I use water and rags. Then rags dry them. If I get really industrious, I mix 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 water. We don't use products.

Same as kec. It also depends on what type of finish is on your floors. If it's a polyurethane, many products touted as being "wood floor cleaners" are detrimental to a polyurethane finish (like Murphy's Oil Soap). The only one that I've heard of that is supposed to be safe for poly is a product called Bona Kemi (sp?).

Beachcomber, after being warned repeatedly about the evils of Murphy's Oil Soap by friends, flooring specialists and wood refinishers, we have used it every other week on all our wood floors (some site finished, some pre-finished) for years with no ill effects. It cleans well and smells good. We use a damp mop, never wringing wet, and we always either sweep or use the dust mop first.

Beachcomber, go to the Cleaning Forum and read about "steam mops". I've been doing all of my floors this way for a few months now. My floors have never looked better and it's never been easier. They just feel super clean, no residue, no smudges, etc.

Vacuum, then steam mop. My bissel uses only water. I have prefinished oak floors with the "groove".

Here is a link that might be useful: steam mop

I vacuum them and was cleaning them with vinegar and water and drying them. I'm a get down on your hands and knees kind of floor washer. ugh what a job it was to have to dry them as I went.
About 5 years ago I bought a steam mop and now that is all I use. I don't have children at home and no pets so my floors never get super dirty.

Half of our wood floors are original (105 year-old) softwood - some sort of fir, I suspect. The other half are engineered brazilian cherry. (The split is upstairs/downstairs, so it works, I promise!) No kids, but three cats, so most of our floor debris is loose (more hair, grass, dust than spills/smears).

Anyway, the "old" floors get a weekly pass with a broom or the vacuum with the beater bar turned off. (The broom is more effective due to the gaps). The "new" floors get a weekly pass with a barely-damp dust mop. Spots get wiped up as I see them with a damp rag (i.e. when a cat upchucks).

About once a month or so, I'll give them a pass with a steam mop (we have the "Shark" one - feels a little flimsy in the handle, but works pretty well overall). I'm actually happier with the outcome of the steam mop on the "old" floors, tile, and vinyl. The "new" floors end up looking streaky and smeary somehow. I'm told this is because of a previous cleaner that's "getting removed"... but if it doesn't stop after another time or two, I'm going back to that eeeevviiilll cleaner, LOL.

I've also used a flat microfiber mop with plain water, water-and-vinegar, and "Orange Glo hardwood floor cleaner" - that worked pretty well (easier on the "new" floor since it is smoother).

I have been looking at the steam mops for several months. It's not the $$$ they all seem about the same price range. It is about which one to buy and works the best. I have a 4,000sq' home and all but the bathrooms are hardwood flooring.
I have googled them and looked at reviews and they don't seem all that different.
Any thoughts about the following?

Bissell
H20 steam mop
steamboy
and the shark?

FYI: Wet cleaning will invalidate the warranty on many prefinished and engineered floors. Read your documentation or contact the manufacturer.

On both the prefinished (aluminum oxide, satin finish) ash floors in the previous house and the 108yo polyurethaned pine ones here I use the Bona Kemi system - I have two of the microfiber mop covers so I go round quickly with one as a dustmop first, then use the second dampened with the cleaner. It has never left any streaks, spots, or residue.

I use a cannister vac and then go over it with the Shark steam mop. I've been really happy with the shark - it's also does a really great job on tile.

Just a note about the microfiber mop covers. Microfiber cloths from the automotive section will fit nicely on a swiffer handle. Unlike the swiffer cloths, they are re-usable, and one pack is more than enough for a large house. Someone on this board has a set of instructions for sewing the microfiber cloths together to make a mop cover, but if you already have a swiffer handle, you can just push the cloth into the grooves.

I usually use vinegar mixed with water to clean my floors, but lately I've been using Method cleaner from Target. The Method label says that it is safe for sealed hardwood and laminate floors. I know my floors have a poly seal, but they also have a few chipped/worn places. Do you think I could be causing a problem with my floors? The last thing I want to do is damage them (because I'll never get any more!)

