Wood Floors-What do you clean them with?

I had my floors refinished a couple of months ago and have been using water to clean them. What do you use to clean your wood floors, I'm afraid of using something that will be harmful to the girls (Maggs & Jazz).
I've seen Orange Glo on TV does anyone use it? Is it safe?
Thanks in advance.

I used to use a wood floor solution which was added to hot water. It was just like a mild detergent when it soaped up so i just use that now and it does the same job. The flooring i have now is laminate, but at my old house it was the original floorboards varnished and it did them no harm.

I just use water and Mr. Clean and a sponge mop. I mop the high traffic areas as needed, and the whole floor once or twice a month.

Murphy's oil soap is good.

If you got them refinished and put down a polyurethane coat on them to seal them - then just about any mild detergent will do. Clean up any spills right away.

DH wants to know how you refinished it. If its polyurethane that's great; if its only refinished with stain, then you cannot clean the floor - it will have to be sanded off if you got it dirty. He hopes you did the 2-3 coats of poly

I generally mop mine with a mild soap solution every couple of weeks in between I use a dust mop sprayed with pledge. Works great and since I spray the duster instead of the floor there's nothing for the kitties to get into.

Was it oil based or water based polyurethane???
We have hardwood floors and I use 1/4 c vinegar in 1 gallon warm water. This is what our flooring contractor advised us to use. To this I add about 1/8 c Murphy's oil soap. If you use a mop or cloth-the water HAS to be wrung out as much as possible. I have used this method for over 10 years. The floor dries really fast.
Even though sealed, water could seep down between the spaces between the wood strips.
If you have the wood laminate floor that is very thin this become more crucial as many of the warranties on that flooring do not cover water damage.
We have a 100 yr old maple floor that came from a one room schoolhouse that my FIL owned so its got lots of "character" and some of the boards do not fit as tight as new flooring does. Hence watching the amount of water.

Originally Posted by bnwalker2

Murphy's oil soap is good.

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I also use the Swiffer Wet Jet with the Wood cleaner. It is safe for my babies.

I'd love to know how "life altering" the whole refinishing process was. Our entire downstairs is hardwood and could use a good refinishing/sealing. The thought of having limited/no access to it for days on ends is a daunting thought, however. Any info is greatly appreciated.

Cally

Originally Posted by pee-cleaner

I'd love to know how "life altering" the whole refinishing process was. Our entire downstairs is hardwood and could use a good refinishing/sealing. The thought of having limited/no access to it for days on ends is a daunting thought, however. Any info is greatly appreciated.

Cally

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I had my floors done with water based polyurethane. I took 1 day. I let the men in at 9 in the morning and was able to walk on it at 7 at night. They would have finished sooner, but they had to rip up the rug, padding & tack strips. I did water based because you can walk on it the same day, very little odor and safe for cats!

Thanks everyone, I will try all of your suggestions, just worried about the girls walking on the floor and then cleaning their feet.

Originally Posted by GailC

I use 1/4 c vinegar in 1 gallon warm water. This is what our flooring contractor advised us to use. To this I add about 1/8 c Murphy's oil soap.

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I use the vinegar and water because its safe for the cats and once a month, I will add a small amount of murphy's, but I put the cats up and dont let them on the floor until it dries, when I use Murphy's.

Originally Posted by jamasmom

Thanks everyone, I will try all of your suggestions, just worried about the girls walking on the floor and then cleaning their feet.

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Thanks for the info!

BTW, Murphy's Oil Soap contains a small amount of mercury, for those, like me, who try to avoid such toxins. For more info on other products that contain mercury: http://www.sustainablehospitals.org/..._Cleaners.html

Cally

I just buy the hardwood floor cleaner.

Originally Posted by bnwalker2

Murphy's oil soap is good.

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I work for a cleaning company and I prefer using this over our normal PineSol.

We often use vinegar and water for hardwood as well. If people request it over the pinesol.

The absolute best to use is Murphy's Oils Soap! Its safe for pets and cleans wood while conditioning!

I always used vinegar as well. Cheap, effective, and safe.

Murphy's oil soap... I like the smell of it too