Will Vinegar Hurt Wood Floors

While cleaning wood floors with vinegar and water is ideal it isn t the only natural option.

Will vinegar hurt wood floors. It s important to remember that when you clean your hardwood floors you aren t actually cleaning the wood you are cleaning the chemical finish on the wood. Too many people don t really know how to clean wood floors with vinegar properly and that causes damage to wood floors. For hardwood floors water is anathema. The acetic acid in vinegar can wear away or etch the polyurethane finish which over time will make your once gleaming floors seem dull.

White vinegar kills bacteria viruses and molds. Vinegar is one homemade cleaner that most families use in their home for getting rid of stains spots and grime from hardwood floors. While it s best to use a cleaner specifically designed for cleaning finished. Lemon oil also helps to cut grease which may be very useful if you re trying to clean wood floors in a kitchen.

Some will even void the warranty if there are any signs that vinegar was used. Do not use red wine balsamic or apple kinds of vinegar. Using vinegar and water as a homemade hardwood floor cleaning solution can have a negative effect on your hardwood floor. Plain white distilled vinegar should be your only choice.

Vinegar can do damage to your wood floor finish if the vinegar to water ratio is too strong if you use the wrong type of vinegar or if you allow the vinegar water mixture to pool puddle or over soak your floor. Neutral ph vinegar is an acidic substance and over time can eat away or deteriorate the finish on a hardwood floor. Many flooring manufacturers including lumber liquidators warn against using vinegar to clean your hardwood floors. White vinegar being natural cleanser it has becomes the best alternative for cleaning dirty hardwood floors removing stains and sanitizing.

But they do warn against the use of water and vinegar for hardwood floors. This one varies depending on the finish of your floors. Second a mixture of vinegar and water typically isn t as effective as a neutral ph soap or cleaner formulated for wood when it comes to pulling up dirt and grime. If you like the cleaning power of vinegar but want to cut the smell just add an essential oil such as lemon.

The finish is the protective layer of your hardwood floors. It s like kryptonite for superman. Using vinegar on some hardwood floors will damage the finish. The main problem is that often people make mistakes by using too much water.