Been there, done that. Honestly, vinegar is overrated imo—it gets hyped up as this miracle cleaner, but hardwood floors aren't salad dressing, right? 😂
I've flipped a few older homes and dealt with plenty of hardwood headaches. Learned pretty quickly to ditch the vinegar and even most polishes. The waxes and polishes look great initially, but over time they tend to build up and attract dirt. Eventually, you’re back at square one with sanding pads in hand, cursing your life choices.
Lately, I’ve just been using Bona hardwood floor cleaner with a decent microfiber mop. It doesn't give you that mirror-like showroom shine, but it keeps floors clean, smooth, and looking good enough without making me want to tear my hair out every year. Plus, no buildup or stickiness (at least not yet).
Might not be Instagram-perfect shiny, but honestly...who has time for that level of perfection anyway?
Have you tried just using warm water with a tiny bit of dish soap? I get the Bona hype, but honestly, sometimes simpler is better. I've found that even Bona can leave a slight film after a while. A damp microfiber mop with just a drop or two of mild soap cleans surprisingly well without buildup. Might not be showroom-level shiny either, but it feels cleaner underfoot and doesn't drive me nuts with residue...
I've noticed dish soap can sometimes dull the finish over time, even if it's mild... Ever experimented with diluted vinegar instead, or is that too harsh for hardwood?
I've actually wondered about vinegar myself... I've used diluted vinegar on tile and laminate floors plenty of times, and it works wonders there. But hardwood? Hmm, I've always been a bit hesitant. Vinegar is acidic, even diluted, and I've heard mixed things about it potentially dulling or damaging the finish over time.
That said, I totally get your frustration with dish soap. Even the mildest stuff seems to leave a film eventually. Have you ever tried a super mild castile soap instead? I've had pretty good luck with that—just a tiny bit diluted in warm water. It cleans gently without leaving residue behind. Plus, it's eco-friendly, which is always a bonus in my book.
Another thing I've experimented with is brewed black tea (sounds weird, I know). Apparently, the tannins in tea can help maintain the shine and even enhance the wood's natural color. I gave it a shot on an older oak floor in my last place, and honestly, it looked pretty good afterward. Didn't notice any dullness or buildup either. Might be worth a try if you're feeling adventurous...
Anyway, I totally appreciate your willingness to experiment and find something gentler for your floors. Hardwood can be tricky, but it's awesome you're looking into alternatives rather than just grabbing whatever chemical cleaner is easiest. Keep us posted if you find something that works well—I'm always up for trying new eco-friendly solutions around the house.
I've had pretty good results with castile soap too, but the black tea idea is new to me... sounds intriguing. Hardwood floors can definitely test your patience, glad to see I'm not the only one experimenting around here.
