As you're cleaning, you may find deep scratches that go through the finish and into the wood. You usually can't make these scratches disappear completely, but you can make them a lot less noticeable. If your floor is as light or lighter than the floor shown here, first wet the scratch with mineralA wet coat of mineral spirits produces approximately the same look as a coat of polyurethane. And on a light-colored floor, it might darken the scratch just enough tohide it. If that doesn't work, apply some wood stain to the scratch using a cottonBecause the scratch is rough and porous, it will absorb a lot ofSo begin experimenting with a stain that's much lighter than the tone of your floor and wipe away the excess stain right after you apply it. For best results, use two stain colors to match the light and dark patterns in the wood grain (Photo 7). If your floor has a high-traffic area where the clear finish is completely worn away, wet the area with mineral
spirits to see what it will look like with a coat ofIf it looks good, clean the area thoroughly, apply a coat of polyurethane and give it at least twoThen you can buff and recoat the new polyurethane along with the rest of the floor. Look out for ridges. The buffer will eat right through the finish down to bare wood at high spots. floor is colored with wood stain, you'll be left with light-colored strips where the stain has been rubbed off. Photo 8 shows how a solid-wood floor can buckle in high humidity. But smaller ridges, where the wood strips cup slightly or one plank sits a bit higher than the next, can cause just as much trouble. If you can flatten a ridge by standing on it, fasten it down with a finishing nail or two. If you can't flatten the ridge, you'll have to roughen the area by hand using sanding screen. And remember to avoid that areawith the buffer. Stains that have penetrated through the finish as well as the wood can
only be removed by sanding. But there's no harm in recoating over them—if you can live with them.Home / Housekeeping / DIY / Hardwood Floor Cleaners & TipsHardwood Floor Cleaners & Tips 62 Comments Print EmailHere are several different recipes for mixing up your own cleaners for hardwood flooring, just a few simple ingredients are all that’s needed. Keep in mind that a little goes a long way, you just need enough liquid to dampen the mop (or cloth) and scrub away.If you’re happy to damp mop with straight water, try adding about 10 drops of essential oil per gallon of water for extra cleaning muscle. Some suggestions: lavender, tea tree oil, pine or eucalyptus oil will add antiseptic qualities.You’ll also find tips on this page for removing scuff marks, how to test for wax (and remove it), a few DIY polish recipes and a scratch repair method that may surprise you.Getting Started: Sweep or vacuum surface to remove as much dirt and dust as possible.Directions:When using one of the recipes below, damp mop only.
Saturating the floor with liquid may cause spotting or warping of the surface. You can either lightly spray one section at a time or lightly spray the mop head.Scrub in the direction of the grain of the wood to grab and remove as much of the dirt as possible.Wipe dry with a soft cloth after washing.Mix 1 gallon warm water with your choice of the ingredients below…Solution #11/4 cup vinegar1 TBS castille soapSolution #21 cup white household vinegar (*Is it safe to use? See notes below)Solution #31/4 cup borax1/2 teaspoon mild dish detergent (liquid)Solution #41 cup vinegar10 drops peppermint essential oilSolution #51/8 cup mild liquid dish soap1/2 cup vinegarSolution #61 TBS Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap1/8 cup vinegar1/4 cup brewed black teaTea Mixture:Steep 1 bag of tea in 2 cups of boiling water and leave until it comes to room temperature. Remove tea bag and soak cloth in liquid, wring out then wipe floor clean. Dry with a soft cloth. The tannic acid in the tea will help bring wood to a shine.
For Oil-Finish: Damp mop with straight water after first cleaning with the recipe below.1 TBS rubbing alcohol2/3 cup hot water*Is vinegar safe to use? Isn’t it too acidic for hardwood?If you poured a bottle of vinegar directly on the floor and allowed it to sit, it would most likely damage the surface. However, in the mixtures above it is well diluted and only used as a damp mop (meaning excess liquid is squeezed out). Vinegar is an excellent household cleaner and brings a lot of muscle to the job. If you’re concerned about the effects it may have on the finish over the long-term, consider doing a clear water rinse after wiping floor with a mixture that has vinegar as an ingredient (then wipe dry as usual).Removing Scuff MarksKeep a spray bottle with a mixture of 50/50 vinegar, water and about 15 drops of essential oil of your choosing.Sprinkle scuffs with baking soda then spray solution, let fizz for a few seconds.Scrub marks until they are removed then dry with a soft towel.Wax Testing & RemovalWet your fingers with water then flick into a corner of the floor where there’s not much traffic.
If there’s wax on the surface, the floor will turn white under the water beads (may take a half hour or so to turn white).To Remove Wax:Scrub the surface with mineral spirits using a household sponge with a nylon scrubby side. Wipe dry with a soft cloth as wax is dissolved. Repeat process a second time if needed.DIY PolishWash surface as usual and dry thoroughly. Using one of the mixes below, apply polish to surface then wipe dry with a soft cotton towel.Recipe #1Mix equal parts olive oil and white household vinegar.Recipe #21/4 cup vegetable oil (or olive oil)2 TBS cider vinegar3 TBS vodkaRecipe #31 TBS olive oil mixed with 1 tsp lemon juice. Apply to a clean, dry mop and treat floors after cleaning.Quick Tip: You can also spray commercial furniture polish onto the mop head and then wipe over surface.Scratch RepairRub a crayon that is the same color as the flooring into the scratch, filling the space as full of the wax as you can.To seal in place, heat with a hair dryer to soften the wax, allow to cool for a few seconds then buff with a soft cloth.