Reader Question: Best Ways to Clean Hardwood Floors
This reader question comes from Claire. She was wondering if anyone had any tips or recommendations on the best way to clean hardwood floors. I actually have the same question because, for the first time, I will have hardwood floors in our new house.
Question:
What is the best way to clean and shine/wax a hardwood floor without spending a bundle. What are the
best floor products that are also economical? Do they hide minor scratches? I got a quote for a professional clean and wax and its way more than I can afford right now!
Do you have any advice for Claire…and me? 
If you have a questions you would like to ask the LRWC readers, you can send it to questions@livingrichwithcoupons.com. Put, “Reader Questions” in the subject line.
If your hardwood floors are sealed then you can use a regular mopping solution on your floors (like pine sol) and follow the directions on the back of the bottle. For scratches in the sealed hardwood I use a two step method. First I take a crayon that matches the color of the floor (for this it’s best to go for the big box of colors) and color in the scratch and then with a very soft cloth buff the crayon into the scratch. I then let it sit for about 30 minutes and then go over it with a clear coat of fingernail polish. At least that’s what works for me.
Dilute White Distilled Vinegar with water. Better than any wood cleaning product. Most wood cleaning products are not worth the cost and many cause long term harm with their buildups over time.
My husband specializes in wood floors. He suggests to his customers to stay away from the mop n glo, Murphy’s oil, and pledge junk. Either use Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner on a dry mop or a daily mop with the swiffer wets for wood floors. Once a month do a thorough cleaning with vinegar and water (3 to 1). I have been doing that in my home with 3 active kids and a 150lb dog and my floors look brand new. I do run a vacuum over them when needed to pick up the dirt so it doesn’t get into the floor. No, my house is not immaculate with kids and a dog but my floors are well taken care of. You can get the Bona cleaner at Bed Bath and Beyond, HD and Lowes.
My mom always used the white distilled vinegar with water. Then she would have all of us kids (6) put on socks and we would slide on the floors until they shined. FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. She would even join in. I must say it was usually a ranny day when we did this.
that’s a really cute story! thanks for sharing. =]
Yeah I use vinegar and water for a shine I use a little bit of olive oil with water and hand buff
TEA BAGS!!! Boil water and add about 10-15 tea bags to the water. Mop your floor with whatever and then use the tea/water solution with a mop (you will need to set this aside as the “tea mop” because it will smell at bit like tea) just as you would mop a floor any other way. The tanins in the tea make the floors super shiny. My floors are the originals, and they can use some shine at times
I’m going to try the tea bags.
HI I use a shark initially and then use the dry swiffer and then the wet swiffer after! a long time i used hte wet only but one time they were on sale and i read the fine print and it says to use it BEFORE the wet one…… and it is cleaner that way……. we love our floors so happy you are having them too inthe new house!
Great question!! I have tried everything and nothing has worked. I never thought about using white vinegar. I will have to give it a try!
Hi. I use my shark. It vacuums and steam mops. The steaming get everything off that sticks. I heard old English for scratches haven’t tried yet, since I am new to having wood floors! I love hardwood, so pretty.
How much vinegar and water should we use?
I use a dry electric swiffer to pick up dirt/ cat hair daily then use bona spray with bona mop but i put a white towel (we have a boxful) over their mop head since i do my floors a few times a week with kid cats n hubby
then i throw the towels in wash no fabric softener and reuse… We just got our floor refurnished last year n told to only use bona solution or vinager n water 1 cup vin to 3 cups water solution (we buy a gallon of vinager when on sale)
White distilled vinegar and water. Chemicals leave a residue which not only feels nasty but over time destroys floors. My hardwood floors are over 100 years old, and while they don’t look brand new, since I started taking care of them with vinegar they look and FEEL so much better. No build up and residue. I don’t shine mine often because I have kids but when I do I use a soft cloth and gently buff. We also don’t wear shoes throng the house anymore, which also seemed to help with build up, and keeps my carpet clean. Good luck Cindy and Claire!
Through* the house. Silly auto correct
I used to use Murphy’s soap until I noticed black dull marks on my floor. I was so upset thinking I ruined my floors. I brought a Haan steam cleaner and after 2 hours of steaming a living room/dining room combo, I noticed all the residue lifting off the floor and my floors looking brand new again. Initially it took a long time to hover over the spots that look ruined but now it takes me about 15 minutes. Now I don’t use any solution on my floors except for the distilled water in my steam cleaner. Although with all the replies, I may try the vinegar. Thanks everyone for the tips!
my dad does hardwood floors and he tells me to use a vinegar and water solution. i use half and half in my rubbermaid mop (that i used coupons for). enjoy your hardwoods!!! my dad is in your area if you want his name to sand or refinish!
I also use vinegar and water in my rubbermaid mop- if you don’t like the smell, you can add a few drops of essential oil in a yummy smell ( i like vanilla). I have read that to shine them, you can use the tea method explained above or olive oil and lemon, but i haven’t tried either yet!
As a lot of people have already said… 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water. Better than any expensive cleaner out there.
I had been using windex (which I know is bad for wood), but I wipe it right up and it cleans better than those swiffer pads. I will have to put some vinegar and water in a bottle and spray my floors. I don’t mop them, because I don’t think it comes out as clean as when you use elbow grease. So I get down on the floor and scrub with my hands.
If anyone is having trouble with a rug, buy a steam cleaner. They can run $100 +, but renting the machine at the grocery store goes for quite a bit. Rent a machine twice, and you’ll have paid for your own. Hire someone and you could have bought 2. When I moved into my house, the rugs looked horrible. I was positive that we would have to get new rugs, but I tried this first, and the steam cleanner got them really clean (can’t believe the seller didn’t do this). I have 2 little ones and a husband and every time they get the rugs messy and I think it won’t come clean this time, the steam vac does it again.
For small scratches you can use walnuts! I know it sounds crazy but the oils in them help hide the scratches. It only works on small to medium scratches though.
Ok. Someone tell me I’m not crazy. I’m having tile installed downstairs but my foyer, hall and kitchen are still hardwood. This contractor has not covered my wood floors but is walking all over it with grout everywhere and scratching up my floors. He’s even moved furniture over it leaving huge marks and i’ve seen numerous small holes everywhere. My husband thinks I’m being absolutely ridiculous. Says when they do the final clean he will repair all of it. RIGHT! It shouldn’t be done in the first place right? Why would someone intentionally do that to your wood floor? I have been cleaning the floors every night to prevent further damage due to them leaving their mess everywhere. Am I just being too picky? I don’t think so.
A contractor should not be scratching your hardwood floors through carelessness. When my hardwood floors were installed and whenever my contractor has done work in my house, he always lays down a cloth for his crew to walk on so that they do not damage my flooring. If your contractor is not using a drop cloth for his crew to walk on, it’s time to discuss the repairs that will be needed. Also, my contractor always cleaned up every night before leaving. He was expensive, but well worth it in the quality of work he performed and the manner in which he did it.