinegar. I would like to thank you with all my heart because I now have no more streaks or footprints after letting my 2 youngsters run around in their bare feet. For all of you with the same problem please try this solution because trust me it works!

I have streaks on my floor. I washed them with a steam cleaner and then I tried to make them shiny with Orange glow. Now my floors have streaks all over them and no shine at all. What can I do to get rid of streaks and add shine without having to have my floors redone and having to move a grand piano. Thanks

Hi Mary, Did you try using the warm water and vinegar that was suggested by earlier commenters? Also, what type of floors do you have? Although most steam mop cleaner manufacturers tell you not to use their product on unsealed wood floors, I just read an article (http://steammopresource.blogspot.com/2009/03/do-steam-mops-really-work.html) that said it’s not a good idea to use them on no-wax flooring.

My home is 100 years old and has oak flooring that has been covered for decades with wall to wall carpet. I have begun to pull the carpet up and notice that the green waffle pad underneath has completely deteriorated. The waffle pattern sort of shows on the finish on the oak. I am guessing that the floors were finished with lacquer since they are so old. They are in remarkable shape but I’d like to know the best way to remove this film from the green waffle padding. Thanks.

Looking forward to the answers to some of the previous questions!! Our 1000sf of oak flooring w/ 4 coats of poly also lost that shine pretty quickly. We have kids and dogs and the dirt coming in from muddy paws is unbelievable! We currently use the Hoover floormate scrubbing machine. It scrubs and then sucks the dirty water back up. It does clean well, but over time, takes away even more of the shine. We use Halloway House Quick n Shine to get the shine back. HOWEVER–it does build up over time. Our older dog got incontintinent and her leaking ate through the Q’n’S to the polyurethane layer underneath. The Q’n’S layers made the floor much darker than the original exposed underneath. We never realized the difference. Also, if you pick the mop (either sponge or microfiber) straight up instead of kind of spreading it thin before moving to another area, the QnS will dry in little bumps. If you don’t thoroughly clean, you will seal whatever stain or paint drip, etc. under the layer of QnS. Still hoping to find the perfect answer. Our hoover floormate is getting old and considering a steam mop to replace it. The floor is sealed, but who knows if there are gaps that cause the wood to warp. Ugh!!

We bought our 7 year old home about 8 months ago. The main floor is all lovely, oak hardwood. Absolutely beautiful. We have no children, just my wife and I. The floor has developed a bit milky/scummy look. We spray it with water and a product recommended to us at Home Depot called Rejuvinate. Now the floor has a streaky look as well.

What can you suggest we do to restore the lustre and eveness to the appearance.

Thank you!

We have gunstock hardwood floors. My husband has used everything under the sun to clean them. He also mopped them with orange glo for hardwood. Now they have a white tacky, gummy and dull film on them from using so many different things. What can we use to take this film off? We want them to look like they did three years ago when they were installed. How do we get this off and what do we put back on them to protect the floor and make them shiny again. We absolutely can not afford to strip and refinish at this time, and the floors are in great shape with this exception. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Doreen and Roger

We have oak floors throughout the entire house. What is the best way to clean them? I have heard you can use vinegar. If so what proportions. I want to bring the shine back. They have dulled over time.

what can i put on my clean hardwood floors for protection? is there a certain wax or some other material it use?

I have pre-finished hardwood floors which are two years old. They need to be cleaned other than sweeping, dusting, and vacuuming! I tried Murphy’s soap but probably used to much. What is the best way to clean them to get the original shine back. They also seem to be fading in the sunlight. Any suggestions.

How do I clean my floors and keep the shine?

Hi, we installed hardwood floors about 5 months ago. I’ve used Orange Glo for the most part and noticed a white filmy look that can get sticky. We do have a lot of traffic with two small kids and were using the Orange Glo weekly. Then I tried Murphy’s oil. Well, that made it worse. I have went over them several times with a damp mop with hot water to get up the film. It’s working some but it almost feels like it’s spreading the wax buildup. Is there something I can use to get this film up? AND what should I use daily, weekly to keep them looking as good as they did 5 months ago? A friend of mine has had her hardwood floors about 8 months and she dust mops them daily using pledge? Do you advise that? Thanks for any advice you can give us!

What is the point of having this web page, If no one is answering the questions!!!!!

We have just put in hardwood flooring now I’m getting a build-up of the cleaner I’m using. Its Bona supposed to be for hardwood floor. What can I use to clean the build-up with? Thanks for your time. Becky Corns

I have noisy floors they are oak gunstock from costco need help

I have been using Orange Glow and also quick shine cleaner (Holloway House). The floor has a film on it. How can I it get the film off and what should I use on my floors ?

Hardwood floors throughout house with lots of scratches. I also notice deep ones with grooves. How often should you have to restore floors and can small sections be done as opposed to entire room?

tx!

I have beautiful solid oak floors in the whole house but. the floors are now 3 years old and the shine is not the same anymore. A few of the planks sees to have lost the varnish and looks grey. I have used ordinary cleaners formulated for wooden floors containing either almond or orange oils. Please help me care for my floors, i fear im not doing the right things

Taking care of your floors depends largely on what type of finish you have. Not all hardwood floors can be cleaned the same. I have polyurethane sealed oak floors that are 55 years old. I had them sanded and redone 6 years ago. I use one gallon of warm water and 1/2 cup vinegar with a very dry damp mop. Do not use a soaking wet mop may make floor warp if the water gets in between the slats. Finish with drying floor with clean terry towel. Again search the web on your type of floor finish and follow those cleaning methods.

I am having enginered hand scraped destressed maple flooring installed in my kitchen. What do I use for a daily maintance?

jean

Please Help. My house cleaner waxed my prefinished floors with liquid wax. How can I restore it to it’s original shine?

I agree with u April

A red oak hardwood floor was lightly sanded, cleaned and recoated with a satin polyurethane, (by a contractor). There is a noticeable difference in gloss between adjoining areas of the refinished floor when looking at it from one direction only.

The (original) underlying finish was the same throughout and one type/brand of new polyurethane was used for refinishing. There doesn’t seem to be any reason for the difference. Short of redoing the entire first floor of the house, I would just like to make the areas match each other. Which is more likely to produce good results: (1) Can I can dull down the glossy finish by very light sanding or buffing or (2) can I make the duller area more glossy with a coat of a glossy finish instead of satin? Or is there another option?? If option 1, can you recommend an abrasive or buffing compound? Thank you very much for any help you can give.

I have traditional red oak floors, and bella wood pre-finished oak floors in my home. I wanted to find out if it is ok to use a steam cleaner, ie. (the shark) on these floors? I’m concerened that they may damage my floors. My friends use it and rave about it! Please let me know if i could use the steam cleaner, or stick with the damp mop. Thank you for your time!!!

I had some of the same problems and I usedthis cleaner for routine care. It got rid of the spots after i removed my carpets. Im glad i did instead of recarpeting. My allerges have since subsided

I have beautiful wooden florors in my flat. Can anyone advise me if I can apply paste wax with a buffing machine usung fine steel wool and buff wuth same?

Thanksl

I was putting away some glassware and dropped one on the floor and it put a “gouge” in one of the boards. Is there a way to fix it myself, i.e., wax pen from hardware store or something like it, without having to replace the whole board. My husband will freak out - the floor is only 6 months old!!!

Help please.

MT - New Jersey

I read a few of the comments and just to answer a few, ive been in the flooring biz for ages now. to avoid shrinkage or expansion, try to maintain a stable temperature either with the use of a heater of cooler. for maintaining all types of woods, ive found the best one ive used so far is this hardwood cleaner

I have beautiful Brazilian wood engineered floors. The cleaner I use is called Wood for Good and, while they look good for a day or so, a white film characterized by smudges then appear. What can I do? There are also deep scratches from furniture as it seems the wood is softer than I realized. Please help!

I have used apple cider vinegar for years, you do not get that milky look, and most products that say they are for wood just don’t work.

I have dark maple hardwood floors and I cleaned them with orange glow then used murphy’s oil. Now I have a white film. I have tried using vinegar/water solution and it has worked a little but I still have large areas with the film. Is there a better way to get this off?

I have a cherry wood floor and it shows every footprint mark. My dealer gave me a cleaner, but I think it dulls the floor, he told me he uses Windex (it pretty much does the same thing as his cleaner, he told me). What do you suggest?

Thank-you

I can’t believe this! We had water damage in our home so our laminate flooring had to be replaced in 5 rooms in April 2009 The insurance company gave us a nice settlement and I thought how wonderfull to finally get hardwood floors instead of the cheap laminate. Wrong. I have Santos Mahogany, one of the hardest and most popular hardwood floor. It scratches. I have a dog too and wince when she runs through the house. We have rugs everwhere to prevent scratches as much as we can. My husband said, we can’t even see the floor anymore. Why is this product available if it is such trouble. Just where you come up the steps from the back door is scratched from probably sand on the bottom of the shoes. There is a rug there now. I dropped an umbrella the other day and put two scratch marks on the floor. I have a stain pen that covers it up, but because Santos Mahogany has many tones to it, the pen doesn’t always work. Dog prints are everywhere and this floor streaks easily when cleaned. I have a hardwood mop. I’ve only used water to clean but how sanitary is that. I’m just heartbroken, $5,000 of flooring that is getting scratched. And the company that installed us gave us no warning. You would think that they would at least tell us about the felt pads since they saw we had laminate flooring which is really hard to scratch. 10 years and maybe one or two scratches. How can they even dare to call this hardwood? If I had to do it again, I would buy laminate and save the rest of the money.

I also am having similar problems to many of the other folks contacting you. I have a 5 month olc white oak floor finished with Bona”s water based polyurethane finish. It always looks dirty even after cleaning. It has streaks, smudges, footprints, etc. I started cleaning with Bona’s recommended cleaning product but it still I still have these issues and it looks terrible. I’ve just finished cleaning it with vinegar and distilled bottled water on my hands and knees and it doesn’t look any better. I can wet my finger and rub smudges off after doing this. I can also leave my handprint right on the cleaned surface. I am dealing with 2200 sf of this flooring and am to old and busy to do this all the time just to have it look this bad when I finish. Please, can you give me some advice?

I have sections of my oak floor that have been very faded by the sun, even with the curtains closed. Can I repair these boards without replacing them? I need an inexpensive alternative that I can do by myself. Thanks for your help. D

I recently removed carpet from the floors of a house built in 1960, revealing nice hardwood floors in very good condition. I need to know the best thing to use to clean and preserve finish. When I was a child my mother used to use paste wax is that good or bad. I know nothing about hardwood floor care. The floor has a nice finish but I dont know what kind, its probably been covered since the seventies. Thanks.

do you answer the questions posted here? I’m just installing new hardwood floors and would like to the answers to the questions listed. thanks pam

I have new mahogany wood floors in our new house and am looking for a product to clean it without damaging it. I was told not to use murphy’s oil soap. What are your suggestions?

We reciently moved inot a home with hardwood floors. I have no experience with them. It took no time at all for the floors to become dull and sticky. Ten minutes after mopping they are in that condition again. We purchased “hard wood floor cleaner”. There is no difference from any other cleaner we’ve tried. We cannot push a dust mop over the floor it sticks. Do we need to refinish?

How do I clearn unsealed hardwood floors in a house built in the 1920s?

I have streaks on my hardwood floors from Orange Glow 2 in 1 clean and shine product. Orange glow told me to clean them with 1/2 cup amonia to a gallon of water. I did that and cannot tell a difference at all. What will get the streaks out?

what causes hardwood flooring to separate

i have just finished my hardwood floors and they look beautiful, except that i can see every foot print on them! if i take a wet wash cloth they wipe up. is this because i used a glossy finish? is there anything i can do so i don’t see all the foot traffic?

*DO NOT USE ORANGE-GLO ON YOUR HARDWOOD FLOORS* I have just sent an email to orange glo about their hardwood floor cleaner and the fact that it is false advertising to state that it leaves no residue when I am looking at my beautiful year old dark walnut floor that now has unsightly grey residue all over it. I am going to try the ammonia mixture to see if it works. The only thing that has “sort of” worked is using the orbital buffer that we use on our car but it still not get all of the residue off. It looks awful! IF YOU ARE USING ORANGE GLO, STOP! It seems to work for a while then one day you will say..UH OH!

I used Bona floor polish after cleaning my prefinished wood floors with Bona floor cleaner. It let a filmy residue on my floors. What should I do to get the filmy residue off without ruining the finish of the floor?

I found out the hard way also that you should NEVER use Orange Glo on your hardwood floors and then you should NEVER, and I do mean NEVER use Murphy’s Wood cleaner to try to undo the Orange Glo….. I need help also for I have several rooms that are hardwood, at least most of my downstairs. Has anyone tried one of the steam mops on the wax build-up, or whatever it is that is on my floors?

hardwood floor board I have had them recoated a couple of years ago in high gloss they show all the foot print s and streaks after I have washed them using the special eco floor mop and only hot water.

What kind of cleaner can i use to remove old carpet padding marks on my hard wood floors. They do not need to be sanded.

I just had hardwood floor installed. The workman told me that I need to have an air conditioner for the summer months, which I dont have at present. Do I really need to install one. Also, in the winter months I need to have a humidifier because the wood expands and contracts. Do I really need to spend all this money to maintain my hardwood floor.

Thank you, Jackie

We just bought a house that was built in the 30’s. When we pulled up the mint green wall-to-wall carpeting in the house (probably circa 70’s) we were pleased with the overall condition of the wood floors. Fortunately, no adhesive had been used for the pad. However, there is a waffle imprint from the pad on the floors, and there is some kind of stickly residue around the perimeter of the rooms. I’m assuming the floors were not sealed due to the age of the house. What should I use to clean the floors? What should I use to remove the residue on the floors? What can I do to eliminate the waffle imprint on the floors?

We have very old hardwood floors. We’ve been in house 12 years and while we only have a few areas of water spots and some scratches are not sure about totally resanding/staining. What’s the best way to simply clear the floor without re-waxing or sanding?

Oreck Orbiter is what you need. This machine can do any type of floor. Carpets, tile, concrete, stone, laminate, “real” hardwood, anything. The best part about it though is that its so easy to use. Doesnt run from you like the old style buffers do. Oreck also has a 30 day return policy so if your crazy or lazy and just dont like it you can return it.

I have many of the same questions listed above. Are the answers posted somewhere? What is the best cleaner for my hickory hardwood floors? Is Murphy’s oil soap a good cleaner? How about Bona? How do I get the floors to shine again like new? I have many scrached areas, can a small area be refinished or does the whole floor need to be?

What is good to clean redoak solid hardwood floors? I hand wash my floors, but don’t know what is good. I have used vinegar, Bruce, orange glo, and murphy. Not certain if any are better. Thanks

I have had oak flooring fitted in my lobby, is there any treatment I can give it to protect from wet shoes etc. Thanks

I too have the orange glow problem!! I am looking for answers and see lots of questions here but no answers can anyone help me as to what I should use - will just changing my cleaner sort this problem out or do I need to remove this film before I use a new cleaner?? and if so how? …… help …… thanks!

I have many of the same questions listed above. Are the answers posted somewhere? Is is safe to use the Shark steam cleaner since it dries instantly?

Warning to everyone with hardwood flooring: PLEASE DO NOT USE VINEGAR TO CLEAN HARDWOOD!!! Vinegar has a high pH and is very acidic. It will dull your hardwood, eat through it and cause permanant damage!! I have Mirage brand hardwood floor throughout my home. I use Mirage Clean cleaner which works wonderfully. My floor sparkles after four years and looks brand new. A neighbour of mine, on the other hand, HAD gorgeous hardwood flooring (and granite counters). She used a relatively weak mixture of vinegar and water to clean these surfaces. Ten years later, they are dulled and etch. Any reputable hardwood company–including Mirage–will tell you never to use vinegar or anything that can deposit wax or a coating on your floor.

My experience with Orange glow and Murphy’s Oil was do not use. It will leave a film. (However my neighbor uses Murphy’s Oil with no problem.)

When purchasing cleaning agents for your hardwood, I would recommend you contact the producer ex: Bruce floors - you can look up their wedsite and call customer service. It is best to use the product they suggest for your warranty.

I know people use steam cleaners and was just given one as a gift but haven’t used it yet. Water is the worst for your floors so make sure whatever you do to make sure it is a very damp mop, and go over with a towel to bring out the shine.

I too was a victim of the film residue left by Orange Glo, Pledge, Murphy’s Oil, etc. Mineral spirits or paint thinner would not remove the film these so called hard wood floor cleaners left behind. After reading several posts from others I thought I would try Windex. Wow!! It did a fantastic job! Takes a bit of elbow grease but well worth it trust me. I sprayed it on a section of three boards wide and let it soak about a minute. Wiped it up with a microfiber cloth then dried the area with a clean microfiber cloth. Floors look like new again! Going to pick up some Bona wood floor cleaner tomorrow and see how it does. Not sure what effect continued use of Windex will have on the wood finish. So if your floors have a film buildup get you some Windex and a bottle of Aleve. My legs and arms are soar today but I have shiny beautiful floors. Well worth it…

I had engineered wood installed 6 months ago. I have tried using, Bona, Orange Glo, and Murphy Soap. The Bona works good but I have wax build-up in ceratin areas. How do I clean the wax buildup and what is the best product to use on engineered floors?

Hi I was looking for advice on my oak hardwood floors and the questions are constantly repeated and no answers….what type of vaccume works the best for cleaning up hardwood floors, I am currently using a “swiffer” floor vaccume, works ok would like sometning with a bit more power and not one that just sprays the dirt around.

ALSO never used orange glo or murphys-thank goodness- what is the best cleaner? I use water and wipe up floors the old fashoned way- on my knees, uh, I have over 1600 sq feet of hardwood….any reccomend?

What about a “swiffer mop with the the wood cleaner”? anybody used?

I worry about scratches on my floors so I don’t allow shoes inside. Has any heard about this foot pad, Footums. You stick them on the bottom of your shoes, socks, or barefoot and it protects your floors.

My dad recently visited me and he attached them to his sock and he forgot that he was wearing them!

Stanley steemer now has a service that will clean the build up off your floors. It is50 cents per sq ft . It is called the dirt dragon I believe.. It should remove orange glow etc…. Good luck

I used Bona floor polish after cleaning my prefinished wood floors with Bona floor cleaner. It let a filmy residue on my floors. What should I do to get the filmy residue off without ruining the finish of the floor?

We just got hardwood floors. Seems like the stuff I have found leaves a film residue on the floor. I did find one that did ok.. But we had alot of snow this year.. With everyone walking in and out I believe salt got on the floor and it is now dull. What is the best thing to put on this to make it not dull anymore? Thanks

i have burce haed wood floors and have dogs now i need to take off th clear coat and refinsh it back what should i use ti get it off and make look new again thank you .

We have moved into a new home which has hardwood floors in the entry and kitchen/dining area. The wood is cherry. It has been finished. I am not sure with what. We bought a “Shark” cleaner that is for wood floors, but were told not to use it. How or what should we use to clean it?

I have used every thing available, including a vinegar mix of 1 cup vinegar to one gallon of water and it still leaves a film on my floor. Should I wax my floor and if so, how often?

How do you clean or get sheet rock dust off of oak floors?

We have Maple Hrdwood (strips) in the hall way, living room and the study. We have found any hardwood cleaner that can take away smudges and spots and strips of dirt in several areas. Also when the movers placed the furniture we are left with a few spots where the shining wood coating is absent. Can you suggest what we can do for these problems. Thnak you. Prema Reddy.

My cleaning people put mop and glow on my prefinished Bruce hardwood floors and it’s left footprints and a film . I tried using Bona cleaner but that made it worse. I am also trying amonia and water but not with much luck, Can someone help?:???

Cleaning hardwood floor is simple. Firstly ensure you have given enough top coats. 3 at the minimum as this ensure your floors will react to scratches and flatting. It is also easier then to prepare for another top coat of your chosen varnish. This should be done every 3-5 years depending on traffic volume. To maintain your floor a damp clean mop with a drop of vinegar and the n dry with dry mop, is that is required.

No matter what I use on piano finish floor it always shows foot prints

We have Bruce polyurathane oak floors. My husband decided it needed more shine and used Hollaway House shine on the floors. It has become very dull and marks very easily and scuffs from shoes. I want to remove it to get the original finish back Have tried a recommended hardwood floor cleaner from our hardwood floor supplier but it did nothing. Please help. Our home is 8 years old.Thank you, Karen Howard

Our Parish hall has hardwood floors. They have not been done for several years. I would like to know how to clean and how to put a coat of polyurethane on it. Thanks, carol

I used orange glow on my engineered hardwood floors and now have a build up and dull finish how do I remove it from the floors

I have a fairly new 3” mahogany egineered floor throughout my apartment which scratches very easily - and the scratches show through, even when not deep, as being much lighter in colour. Is there any way I can simply treat the isolated scratches rather than sanding the whole floor?

We just installed oak hardwood. I want to keep it as beautiful as it is today. What cleaners, polishers, protectors do you recommend? Anything to seal it other then what is put on at the factory? Thanks for your help.

Wow! The same problem! It goes on and on! Our Bamboo floors are just a few months old and we have tried a couple of cleaning solutions: Orange Glo: NO, Murphy’s Oil Soap for Hardwood Floors: NO, Scott’s Liquid Glow: NO. Our favorite so far has been Bruce. Thanks for the tip to NOT use vinegar and water. Good luck everyone!

We have 1902 original hardwood floors through out the house.No idea what to use on them .We can not redo them because they are not ours to re-do .Any suggestions would be great …thanks.We do have kids and pets too.Some ares are pretty worn out too.

Dana is about to say:

I have followed the 3 steps to keeping my hardwood flooring looking rich and great looking, I find that using a area rug is the best way to avoid high traffic and any damage. The many designs and styles in rugs has really enhance my floors.