Cleaning Wood Floors With Water Based Finish

They ve been finished with a matte water based natural finish.

Cleaning wood floors with water based finish.

For more than 100 years people have been using murphy oil soap to clean wood floors for one simple reason. Floors in need of a clear finish that dries quickly. But what type of cleaning agent should be used in the mop bucket. If your floor is real hardwood lightly sand it then apply a new finish to restore the wood s natural beauty.

Waxing these floors can make them too slippery to walk on easily. The same plastic resin ends up on your floor whether it s carried in a water or petroleum based solvent. It s great for hardwood floors in particular but can also be used on almost any other surface from tile and linoleum to furniture anything but unsealed or unfinished wood. Once the steam is cooled it becomes water and is unable to clean under the finish this over time will actually rot your wood.

First it s important to know what type of finish you have on floor so that you have the proper type of cleaner. Always apply floor wax to go with the grain of the wood. Despite its durable finish polyurethane flooring can start to wear out eventually. A water based wood floor finish may cost a bit more than an oil based finish but many contractors and homeowners prefer its clarity and ease of application.

Polyurethane urethane varnish lacquer shellac etc these finishes sit on top of the wood and help prevent water or stain absorption. Similarly you don t need to buff or polish these floors as the polyurethane coating doesn t need it. Use floor wax to revitalize and deep clean worn floors. Vinegar is mildly acidic and can cut through white mineral streaks so adding a 1 4 cup or 1 2 cup of it to your dish soap cleaning solution will create a good treatment for a floor that gets a lot of foot traffic.

In terms of durability the two are virtually identical. These finishes easily absorb water and water can warp wood floors so use only solvent based cleaning products instead of water based ones on floors with penetrating finishes. Don t overwax a wood floor. Low ph cleaners can dull a polyurethane finish but some stains need more cleaning power than water and dish soap can provide.

Still the finish highlights the wood s grain color and natural beauty. I m looking for any tips on how to care for my newly refinished hardwood floors. Some jobs are. If it looks dull try buffing your hardwood floor instead.

Is murphy s oil soap okay or is their a more gentle and or greener alternative. It can also make the floor dull more quickly. The vast majority of homeowners have some sort of surface sealed finish e g.