How to Get Rid of Cloudy Hardwood Floors Cloudy, hazy or milky-looking hardwood floors can be quite a hassle to remedy. With a little work, you may be able to get rid of cloudy hardwood floors and restore the beauty of your natural hardwood. Hardwood floors are supposed to have a beauty and luster that bring out the best in your living space. When floors get dull or cloudy, they can be difficult to fix. It’s possible, but without proper knowledge, your efforts to restore the look of your hardwood floors can make matters worse. Identifying the root causes of cloudy or milky-looking hardwood floors can help get you to a proper solution without hours and hours of trial and error: Improper application of finish: Use of improper cleaners: To get rid of your cloudy hardwood floor, the solution is simple:  dissolve and remove the offending layer and use proper cleaning techniques to restore the floor’s look. Most cloudy floors are caused by buildups left by cleaners.

There are different options you can take depending on the severity of the problem: Use an ammonia solution: Remove the existing finish: The most common cause of cloudy hardwood floors is using the wrong cleaner. Be sure to check with your floor’s manufacturer for their recommended method of maintaining your floor. If you can’t find this information, make sure you use a cleaner that’s designed to clean hardwood floors. Bona products are specially designed to protect floors and the environment. Bona cleaners won’t dull your floors or leave behind any residue. Find the perfect products to clean, shine and protect your floors. For more information on properly maintaining your hardwood floors, check out our cleaning guides.Follow our easy steps on how to clean hardwood floors. Transform your floors from dull and grimy to gleaming, gorgeous and clean! mariakraynova / Shutterstock / mariakraynova RELATED: Start scrubbing and dusting! Spring clean with these room-by-room tips

Don't use oils, waxes or furniture sprays. Oil leaves a residue, furniture spray creates a slippery surface (think ice-skating rink!) and wax takes time to apply and makes re-coating difficult. RELATED: 23 ways to clean your home (and yourself) using lemons Don't use straight ammonia, alkaline products or abrasive cleaners. They'll dull or scratch the finish. Do use a floor-cleaning product recommended by the floor finisher or opt for plain soap and water. If the recommended product is hard to find or costly, and other floor cleaners contain ingredients that violate your floor's warranty, try soap and water. I add a quarter cup of mild or pH-neutral soap (like liquid dishwashing soap) or Murphy Oil Soap (despite the name, it doesn't contain oil) to a bucket of water. Don't rely on water alone or a vinegar and water solution to clean hardwood floors. Mopping with water will result in dingy-looking floors and won't-budge dirt buildup. Vinegar and water is not as effective as soapy water and—some suggest—may dull floors sooner.

(Eventual dullness and the need to recoat are inevitable no matter what you use. See Tackling Simple Wood Floor Problems.) In high-traffic areas, like the dining room and kitchen, you should sweep daily, if possible, and mop once or twice a week. Mop less-trafficked areas once a month or once a season. Mopping technique Remember: Water is wood's worst enemy (even on sealed floors!), so use a damp mop rather than a soaking wet one.best vacuum cleaner for hardwood floors 2013 Dip the mop into the bucket of prepared cleaning solution, wring it out completely, mop in the direction of the wood grain and repeat. best vacuum cleaner for tile floors and carpetWhen the water gets dirty, empty the bucket, mix a new batch of cleaning solution and continue mopping.best vacuum cleaner ceramic tile

When finished, go back over the entire surface with clean water to rinse. Don't be afraid to get on your hands and knees if necessary. When a floor needs serious attention, I clean it with a cloth. (It's better than a sponge because you can "feel" the dirt as you wipe!) Scuff marks getting you down? A bit of baking soda on a damp sponge will erase them. Noticed a stubborn food, water or grease stain on your surface-sealed floor? Always use a commercial cleaner to treat this problem. Hairline cracks in the floor? Don't panic and attempt to fill them. Dry heat during the winter months causes wood floors to shrink and crack. Cracks should close up during the summer (though using a humidifier can also help). Sand the floor lightly and recoat with an additional layer or two. Recoating is necessary about every five to seven years. RELATED: How to clean your kitchen sink, showerhead, makeup brushes and more Do use stripper to remove old wax buildup.

Choose a product the floor manufacturer recommends, a commercial product from the hardware store or mineral spirits. Do use liquid wax designed for wood floors or paste wax. Liquid wax is easier to apply but leaves a thinner coat (and provides less protection) than paste wax. Don't use acrylic or water-based waxes, furniture waxes or one-step waxes. Acrylic and water-based waxes can turn floors white, furniture wax creates a slick surface and one-step waxes (despite the compelling pitches: They clean! They remove old wax! They lay down new wax!) Do NOT damp-mop waxed floors. Just vacuum and sweep the surface regularly. Once or twice a year, strip the old wax and apply a fresh new coat. If a high-traffic area gets dull in between treatments, you can spot-wax the area. Vacuum the floor to remove dust. Strip the old wax with stripper (following the manufacturer's instructions) or mineral spirits (rub into wood and then wipe off with a clean, soft cloth).

Keep the area well ventilated as you work and as the floor dries. After the floor has dried, apply a thin coat of wax, using an applicator (if you're using liquid wax) or a cloth (if you're using paste wax). Let the wax dry. For added protection, apply a second coat of wax. Use a cloth or, to make the job easier, rent a buffing machine. Remember to always buff in the direction of the wood grain. White water spots marring your floor's finish? Add a small amount of mineral spirits to an extra-fine (0000) steel wool pad and gently rub the area in a circular motion. Keep the area well ventilated as you work. Got heel marks that won't wipe off?Add a small amount of wax to an extra-fine (0000) steel wool pad and gently rub the area in a circular motion. Food stains causing you trouble? Wipe the surface with a damp cloth, rub dry and wax. When removing any stain (from wood or carpet), always work from the outside edge in toward the center. Secrets to preserving hardwood floors: 3 must-follow rules!