Cleaning polyurethaned wooden floors

5 years ago

Our wooden floors in our living room are polyurethaned. What are the best products and methods to clean them to avoid harming the finish and to avoid streaking?

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Comments (4)

lindac92
5 years ago
Very dilute vinegar water. spritz a little on a dust mop and run it over them.
Jaee Corn thanked lindac92
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Beyond Clean Tile
5 years ago
I would recommend Basic Coatings Squeaky.
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SJ McCarthy
5 years ago
Please do NOT use vinegar. Vinegar can and will cause hazing and crackling to the finish. If you can pickle an egg or pigs feet in vinegar you can 'pickle' your polyurethane.

You are looking for a pH neutral (should say it RIGHT on the bottle) HARDWOOD floor cleaner (should NOT be 'all purpose'...ever!). Basic Coatings (as above) makes a hardwood floor cleaner. Loba makes one. Glitsa makes one. All the major polyurethane manufacturers make one.

The best place to find the information = the manufacturer of your finish. If you don't know what it is, contact your refinisher and ask.

Here's what you need to know/do/follow when owning hardwood floors:

1. Sweep/vacuum (no beater bar!...suction only) daily or every other day

2. Water-damp mop (slightly wet...almost feels dry) every week (1 per week!!!!)

3. Damp cleaning (use of wood cleaner) once per MONTH (yes...12x per YEAR)

If you feel you need a spot clean or there's an oily/sticky mess feel free to use Windex Original formula. It has 5% ammonia content. That is the level used as a mild flooring stripper (strips the floor of cleaners and oils). A quick squirt onto the oily/icky patch...let it sit for 5-10 seconds and then wipe clean with a cloth. Done.

Notice you only use the wood cleaner every month? Yep. That's all a wood floor needs. The water-damp mopping is all a wood floor needs (the homeowner "needs" more...but the floors do not).

Have fun. Wood is super easy to care for.
Jaee Corn thanked SJ McCarthy
lindac92
5 years ago
Perhaps pickeling strength vinegar might dull a poly finish, but not diluted white vinegar. It's recommended by many flooring specialists and I know personally that it works and has not damaged my floors in many many years.

What you don't want to use in an alkaline solution....like windex or ammonia.

Polyurethane is tough stuff, thats why we use it...on my tables it stands up to spilled wine, spilled milk, even a spilled martini! and there is no dulling at all.

Water that is enough to get between the boards is the big enemy....as is things that leave a build up.