Your first thought may be to mop your floor with a generous amount of warm water, but laminate flooring will thank you for that by swelling up and buckling. And instead of coming right up, most of the padding was cemented to the floor. If your floors are very dirty, a mixture of 1 gallon of warm water and 1 cup of white distilled vinegar is the perfect foil for heavy soiling. Try using dish soap. I am confused and so frustrated! I now do that once a week to every other week, then use a Norwex mop with water the rest of the time. It did take quite awhile to do the whole floor, a couple of hours, but the success was immediate. DO NOT edit or remove watermarks from any image. I just stop and stare at my floors! The best means of cleaning hardwood floors is to use a microfiber dust mop or a vacuum cleaner. The window cloth or their envirocloth? If you’re unsure what type of finish is on your floor, scrape off a … Mop the floor with this solution, but keep in mind that water can damage laminates. I have the same issue. For these stubborn spots, you may need a stronger solvent. Don’t do it, unless you’ve read all about it first!). Not every week, but more like every 2-4 weeks. And called my husband. I didn’t specify to them what to use on my floors (totally my fault), and whatever product they used created the most horrible cloudy, hazy, white film that covered all of my hardwood floors. Super quick and easy!! I’ve stayed away from steamers. Vinegar and water mixture is a good cleaner for hard wood floors. The Norwex cloth I used works really well, but for some reason it doesn’t last forever. But last winter when I broke my leg and then had foot surgery, I hired house cleaners to clean my home while I wasn’t able to. Sweep frequently. You shouldn't use bleach or ammonia either. I used a microfiber cloth (we don’t get your brand here) I cup vinegar in 2 gallons of water. Nothing else? We would start walking on it, and even with clean bare feet, smudges would immediately appear on the surface of the floor, making it look so dirty and awful. What better cleaner to use to restore the glass-like appearance of your floor finish than a glass cleaner? This is the mop I use, but I’ve heard good things about the Bruce Cleaning Kit (Mop System) as well. If you need to scrub, use a sponge or a synthetic kitchen scouring pad, which doesn't have enough abrasive power to scratch the finish. When you make a purchase after clicking on one of those links, I earn a small commission that helps support this blog, at no extra cost to you. Haze on Hardwood Floors. I am having the same exact problem with my wood floors and can totally identify with everything you said in your post. As an added bonus, you probably only need to clean high-traffic areas — like foyers, living rooms and hallways — throughout the week. Because of this sweeping wood floors can be a waste of time and energy. The hardwood looked fine, but a different kind of rubbery carpet padding had been used in the room. The cleaners actually made the floor look worse. Very occasionally I’ll add a little vinegar to my mop water. While a few decorators may love a matte finish, most hardwood floor owners like finishes that shine. (02/28/2007) By Jennifer. The trick is keeping that shine after years of the normal wear and tear of living. Wipe the surface with the vinegar solution, rinsing the mop/cloth frequently. Water-based cleaners aren't strong enough to dissolve thick deposits of wax, especially if they have been ground into the finish by foot traffic. So today I tried windex. half the floor down – no little hazy foot prints when i walk on it!! Which Norwex cloth did you use? However, if you do discover scuff marks on your engineered hardwood, there are a few easy tricks you can do to remove … Once you’ve finished your floor how did you maintain the cleaning of the floor? This is the reason why you should never use a steam mop for a laminate floor. Leaving hot water on your flooring long enough to dissolve wax is just asking for the water to seep through the … How did you even think of that? I have been having the same issue, so thanks for sharing. Avoid using a string or a sponge mop for your hardwood floors, as they do not work as well to absorb the moisture. Interested in sharing one of my photos or projects? oldsaltfarm@gmail.com. They weren’t nearly as excited as I was, but I just could not stop talking about it. You can find the cloths here…. Caitlin, I feel your pain. Stronger solvents, such as acetone and lacquer thinner, will also remove wax, but they'll also remove the finish, so they're out. The fiberboard core under the decorative finish readily soaks up whatever liquid manages to seep between the floorboards, and if you wet mop, that could be a lot. Mix 1/2 cup ammonia and 1 gallon of warm water in a bucket. It certainly couldn’t hurt, and it really was amazing at cleaning my windows, and getting them sparkly clean with no residue. When the film is gone, mop over the area with the vinegar solution to remove the soap, then dry the area with a soft cloth. Take a plain wood floor cleaner, spray it onto the engineered hardwood floor and let it set for a while. Using a damp cloth, wipe over the areas with a cloudy look. Tried a couple of other floor cleaners, still getting the film. I will say that I have to do this on a regular basis to keep it up. You may not use any images without permission. What is it about the norwex cloth that is different than just trying to wipe the floor with a microfiber cloth? I literally cried. The key to keeping any floor in good shape is to keep it clean, and sheet vinyl is … He recommended Bona. But yours might be different! Moisten a rag with mineral spirits and scrub. Chris Deziel is a contractor, builder and general fix-it pro who has been active in the construction trades for 40 years. I remembered the one I already had, and used for cleaning my windows and light shades. And my floors were shiny again! It was even worse in the house I live in now, with the oak floors. Finally, one day I was reading online about cleaning items, and came