I have a Hoover Floor Mate. I also have engineered oak hardwood floors. (And a side note: engineered flooring is "real" wood. It's not solid hardwood all the way through, but is composed of layers and the top layer (thickness depends on brand) is real oak with a poly finish and should be treated the same as a solid hardwood floor. As far as Floor Mate, I won't be without it! (Actually, I used the first FM version about 4 years, then a little plastic part broke and water leaked some. So I just replaced it with the purple (500 model, I belive, DH just put it together last night, so I haven't used it yet.) Anyway, I would not recommend using it on hardwood, no matter if it's engineered or solid. It does secrete enough water that it would ruin the floor if it seeped between the seams (and that is inevitable). I do, however, use Floormate religiously on: ceramic, lineoleum and commercial grade laminate. (Our laminate has a rubber backing, since it was installed below grade on top of concrete. It's actually a commercial grade laminate. If I had "residential" laminate, which we are thinking of installing in our kitchen, I would not use the Floor Mate because the underside is not rubber but wood composition and if water seeped between the seams it would ruin the underside of the flooring.) Love my Floor Mate, BTW. The gunky water that is left in the dirty water tank is unreal. I can't go back to a mop and bucket, knowing I'd be spreading that stuff right back onto the floor again. And a double bonus: if you have a bad back, it's a life saver! So I clean my hardwood this way: Vacuum thoroughly to get large particles picked up and to avoid scratching flooring with Swiffer or hardwood mop. When I vacuum, I use a filter queen with a hardwood floor brush attachment (no rotating beater/bristles!). Next I follow up with a Swiffer. (I got Swiffer Max, which is much wider and covers more floor space.) After that I spray Bruce Duraluster cleaner on a hardwood mop and wipe the floors. Love the Bruce cleaner, gets the floors really clean (evidence is on the hardwood mop) and leaves a nice satin sheen (but no residue build-up). Sounds like a lot to do, but it's not really. I can do an entire level of hardwood flooring (3 bedrooms, hall, living room) in under 30 minutes.

Believe it or not, we ALWAYS recommend using an ammonia-free Windex or similar product to clean hardwood flooring. The ammonia-free windex is strong enough to clean just about anything that's on your hardwood floor, and gentle enough to mist and wipe with a dry Swiffer daily. Because the product evaporates quickly, it reduces the risk of seeping into the seams of the wood planks. If and when an oil-based formula is used like a Murphy's oil or something similar, the hardwood develops a kind of "dependency" on the oil, and you'd have to continue to use the same product. Anything with harsh chemicals like ammonia or even vinegar, is advised against because it will dull and eventually damage the finish. General cleaning for a hardwood floor should consist of removing surface dirt with a vacuum and a hardwood flooring attachment that has a fuzzy end, and then a mist of ammonia-free windex, wiped up with something like a dry Swiffer. Here's a link about hardwood flooring general care and maintenance tips: Hardwood floor care and maintenance tips Also, check us out on our Facebook page here: Facebook/The Couture Floor Company

Bona may leave a film for some but on my laminate, sweaty paw prints have been impossible to remove so far until I tried Bona. I put it in the Bissell Crosswave machine (NOT a steam cleaner). Seems to work better than anything else I've read about and tried so far-- including the Bissell cleaning solution made for the machine. As for the film, I still wondered whether there was any residue from the Bona so I experimented with a little glass cleaner in one spot and compared. The same look on both. Therefore, I don't believe I am seeing any film, just the finish of the floor. Eureka! no more paw prints! Hope this helps!

MrsD you are looking for a product that states: pH Neutral Hardwood Floor Cleaner Armstrong, Bona, etc make great products that you can purchase either on line or in stores. Do NOT purchase "polish" or any product that says "will renew/rejuvenate the look of your floors". Those types of products WILL damage your floors. Do NOT purchase 'all purpose' cleaners. Do NOT purchase product that states "good for all flooring surfaces". That's the same as an all purpose cleaner. Do NOT use oil based soaps like Murphy's Oil Soap. Murphy's absolutely WILL damage any hardwood floor on the market. To the point it cannot be refinished - ever. I've heard 'a drop of Dawn' in a BUCKET of water is all a hardwood floor needs. This works nicely for now. And when we talk about 'damp' mopping we mean WATER ONLY once per week. When we talk about 'damp cleaning' we mean "a drop of Dawn" once per MONTH. For nasty oily stains (or foot prints, etc) go ahead and spot clean with a spritz of Windex. It will work just fine for basic oily clean-up.