How do you clean hardwood floors?

MelissaMc22 · June 2011

We finally got ours finished!

I don't know if I am more excited about the floors or getting that obnoxious, pompous contractor out of my house! He was unbelievable!

Anyways, they are very dirty from all the dust, dirt, food traffic.

What's the best way to clean them- especially for the first time?

Thanks!

stillwaiting12 · June 2011

When we moved in we ripped up the carpet in our entire house and had the hardwood's finished. Since I had never dealt with hardwood floors I asked for their cleaning suggestions and he told me that a microfiber mop and good ol Windex is the best thing and what he cleans his floors at home with. I thought he was nuts, but 2 years later that is still what I have found to be the best. Just make sure it's amonia free.

I recently bought a shark 2 in 1 vac/steam mop and it has become my FAVORITE thing ever! I still use a broom to sweep along the edges and baseboards and just basically sweep the dust and pet hair to the middle of the room and then I use the vac. I use the steam function probably once a month or so and in between that for my weekly cleanings I just use the Windex and a microfiber mop where needed.

hannah&ben · June 2011

We use Bona stuff for wet cleaning and I just use a regular broom daily. I don't like the swiffer type things for sweeping, they don't work for us. My kids leave big crumbs

laina2012 · June 2011

We use the Bona Floor Mop too and LOVE it!

Christine.Louie · June 2011

I third the reco for the Bona. When we installed our floors this is what they used to clean them up for us and what they reco'd we use ongoing. I don't know if Costco carries it anymore since they always change their stock but they had a giant cleaning fluid refill for wayyy cheaper than anywhere else.

Our weekly cleaning routine is swiffer sweep + vac and then Bona hardwood cleaner (the one that's an integrated spray and wipe system kind of like swiffer but with reusable terry cloth-ish pad).

mag2point0 · June 2011

Our cleaners use vinegar and water and it does the trick plus it's cheap. But, when I'm feeling fancy, I use this stuff. It smells nice!

shawnsweetie · June 2011

Are your floors pre-finished or encapsulated? If they are encapsulated you can't use any type of steam mop on them. I learned that AFTER I bought my steam mop

I use vinegar and water on mine. It is what I have read over and over from the experts to use. Pretty much anything you use will leave a residue on your floors over time.

hav2run · June 2011

Bona Hardwood cleaning kit. Love it!

MrsMandaK · June 2011

Our guys said nothing but vinegar and water. Use one cup of white vinegar to one gallon of water. They said anything else leaves a build up over time which dulls the floor and makes it more difficult to refinish when that is necessary.

doodlebug914 · June 2011

Ditto pp, it depends on how they are made. In our old house we had hardwoods, we vacuumed and used the Orange Glo hardwood floor spray and microfiber mop, here we have the wood look Pergoish stuff and we use the Shark Vac and steam.

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