How to Clean Hardwood Floors With Water Based Finishes

Hardwood floors are highly durable and a beautiful addition to any residential or commercial building. If hardwood floors are properly maintained, they can last for hundreds of years. To protect and prolong the life of wood floors, a finish is often applied to the surface. Finishes include shellac, or varnish, and water based (polyurethane). To properly clean a water based floor, use a few common household items along with a hardwood floor cleaner that can be purchased at most hardware and home improvement stores.

Things You'll Need

• Broom
• Hardwood floor cleaner
• Soft, cotton-tipped mop (terrycloth)
• Sponge

Instructions

1. Sweep the floor using a broom to remove any loose dirt, dust and debris.

2. Spray a hardwood floor cleaner (water or oil based) on the wood floor.

3. Wipe the cleaner on the wood using a soft, cotton-tipped mop or sponge. Work in small sections on your floor, focusing on areas of high traffic that are likely to be dirtier and require more effort.

4. Reapply the hardwood floor cleaner to the floor and wipe with a mop or sponge until the floor has completely and thoroughly been cleaned.

Tips & Warnings

• Test a small area of the hardwood floor with the hardwood floor cleaner to ensure that no damage is done to the material.

• Never use wax-based products or petroleum-based cleaners on water based floors as these agents will damage the wood finish.

References

• World Floor Covering Association