How to Make Prefinished Wood Floors Shine

Restore shine to prefinished wood floors without polishes and oils.

When prefinished wood floors are installed, they exude a bright shine, but after some time, this shine begins to fade. This is natural through the foot traffic and wear and tear put on the floor. You can get the shine back on your wood floor without having them refinished. Give your floors a good cleaning and then put in a little extra effort to restore the shine.

Things You'll Need

• Broom or vacuum cleaner
• Bucket
• Dish soap
• Soft mop
• Soft cloths
• Large pot
• 15 tea bags

Instructions

1. Sweep the floor with a broom or vacuum cleaner to pick up loose dirt and debris.

2. Fill a bucket with warm water. Add a few drops of dish soap and mix well.

3. Dip a soft mop into the soapy water solution. Wring out the mop well so it's only slightly damp.

4. Mop the floor in a back and forth motion, moving the mop in the direction of the wood's grain. Use long, smooth strokes and overlap each stroke to make sure you don't miss any spots. Rinse and wring out the mop often.

5. Buff the floor with a clean, soft cloth to add shine. Rub the cloth gently in small, circular motions. Switch to a dry cloth when the one you are using becomes wet.

6. Boil 2 qts. of water in a large pot if you still want more shine on your floor. Remove the water from the heat once it boils and add 15 black tea bags to the water. Let the tea bags sit in the water for 15 to 20 minutes. Allow the tea to cool to a safe temperature.

7. Dip a soft cloth into the tea and wring it out well.

8. Wipe the floor with the tea-soaked cloth using long, even strokes and wiping in the direction of the grain of the wood. Buff the entire floor with clean, soft cloths to dry and shine.

Tips & Warnings

• For lacquered or shellacked wood floors, avoid using water to clean. Instead, use a hardwood floor cleaner, then follow up by buffing with a soft, dry cloth to restore shine.

• When the floor becomes worn or dull in certain spots, it may be time to replace the finish. Check with the flooring manufacturer for information on when and how to refinish the floor.

• Avoid using oil or furniture polish on prefinished wood floors in an attempt to add shine. Not only will the floor be very slippery, the oil is difficult to remove.

References

• Real Simple: How To: Clean Hardwood Floors
• M&D Maintenance Services: How to Clean Wood Floors