Cleaning unfinished hardwood floors from 1890?

Question

What is the best way to clean unfinished hardwood floors in a house built in 1890? My husband said vinegar but that scares me!

Answer 1

I think this is not as simple as it sounds. If the floors have been used since 1890 and do not have a finish and have never been finished, it is much different than a dirty unfinished floor.
The Murphy's oil soap website says "not" to use on unfinished floors. http://www.colgate.com/app/MurphyOilSoap/US/EN/Products/QandA.cwsp

From the "green" website I got this recipe: 1 cup white vinegar (or 1/4 cup borax) to a gallon of water. I added a little bit of liquid soap this time, to help with a few sticky spots. After a good cleaning and then a rinsing to make sure no soap residue was left behind, the luster of the wood was fully restored and the room was filled with a light clean smell, not overwhelmed by the fragrances of a store bought brand. I think sometimes that I can see where the old rug used to be, but I think that's just my eyes playing tricks on me. The floor looks great.

However, that is still water on wood and can cause damage. There are commercial wood floor cleaners at most building supply stores (Home Depot, Lowes, etc).

With a floor that old, I suspect it was finished with something like linseed oil which was rubbed into the wood, and then, periodically redone. You may find that the only way to get the floors "clean" and not damage them is to use a floor sander. After you've got them to that stage, finishing them with commercial hardwood floor finisher is possible. Or, like they did in 1890, you may just want to rub in linseed oil. (probably not though. It's not only hard work, but it stinks for awhile you will not want to get on it until the finish is ready.)

Good luck,

Oh, the "green" site: http://www.thegreenguide.com/blog/tow/716

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Cleaning unfinished hardwood floors from 1890?
What is the best way to clean unfinished hardwood floors in a house built in 1890? My husband said vinegar but that scares me!

Answer 3

are they the original hardwood floors? If so, they must have a finish of some kind. Either wax or varnish. In which case i would not recommend vinegar due to it's acidity. If the staining is bad consider renting a floor sander. However you would have to do the entire floor for continuity. Then seal with a paste wax or spar varnish

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Your husband is right...(Don't worry your secret is safe with me)....You can also use Muphy's oil soap....The biggest thing not to do is to over wet the mop....This will warp the floors....Please don't ask how I know....Just use a wrung out mop and mop about 1 a week.... I find it good to vacuum floors like that on a daily basis....

Answer 6

Use Murphy's Oil Soap, it's made for wood. You have to mix it with water and either scrub or mop, whichever is needed. It really cleans wood great!