Hardwod Floors

Hi P.-I am very particular about my hardwood being shiny too and tried several products. The best is Holloway House, which a neighbor told me about after I saw how awesome hers floors were. I buy it at Publix. There is a Holloway House floor cleaner and a Holloway House floor polish. You need both. My first time using them, I used the cleaner first,then put 5 (yes 5!) coats of the Holloway House Polish on top of that. Takes about 30 min to dry in between coats, but you will only need to do that the first time to get it to the desired shine you want. If you don't want as shiny, you don't have to do so many coats of polish. Plus it dries great - no tackiness. After the first application, now I only use the cleaner and then one coat of the polish to keep them up and they gleam! It doesn't cover up scratches or anything, but the shine is really amazing. My husband doubted me at first, but he couldn't believe the difference and everyone comments on my shiny floors now!

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P.,

You say it is a hard wood floor. Check with your paperwork to make sure it isn't some type of laminate (which is also made from wood, but is cleaned much differently).

There are different types of finishes that your laminate may have also. You need to check your paperwork or with your builder/floor installer.

My floor has a great shine to it, but actually has NO sealer on it. So if I were to use what the first lady advised I would have increased my floor cleaning requirements immediately and permanently.

We use Orange Glo and I'll swear by it. But I also have a shiny laminate floor that has no sealer on it.

A little homework now will prevent permanent extra work later.

Good luck!

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i like halloway house cleaner. there is a quick cleaner and then a finish that has to dry for about 15 minutes. i only do the finish 2 times a month and the cleaner any time i need it--it is really easy, just squirt it on the floor and mop! it was recommended to me by the lady that cleaned my house after i had my second child and still trying to adjust to adding another sweet life into the mix and surviving. hope this helps. oh, it is sold at wal-mart and grocery stores.

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I had been using the Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner and one day I was at my neighbor's house and their floors looked so good so I asked what they were using. When they told me all they do is use warm water and a little dish soap I was floored (no pun intended. Now I find the best cleaner for my floors is using a micro fiber padded mop and the warm water with a bit of dish soap. I ring the pad out in between each dip so it's damp but not soaked. My floors are so clean and shiny after I'm done.

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Use a hardwood wax or finish after buffing, it should give it a good shine.

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Hey P., I just bought my house 6 months ago and I know exactly what you are talking about. The first three months after we moved in we had the builders come back in with the different vendors they used to put in the cabinets, floors, carpet ect... There was an older gentleman who put down the hard wood floors and he advised me to purchase Bona you can get it at Lowes. I actually found it in Sears. I think it works wonders. Theres no oil build up and the shine is there all the time. Try it and let me know what you think. The other product he told me to use was called Bruces, but neighbors have complained that they don't like it. I recommend Bona I actually use it and can tell you its great.Good Luck!

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I have found the very best cleaner for hardwoods is Bruce. You really do have to put some umph into it -- it's a little aerobic, but you get the mop, which is a stick with a flat board on the end, which you stretch a towel over, and the Bruce Hardwood floor cleaner, spray it on an area, and put some muscle into really rubbing it in. Once a week, or at least every two weeks, will keep them in beautiful condition. But, like I said, you have to be committed, and think of it as a form of exercise for yourself! But year after year, they are beautiful, bright, shiny, and in excellent condition. I'm also a fan of Murphy's for cleaning, but Bruce is like a conditioner. Good luck! BTW - I've tried that cleaner, I can't remember the name, but the commercial had a hot Aussie guy on it, it's some kind of electric floor cleaner -- complete waste of money. The truth is, it takes muscle.

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P.,

I had the same problem. I used the Swiffer cleaner for wood floors and Orange Glo, and whatever else I thought was decent. It ruined my floors. The best thing to use, according to many people who install foors for a living, is Bona-X. It's by Bonakemi (or something like that). After I installed more wood floors and sanded down what I already had, I've ONLY used this brand and refuse to use anything else. They have Bona Wood floor cleaner for every day use and Bona Refresher/Polisher, I think.

You can go to their website and pull up a list of stores that carry it by zipcode. I believe many Ace Hardware stores carry it.

Good luck.

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I use Murphy's Oil Soap. I put it a spray bottle diluted with warm water, spray on and wipe off. I will then leave some in the bottle for touch up areas like when the dogs drool or the kids spill!

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