Cleaning Water Based Finish Hardwood Floors

Water based and oil based polyurethane each offer good protection.

Cleaning water based finish hardwood floors.

Made with synthetic resins and plasticizers water based polyurethane is a very durable finish that resists moisture fairly well although you ll still want to mop up any spills or leaks asap. Steam cleaners put heat and excessive water on your floor which can lead to cupping and long term damage. Here are our expert. The dirt dragon by basic coatings is a machine that is self contained and leaves no residue behind.

Polyurethane is actually the most durable hardwood floor finish. This is more than the amount of coats required for oil based finishes. Clean the floor the a minimum amount of water water is wood s worst enemy. The scrubbers do absolutely no damage to your finish.

The guidelines that apply to cleaning an oil based hardwood floor finish also apply to water based. Water based finish appears milky in the can but appears more or less clear when applied to your floor. If you don t have a hardwood floor cleaner which is the recommended solution damp mop the floor with water or a mixture of water and dish detergent. It sprays water with solution on your floor and then scrubs with the solution on the hardwood floor finish.

Protective mats can further your floor s life. The amount of coats applied in order to give ultimate protection is on average 2 coats. The biggest difference is in appearance. A polyurethane or acrylic coating after you apply a water based finish to a floor and the water evaporates the film that remains is either polyurethane or acrylic which are both plastics.

Follow the tips for how to clean hardwood floors with a mop above to prevent water damage. One ounce of detergent per gallon of water is a safe mixture. These finishes easily absorb water and water can warp wood floors so use only solvent based cleaning products instead of water based ones on floors with penetrating finishes. Leave the soap water on the floor briefly so it dissolves the dirt.

Use a microfiber or sponge mop taking care to wring the mop out thoroughly before each pass. Learning how to clean hardwood floors with vinegar will save you money on top of providing a safe cleaning method for your floors. Vinegar and water can dull the floor s finish over time while soap and wax leave a residue. Clean wood floors with vinegar by adding 1 2 cup white vinegar to a gallon of lukewarm water.

Then remove the dirty soap water with a hard wrung cotton mop or a cotton cloth and rinse it out in the rinse bucket.