What To Use To Clean Up Unfinished Hardwood Floors

Unfinished wood floors are a beautiful and natural option for your home, but they require more than maintenance than other flooring types.

Unfinished floors don't like harsh chemicals that may damage the wood, then information technology'due south important to learn what materials and methods are best.

In order to clean your unfinished wood floors, you'll need to use vinegar, water, and a mop. This cleaning solution is ideal because it's natural and won't damage your floors.

Read on to learn more about how to clean and protect your wood floors, and maintain their smoothen.

Tabular array of Contents

How Practice You Make clean Unfinished Woods Floors?
- one. Employ Vinegar and Hot Water
- 2. Utilize White potato'south Oil Soap
- 3. Remove Stains with TSP
- 4. Use Mineral Spirits
- 6. Apply Dawn Dish Soap with H2o
- 7. Use Ice To Remove Glue and Gunk
How To Prepare Your Unfinished Floor for Cleaning
- 1. Ventilate and Fix the Room
- two. Safely Prepare for Cleaning
- 3. Remove Big Chunks of Dirt
- 4. Remove Fine Dust From the Floor
- 5. Test Your Cleaning Solution
How Do I Make My Unsealed Hardwood Floors Shine?
- How To Apply Wax or Sealant
How Practise You Protect Unfinished Hardwood Floors?
Final Thoughts

How Do You Clean Unfinished Wood Floors?

Here are 7 methods that you can consider when cleaning your unfinished wood floors:

1. Utilise Vinegar and Hot Water

First, you will want to make the cleaning solution. Add ane cup of white vinegar to an empty clean saucepan. Next, add a gallon of warm or hot water to the bucket. You can brand more than or less cleaning solution as needed, equally long equally y'all stick to this ratio.

Make sure that you lot are wearing gloves and protective eyewear when cleaning your floors with this solution. Dip your mop into the cleaning solution, then wring information technology out well.

Mop the floors in a circular motion, making sure to get into all of the nooks and crannies. Allow the floor dry completely before walking on it.

This method is safe for all types of unfinished wood floors. The vinegar is safe to utilise on unfinished wooden floors, but you should not mix vinegar with ammonia or bleach.

Related: Tin can Y'all Mix Bleach and Baking Soda?.

Although you lot may want to utilise boosted vinegar for deep cleaning, don't increase the amount as well much. Vinegar is acidic and can harm the wood over time.

This cleaning method is perfect for those who want an affordable and natural pick for cleaning their unfinished wood floors. It is rubber for pets, children, and those with allergies.

Vinegar and hot water is a great cleaning solution for unfinished wood floors because it's affordable, natural, and prophylactic for pets and children. The hot water helps to loosen any dirt or debris that may be stuck to the floor, while the vinegar helps to disinfect and clean the floors.

two. Use Tater'due south Oil Soap

Irish potato's Oil Soap is an all-purpose cleaner that is safe to use on unfinished woods floors. It helps to lift dirt and droppings from the floor while likewise disinfecting and sanitizing the woods.

It's a gentle cleaner that is prophylactic to employ on all types of floor, including all finished and unfinished hardwood floors. It's a safe option for those who want a not-toxic family-friendly solution.

Offset by adding four capfuls or Murphy's Oil Lather into a gallon bucket filled with warm water. Next, add together 8 ounces of white vinegar to the saucepan before moping the floors.

This is a corking cleaning solution for those who want to apply an all-purpose cleaner on their unfinished forest floor.

Tater'south Oil Soap and white vinegar make a powerful combo when it comes to deep cleaning your wooden floors! The oil soap helps lift dirt from the flooring, while the vinegar disinfects and sanitizes.

This solution may leave a slight film on your floors, but it can exist easily wiped away with a damp cloth.

three. Remove Stains with TSP

TSP is a household cleaner that tin exist plant at whatsoever hardware shop. This is an ideal cleaning method for those who take stubborn or full-bodied stains on their unfinished forest floors.

Information technology's safe to use on unfinished wood floors, and it is constructive in removing many types of stains. It tin can remove concentrated stains caused by mildew, mold, and grease.

You lot will need a bucket filled with hot water, dish soap, TSP detergent (preferably the powdered kind), and an abrasive pad or scrubber brush. Yous must also wearable gloves as this stuff can burn your pare.

Offset, mix the TSP and dish lather together in a bucket filled with hot water. Y'all will utilise 1/4th of a cup of TSP per gallon of h2o. Make sure to vigorously stir the mixture so that the TSP is fully dissolved.