Thanks,
Nin

Sanborn--after some research, I ended up buying a vapor steam cleaner from www.vapor-systems.com (T630 model--the red one) after seeing it mentioned in an amazon.com review about a less expensive steam mop I was thinking about buying. While a "stick-type" mop would be easiest for floors, I knew that with all my tiled area, I'd require several refills to get it all done. What I bought has enough capacity to clean all my floors and still clean the bathrooms too. Worked so good the first time that I didn't need to use it again (in baths) for awhile because once clean, it's like new and easier to keep clean the "usual" way--I just use it for floors and occasional deep cleaning now.

I, too, am wondering about wood floors, so I've been following all the recent threads here lately about them. We have a good bit of tile and the rest is carpet right now in our 10-yr-old home, but we'll probably be relocating soon, and I've already been checking out the new houses where we'd be moving to, and they're mostly all hardwood--at least downstairs. While I think they are simply gorgeous, I'm scared about caring for them! I'd much rather just vacuum once a week than dust mop everyday and do all the other things I used to imagine real wood floors required of you. Anyway, glad to know my steam cleaner won't have to go to "waste" and can still be used (but at the website it says on "sealed" hardwood floors--wouldn't they all be sealed for protection???).

I'm sure I'll be asking more questions as time goes on..... Thanks for starting the thread, beachcomber!

Tracey

I reuse my swiffer floor cloths. I use them to get under furniture or when I don't want the noise of the vacuum. I very lightly spray them with floor cleaner and change when they are dirty. To clean our main rooms, I might use 20 of them. Then I laundry them. They go through the washer just fine. I haven't bought new ones in years.

We have Mannington pre-engineered wood flooring throughout the entire first floor of our house. I vacuum first, then mop clean with a Swifter Wet Jet mop with the Swifter WOOD floor cleaner, which cleans better than their all-purpose cleaner, which left a slight filmy residue.

The floors are shiny, streak-free and dry within minutes and the whole job takes less than an hour. Our flooring installer also recommended Bruce cleaner for hardwood floors, and I've used this successfully, also, but it has to be sprayed on by hand.

Like a previous poster, I have the Bissell. I bought that one over the Shark because some posters on the Cleaning Forum had had customer service problems with Shark. I found the Bissell mop on Walmart.com, and liked having a brick-and-morter store to go to if I didn't like it. It does not put any more water on the floors than any of the cleaners people use -in fact I think it's less because the steam dissipates very quickly. As far as re-filling, the water canister clicks off very easily, I fillit at my fridge (because I like to use filtered water in it), and pop it back on. It's ready to go again within one minute. I have ceramic tile, hardwood, porcelain tile and marble in my house. I love it because for the first time I can go right through the house easily without switching tools or products. I also like it because I have a white kitchen floor (a major PITA which will be replaced later this year), and this enables me to do quick cleanups a couple of times a week. It is definately one of my favorite-ever cleaning products.

I sweep first to pick up dog hair and other debris (dog is responsible for 95% of dirt in my house), then follow up with Bona Hardwood spray on a mop with a terrycloth cover called Sh'mop. The hdwd floor guy gave me the sh'mop, the terrycloth covers are reversible and can be washed with towels when done (I have a few), and the floors look beautiful in about 20-30 minutes.

If you've seen my posts on the kitchens forum, you know that I have a pet peeve against Swiffer for environmental reasons. I have used Swiffer but would need to go through 10-15 chemically laden "cloths" just to clean the floors once! I like to avoid disposable when reusable works just as well if not better (Swiffer always left some sort of streaky residue on my floors), and Swiffer is a far more expensive product when you calculate its cost over a year.

I have HW through out most of my home. I use Bona X and a terry cloth mop. Also use it on cabinetry. You can purchase it from RH but a whole lot cheaper on the web. I buy the concentrate for #3.79 at a local store and mix it in a one quart apray bottle. Been using it for the past 10 years. Great product.

