Hardwood floor cleaner, what do you use?

[CRXguy]

http://www.mybonahome.com/products/h...re-system.html

This is what my entire family uses. Clean the floor weekly with water and damp cloth, and spray the floor cleaner every second week.

[Rathji]

We use either a steam mop or just a damp microfiber sweeper/mop deal from norwex, depending on how dirty it is.

We occasionally use vinegar, but most of the time it is just water. 99% of cleaners just add a film that make it get dirtier the next time.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by photon

You know the spray stuff you use to spray on and then use one of those thin (microfibre?) mops to wipe it off? The stuff we got with our floor ran out finally and we started using this Zep stuff I think from Home Depot, it leaves a filmy residue and doesn't look very nice.

Anyone suggest something better to use? Or how do you keep your hardwood floors clean, the newer ones you find in newer houses (not the finished in place ones)?

I had an acquaintance, who cleaned all floors professionally, that told me to just use dish soap and vinegar (to neutralize the bubbles). The combination is gental enough for carpets, wood, fake wood product, tile, linoleum... It does it all.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Since this got bumped and is getting some views - what about for touch ups? Scratches and scuffs and the like.

Use a marker that is close to the colour. Then wax it. Make sure to get the wax really hot when you apply it.

[keratosis]

Originally Posted by To Be Quite Honest

Use a marker that is close to the colour. Then wax it. Make sure to get the wax really hot when you apply it.

You can also buy the wax and felt tip markers at Timber Town, Rona etc...

[asifka]

AfterEight interiors sell hardwood cleaner. $10/bottle. Once you have that bottle, its unlimited free refills. Excellent stuff.

[Deviaant]

The NWFA (national hardwood flooring association) of which I am a member suggests dry moping only. I understand ONCE IN A BLUE MOON you must use something with a little more oomph. A rule of thumb if you can buy it at a grocery store DO NOT USE IT. Trust me it will over time ruin your floor. There are only 2 products I will ever suggest. One being a product by the name of Bona the other is Arboritec. Both can be a pain in the ass to find but I know for fact Windsor Plywood carries Bona products. Do not ever spray your floor directly with any product only spray a clean microfibre mop once or twice then mop your floor.

Trust me I have had to sell people entire new floors because they thought they were being good and cleaning their floor everyday with a wet mop. Well basically what happens is the moisture penetrates the wood over time causing it to crown, cup and or crack. Not a great thing when ya just forked over 8k for that shiny new Jatoba floor plus maybe another 4k for install. Id personally rather buy the $5 bottle of proper cleaner than have to spend another 12k getting a new floor installed.

[Deviaant]

Originally Posted by Dion

Not true. I have hardwood maple in mine and the manufacturer recommends cleaning with water. That however doesn't mean sloshing a swack of water on, but rather using a slighly damp micro fiber mop. The installer said much the same thing.

And i don't use an cleaners on mine.

Any installer who has been in the business for years would never suggest this. May I ask who the maker of your floor is? Id really like to know why they are suggesting water for cleaning their product.

[Deviaant]

wow ok Dion I just read a little further. Personally I am astounded and am gonna hunt them down and ask them why they suggest this as it goes against everything I know and ever have been told.

[hotchocolate]

Never use water on hardwood, it can take your finish off your hardwood. I usually go to a Reno store and buy floor cleaning products. Most of them are vinegar based.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by hotchocolate

Never use water on hardwood, it can take your finish off your hardwood. I usually go to a Reno store and buy floor cleaning products. Most of them are vinegar based.

Isn't vinegar like 90% water?

[hotchocolate]

Not really

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinegar#Productio

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by hotchocolate

Not really

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinegar#Productio

ok, colour me confused...

The acetic acid concentration typically ranges from 4% to 8% by volume for table vinegar and up to 18% for pickling

Or is it just 100% acetic acid?