I've had mixed luck with plant-based soaps myself. Used one for a while that worked great at first, but after a few months I noticed a slight film building up—nothing major, but enough to bug me. Switched brands and it got better, so maybe it's just about finding the right one. Definitely worth trying though, especially if plain water isn't cutting it anymore. Good luck!
I've noticed the film issue too, especially in older homes with original hardwood. Sometimes it's less about the soap and more about how diluted it is. Have you experimented with different dilution ratios or application methods yet?
I've messed around with dilution ratios quite a bit, and honestly, sometimes less is more. I used to think more soap meant cleaner floors, but it just left that annoying film behind. Now I barely use a teaspoon in a whole bucket of water, and it makes a noticeable difference. Also, switching to microfiber mop pads instead of traditional cotton ones helped a ton—seems to pick up residue better without leaving streaks. Might be worth giving that a shot if you haven't already...
Totally agree on microfiber pads, they're a game changer. Also found that distilled water helps—our tap water is pretty hard, and switching made a noticeable difference in streaking. Worth trying if your water's mineral-heavy...
"Also found that distilled water helps—our tap water is pretty hard, and switching made a noticeable difference in streaking."
Interesting point about distilled water—I hadn't considered how mineral content could affect streaking. Makes sense, though, since hard water leaves residue behind. Definitely going to give that a try next time.
A couple other things I've noticed while renovating our first home:
- Microfiber pads are indeed great, but I've found that the quality varies quite a bit between brands. Some cheaper ones left tiny fibers behind, which drove me nuts. Investing in slightly better-quality pads made a noticeable difference.
- Also, I've learned (the hard way) that less is more when it comes to cleaning solutions. Initially, I thought using extra cleaner would make the floors shinier, but it just ended up leaving a dull film. Diluting the solution more than recommended actually gave me better results.
- Humidity levels seem to matter too. Our house gets pretty humid in the summer, and I noticed floors took forever to dry and ended up looking duller. Using a dehumidifier helped speed drying time and improved the overall finish.
It's reassuring to see others experimenting and figuring out what works best—makes me feel less overwhelmed by all these little details. Renovating has definitely been a learning curve...
