I have had my hardwood floors in the kitchen and living room for five years and I will never go back to carpet if I have anything to say about it.

I lift the edges of the area rugs when I dust/sweep (I guess in reality it is dusting even though I think of it as sweeping) because dirt and debris will get under them and then I vacuum the rugs. I use Bona when I mop the floor and it does a good job of protecting the finish.

Wood floors (and other types of hard flooring, including tile) need to be vacuumed too.

I vacuum my hardwood floors whenever I vacuum the rugs but without using the beater brush - suction only. Then I dust mop. We've had multiple flooring people tell us not to use Murphy's oil soap on our hardwood floors. We only use Bona.

We just installed Mirage hardwood flooring at our next home and they also recommended Bona.

For touch up, a dust mop works well. For a thorough cleaning, vacuuming and mopping is my routine. I modified the tool on the Miele canister vacuum to accept a third party floor brush. For final cleaning of wood, laminate or tile I use Holloway House to clean all hard surfaces and apply a multi surface finish twice a year for a clean, satin look, but not slick.

When I wet mop our wood floors, which are protected by an oil finish, I use a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water. I dry the floors.

I will never use Murphy's Oil Soap because it leaves a residue that is tough/impossible to remove. With the inexpensive white vinegar, I have no need for Bona or other products.

I vacuum the same as others have said, lifting the edges of the rug and getting underneath.

Our previous apartment had the wall-to wall carpeting ripped out laminate flooring put in the livingroom. The bedrooms were left with the original hardwood.

I'm in the minority, I hated the laminate. I was forever sweeping and mopping. Every cat hair, dust bunny and bit of dust showed. Footprints showed when the light shone on a certain way. Not in the dust, just on the wood. I was washing it a lot too. Vacuuming is so much easier, it traps the dust and hair.

We switched to hardwood from carpet about 10 years ago. I use a Swiffer and dry cloths once a week after vacuuming the area rugs and floor. We use plain water and microfiber cloths a few times a year to clean it.

I hate carpeting. You can't wash more than the surface, and every time you clean it some shampoo residue remains.

My whole house is hardwood with hand knotted wool orientals; tile in bathrooms and back hall.

I use a suction-only tool with central vacuum for both floors and rugs. The rugs go out to be *washed* as needed. I wash the wood flooring a couple times a year with lukewarm water and a small amount of Armstrong floor cleaner -- small, as in 1/4 cup per 2-gallon pail. My hardwood is site-finished, with a poly coating.

Murphy's Oil Soap leaves a residue.

I couldn't help myself after seeing the thread heading...don't clean hardwood floors with area rugs! Use a mop!

:)

Oh thanks for the tip, Annie. Even using a small area rug is a real upper body workout! Off to Target to get a real mop!

Hardwood floors that are protected with poly will stand up to vinegar cleaners. However, engineered hardwoods and laminates will not. The vinegar will eventually dull the finish.

Exception: if you mop it twice a year, don't worry. The vinegar is safe on anything.

Hardwood floors that are refinished and sealed with poly won't accept finishes either. The poly finish is all it needs to shine.

Another Bona user here. My housekeepers don't clean under the pad often, so about twice a year (well, sometimes it ends up about once a year), I roll up the area rug (even the big ones), vacuum the pad well on both sides, roll it up and clean under it with Bona. When thoroughly dry, replace pad and rug.

I was told you shouldn't use vinegar with water as it will eventually wear off the finish. The Bona mop (the one with the refillable reservoir) is great because you can fill the reservoir, snap it in, spray and mop with the pad attached with Velcro. Then wash the pads when done and you are ready for next time. I just replaced my Bona mop after about 15 years of use, so worth the investment. Pads last a long time too.

Brushworks , do you use the Holloway House quick shine on your wood and laminate floors, or just the cleaner. I do use the cleaner it works well, and I use the quick shine on all the hardwoods. Holds up very well, and looks nice for a long time, but, I dont know if I can use the same quick shine on laminate floors or not. I did read online that they have one especially for laminate, but, my stores do not carry that one, only the one that says it is for hardwoods. Can it be used on laminate too? Thanks.

Vacuum then use a well wrung out mop using water with just a little all purpose cleaner. