What should you not put on a hardwood floor?

Don't use straight ammonia, alkaline products or abrasive cleaners. They'll dull or scratch the finish. Don't rely on lemon juice or a vinegar-and-water solution to clean hardwood floors. "I don't recommend using vinegar or lemon juice, at least not in large quantities, as these can damage the floor's seal," said Wise.
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What will ruin hardwood floors?

8 Things That Will Destroy Hardwood Floors
  • Furniture Pads. If you want scratches and marks on your beautiful hardwood floors, don't use furniture pads. ...
  • Sweeping. ...
  • Using Too Much Liquid Cleaner. ...
  • Have a Mat Near the Door. ...
  • High Heels. ...
  • Trimming Your Pets' Nails.
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What should you avoid on hardwood floors?

Never put items on your floor that could burn the wood. Things such as candles, a curling iron, a hot plate or an old space heater could not only cause scorch marks on your beautiful wood floor, but they could ultimately start a fire. Always keep items that produce a lot of heat off of your wood flooring.
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What is the best thing to clean hardwood floors with?

You can use a commercial wood-cleaning product, like Bona or Murphy Oil Soap. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions. You can also make your own cleaner by mixing one part vinegar to 10 parts warm water. Add a few drops of liquid Castile soap.
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Is it OK to wet mop hardwood floors?

Do not wet mop wood flooring. Damp is good. Dripping wet is bad. If you can ring out the mop or pad, you're working with too much water.
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How NOT to Install Wood Floor



Is Swiffer safe for hardwood floors?

According to the manufacturer's website, the Swiffer mop is appropriate for use on finished hardwood floors when you use either the dry or wet refill cloths. Wet refills aren't recommended for use on unfinished, waxed or oiled floors, and you should use them with caution on finished hardwood.
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Is Murphy's oil soap good for hardwood floors?

Whether you're cleaning one area or all of your flooring, Murphy® Oil Soap is safe to use on hardwood floors.
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How often should you mop hardwood floors?

In high-traffic areas, like the dining room and kitchen, sweep or vacuum daily if possible and mop hardwood floors once or twice a week. Mop less-trafficked areas once a month or once a season.
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Is Pine Sol good for hardwood floors?

Pine-Sol is safe to use on wood floors in small, diluted amounts. Make sure to check the label for the dilution ratio before putting it on your hardwood floor. Use a minimal amount of water and Pine-Sol mixture, as dry mopping is the best cleaning method for hardwood floors.
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How do you clean hardwood floors without damaging them?

Use a damp-mop with a flat-head mop and microfiber pad or a microfiber string mop that has been thoroughly wrung out when it looks dingy. Move with the grain, and control the amount of cleaning solution by using a spray bottle, aiming for a heavy mist or gentle squirt of about a half teaspoon per 2 square feet.
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Do shoes ruin hardwood floors?

Yes, shoes can do a lot of damage to your floor (even more damage than pets). The biggest issue with shoes is that little pebbles and dirt can in them and these scratch your floors. And, of course when it's raining or snowing, the water (and sometimes salt) can do even more damage.
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Does bona damage hardwood floors?

Please note; you CANNOT use Bona Tile & Laminate Floor Cleaner on hardwood because the strong degreaser could damage the finish.
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Does vinegar damage hardwood floors?

You should NOT use vinegar to clean your wood floors regularly. You won't notice any damage right away, but over time, the acidity in the vinegar will break down the floor's finish, allowing water to penetrate and degrade the wood.
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Do rug pads damage hardwood floors?

Rug pads for hardwood floors are a very important purchase. The wrong rug pad can permanently damage your floor. Many unsuspecting homeowners end up with stained, severely discolored floors due to a chemical reaction between the rug pad material and the polyurethane finish.
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Do chair mats damage hardwood floors?

And some office chair mats are even advertised as safe for hardwood floors. However, chair mats can actually cause more harm than good. As you roll in your office chair, the mat can slide or rub against the hardwood floor beneath. So, any dirt or debris between the layers will actually wear down and damage your floor.
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Do rubber mats damage hardwood floors?

In most cases, rubber mats will not damage a hardwood floor. However, in some cases, certain finishes used on the hardwood can have a chemical reaction with the rubber.
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Can you use Dawn dish soap on hardwood floors?

Dish soap is a gentle cleaner that won't damage the natural wood, and it's perfect for light jobs and daily upkeep alike. In a large bucket, mix two to three tablespoons of dish soap with one gallon of warm water. Dip your mop and wring it over the bucket, then gently mop the surface of your floors.
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Does Bona Floor Cleaner leave a residue?

Bona products are specially designed to protect floors and the environment. Bona cleaners won't dull your floors or leave behind any residue. Find the perfect products to clean, shine and protect your floors.
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Can I use Windex on hardwood floors?

Ammonia-Free windex is the safest way to get your floors super clean. We recommend a dry swiffer [or something like it] and a mist of windex. The best part is, you can use this cleaner for just about every flooring surface in your home.
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Which Swiffer is best for wood floors?

Regular Swiffer WetJet isn't optimized for hardwood floors, however, so this one with pads and cleaner developed for hardwood is best. The disposable cleaning pads are also softer than traditional Swiffer pads and gentler on wood floors.
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How do you use Pine Sol on hardwood floors?

Follow these steps:
  1. Sweep or vacuum the floor with a hard floor attachment to remove loose dirt.
  2. Add ¼ cup Pine-Sol® to a bucket with about a gallon of water.
  3. Mop your floor with the mixture. Try not to let liquid pool, which can warp and streak wood.
  4. Scrub stains and shoe marks with full-strength Pine-Sol®. ...
  5. step5.
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Should I wax wood floors?

All hardwood floors, whether made from new or recycled wood, or even vintage floors that have been in place a century or more, need periodic waxing. Floor wax helps seal the porous wood surface, protects it from stains, hides scratches and dents and increases shine.
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How do you clean hardwood floors naturally?

Combine 2 cups warm water and 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar. Dip a soft-bristled toothbrush in the solution and shake until just damp. Gently scrub the cracks and then wipe away the debris with a soft cloth or vacuum it up with a handheld vac or a vacuum with a crevice tool. Dust mop and clean the floor as usual.
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How do you maintain hardwood floors?

Here's Exactly How To Maintain Wood Floors
  1. Clean Spills Immediately. ...
  2. Use Furniture Pads. ...
  3. Sweep Or Dust Daily. ...
  4. Vacuum Weekly. ...
  5. Use Wood Floor Cleaner Monthly. ...
  6. Re-Finish Every 3-5 Years.
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