You have just installed hardwood flooring in your house. Now what? How do you keep your hardwood floors clear and shiny? Study the following Q&#038A in which two hardwood floor owners are asking just that.

Q: “I was studying your website and noticed that one should not use oil based cleaners. Why? Our installer informed us to use vinegar in water, and use a damp cloth to clear the floor about once a week. Will this damage the floor? What is a polyurethane cleaner? Where do you buy it?”

A: If an oil based cleaner is used on polyurethane completed floors, it leaves an oily residue on the surface which can not only make cleansing the floor much more difficult, but after a period of time, when the floor is showing indicators of put on and needs to be buffed and recoated, this residue can present adhesion issues. When cleansing any hardwood floor, or furniture, minimal water should be used. In other words, wipe with a dampened, not wet cloth. Adding a capful of vinegar can help and is recommended by the National Wooden Flooring Association.

However, I have heard one floor complete manufacturer dispute this, believing the vinegar is too acidic and can break down the complete eventually. The completely simple and safe way to clear any type of wood that is completed with a urethane is to use polyurethane cleaners which are manufactured by each hardwood flooring producers and producers of polyurethane. I use Squeeky Cleaner from Basic Coatings. Any hardwood flooring supplier near you should carry this or similar item. Also, Home Depot is a likely place to look, since they do sell hardwood flooring. This cleaner is generally blue in colour, and is combined 4 parts water to one component cleaner in a spray bottle. Mist some on a cloth and wipe. You can use this to clear any wood completed with urethane top coats.

Q: “We purchased a stunning aged house with fantastic wood floors throughout which had been installed in 93. They looked fairly good when we moved in two years back, but now they look dull and mottled. Our cleansing individual utilizes ****** for floors and some floor dusting cloth called ********. Could they be the issue? What can we use to get the shine back?”

A: There are any number of cleaners on the market, discovered in supermarket that say they are for hardwood floors. Your most secure method is to buy a cleaner created by hardwood flooring producers or floor complete producers. This can be purchased (these goods, as far as I am conscious, are all essentially the exact same) from nearby hardwood flooring retailers or a big box store that sells hardwood flooring. Greatest bet is the Hardwood retailer who specializes in hardwood. I use “squeaky cleaner” manufactured by Basic Coatings. See their internet website: www.basiccoatings.com.

Mirage cleaner is another one.

It seems likely that the cleaners being used on your floors are leaving some type of film on the wood surface. This can create the situation you are describing and can make buffing and recoating in the long term impossible to accomplish because of to adhesion issues.

To sum it up, your best bet to make your floors shine is to buy a cleaner created by hardwood flooring producers or floor complete producers.

About The Author

Craig Mouldey is the owner of http://www.newsletterjournal.com. He has been in the flooring business for more than two decades. You can discover much more flooring Q&#038A at http://www.newsletterjournal.com webmaster@faceliftfloors.com