Cleaning Polyurethane Wooden Floors

All polyurethane finishes are water resistant but flooring professionals advise using water sparingly if at all for cleaning.

Cleaning polyurethane wooden floors. Polyurethane finishes usually don t require deep cleaning often but when they do a ph neutral cleaner is best although vinegar which is acidic helps with problem stains. If the spill has already dried onto the floor spray it with some glass cleaner before wiping with a damp cloth. Clean wood floors with vinegar before applying the polyurethane. When it comes time to clean follow the steps below.

To protect the flooring a clear polyurethane coating is often added to seal the flooring. Then make a cleaning mixture using 4 cups warm water and a few drops of castile soap or dish soap. Grab the softest and most absorbent cloth you can find baby cloth diapers are highly recommended and buff your hardwood floor using one of the following cleaning solutions. To clean spills on polyurethane coated wood floors wipe up the liquid with a damp cloth as quickly as possible.

Although you should normally avoid ammonia when cleaning hardwood floors removal of the residue from oil soap is a special case. Hardwood floors are costly and should be maintained properly. These finishes easily absorb water and water can warp wood floors so use only solvent based cleaning products instead of water based ones on floors with penetrating finishes. For surface treated floors wet clean with bona hardwood floor cleaner spray.

The gloss will wear and become dull over time. Mix up a solution of soap and water. Begin by dusting or sweeping your floors well. If the floor itself isn t worn or damaged you can restore the shiny gloss.

When the floor gets particularly dirty mop it with a solution of warm water and mild dish soap. Spray a small 3 foot by 3 foot area with the cleaner and pick up. Mix a cleaning solution consisting of 1 2 cup of ammonia per gallon. Hardwood floors generally will be topped with a layer of hard gloss varnish or shellac in the old days polyurethane today which protects the wood from moisture and damage.

For instance you can simply use a capful of dishwashing soap or murphy oil soap in a bucket of water. This reduces wear and tear and also adds a protective barrier that prevents water and moisture from seeping into the wood. The best soaps for polyurethane floors are mild ph neutral ones.