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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What is the best thing to use to clean wood floors?

In most homes, the best wood floor cleaner is plain old soap and water, and the only tools you need are a broom, vacuum, and mop. The best mop for wood floors is a microfiber flat-head or string mop you can easily wring out.
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What should you not clean hardwood floors with?

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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Is it OK to mop hardwood floors?

Do mop a wood floor with a damp mop or cloth. String mops are less common these days, and that's not a bad thing for cleaning wood floors. They can be tough to evenly wring out and use. Microfiber cloths are great for using with wood flooring.
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What is the best way to clean hardwood floors naturally?

7 Best Homemade Wood Floor Cleaners
  1. Water and Vinegar. ...
  2. Water, Vinegar, and Essential Oils. ...
  3. Vinegar and Vegetable Oil. ...
  4. Plant-based Liquid Soap, Vinegar and Water. ...
  5. Tea Bags. ...
  6. Lemon Juice, Olive Oil and Hot Water. ...
  7. Dish Detergent, Water and Vinegar.
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How To Clean Hardwood Floors | Hardwood Floor Care | The Home Depot



Is Murphy's oil soap good for wood 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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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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Will Swiffer ruin 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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Can I use Pine-Sol on hardwood floors?

Hardwood Floors Steps To Clean

Add ¼ cup Pine-Sol® to a bucket with about a gallon of water. Mop your floor with the mixture. Try not to let liquid pool, which can warp and streak wood. Scrub stains and shoe marks with full-strength Pine-Sol®.
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How often should you mop hardwood floors?

Once a week, wood floors should be cleaned in high traffic areas with a damp mop. Low traffic areas can be done less frequently, like once a month or once a quarter. Unsealed wood floors are more susceptible to water, so make sure that the mop is just slightly damp.
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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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How do you make hardwood floors shine like they are wet?

  1. Step 1: Vacuum the Floor. Remove all rugs and vacuum debris from the floor. ...
  2. Step 2: Damp Mop the Floor. Mop the floor using a commercial floor cleaning product or your homemade cleaner. ...
  3. Step 3: Buff the Floor Dry. ...
  4. Step 4: Polish the Floor. ...
  5. Step 5: Wait a While.
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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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Is Fabuloso safe for hardwood floors?

Is Fabuloso® and Fabuloso® Complete safe on wood? Fabuloso® and Fabuloso® Complete should only be used on SEALED wood surfaces.
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Which is better Pine-Sol or Fabuloso?

What is this? Pine-Sol is more acidic than Fabuloso, which gives it an advantage in breaking down stubborn stains and complex messes caused by grease. Pine-Sol Original is the only liquid cleaning solution that disinfects.
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Is Bona or Swiffer better?

Bona's mop distributes cleaning solution more evenly than the Swiffer WetJet. Bona's mop head is significantly wider (15 inches) than Swiffer's (9 inches), which makes it easier to clean large rooms but more difficult to navigate in small spaces. Bona's spray mop comes with a reusable microfiber mop pad.
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Is it better to use a mop or Swiffer?

Ultimately, traditional mops are still the best option for deep cleaning. You can put more pressure on the head, and you can use any cleaning solution (rather than the Swiffer-only options) and as much of it as you need.
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Why does Swiffer leave residue?

“And the floor can end up sticky and even dirtier because their cleaning solvent tends to dry very fast, leaving a sticky residue if not cleaned fast and well.”
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Is quick shine good for hardwood floors?

The answer is YES! You can use our Quick Shine® Multi-Surface Floor Finish and Cleaner on a variety of sealed hard surface flooring, including; hardwood, laminate, tile, vinyl, linoleum, stone and more!
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Can I mop with vinegar and Dawn?

After trying different commercial cleaners, we decided to mix one part Dawn dish soap and to two parts white vinegar, which I had on hand, in a bucket and mopped the floor with the soapy mixture. How it actually worked: The combo was a winner and brought the floor (almost) back to its original glory.
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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 I make my hardwood floors look new without refinishing?

To make hardwood floors look like new without refinishing:
  1. Try buffing and polishing with a commercial-grade buffer.
  2. Use a hardwood floor polishing sealant.
  3. Clean markers with toothpaste and a clean cloth.
  4. Apply a wood floor cleaner or oil soap for a high-gloss clean.
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