Not many homeowners choose to leave their hardwood floors unfinished, but it's an inexpensive, unique alternative. Nonetheless, knowing how to clean wood floors means ensuring they remain sanitary, whether or not you choose to wait on sanding and finishing treatment until your budget allows. Cleaning untreated wood floors keeps them in good condition, and ensures that they're protected from the wear and tear many finished floors are inherently resilient to. If you decided to finish your floors later, you'll want the stain to bring out the brilliance of the wood grain, not show dents and wear. Choose your cleaner carefully, and avoid using solutions with harsh chemicals like ammonia or petroleum, as these can warp and discolor the surface. Natural cleaners like Murphy® Oil Soap and some mineral spirits safely remove dirt and grime without damaging the beauty of the wood. Keep in mind you can always test a section of the floor with your cleaner to ensure that it's safe to use.

Simply clean a small section in an out-of-the-way space and let it dry. This will let you see the effect of the product without committing to a full clean in case your wood is sensitive. best leather conditioner for autoHowever, mineral spirits and natural formulas are safe to use on unfinished wood floor, so you don't have to wait on cleaning until you install a finish.best vacuum cleaner upright It is important to avoid using a lot of water when cleaning, so limit the amount left on your mop when you're ready for it to touch your floor. best cherry hardwood floor cleanerSaturating the floor with water raises the chance of leftover puddles when you're done, leading to warping. Water that seeps beneath the surface can also discolor the wood and affect the grain if you decide to stain your floors later on, although this will depend on the type of finish as explained by the National Wood Flooring Association.

If you happen to leave water behind on your floor, use a dried mop to gather it and then wipe the area with paper towel. Unfinished wood floors are an attractive, low-cost way to furnish your home. By learning how to clean wood floors without these treatments safely, you'll enhance the natural coziness and beauty of the household. This article was brought to you by Colgate-Palmolive Company, the makers of Murphy® Oil Soap. The views and opinions expressed by the author do not reflect the position of the Colgate-Palmolive Company.Traditional mopping with water and soap can damage unsealed wood flooring. Wood floors are usually prized by homeowners for the warm, natural look that they give to any room. However, if your home features unsealed wood flooring, cleaning and maintaining the surface can be a serious challenge. Many of the cleaning products typically recommended for sealed wood flooring can damage unsealed wood floors, so it's important to keep your cleaning routine as simple and gentle as possible to avoid ruining your floors.

Don’t Use Water Unlike sealed wood floors, you should never use water to clean unsealed wood flooring. Without a protective coating of polyurethane, urethane or other top coats, the unsealed wood readily absorbs any liquid that is placed on it, which can cause the wood to swell. As a result, if you use water to clean unsealed wood, you will likely wind up with warped or cracked flooring. For the same reason, you should also avoid using liquid floor or all-purpose cleaners on your unsealed floor as well. Sweep and Vacuum Regularly To keep your unsealed floor clean, it's important to sweep or vacuum regularly. However, because unsealed wood flooring does not have a protective top layer, you must be careful about the tools that you use to clean it. If you prefer sweeping, choose a broom designed for indoor sweeping to avoid unsightly scratches or marks on the wood surface. When choosing a vacuum for your unsealed flooring, opt for a canister model that has an attachment meant for bare floors to avoid damage to the wood.

Sweep or vacuum as often as necessary to remove dust and debris from the flooring. Depending on where your unsealed flooring is located, sweeping or vacuuming weekly may be sufficient. If the floor is located in a heavily trafficked area, though, you may need to clean daily. Treat With Oil Even if you sweep and vacuum your floor regularly, residue may build up on the surface of an unsealed wood floor. While you can't use water or liquid floor cleaners to remove it, treating the floor with a natural oil like linseed or jojoba once a month can help remove surface residue and keep the floor clean. Use a soft rag to apply the oil to the floor and allow it to sit for several minutes. Follow up with a clean, dry mop to buff the oil in and remove any dirt and residue. Wax Between cleanings, you can improve the look of your unsealed wood floor by waxing it. However, it's important to use the right type of wax or you may wind up damaging your flooring. Look for petroleum-based, waterless wax to avoid warping.

Apply the wax in a thin, even coat with a clean rag, and allow it to dry for approximately half an hour. Once the wax is dry, you can buff it in with a clean cloth. Unfortunately, that can be a time-consuming process depending on the size of the area that your floor covers. Instead, consider renting a buffing machine from your home improvement or hardware store to complete the job more quickly. References Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Home: No-Nonsense Advice That Will Inspire You to Clean the DickensApartment Therapy: Thirty Hardwood Floor Cleaning Tip IdeasAP Products: Maintaining Wood Floors Photo Credits Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionYour hardwood floor looks beautiful. And it makes your whole home feel inviting. But the stains keep piling up. Every bit of moisture dropped on the floor sinks into the untreated wood and leaves a mark. To restore your floors to their former glory, reach for the mineral spirits and go to work. Before you apply anything to your floor, you want to make sure you’ve gotten as much of the dust and dirt away from it as possible.

Sweeping with a broom or static dust mop is the best way to get all those little dust bunnies away from your precious wood. Vacuums also work, if you’re certain you’ve got a dedicated hardwood floor setting. Without one, your vacuum could scratch your floor even before you’ve started cleaning it. Once the floor is nice and dust-free, it’s time to gather your cleaning supplies. In case you’re unfamiliar, mineral spirits are a type of solvent used by painters for decades to clean brushes. They have all sorts of uses throughout manufacturing, machinery, and various industries. They’re also known as white spirits. And, while they’re safer than many of their fellow petroleum distillates and turpentine, they can still be hazardous. This is where the respirator comes in. Mineral spirits can cause light-headedness and toxicity. So it’s always important to keep the room very well ventilated by opening windows and turning on ventilation systems. It is also extremely flammable, so avoid any open flames or sparks.

Wear gloves whenever handling mineral spirits, since they can irritate skin. If you do get some on you, wash the area well with soap and water. If you become nauseated or dizzy at any point, get away from the fumes immediately. Since you’ll be crawling on the floor for this next part, if your knees start to hurt, put on the knee pads. Now that we know what we’re using and how to use it safely, we’ll get started cleaning. You can spray the mineral spirits directly onto the floor, or dampen your pad or cloth before applying it to the floor. Once you have it applied, rub it into the floor with your pad or cloth, making sure the pad or cloth you’ve chosen isn’t too abrasive on the wood’s surface. You should notice that it will begin to remove any stains or wax that have built up on your floor. Once they’ve done their job you can easily wipe up the excess with clean, white cloths before letting the area air dry. Now that you’ve cleaned the floor, you’re left with a mess of used pads or rags.