What can I use to keep hardwood floors shining?
Question:I have the original hardwood floors in my home. (1938) What can I use to keep them shining, I have to mop them about once a week, because of dogs and heavy traffic areas. I have tried Mop and Glow, leaves a dull residue, same with Murphy's Oil.
Answers:
I use BRUCE NO BUFF ACRYLIC FINISH ONE STEP for hardwood. This product cleans and shines in one step, just like it says. Do it on a day when you can have windows open as it does smell. Make sure you vacuum thoroughly. If your floor is really dirty, mop it with vinegar water to remove the heavy dirt. Wear rubber gloves. I use a mop for disposable cloths but use an old, soft cloth. Pour the liquid on your floor and mop. This product becomes very tacky so don't walk on it until it is completely dry. The shine is brighter than using paste wax and elbow grease. and it lasts a long time. I try to do my hardwood floors twice a year (I have 4 dogs). It also works on woodwork and wood paneling. It's a bit expensive but it works. For laminate, I use Holloway House for wood floors. It is not as expensive and does not smell but the shine does not last as long as the Bruce product.
You need to use a good paste wax. There are a bunch to choose from but they aren't easy to apply. It's pretty much just like waxing your car. You put it on; Allow it to dry and then buff it out. Hopefully you don't have a big area to do but it will give you the best results. Be careful not to put too much on or you will get "gummy" spots over time. A thin coat every 3-4 months or so should do it.
I dont have hardwood floors but someone in my family does and she uses the stuff from the makers of OxyClean (from TV). Sorry I dont remember, but you can look into this. Her floors are very nice and clean all the time...with 3 huge dogs and 2 cats. She said the dust and hair hardly collect on it and when it does its very easy to sweep up and not mop for 1 1/2 weeks.
I have the same problem with my hardwood floors...they are also very old, and i have a big dog, and most of what I use leaves a dull residue.
One thing that did work was to polish with Orange Oil after I cleaned them...its actually meant for furniture but I used it on the floors. It made them beautiful and shiny...but.very slippery. My poor dog had a hard time on them! But I had company coming over, so it was ok for a temporary thing...and it really did make the floors look nice. The shine faded after a day or so, however.
Looks like refinishing the floors is the only permanent option so far.
You can use a one to one mixture of water and white vinegar. You wipe the mixture on the floor, do about a 2' x2' section, and then wipe off the mixture with a soft dry clothe. It will clean and shine your floors.
For a better smell put in about a 1/8-1/4 cup of lemon juice.
Murphy's Oil Soap should not leave a dull residue if the mop is clean when you start, if you don't use too much, & if you rinse well after washing it. Bruce's wood floor cleaner is a great product to use also.
I had much the same problem, in the first home I ever had, wood floors.
A friend told me to try 30mls sta soft (fabric softener) in water to rinse the floors off, I first thought she was crazy, but finally tried it, it works..
Polyurethane that is used on Gym floors. It is fairly easy to apply and traffic areas can be touched up and blended. its not cheap but worth the money
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