Many customers are wondering what products they should use on their flooring we just installed or refinished. First, we tell them to remember you are washing the finish and not the hardwood itself. What that means is that you do not need some special cleaner that will do x, y and z. You need a cleaner that will only clean the finish and not tarnish or hurt it. Below are the options we recommend.
1. A-Max Cleaner – The floors we install have a top coat of UV or Waterbased Finish. We use this finish on hardwood floors since over the years we have decided it has the best wear, hiding of scratches and low VOC’s. You can read more about finishes on this blog post here. With the A-Max Cleaner it is perfectly formulated to not harm your floor since it is pH neutral.
2. Soap and Water – Get a bucket of water or a spray bottle of water depending on how you are wiping the floor. We recommend a spray bottle with a microfiber. In the bottle put a few drops of dish soap, do not go overboard. Then lightly spray the floor and wipe the areas needing to be washed/cleaned.
Note: Wondering which products you should not use?
“Steam Mops, Vinegar, Oil & Orange Glow“
When cleaning the floor make sure you do not go overboard with spraying tons of cleaner on the floor. You really only need a little bit on the floor to get up sticky or dirty spots and the micro fiber should pick up the debris without the need for additional cleaning agents. Also, by spraying tons of cleaner on the floor you will often leave streaks in the floor when it dries since it is drying faster in areas and slower in others. By only applying a very small amount of cleaner it will dry evenly and leave no streaks.
