Don't use straight ammonia, alkaline products or abrasive cleaners. They'll dull or scratch the finish. Don't rely on lemon juice or a vinegar-and-water solution to clean hardwood floors. "I don't recommend using vinegar or lemon juice, at least not in large quantities, as these can damage the floor's seal," said Wise.
Spraying WD-40 or any other lubricant on the floorboards
However, this method does not work. The WD-40 will eventually evaporate, and the wood floor will start making noise again. In addition, this method can damage your hardwood flooring if you use too much lubricant or seep into the floorboard's cracks.
The finish is the protective layer of your wood floors. Since vinegar is an acid, it will actually break down the finish on the surface of your floor, and over time it will reduce the shine, and leave a dull appearance.
To chemically strip a floor, a paint stripper will have to be applied to the entire surface. From there, the surface will need to be scraped with a hand tool. If the stain remains, it will have to be scrubbed until the natural appearance of the floor is revealed.
In short, it deteriorates the wood at the chemical level, causing changes in color and weakening of the material. Bleach can also break down certain finishes, exposing the hardwood to damage from other chemicals as well as water damage.
Yet, when they're applied to a wood floor they can damage the finish by scratching away at the protective surface. Abrasives include natural cleaning agents like baking soda, as well as manufactured cleaning products like scrub pads and bottled cleaner and should be avoided at all times.
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.
Do mop a wood floor with a damp mop or cloth. String mops are less common these days, and that's not a bad thing for cleaning wood floors. They can be tough to evenly wring out and use. Microfiber cloths are great for using with wood flooring.
Cooking oil, greasy or oily food can damage floors and other wooden surfaces. Oily body lotions and other beauty products can cause problems too as any of these substances can spill and cause damage to the wood in your home.
Vinegar is an acid and hardwood floors need a pH neutral or close to it cleaner. When mixed with water, the solution's acidity is drastically lowered and it becomes an effective method to wash hardwood floors. The vinegar and water mixture cuts through dirt and grime, leaving a streak-free and naturally clean floor.
Here are some tips for silencing the squeak: 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.
Salt is hazardous to hardwood floors for a few reasons. For starters, the crystals are usually rough and jagged in texture, so they can scratch the surface if they're dragged across the floor. This may happen easier than you think, as crystals can get caught under shoes and such.
Not Resistant to Humidty: Wood can be damaged by spills, standing liquids, and humidity which is why wood floors are not recommend for areas of high moisture and humidity such as full bathrooms.
Sealed hardwood floors can withstand the moisture and heat from a steam mop, and they clean really nicely with a streak-free finish. However, avoid using a steam mop on unsealed hardwoods, as they're more vulnerable and easily damaged by excessive moisture.
You can even clean your wood floors with apple cider vinegar to add an extra shine and leave your floors looking brand new and polished. All you have to do is sweep or hoover the floor first before making a cleaning solution of apple cider vinegar and water (typically 1 cup to 1 gallon) and you'll be ready to go!
While household vinegar has countless applications in home cleaning, using this versatile substance is not appropriate in many different situations. Because vinegar is acidic, it can corrode wood and stone, it can destroy wax, kill plants, and cause other damage.
Considerations when cleaning with lemon
Never use lemon juice on hardwood floors, natural stone or brass plated items, as the natural acid can cause damage.
Dish soap is a gentle cleaner that won't damage the natural wood, and it's perfect for light jobs and daily upkeep alike. In a large bucket, mix two to three tablespoons of dish soap with one gallon of warm water. Dip your mop and wring it over the bucket, then gently mop the surface of your floors.
If you mistreat your wood floors and scrub them down with too many chemicals, the wood can warp and its shine can fade. Care for your wood floors with this gentle, yet effective cleaning solution. That's right: The best way to clean your wood floors is with good, old-fashioned soap and water.
Used properly, hydrogen peroxide is not one of the damaging solvents. It is, in fact, a very effective stain remover and a reliable cleaner for hardwood flooring.
If you are stripping several layers of stain from a hardwood floor, a strong solvent based stripper is best. But for lighter jobs, citrus and soy strippers are a great option.
Both oxalic acid and two-part peroxide bleach will lighten darkened wood, and since oxalic acid is the easier one to use, it's best to start with that. You mix the crystals with water to make a saturated solution and then spread it over the dark wood or the whole floor.