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January 6, 2009
cleaning parquet floors
I wanted to know whether any of you have eco-friendly products you like for cleaning/polishing parquet floors. They don't have a poly finish.
Comments
Is Murphy's Oil Soap ecologically evil?
Posted by: Bklyn Fire Alarm Guy at January 6, 2009 10:15 PM
Murphy's is not supposed to be good for wood floors because it leaves a residue which dulls them over time. Just a little vinegar and dishwashing soap is good.
Posted by: mshook at January 7, 2009 7:00 AM
Bruce makes a number of floor cleaners/polishes. I think they work really well. You spread them with a lambswool applicator but then you have to buff them as well. The finish is really great and you can even darken the floor by using the darkest of the three polishes.
Minwax also makes some good cleaners.
Check a good hardware store or order them online.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at January 7, 2009 9:13 AM
I loathe Murphy's Oil Soap. The film it leaves behind gets dust stuck in it and it's disgusting.
Vinegar and water. It's the traditional way to clean floors. I learned about it several years ago when visiting a friend's house whose wood floors were so clean and grit-free I asked her what she used on them. Vinegar has naturally anti-bacterial properties too.
Posted by: traditionalmod at January 7, 2009 11:24 AM
Vinegar and water. After mopping go back over it with an old cotton dishtowel or t shirt wrapped/tied/rubber-banded around a dust mop to grab any excess water.
Posted by: TownhouseLady at January 7, 2009 12:07 PM
ooooh im gonna do this vinegar and water method this weekend. does the smell go away fast or is my room gonna smell like a house salad!?
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at January 7, 2009 1:38 PM
You do get that sour vinegar smell but it goes away quickly as it evaporates. Just don't go overboard with the vinegar. Your ratio should be about 1/2 cup vinegar to a gallon of warm water for floors.
Posted by: traditionalmod at January 7, 2009 2:04 PM
Yep, ditto on the vinegar and water. I put a tiny bit of dish washing soap sometimes. I learned this from a floor guy. Murphy's is oil based and the oil attracts dirt which then gets grungy. No good. Your house smells like salad for 10 minutes.
Posted by: donatella at January 7, 2009 2:17 PM
Another benefit of vinegar is it's *green*. You don't have to worry about chemicals on your kids feet or your pets paws.
Posted by: TownhouseLady at January 7, 2009 3:00 PM
What exactly is the finish on your floor? If it's not polyurethane, is it shellac with wax, or something like waterlox? unusual these days to find anything other than poly...
I'd test a small area with vinegar/water first. Some finishes really do not like vinegar--it's acidic and will etch them, eventually dulling the shine, even with a mild solution.
here's one article; admittedly I don't know the author's bias:
http://woodsthebest.com/Flooring/Flooring_Maint.htm
I too have been looking for a "green" hardwood floor cleaner. It's not hugely important as we don't wear shoes inside so we only use a liquid cleaner on our floors about once or twice a year.
Posted by: Bolder at January 7, 2009 3:37 PM
these floors should be finished first. most of these cleaners are for use on finished floors.
Posted by: jasonstonestreet at January 8, 2009 10:03 AM
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