Shilpsb - Overall I like them (Garrison French Connection Provence), I like the natural color and the low sheen...but there are some areas where it does seem like there's a haze although it blends into the different planks. I probably am the only one that can tell! I haven't had problems yet with staining, I just wipe up water as soon as I see it and then clean with the Woca spray whenever I spill anything. I have done the refresher a couple times but have not done the re-oiling... is that a product you can buy? For the rugs, I have put a couple World Market small 2'x3" with the rug mat underneath... they were inexpensive and I just wanted to get something until I can do more decorating - they are too small but they do the trick. What do they say could happen to the floors with rubber backing? I know they say no blue tape, etc... I've been very conscientious with these floors, but they do have a lot of variance in color and look rustic so I'm just going with it. I would rather be eco-friendly anyway. I heard about some at Plastica which are pvc and can wiped clean...http://plasticastore.com/shop/home/moroccan-pattern-mat/

A cleaner with ammonia in it will cut thru wax. Try spraying Windex, or buy some "sudsy ammonia" in the cleaning supply aisle of your local grocery.

If you don't want yellow or orange, you will need to stay away from oil based finishes. The oil based finishes turn ORANGE all by themselves. We call it "ambering". The "honey oak" everyone is talking about = oil based finishes. If you like the look wood RIGHT NOW then you have to stay away from the oil based. And just for fun, the oil based finishes USED to be called "solvent based" but the average homeowner got scared of the word "solvent". The manufactures change the LABEL on the bucket to say "oil based" and that's it. Some of the same formulas that were there in the 60's (ahem "solvent based") are still in existence simply under a new name that doesn't scare anyone = oil based. The high-end, expensive, two part polyurethanes have been out performing the solvent/oil based finishes for the past 5-10 years. They are impressive but most homeowners don't like the price tag...they are often $100 more per gallon then the regular 'oil' based stuff. One of the main reasons you need to be out of the house = the floors need to CURE. They are soft and vulnerable to DAMAGE in the first few weeks. Staying off of them gives them the best possible chance to harden up and become the hard finish we know and love.

Can someone please recommend a product to clean wood floors - recently refinished with an oil-based polyurethane? I checked out Bona - can't get the one they have for oil based here anywhere. What about Murphy's Oil Soap, diluted? I dont want to wreck our new floors, please help!! Thanks