across a sentence talking about Norwex cloths. Directions: Start by mixing about 1 cup of vinegar per gallon of warm water in a bucket. Wet your mop or soft cloth into the solution, then wring out to remove all excess water. Haze on Hardwood Floors. I finally scrubbed my floors today for the probably 10th time trying to get a build up of haze off. Test the finish on your wood floors. Hot water can dissolve wax -- especially if it contains vinegar, ammonia, washing powder or a similar cleaning agent -- but no flooring manufacturer would recommend using it. I have both AND hazy floors so I am excited to get down and dirty!!! Any and all content on this website is created for inspiration purposes only. Yes, I just used the cloth. I have the window cleaning cloth by Norwex—and it’s different than microfiber. So I actually use the cloth on my hands and knees, and then use the Norwex mop for maintenance in between. This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. I just use a damp microfiber cloth mop–and then the Norwex cloth when needed. I will need to wash them one more time since the bulid up is about 18 years old. To restore the shine, you need to dissolve the film, and that may ultimately require an acidic cleaner. Fill a bucket with lukewarm water. This is why I’ve never used cleaners, and I was actually shocked when my normally shiny floor were so awful. To clean laminate wood floors without leaving a film or to remove buildup and scuff marks, the best approach is to go easy. "There are several different mixtures to use for hardwood floors… Use a sponge mop and wring it out well each time you dip it into the cleaning solution. Vacuum or sweep your hardwood floor. Use Microfiber Dust Mops for a More Efficient Clean. The light was streaming across my floors, and I could visibly see the patches of area I had just scrubbed, compared to where it hadn’t been done. I used to use a special oil cleaner on some of my hardwood, but not all my hardwood floors could stand the oil cleaner. If your floor has a modern finish, it can be wet-mopped. It didn’t matter what I mopped it with, or even how often, as soon as I was finished, and the floors dried, the film would still be there. I am getting the film. Unfortunately, I don’t have a great answer for you. I can’t stop showing everyone! So if you are having a hard time on removing hardwood floor and by chance, stumbled upon this … Normally it would leave a smudge, but this time it didn’t! I’ve never used cleaning products on my hardwood floors–I’ve always been very gentle and cautious with them. Please ensure you are following proper guidelines with anything used, and seek professional advice if you don’t know how to do something. Before we moved in, we had what carpets we had, and asked what product we could use for the wooden floors. Use a brush head if vacuuming. Amazon offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Regularly I clean my floors with Bruce Hardwood Floor Cleaner, and I LOVE it. Pictures are not to be changed or altered in any way, shape or form without my consent. Learn how to safely and easily remove Bona Hardwood Floor Polish from your hardwood floors. If you’re struggling with cloudy, hazy hardwood floors, this is definitely worth a try! Once your wood laminate floors are installed, clean them carefully. Creating with my suggested methods, products, instructions, tutorials, and tools is at your own risk. How to Get Haziness Off of a Hardwood Floor. Your email address will not be published. I somehow got a cloudy white layer developing on my brand new engineered wood flooring. You are going to need gloves, protective eyewear, … Since I’ve been using Norwex, it has been awesome, floors look great! It works on everything from new wood floors to my 70-year-old beauties. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Mild dish soap will help remove sticky residues from hardwood floors. So, I gave it a try. And I’m still so happy I can hardly stand it. It’s the only thing I’ve gotten to work!! I got on my hands and knees, used a very damp rag on the each plank, then used the Norwex cloth, buffing carefully, with a lot elbow grease. That is crazy! I was never happy with the end result. Fill out my Old Salt Farm Feature Agreement. Good luck! Installing new hardwood floors or finding them in an older home is a bonus to the value of a home. This website requires the use cookies. Removing hardwood floors can actually be difficult and time-consuming at the same time. It will make them shine, and take away the haze. The spray-and buff procedure is quite simple. Please do not copy text or reprint recipes without my permission. this is so amazing!! Spray a two-foot section of your floor and let the cleaner sit for about two minutes. Cleaning your floors means choosing the right … One of the causes of haziness is extra moisture, so I use as little as possible. However, it’s made of a different kind of material than the norwex cloth, and while it cleans well, it doesn’t do the same thing. Ok so I used Murphy’s oil soap on my floors one time, Abbas it took massive amounts of scrubbing and vinegar to get it off. The first thing you want to do is determine the type of finishing your hardwood floor has. Mop the floor with this solution, but keep in mind that water can damage laminates. Hazy or cloudy hardwood floors can occur from a couple of things—one of them being from products you use on your floor. Filed Under: Cleaning, For the Home | 24 Comments. Please contact me with any questions. Be sure to check with your floor’s manufacturer for their recommended method of maintaining your floor. Couldn’t believe it! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I use a regular mop now, but still have to go back on my hands and knees with the cloth every few weeks. Mix 1⁄4 cup (59 ml) of dish soap in a bucket of warm water to create an effective cleaning solution. If your engineered hardwood floors are not worn out too much you should be able to get the shine back with a spray-and-buff procedure. 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