Olive oil naturally hydrates and polishes wood floors without leaving behind the dirt-attracting film common with store-bought products. It can clean and polish your floor at the same time or allow you to quickly buff dull areas back to a stunning sheen.
WOCA Hardwax Oil – Often used by professionals, this high-quality hardwearing oil is more expensive, but it provides a more effective result. Bona Hardwax oil – One of the most popular waxes available. Bona dries quickly, is easy to apply, and provides excellent coverage.
Combine 1/4 cup olive oil with 1/3 cup white vinegar and five cups of hot water. Add a few teaspoons of lemon juice (or lemon essential oil) to add a fresh citrus scent. Dip a mop or rag in the solution and use it to polish your floors just like you would if you were using a store-bought solution.
Protection – Regularly oiling your hardwood floors adds an extra layer of protection to prevent dings, dents, and scratches. The deeper the oil penetrates the wood, the more resistant your boards will be to wear and tear.
The best mop for wood floors is a microfiber flat-head or string mop you can easily wring out. You can control the amount of moisture in the mop, and the microfibers pick up dirt and grime better than some traditional mops. Mix one tablespoon dish soap and one quart of water in a spray bottle.
The best way to clean hardwood floors is to adopt a regular routine. Use a broom or hardwood floor mop for cleaning wood floors daily. A microfiber dust mop pre-treated with a dusting agent will pick up dust and dirt and prevent scratches. Vacuum your hardwood floor once a week.
Here's a secret: Tea's tannic acid makes for an excellent surface shine, according to HGTV. Boil a couple of teabags in some water and dump the tea into a bucket. Wring out a rag or mop in the solution and use it to mop the floors.
Oil base poly is a thicker product, and will build up a thicker layer of protection for your hardwood floors. It is a great choice for longevity and high traffic areas. We generally recommend and apply 3 coats of oil based polyurethane. Water based finishes will lay out thinner, but are slightly harder than oil based.
Aged Hardwood Floor
Sprinkle baby powder, baking soda or powdered graphite over the squeaky floorboard and work it into the seams. This will lubricate the wood and should keep the floorboards from rubbing together and squeaking.
When excess oil is left on the surface the oxygen in the air cures the surface leaving it sticky and easily marked. This is a common problem that strongly indicates that some excess oil was still present on the surface of the wood flooring after oiling.
While some people think that the use of olive oil might damage wooden furniture, it actually nourishes the wood and brings out its natural shine. It can be used to treat several kinds of wooden surfaces. From chairs and tables to wooden storage boxes, you can use olive oil and let it act as a varnish.
Mineral oil is one of the least controversial types of oil and is often used on wood to create a shine like no other. It can be used in the kitchen because you can buy food-grade mineral oil that's purpose is to be used on kitchen surfaces.
Don't use vinegar or baking soda.
Many DIY home cleaning solutions involve the use of vinegar or baking soda, but these are, in fact, the worst things you can apply to your wood floors. They actually damage and dull the polyurethane, which can irreparably ruin them.
A little coconut oil (solid or warmed to the point it melts) on a cloth can also be rubbed into hardwoods to produce a rich, burnished surface.
Spraying WD-40 or any other lubricant on the floorboards
People believe that spraying a lubricant on the floorboard will help them move more freely and stop the annoying squeaks. However, this method does not work. The WD-40 will eventually evaporate, and the wood floor will start making noise again.
Increase the humidity within the room. A humidifier is optimal, but if you don't have one, a pot of boiling water on the stove is helpful to restore moisture to the air.
Just apply a few dabs to a cloth and wipe down the area you'd like to clean and it'll shine-on like a crazy diamond. You can also use one of those nifty removable-head mops (Swiffer, O-Cedar, etc.) with a cloth and a touch of oil to dust and shine wood floors.
How many coats will be applied? The standard for a hardwood floor is at least three coats. This consists of one seal coat (which may be the stain) and two coats of finish. Additional costs of finish may be applied depending on the need.
How to clean wood floors. Remember: Water is wood's worst enemy (even on sealed floors!), so use a damp mop rather than a soaking wet one. "You don't want to let any water sit as you're cleaning your hardwood floors, so be sure to work in one small area at a time," Wise said.
Mix a one-to-one ratio of water and vinegar, dampen a cloth, and rub off the hazy buildups. Rinse with another cloth dampened with clear water and dry the floor immediately with a third rag. Washing coupled with wear and tear can eventually make the hardwood floor look old and cloudy.
Olive Oil, White Vinegar, & Water: Mix all three of these natural ingredients together and you'll know how to make hardwood floors shine naturally. This mixture is one of the best ways to restore the natural shine back to your solid hardwood floor.
Dry-mop at least twice a week using a microfiber head, focusing on corners. Avoid using water to clean your hardwoods, and never wet-mop, as the moisture can damage the material. To avoid staining and cracking, blot up spills immediately with a dry, clean cloth.