Adjacent, dip your scrubber castor or pad into the solution and use it to gently scrub away any stains on your flooring. Exist sure to wipe upward any backlog moisture later y'all finish cleaning each expanse of the room.

Exist careful to not leave any puddles of h2o on the floor, as they can damage or discolor your unfinished woods floors. Rinse the treated area with clean water when you're finished cleaning.

This method is safe for all types of unfinished hardwood and laminate floors.

4. Use Mineral Spirits

Mineral spirits are a mutual cleaning agent that works well for unsealed wood floors. Information technology can be used to elevator dirt and debris from the floor, while also helping to disinfect information technology at the same time. Information technology can assistance to lift out stains acquired by mildew, dirt, and oil.

Mineral spirits can exist found in well-nigh grocery or hardware stores, and information technology is safe to employ on unfinished wood floors. The only downside of using mineral spirits is that the odor tin be very strong and overpowering.

Earlier y'all begin using the mineral spirits, brand sure to ventilate your home as much as possible. Turn on fans, open up your windows, and doors, if possible. Try to keep other people out of the area you lot're working in, especially children and pets.

Mineral spirits commonly come up in a tin can or a spray canteen.

Purchasing spirits in a spray bottle or transferring the solution to one is the easiest fashion to piece of work with this product and ensures an even application. This can make a big difference when reducing the fumes while cleaning.

Make certain to wear gloves and centre protection when using mineral spirits.

To brainstorm, cascade or spray a small corporeality of mineral spirits onto a cloth or directly onto the floor. Rub the solution into the stained surface area and allow it sit for about v minutes.

Side by side, use a make clean cloth to wipe away the solution and whatsoever dirt or debris that was lifted from the floor. Rinse the area with clean water and dry out it off with a towel.

Exist careful not to use likewise much of the mineral spirits, as this tin can damage your floors. If you're unsure about how much to employ, first with a small amount and increase the quantity if needed. Ameliorate to first with too footling than also much!

This is an ideal method for those who desire to remove deep or concentrated stains from their unfinished woods floors.

six. Use Dawn Dish Soap with Water

Mild lather such every bit Dawn dish lather can exist used to clean unfinished forest floors. The combination of soap and water is effective in removing clay, grease, and other droppings from the floor.

The key here is to use a very small amount of soap in relation to water, and to make sure not to apply too much h2o to the floors overall. This will aid to forestall the floors from becoming besides moisture and damaged.

Dawn dish soap can also be used with a scrubber castor or pad to aid remove any stubborn stains.

To make clean your floors using Dawn dish lather, mix together one or ii tablespoons of dish soap with a gallon of h2o in a bucket. Dip your scrubber brush or pad into the solution and clean away any dirt, grease, or debris on your wooden floor.

Exist certain to rinse the treated surface area with clean h2o when y'all're finished cleaning and dry information technology off immediately after. This method can be used on all types of unfinished wooden floors without damaging them.

It's also a safe method, making it ideal for those with children and pets in the home.

seven. Use Water ice To Remove Gum and Gunk

Unfinished woods floor planks tin can be damaged by chewing gum and other sticky substances. When this happens, it's important to remove the substance every bit soon equally possible before it becomes a permanent part of your flooring.

To do so, all y'all need is some ice and a plastic bag or sparse towel (so the water ice doesn't damage surfaces in the home). Put the water ice in a plastic pocketbook or between 2 thin towels, and then place it on top of the chewing gum.

After about ten minutes, scrape away any remaining residue with a butter knife or spatula. You can besides use this method to remove candle wax from your floors if necessary also.

You can also apply dry out ice to get the job washed. Be careful not to burn yourself on this substance!

How To Prepare Your Unfinished Floor for Cleaning

Earlier you begin cleaning unfinished wood floors, at that place are a few things you should do to prepare them.

1. Ventilate and Set up the Room

Ventilate the area as much equally possible. Turn on fans, open windows, and doors, if possible. Remove whatsoever objects that tin be damaged by moisture or spills.

Remove as much furniture from the room as possible, specially if you're working on a larger surface area. This will aid to provide an unobstructed view of your flooring and ensure that you don't miss whatever areas where dirt may accept accumulated over fourth dimension.

2. Safely Prepare for Cleaning

Wear gloves and eye protection when using whatsoever cleaning solutions. You may also want to use a mask or respirator to avoid animate in whatsoever fumes, especially if you're using mineral spirits.

