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Vinegar to Clean Hardwood Floors
Using vinegar to clean hardwood floors is an inexpensive, non-toxic option for polyurethane finished wood flooring. In fact, vinegar is great for cleaning bathrooms, kitchens and other areas in your home. Vinegar is safe and effective for laundry, cooking, skin care, gardens and much more.
Vinegar to Clean Hardwood Floors - Step by Step
1.) Dilute 1 cup of white distilled vinegar with 1 gallon of warm water. Use plain white vinegar, rather than cider and other vinegar varieties.
2.) Do not pour mixture directly onto the floor. Instead, dampen a cloth or mop, or use a spray bottle.
3.) Dampen or spray a section of hardwood flooring with the vinegar mixture, mop or wipe to ensure there is no standing moisture, then move on to the next section.
4.) You may use this vinegar mixture once or twice a month, using a manufacturer-recommended cleaning product for polyurethane coated floors in between vinegar cleanings.
Yes, vinegar gives off an unpleasant odor - but it dissipates within an hour or two. We have been asked about adding a scent such as lavendar oil to the mixture - but we do not recommend it. Simply clean your hardwood floors well before company arrives!
CAUTION: Don't use vinegar and water too often as vinegar is acidic and can break down the polyurethane finish, eventually reducing shine and making it dull in appearance. However, occasional use is safe and effective, contrary to suggestions from many professional hardwood floor cleaning manufacturers, who want you to use more of their product.
Professional cleaners for polyurethane floors are great, and we review our favorites such as Bona and Dura Seal. But, vinegar and water is an economical, safe, impressive and environmentally-friendly hardwood floor cleaner used in moderation.