Vacuum first with canister vac, then Bona spray cleaner with washable terry cloth-covered mops. I have several of the terry cloth covers.

Do vacuums used on hardwood floors not mar them in any way? I know you'd turn off the beater-bar, but otherwise it's okay? I HATE sweeping, especially for large areas.

Thanks

We have three dogs and a cat, and I've found that it's not necessary--or desirable, really (in terms of the finish)--to do much to clean hardwood floors. Like kec01, therefore, I use no products. I vacuum every 2-3 days, then use a lightly damp sponge mop (no soap, just water) on them once a month or so. I then follow up by drying the floor with clean rags. And this process keeps them perfectly clean. You really don't need to do more than this. :)

I don't have prefinished floors so I don't know how the warranties read, but would have to think johnmari is right. Water is just not good for wood floors whether they are prefinished, engineered or solid wood finished on site. Any moisture that gets between the boards can get beneath the finish and once that's compromised the floor ages pretty fast. A wrung out terry towel or microfiber cloth can carry enough moisture (with your cleaner of choice mixed in) to clean a wood floor. I use a Swiffer handle with one or the other stuck into the push points and do hands and knees when I have to in tough areas.

Does anyone else's kids leave little sweaty footprints all over their hardwood floors? LOL! I use a dry microfiber cloth to "dust" all my floors, but I have to use a damp cloth to clean up their little footprints. One day I'll wish I had little footprints to clean! There's nothing cuter than tiny toe-prints!

But don't get me started the day they dropped cheese ... American cheese on my floor. Hot, sweaty feet + American cheese = a huge mess!

Nin

Our hardwood floors are sealed. I do not like to sweep either. I have a small electric broom vac for day-to-day pick-up and then use a more powerful vac weekly on my floors. You do have to be careful what vacuums you use on hardwood floors so that they don't mark them. I then use a mop (looks like a large swiffer) with the washable cover (terry cloth) with a bit of spray cleaner. I am going to look for the bona kemi. I have also dampened the cover with water. But unless it's steam, does water really *clean*? I just don't feel like it does. I'm pretty sure when we built and had our floors done, the installer recommended the vinegar/water method also. My mop is barely damp, so no need to actually *dry*.

tina

I have been leery of the steam mops on hardwood also. It may not look like it is harmful to the floors, but I wonder about long term use.

tina: I think the water really does get them "clean." When I dry them after a damp mop, no dirt comes off on the rags, and they certainly feel clean. I think vacuuming often really helps. :)

Use those steam cleaners carefully. I bought one at Costco this week and was SOOOO excited with the prospect of it. I used it on my pergo kitchen floor and my bruce hardwood floors in the other rooms. I called Bruce to doublecheck this was ago and they told me over time the steam and water will warp the "real" wood and over time the steam will cause the edges of the pergo to peel and lift up b/c the pergo is a laminate image on plywood. She told me the only safe place to use a steam cleaner was on vinyl and ceramic, providing it is glazed. I returned my mop yesterday

I just ordered the bissell steam floor cleaner from walmart.com.
I have a small black dog and our daughter brings her ex-large golden to visit. I sweep and also will sometimes use my battery swifter. It is amazing what gets picked up with the swifter just after sweeping with a broom. I also have a really nice mopping & washing set from H>D. that holds to a handle with velcro onto a large plastic head. It has a flat mop head about 8"x16" that is washable and a flat washing mop head attachment the same size. But running to a sink to rinse and wring out is a pain and I think I leave too much water on the floor. My hardwood is natural red oak with poly. I admit I only wash them about once a month and spot wash in between. I am worried about water on the wood. I am going to try the steam cleaner but I won't overdo it. As I only have hardwood and tile in the baths, it should be interesting. I do not like to run a vaccume with wheels over my wood. I only use a dirt devil type vaccume on my rug under my dining table and will do the same when I buy more rugs for my other rooms.

spitfire - your post made me chuckle! YES! My kids leave sweaty little footprints everywere on our dark maple floors (especially if they've just played in the garage or down in the basement!!) I have given up trying to keep the floors spotless. If it's not sweaty little footprints, it's white crumbs allover from the powdered sugar donuts. You are right though - there's nothing sweeter than tiny little feet :)

Like sanborn5, I just ordered a Bissell from HSN after reading about them on the forums. I have off-white tile in my kitchen/baths and my back looks forward to not using a mop & bucket again! I don't know how DH and I can get our kitchen floor so dirty in such a short period of time!

