I hear you on the high-gloss struggle. When we first moved into our 1920s place, I was obsessed with keeping the original floors shiny—spent way too many weekends buffing out scratches. After a while, I just gave up. The character from a few scuffs and dings honestly looks better than a plastic-looking shine anyway, at least in an old house.
I totally get the appeal of that shiny, just-done look, but man, it’s a slippery slope. I’m new to this whole reno thing and spent an entire Saturday with a mop and some “miracle” polish... only to have my dog skid across the living room like he was in an ice rink. Now there’s a weird streak right in the middle. I kinda like the lived-in vibe, though—makes me less nervous about dropping stuff or tracking in dirt. Still, part of me wonders if there’s a happy medium between museum-level shine and “we gave up.”
Been there with the “miracle” polish—my first go at it left the floor looking like a skating rink too, and my cat did not appreciate the surprise. What’s worked for me is using a microfiber mop and just a tiny bit of diluted vinegar water every week or so. Keeps things clean but not slippery, and the shine is more subtle. I’ve learned to embrace a few scratches and scuffs... feels less stressful than chasing perfection, and honestly, life happens.
I tried one of those “eco” floor polishes once and ended up with a surface so slick my dog did the cartoon leg scramble every time he walked in. Gave up on the high-gloss look after that. Now I just spot clean with a damp rag and call it good. Honestly, a little character in the wood makes it feel like home, not a museum.
