Can I use swiffer on my hardwood floor?

Question

Wondering if swiffer is safe to use on my hardwood floors? I've used it before and never noticed a problem, but is there another way I should be cleaning my floors?

Shell Stuart · Answer

@No search results.Lorena, 
Hardwood floors should only be cleaned with warm water and wiped either with a twist mop with looped-end cotton head or spin mop. I use a steamer mop works best. Twice a month use can use 1 cup white vinegar to one gallon or warm water to put the shine back on the floor. You should never use anything else. I had mine in for the past 8 years and looks like it is still brand new. You will have to get on your hands and knees to clean the edges and corners.
 
My son in law has done hardwood floors for 18 years. He says the reason they sell you the products for your hardwood floors is because in a matter of 2-5 years it destroys the finish and the flooring company loves it because then you have to hire someone to come resand it or put in new flooring. 
 
I hope this helps.

Andrea · Answer

I don't know about Swiffer's problems, if any, but I use Bona which is made for hardwood floors.  It was recommended by the company that installed the floors.  Does a great job.

Shell Stuart · Answer

@Andrea you will be having to have it refinished in the next 5 years. Mark my words, my son in law says you should never use anything but warm water and vinegar twice a month. He loves getting calls to go refinish the hardwood floors from the use of other so call highly recommended floor care products, At $16 a square foot to refinish gets rather expensive. But for people like him mean he is making a good living, But hey what is your $1100 hardwood floor worth? To destroy it buy using so called professional care products in 1/2 the time of just warm water cleaning or just clean it with warm water and have it last you 20-50 years without any build ups. Those products can cause build ups as well then your screwed!

Cathy · Answer

The wet Swiffer is not good for your floors. It made mine very dull and murky. I use a dry Swiffer now ( the kind you dust floors with) and Wet them with Bona. So I'm more  or less making my own Wet Bona Swiffers. And.....I just saw Bona pads at Home Depot so I'll be buying those in the future.

Leagle Middletown OH · Answer

The guy that refinished my floors said to use windex.

Carol · Answer

I have friends who have had good results with Murphy's Oil Soap. Who has had negative results and if known, why?

Sherrie · Answer

First it depends on your floors.  What are they sealed with, what kind are they?  Every manufacture has cleaning guidelines.  If they are oak flooring the natural way is a micro fiber mop, a drop or two of PH balanced dish soap.  Micro fiber mop with water squeezed out.  Mop, rinse and dry.  Water is wood floorings devil so less is more.  Bona is a good cleaner for a cleaner.  Spray it in the mop micro fiber, or use the jet one, mop.  Using vinegar etches the sealer, the sealer protects the floors.  Damage the sealer it will damage the wood.  Using Murphy's wood soap is a vegetable based cleaner.  It will lead to a oily build up and make your floor dull.  If you have new floors go to the manufacture and ask them the cleaner that they use.  I have been in the cleaning business for 30 years and I always go to the manufacture before I touch someone's flooring.  If I can't find it I identify the wood.  Bamboo is also cleaned differently just as a lot of extoic hardwoods are so it is different for different flooring.  I gave you a generic answer.  :  )

Sherrie · Answer

I should have said oak flooring sealed with poly.  Excuse me!

Darla · Answer

A damp mop with a solution of Murphy's Oil Soap works well for me. I also spray spots with this and damp mop.

Edwardmorrison · Answer

The most important thing to always remember when cleaning your hardwood floors is to avoid anything that will leave excess standing water on top of them. In other words, you really shouldn’t clean them with anything that’s too wet. I wouldn’t recommend using a Wet Jet, as you have to release a stream of water on to the floor to use the product.

My house has original oak hardwood floors from the 60’s, and I always clean them with a barely-damp mop and just a little bit Murphy’s wood soap if they’re extra dirty. It takes a bit of work to thoroughly wring out the mop, but you never want to dampen real hardwood too much. Even if it’s sealed, water could still make it into the boards. If that happens, you’ll be left with warped water-damaged floors.

Your safest bet is sweep every day to remove dirt and debris before it gets ground into the floor. Then, save the the wet cleaning for when you really need it.

Edwin Lee Gaddis · Answer

I purchased 1100 sq feet of Brazilian Teak (Cumaru), prefinished and installed 3 yrs ago. I bought it from Company that is a direct seller of exotics on line, and it amazingly beautiful. My contact at the company, Shannon, said she uses Windex diluted in water at ratio of 3 or 4. She has this flooring herself. From her perspective, she has used Bono but found this superior as she felt the Bono left a film or coating more susceptible to foot prints etc. For a really sticky place she just strayed in directly and then wiped if off. I just her advice. Not that is part of this but this company has amazing wood, high quality, and much cheaper that the everwhere lumber Liquidators or your local flooring establishment. So this advice agrees with that of Legale Middletown Ohio cited above.

Brittany · Answer

I do hardwood floor everyday and the best thing you can use is a 1/4 cup of windex diluted into a gallon of water. Bona care kit is fine as well. Murphys oil soap and swifter will do nothing but cause a film on your hardwood. Instead of being able to buff and coat your floor to freshen them up, they will have to be re-sanded.

Marion Nesbitt · Answer

I had my maple hardwood floors refinished in parts of my home. I use barely lukewarm water and only damp the cloth. On older floors in the house, I add just a little vinegar in the water to restore lustre if need be. If you're floors have no finish applied, then Varsol for a good cleaning to remove old wax.

Holly Lengner - Lost Mom · Answer

My friend uses a mixture of vinegar and water with a soft cloth mop and she swears by it.

Johnavallance82 · Answer

I mop mine using wet wipes.

Deb K · Answer

Hi Lorena, hope this helps you out. According to the manufacturer's website, the Swiffer mop is appropriate for use on finished hardwood floors when you use either the dry or wet refill cloths. Wet refills aren't recommended for use on unfinished, waxed or oiled floors, and you should use them with caution on finished hardwood.

Can I use swiffer on my hardwood floor?

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Can I use swiffer on my hardwood floor?

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