Hardwood Floor Maintenence - What's different than CA? (Bath: buying, organic)

[north_raleigh_spa_mom]

I clean my hardwood floors here exactly the way I did in CA but my floors seem dull and sticky. I think the floors are similar but I wonder if the humidity, a/c, heating might be making the difference.
I had the floors refinished several months ago but soon after I was back to the same old problems. Does anyone have suggestions for cleaning and maintaining hardwood floors with our humid weather? Thanks

[HappyNCGirl]

I had a similar problem in the past. After trying various products, I've found something that is working great for me. I use a Swiffer Wet Jet with the cleaning solution for hardwoods. I spray just enough cleaning solution to get the pad wet. Then I use Orange Glow for Hardwoods for the entire floor. It comes in a green spray bottle. Just spritz the cleaner over a section, mop it with the Wet Jet and move to the next section.

The Orange Glow cleans great and leaves a shiny, smudge free finish. Works fabulously!

The hardwood cleaning solution that comes with the wet jet does a good job of quick clean ups, but I find that if I use the wet jet hardwood cleaning solution over the entire floor, I get that smudgy/filmy look.

[KellyCrash]

Our hardwood floor installer reccomended we use Bona for hardwood floors. I sweep, dry swiffer & then use the Bona cleaner. I spray it on and use a mop with a pad on it to clean. The Bona products are available at Restoration Hardware & Ace Hardware. I also believe I saw some of the stuff at Bed Bath & Beyond. Ace Hardware is your best bet imo because they have everything and it's easy to find & the stores seem to be everywhere.

I heard others swear by a mixture of vinegar & water. I asked about it & the installer said no stick with Bona. I think cleaning hardwoods is the most annoying thing ever.

What has been your regular cleaning routine that doesn't seem to be working?

Oh & it definitely makes a difference what kind of finish your floors have. I would check with the people who refinished your floors to see what they reccomend.

[frogandtoad]

I've always been told to clean hardwoods with nothing but vinegar and water. You can buy the great big vinegars in the cleaning section (not to be confused with the vinegar used for human consumption, which I don't believe this is).

Ours have always turned out well this way (we've been doing it this was over 10 years).

[Air]

A bucket of warm water with white vinegar. Maybe that balsamic is what's making the floors sticky (just kidding).

You'll get build up if you use any products. Then the only solution is hands and knees!

[MrsBTA]

I second the recommendation for Bona. Our installers said that it is the only store-bought product they know of that won't leave build up and won't harm the finish. It's really easy, and works great for us. They told us the vinegar/water solution would be fine too, you just have to be really careful never to leave the floors wet at all (and use the right kind of vinegar, in the right water-to-vinegar ratio).

[kelly237]

Originally Posted by frogandtoad

I've always been told to clean hardwoods with nothing but vinegar and water. You can buy the great big vinegars in the cleaning section (not to be confused with the vinegar used for human consumption, which I don't believe this is).

Ours have always turned out well this way (we've been doing it this was over 10 years).

I use vinegar but I didn't know cleaning vinegar was different than
white vinegar in the grocery store. Does anyone know the difference?

[RDSLOTS]

I've lived in the South my entire life, had hardwood floors everywhere I ever lived, and never had a problem keeping them looking nice.

Growing up, my Mother had us keep the floors swept, dusted, vacuumed -- however you chose to, but be sure to disengage the beater bar on the vacuum cleaner, as over time, you do run a risk of scratching the floors. We only damp-mopped the floors with clear water, and changed it often. It's imperative you only run a mop, or pad, over a clean floor; otherwise, you are lightly 'sanding' the floor with the dirt.

I wonder if some aren't using a product that interacts with the finish applied to the hardwoods. Once or twice a year, I go over mine with a cleaning solution designed specifically for hardwoods and don't see a film when I finish. I generally have been unhappy with sunshine bleaching the floors, or a dog's nails, if not trimmed, scratching them.


My husband, the chemist, says vinegar is an organic acid -- acetic acid. The only difference in white vinegar meant for the table, and what you may be buying to clean with, is in its strength. Vinegar is great for a lot of household chores -- washing windows, wiping down the interior of the refrigerator, the trashcan(s), etc.

[MikeJaquish]

Another prop for Bona here.
It was recommended by Lumber Liquidators who sold us the prefinished flooring.

We never have a sticky or filmy floor.

[tarheel7777]

Most floors nowadays have a polyurethane finish, and the best thing to use is the Bona cleaner. A lot of cleaners have water in them, and water + hardwoods is not a good idea even in small amounts. Not to mention, you need to check your warranty. Most manufacturers will void the warranty if you're using anything other than a cleaner specifically formulated for hardwoods.

If you have a wax finish, then you need something specifically for that type of finish. But wax isn't used very often anymore; mostly you'll only find it on older floors.