How to Clean Hardwood Floors with Vinegar and Water!
If you are looking for tips on how to clean hardwood floors with vinegar, then you are in the right place.
It is likely that your grandmother or great grandmother used vinegar and water to clean many things in their homes from windows and stoves to those wood and tile floors.
Then your parents likely began using those bottled floor cleaners believing they did a better job than those old fashioned cleaners that their parents used.
But the good news is, now more and more people are going back to using vinegar for cleaning.
Related: Tips on How to Clean with Vinegar
Why Use Vinegar for Cleaning Hardwood floors?
There are several reasons for returning to the old way of cleaning floors, which include:
Saves Money
Vinegar and water are far cheaper to use than those store bought food cleaners, saving money for those who are on a budget, especially since vinegar and water can be used for a number of different cleaning applications.
Toxin Free
Cleaning your floor with vinegar and water is toxin free, so there are no fumes that can affect you or your children’s respiratory health or that of any family pets you may have.
Removes Dirt and Grime
Vinegar is acidic, making it perfect to remove dirt and grime from your wood floor. When used correctly, cleaning your floor with vinegar should not damage the finish on your floor.
Doesn’t Leave Any Streaks or Residue Behind
Unlike those chemical floor cleaners, mopping your floor with vinegar and water won’t leave behind any streaks or residue.
The Correct Way to Clean hardwood floors with Vinegar
In order to clean your wood floor with vinegar without causing any damage to the floor, there is a correct way to clean your floor.
The proper way to clean those wooden floors begins with sweeping or vacuuming your floor.
If you vacuum your floor use a soft brush attachment for your vacuum in order to prevent scratching the floor.
And if you are using a broom, use one with those soft tips again to avoid scratching the floor.
The next step is to mix the vinegar and water correctly.
You need to pour ½ cup of white vinegar into a bucket. Then add a gallon of warm water and mix well.
Different Ways to Mop Your Hardwood Floor
Bucket and Rag Method
One of the ways to clean a wood floor with vinegar and water is to use a microfiber cloth, dip it into the bucket of vinegar water (1/2 cup of vinegar to 1 gallon of water) wring it out almost dry and clean the floor on your hands and knees.
You can add a few drops of essential oils for cleaning to the vinegar and water if you choose to. I use essential oils because they help to reduce the strong vinegar smell.
My favorite essential oil for cleaning is lemon because of its fresh and uplifting aroma.
Bucket and Mop
Truth be told, most people these days are simply not going to clean their floor on their hands and knees so, another way to use a microfiber mop with a built-in wringer and wring out water until the mop is barely damp.
I really like this spin mop, it has a hands free in-built wringer that controls spin wringing.
O-Cedar EasyWring Microfiber Spin Mop, Bucket Floor Cleaning System
Keep a clean dry microfiber cloth handy to wipe up any water spills or dribbles immediately since a wet floor can damage your wood floor and the finish.
Spray Bottle and Mop
You can also use a spray bottle and a microfiber mop. Just pour the mixture of vinegar and water into a fine mist spray bottle. Add 3 tbs of vinegar to 16 oz of water. You can also add 1-2 drops of essential oil. Spray and mop, a small portion at a time.
Refillable Spray Mop
A spray mop is one of the easiest ways to clean your hardwood floors with vinegar and water. Use the same recipe as above.
Keeping Your Floor Cleaner Longer
After you have cleaned your floor, to help maintain it between cleaning, spray a wood polishing spray on your sponge mop and use it to dust the floor.
This will help to protect the finish as well as keep your floor clean and shinning for longer.
Make sure that you wash your dust mop head after each use so that you have a clean dust mop every time you dust the floor.
Contradictory Opinions
It should be noted that there are contradictory opinions about whether or not cleaning your wooden floor with vinegar is good for your floor or not.
The reason for this is the fact that most wooden floors have a finish over them and the acid from the vinegar may cause the finish to wear off faster.
However, you do need to keep in mind that many of the other floor cleaners also contain chemicals that can also wear down the finish as well.
So there is really no way to tell whether or not vinegar or that floor cleaner is better for protecting your wooden floors finish. You will need to decide which type of cleaner is best for your wood floors.
Did you find the tips on how to clean hardwood floors with vinegar helpful? Leave your feedback in the comment section.
Related Cleaning Posts:
- 6 DIY Natural Cleaners
- Cleaning Your House with Lemon – Simple Tips and Tricks
- Best Essential Oils for Cleaning and How to Use Them
Thank you for this post! I used your spray bottle and mop method on the floors in my new apartment and it worked very well, but one of these days I might have to buy a spin mop because those look so handy! Is the O-Cedar spin mop the best one you have purchased? In my old apartment, I got my wood floors cleaned by a professional and they did a great job. But, I’m glad I can use this DIY method now! Thanks again.
Hi Sarah,
I’m happy to hear that the spray bottle and mop method worked well for you. And yes, the O-Cedar spin mop is great and I highly recommend it.