If you're using a cleaning solution that requires rinsing, accept a bucket of clean water and a towel ready to become. Make sure the area is fully dried when you're finished to prevent any damage or warping.

Make sure that other people and pets are kept out of the room while y'all're cleaning, every bit many of these solutions can be harmful if ingested.

3. Remove Large Chunks of Dirt

Sweep the floors to remove any large pieces of dirt, dust, or debris. Use a large broom that can quickly move over the flooring without getting defenseless.

If there is furniture in the room, take some time to motility it around and sweep underneath. This will help to ensure that all of the dirt and grit is removed, non just from the surface of the flooring.

You lot may want to sweep or vacuum the furniture itself if it's very dusty, covered in animal pilus, or has other stubborn particles that are difficult to remove past hand.

4. Remove Fine Dust From the Floor

Use a dry mop or hard wooden floor vacuum to remove any fine particles of dust. This will aid to ensure that the cleaning process goes smoothly, is scratch-free, and leaves your floors in skillful condition later you're finished.

Information technology also helps to forestall these fine particles from becoming airborne and settling on your flooring once yous begin cleaning.

5. Examination Your Cleaning Solution

You lot should also test any cleaning solutions on an inconspicuous surface area of your floor earlier using them to make certain they won't damage the surface.

Exercise this by applying a small amount of the solution to an area that'southward non hands visible. Let it sit for most five minutes, and then wipe it abroad with a clean cloth. If the wood is all the same wet or looks damaged after wiping it away, don't use that particular cleaning solution on your floor.

Brand sure to thoroughly rinse the test surface area to avoid whatever further damage.

How Do I Make My Unsealed Hardwood Floors Shine?

In addition to learning how to clean unfinished wood floors, yous may desire to acquire how to shine them as well.

At that place are a few different methods you can use to reach this, but we recommend using a sealant or wax.

Sealants volition help to protect your floors from dirt, grit, and other debris while besides providing a smooth. Waxes will give your floor a deep, rich finish that makes them look brand new.

We also recommend giving your unfinished wooden floors a adept cleaning around the same time that you utilize these products. This can be done using any of the methods outlined in this commodity.

How To Use Wax or Sealant

If you're applying wax, follow its instructions for application advisedly before doing anything else. This unremarkably involves using a good applicator or pad to evenly employ the wax in modest sections at a time.

After the wax has been applied, permit it to dry for almost 15 minutes before buffing it with a soft material. Be sure to do this in the direction of the woods grain to achieve the best results.

If you're applying sealant, follow its instructions for application carefully as well. This usually involves using a good applicator or brush to evenly apply the sealant in small sections at a time.

Later the sealant has been applied, allow it to dry for nigh xv minutes before wiping away whatsoever excess with a make clean cloth or towel. Brand sure yous're using an absorbent fabric as well – paper towels may scratch your unfinished wood floors.

Exist sure to apply long and fifty-fifty strokes when wiping away the sealant. This will help to ensure that it'due south applied evenly and doesn't leave any streaks behind.

In one case everything is dry, your floors should have a nice smooth to them!

How Do Yous Protect Unfinished Hardwood Floors?

In add-on to regularly cleaning and shining your unfinished wooden floors, you can besides accept some additional steps to help protect them from impairment.

One mode is to place runners or expanse rugs in high-traffic areas. This will aid to protect the floor from being scratched or damaged by article of furniture legs, pets, or people walking effectually.

Another way is to put felt pads on the bottom of piece of furniture legs. These can be purchased at any home improvement store, and most are adequately cheap.

They also aid to forbid your floors from getting scratched or damaged by making sure that they're not directly touching them when you motility heavy pieces around.

Finally, it's a proficient thought to invest in wooden floor protectors for your article of furniture. These are much like felt pads, simply they're fabricated specifically to be placed under large appliances and other heavy pieces of piece of furniture that would otherwise scratch or harm the surface of your wood floors.

These steps will help to protect unfinished wood floors hands and effectively.

Final Thoughts

These are just a few of the many methods that can be used to clean unfinished wooden floors. Be sure to exam each ane on an camouflaged surface area of your flooring earlier using it on a larger section.

And always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using any cleaning products. Now that yous know how to clean unfinished wood floors, you can rest bodacious that they will be preserved for as long as possible.

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Source: https://littlehouselovelyhome.com/how-to-clean-unfinished-wood-floors/

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