From what I've read some of the steam mops are being used incorrectly and too much steam/water is being released when it's not needed. If used correctly I would think they'd be safe on finished hardwood floors. I would not use it on laminate and prefinished floors, or on really old wood floors that are waxed vs sealed. Users need to know what their floors are before using any product.

At a home show a few years ago we talked to a young man from a company that installs custom wood floors in a near by city. The sample (decorative inlayed) floors they had were definitely done by a craftsman. He recommended a product called CITRA SHEEN and showed us how well it worked on his display floors. No streaks, no residue even if you touched it immediately after it was used. We bought two 32 oz bottles. I love it so much that I've not even tried the Bissell steam mop my hubby bought me in Feb. Though I have used the mop on other hard floors in our home and been very happy with it. We have a couple rooms in marble and other bathrooms in ceramic tile also.

Here is a link that might be useful: CITRA SHEEN

Could you put something like citra sheen mixed with the water in the bissell? What do you think would happen?

I'd check with Bissell before I added anything to the water. It might clog up the machine. I love the stuff and it's really easy to apply with a dust mop or wooly mop. You can even go over a dried spill a couple times and it looks good as new. It's like a miracle worker. The only thing I've noticed with it is our floors are a high gloss and after using citra sheen it's not quite as shiny. Which is fine by me. I love my floors either way.

I use the floor brush of the vacuum cleaner. My floors are hardwood with a polyurethane finish. On the older floors, i.e., the ones that are 36 years old, I use wood preen once every few years. Yes, there are scratches on the old floors. I like to think of that as patina. ;-)

I think I may have ruined my hardwood floors with using Murphys Oil Soap. Does anyone know of a proven method for removing this from my floors?

A damp microfiber cloth on a mop should remove the residue of Murphy's. That's pretty benign stuff. If you know how your floors are finished that tells you how to clean them.

How is "ruined" defined? i.e. what makes you think that?

I also have read that Murphy's will "ruin" hardwood floors, in that it leaves a residue that prevents a new finish (when you are ready to refinish) from adhering. I was sick when my wonderful house sitter cleaned my Swedish finish floors with it. I also read it can soften/cloud the finish. I never was able to read/find what to do to try to undo the damage. They are fine now and it's been maybe 10 years, but don't know if they will ever be able to be refinished.

ETA: here is something I found that might help:

If you have solid hardwood with a urethane finish, using products like Murphys Oil Soap or Orange Glo can create a cloudy residue. To remove the residue, clean with a 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 water solution and a damp sponge -- Not overly wet. THEN dry with clean towels. Windex has been known to reduce the cloudy film as a 3rd part to this step... but you may have to do it every time you use water/vinegar

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_4723640_effectively-clean-hardwood-floors.html

don't know if they will ever be able to be refinished.

That makes no sense, since even just screening the floors (and certainly complete refinishing) refinishing takes off the top layer.

I know. But maybe it gets further down into the wood than the layer they take off for refinishing?

I use Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner once a month. You can buy a kit where the bottle attaches on to a handle with a trigger, releasing the amount of cleaner needed. Every 3 months I use another of their products, Bona Hardwood Floor Finish or something like that. It adds the shine that makes the floor look new again! Once a week I use plain water and a hand towel, which doesn't remove the nice shiny finish, although is does seem to wear down in a couple of months. Before using more of the finish, I clean again with the bona cleaner. It's an ongoing process.