Our house was build in the mid-sixties and has the original hardwood floors. I would really like to have them refinished eventually, however, I just don't see the point right now with a small child in the house. Does anyone have any suggestions for products that give hardwood floors a nice shine? I am also interested in hearing if anyone has any suggestions for diminishing scratches. I do wax and buff them, but I would love to hear what you other ladies have used. Thanks!
Hi Dawn,
There is a product I've used called Holloway House Professional Quick Shine. It's fast and easy to use. A friend learned about it from someone that owns a professional cleaning service. It's inexpensive and you can usually find it at Wal-Mart or Food Lion.
Good luck!!
Vinegar and water does work well- I add a little orange essential oil to it to clear the air. I had to wear grippy socks for a few days afterwards, though, lol.
Murphys oil soap squirt and mop is awesome. After you vaccume you just squirt it on the floor and mop it up with one of the flat mops with the terry cloth pad on it. You do not have to rinse it. It makes my floor glow.
Mop with tea. This will help diminish the scratches. As for shine.. not really sure. But the tea works. Just plain old lipton or something like it. If you have really light floors you might want to use a lighter tea like green tea maybe. Good luck.
I have heard that a mixture of white vinegar and water does wonders for a hardwood floor. Also, vinegar and vegitable oil does well for buffing scratches
Dear Dawn,
I own two homes built in the mid-70s with hardwood floors. One I live in already had them refinished. I use only Murphy's Oil Soap on them. The other home, a rental, had not been refinished but had years of paste waxing on it when I purchased it. It was alot of work to sand it all off and refinish it. This I contracted out. They took out lawn bags after lawn bags of sawdust - more so because of the accumulation of wax. I would not recommend putting any more wax on it as it just builds up - and it may cost you more to get it sanded. Just keep it clean with Murphy's Oil Soap - and that is it - until you can refinish it.
Check out the "Queen of Clean" Book, she has lots of great ideas for hardwood floors. I love all of her cleaning advice. Well worth buying the book!
J.
Hey Dawn,
I'll second Sandi's recommendation of Holloway House. I bought and used it last Christmas ('07)and my floors still look good, though it's about time to use it again.
For scratches, I use the 'touch up' markers made for furniture. They work great, usually come three intensities of wood tone colors to a pack. You can get them at Home Depot, or any hardware-type store.
Also, if your floors are sealed, the wax and buff routine is not necessary. So just get the Holloway product and you'll save yourself some work.
Good luck!
CeceD
I have used everything on my floors to get them to shine. The only product that really works is "Quick Shine". You can get it at Wal-Mart. When I say that I have used everything on the market, Believe me I have!!
I use Murphie's Oil on my hardwood floors. A neighbor swears by equal parts of vinegar and water. She used to work in a floor company and says thats how they kept their "show" floors clean. I really like how the Murphie's Oil makes the floors shine and it has a really clean smell to it, so I've never used the technique my neighbor swears by.
I had a house with the old wood floors, and like you, wanted to wait to refinish them. I found Orange glo worked really well and made them shine beautifully! Plus, it smells soooo good.
Hope this helps!
-K.
