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.

Cleaning polyurethane wooden floors.

When the floor gets particularly dirty mop it with a solution of warm water and mild dish soap. Then make a cleaning mixture using 4 cups warm water and a few drops of castile soap or dish soap. To clean spills on polyurethane coated wood floors wipe up the liquid with a damp cloth as quickly as possible. Spray a small 3 foot by 3 foot area with the cleaner and pick up.

Do not shake but gently mix this then mop or. 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. Mix a cleaning solution consisting of 1 2 cup of ammonia per gallon. All polyurethane finishes are water resistant but flooring professionals advise using water sparingly if at all for cleaning.

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. This reduces wear and tear and also adds a protective barrier that prevents water and moisture from seeping into the wood.

For instance you can simply use a capful of dishwashing soap or murphy oil soap in a bucket of water. To protect the flooring a clear polyurethane coating is often added to seal the flooring. If the floor itself isn t worn or damaged you can restore the shiny gloss. Mix up a solution of soap and water.

The gloss will wear and become dull over time. The best soaps for polyurethane floors are mild ph neutral ones. 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.

Lemon juice mixed with water dampen a microfibre cloth with this solution and buff the floor. 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. 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.