Cleaning wood floors
Cleaning wood floors
#0Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 7:36pmOy, this is so far off topic, but I need some help here. I usually clean my wood floors with ammonia or Murphy's oil soap. However, I don't think those are particularly strong. Is there anything short of completely sanding the floor down that can lift a lot of old dirt buildup? does anyone know?
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#1re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 9:23pm
Pledge? Pine-sol?
Updated On: 3/20/06 at 09:23 PM
#2re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 9:31pmHave you tried those, Marlene?
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#3re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 9:36pm
Errrrm, I can go check what we have in the closet. But I don't do the floors...though I'm not positively sure if it'll take care of old dirt build up because my mother is anal retentive and we only have hardwood in the hallway and the dining room...so it's not a huge area for her to spaz over. My gut is pine sol...because we use the pledge spray stuff on the furniture.
Ohhhh...there use to be this orange action kind...but I'm not sure if they make it anymore. I remember liking the scent of it. Sorry...um, I'll go check now.
[edit] Generic Pine-Sol in the house...
But answering your question, no I have not used these products before. Though I can be an advocate for Pledge's Lemon Spray wood polish thing...I've used that before.
Updated On: 3/20/06 at 09:36 PM
#4re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 9:39pm
In my last apartment (which I lived in for five years) I had wood floors. I also have three cats, so between the cat hair and the more-than-occasional accident, it was constant maintenance. It takes some elbow grease, but the best thing I found for old dirt buildup was Comet and a scrub brush. Then you have to mop up the Comet residue (possibly more than once) and mop again with something like Murphy's Oil. I won't lie, it is a PAIN IN THE *SS. I think that was probably the biggest influence in choosing my new apartment, that has carpet and linoleum.
Good luck!
And no one grew into anything new, we just became the worst of what we were."
#5re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 9:41pmThat sounds good-I already use plain ammonia and water which is pretty strong. Comet is much stronger_I'll do it! Yeah, a LOT of work. thanks, WW..
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#7re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 9:44pmYea, I use Murphy's too and it's not strong enough I wonder if you can buffer wood?
"Germany, Germany, Germany! Everything's always about Germany but what about me! Adolf, I'm dying without your love can't you see?"-ML
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#8re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 9:51pm
All of these cleansers are too harsh for a wood finish.
Don't use anything other than diluted white vinegar.
#9re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 9:52pm
Isn't Comet really abrasive?
Surprisingly, no. You'd think that by nature of rubbing something gritty into a surface with a brush it would be, but it's not. It even says "non-abrasive" on the label. Trust me, I've used Comet on virtually everything imaginable (except the actual cat.)
And no one grew into anything new, we just became the worst of what we were."
#10re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 10:00pmBut I'm looking for something harsh. What I really need is a complete sanding and re-staining, but I'm not going to do it. I need an abrasive.
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#11re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 10:03pm
Well, hon, try the Comet thing first, and if that doesn't work we'll find you some acetic acid. 
And no one grew into anything new, we just became the worst of what we were."
Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
#12re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 10:30pm
Try it in a corner first, to make sure it's okay.
Updated On: 3/20/06 at 10:30 PM
#13re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 10:36pmgood idea, thanks!
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
#14re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 10:51pmIn deference to others' misgivings, I will say that the floors in my last apartment were pine, with a DARK stain and a very heavy urethane coat. I tried a million other remedies before arriving at Comet, but your floors may be entirely different. I would second Plum's recommendation of testing a corner first.
And no one grew into anything new, we just became the worst of what we were."
#15re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 10:55pmMy floor has virtually no finish left on it, by virtue of its age and neglect to wax! I'm esssentially going to be applying comet to bare wood which is quite dirty with stains such as acrylic paint on it.
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
#16re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 11:00pmWell, no matter what else, I know the Comet will get rid of the acrylic paint, and it sounds like you really have nothing to lose, LOL!
And no one grew into anything new, we just became the worst of what we were."
miss pennywise
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/7/04
#17re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 11:07pm
Caldwell B. Cladwell swears by this stuff called "Enforcer Hard Wood Floor Cleaner." It's not going to do what Comet can do because it's not gritty. But it is an excellent hard wood floor cleaner and much stronger than Murphy's. We have this gorgeous Brazilian cherry floor in one of our rooms--and it really needs to be restained--but whenever we give it the once-over with the Enforcer (a silly name, granted!), the floor looks great. You can get it at Home Depot...and probably online.
http://www.roches.com/television/ss83kod.html
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#18re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 11:07pmYou're right, I guess I"ve exposed myself here as a bad housekeeper! I'm having the apt. painted right now, and you know how you want the rest of the place to look nice to match the new paint job.
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brdlwyr
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/14/05
#19re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 11:10pmWhy would you use Comet on wood? It is a bathroom cleaner.
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
#20re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 11:15pmMurphys Oil is good. Hardwood floors are a pain in the ass. Theres ths industrial stuff they sell at Costco. It is good but smells so strongly that you have to quickly use pine after it dries to eliminate the smell.
HUSSY POWER!
------ HUSSY POWER!
Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
#21re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 11:16pmGetting wood floors resanded is a real pain. I'd at least wait until warm weather to do it.
#22re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 11:17pm
Why would you use Comet on wood? It is a bathroom cleaner.
Desperation. I had used everything else and it hadn't worked. I was scrubbing the counters and sink in my kitchen, I looked at the floor and thought, "Why not?" It worked like a dream. Aforementioned pain in the *ss, but it got the job done like no other.
Further affirmation of the technique- I'm close with the people who moved into that apartment after me, and they were very happy with the condition I left the floors in. Plus, I got my deposit back.
And no one grew into anything new, we just became the worst of what we were."
Updated On: 3/20/06 at 11:17 PM
#23re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 11:21pmMiss P-I was just at Home Depot today! We finally got one here. Maybe I'll try the comet in a corner first, then if that's no good, I'll get the Enforcer! (sounds like a new crime series).
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Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
#24re: Cleaning wood floors
Posted: 3/20/06 at 11:22pmDoes it have a guy with an aluminum baseball bat on the packaging?
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