Home / Housekeeping / DIY / Hardwood Floor Cleaners & TipsHardwood Floor Cleaners & Tips  62 Comments    Print     EmailHere are several different recipes for mixing up your own cleaners for hardwood flooring, just a few simple ingredients are all that’s needed. Keep in mind that a little goes a long way, you just need enough liquid to dampen the mop (or cloth) and scrub away.If you’re happy to damp mop with straight water, try adding about 10 drops of essential oil per gallon of water for extra cleaning muscle. Some suggestions: lavender, tea tree oil, pine or eucalyptus oil will add antiseptic qualities.You’ll also find tips on this page for removing scuff marks, how to test for wax (and remove it), a few DIY polish recipes and a scratch repair method that may surprise you.Getting Started: Sweep or vacuum surface to remove as much dirt and dust as possible.Directions:When using one of the recipes below, damp mop only. Saturating the floor with liquid may cause spotting or warping of the surface.

You can either lightly spray one section at a time or lightly spray the mop head.Scrub in the direction of the grain of the wood to grab and remove as much of the dirt as possible.texas air duct cleaning serviceWipe dry with a soft cloth after washing.star air duct cleaning reviewsMix 1 gallon warm water with your choice of the ingredients below…duct cleaning company for saleSolution #11/4 cup vinegar1 TBS castille soapSolution #21 cup white household vinegar (*Is it safe to use? best small cylinder vacuum cleanerSee notes below)Solution #31/4 cup borax1/2 teaspoon mild dish detergent (liquid)Solution #41 cup vinegar10 drops peppermint essential oilSolution #51/8 cup mild liquid dish soap1/2 cup vinegarSolution #61 TBS Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap1/8 cup vinegar1/4 cup brewed black teaTea Mixture:Steep 1 bag of tea in 2 cups of boiling water and leave until it comes to room temperature. best buy upholstery steam cleaner

Remove tea bag and soak cloth in liquid, wring out then wipe floor clean. Dry with a soft cloth. The tannic acid in the tea will help bring wood to a shine.For Oil-Finish: Damp mop with straight water after first cleaning with the recipe below.1 TBS rubbing alcohol2/3 cup hot water*Is vinegar safe to use? best cleaner for a wood deckIsn’t it too acidic for hardwood?If you poured a bottle of vinegar directly on the floor and allowed it to sit, it would most likely damage the surface. However, in the mixtures above it is well diluted and only used as a damp mop (meaning excess liquid is squeezed out). Vinegar is an excellent household cleaner and brings a lot of muscle to the job. If you’re concerned about the effects it may have on the finish over the long-term, consider doing a clear water rinse after wiping floor with a mixture that has vinegar as an ingredient (then wipe dry as usual).

Removing Scuff MarksKeep a spray bottle with a mixture of 50/50 vinegar, water and about 15 drops of essential oil of your choosing.Sprinkle scuffs with baking soda then spray solution, let fizz for a few seconds.Scrub marks until they are removed then dry with a soft towel.Wax Testing & RemovalWet your fingers with water then flick into a corner of the floor where there’s not much traffic. If there’s wax on the surface, the floor will turn white under the water beads (may take a half hour or so to turn white).To Remove Wax:Scrub the surface with mineral spirits using a household sponge with a nylon scrubby side. Wipe dry with a soft cloth as wax is dissolved. Repeat process a second time if needed.DIY PolishWash surface as usual and dry thoroughly. Using one of the mixes below, apply polish to surface then wipe dry with a soft cotton towel.Recipe #1Mix equal parts olive oil and white household vinegar.Recipe #21/4 cup vegetable oil (or olive oil)2 TBS cider vinegar3 TBS vodkaRecipe #31 TBS olive oil mixed with 1 tsp lemon juice.

Apply to a clean, dry mop and treat floors after cleaning.Quick Tip: You can also spray commercial furniture polish onto the mop head and then wipe over surface.Scratch RepairRub a crayon that is the same color as the flooring into the scratch, filling the space as full of the wax as you can.To seal in place, heat with a hair dryer to soften the wax, allow to cool for a few seconds then buff with a soft cloth. Print     Email Published: November 16, 2011Updated: June 9, 2012An important part of hardwood floor maintenance, learning how to polish hardwood floors yourself adds extra beauty, shine and longevity to your floors. Applying polish on hardwood floors helps to restore a floor’s protective layer of finish and is a simple project that can be done by most people. Learning how to polish hardwood floors yourself is a relatively quick, cheap and easy way to properly maintain hardwood floors. It’s important to know the difference between polishing a hardwood floor and refinishing one.

Both tasks are similar, but when you polish a hardwood floor, you are keeping the finish that is on the floor intact—polishing a hardwood floor restores a floor’s existing finish, filling in microscopic scratches and evening out the appearance of the floor. When you refinish a hardwood floor, you are completely removing the floor’s existing finish and replacing it. Use Bona Polish to add a protective new layer, fill in micro scratches and even out the appearance of your floor. Always test polish in an inconspicuous section of the floor before spreading it on the entire floor. When applying polish to your floor, use the “feathering” technique to ensure a smooth finish without lines or “start and stop” marks. How Often Should I Clean and Polish My Floor? Cleaning as often as you can will help minimize the dirt and dust on your floors that can act like sandpaper and wear your floor.  Bona’s line of specially-formulated polishes can be used multiple times per year.

Frequency of use depends entirely on the amount of traffic your floor sees, but typical homeowner floor maintenance is every two to four months. How Long Will Cleaning and Polishing Take? The length of time to clean and polish depends on the size of your wood floors.  It is a very quick and easy process when using Bona Cleaner and Bona Polish. Bona Polish provides a protective layer and evens out the sheen. It is an incredibly simple DIY project. No special equipment is needed. Simply remove furniture and rugs, then sweep, vacuum or dust mop your floor, and give it a wet cleaning with Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner. Then squirt Bona Polish onto the floor, spread it with an applicator and allow it to dry. Let it dry one hour before you walk on it, and 24 hours before subjecting it to heavy traffic. Before you’re ready to polish your hardwood floor, the room must be properly prepared for hassle-free experience. 1. Remove all furniture and belongings in the room. Be cautious when moving large objects and furniture.

If possible, use furniture pads to help protect the floor from accidental scratches and gouges. 2. Give the floors a good clean. Dust and mop your floors. Make sure the floor is completely dry before applying the polish. For more information on this, read our article on cleaning hardwood floors [link to cleaning article]. If necessary, discreetly test the polish on a small portion of the floor. 3. Make sure you have all the right tools. Polishes can be applied with an applicator pad or a high-density foam roller. Check the polish instructions to make sure you have all that you need to finish the job. When you’re ready to polish your hardwood floor, have a predetermined plan and give yourself some peace of mind. 4. Work in small sections. When applying the polish to your hardwood floor, work in small sections to keep the applicator pad/roller wet. Be sure to smooth out the polish along the grain of the wood. 5. Use a feathering technique. To avoid stripes of uneven polish on your floor, take a cue from interior painting and feather out the polish so that you have smooth transitions as you move from section to section.