Hardwood floor finishes are more fragile than they look, and you should minimize the use of water when you wash hardwood. For this reason, commercial cleansers are generally suspended in a solution of ethylene glycol or any other waterless solvent. If you don’t have a commercial solution, you’re likely going to need to use water there is no risk, as long as you remember to dry the ground immediately after cleaning. A feeble solvent is all you need to get rid of old wax.
Routine Maintenance
Whether your hardwood floor is finished with polyurethane, shellac or merely a penetrating oil, it requires regular vacuuming to control dust. Avoid vacuums with rotating brushes, because these can scratch the finish. It’s also a fantastic idea to sweep with a broom occasionally to isolate dirt particles out from cracks between the planks, then go over the ground with a dry mop. This takes care of fine dust that the vacuum leaves behind. None of these procedures involve water, and should you perform them frequently enough, you should hardly ever need to clean the ground.
When Washing Is Needed
Dirt has a means of getting ground in on high-traffic flooring, such as the one at the kitchen, and you need to clean the ground to dissolve it. The safest solvent to use is plain warm water, but should you want more muscle, mix about 1/2 cup of vinegar with a gallon of warm water. Although vinegar is safe for many coatings, it might cause some dulling should you overuse it. The very best approach to use it is to mop it on using a dampened — not wet — clean and mop the ground instantaneously with a rag.
Removing Scuffs and Water Marks
Some stains and hard-to-remove marks require more than a brushing with vinegar. It’s easy to remove scuff marks made by rubber shoes by running them over with a worn tennis ball. Cut a cross in the ball and push it on the end of a broom handle, and you wo not even need to bend over to eliminate these scuffs. White Water marks that haven’t penetrated through to the timber will come out with mayonnaise. You must depart the condiment on the place overnight in order for it to work, which means you will most likely need to cover it with plastic in case you’ve got pets.
Dealing with Old Wax
If your flooring possess a penetrating oil finish, you need to wax them to protect the timber, and you may also prefer the look of buffed wax in your polyurethane-coated flooring. Wax tends to dull the finish over time, because it collects dirt and turns yellowish, and that means you need to eliminate it occasionally and wear a brand new coat. You can eliminate wax without damaging the finish using mineral spirits. Wipe it on using a nonabrasive cloth and rub a part of the ground until the fabric you are using no more turns dark; subsequently transfer to some other part. This really is a labor-intensive process, but it’s safe and effective.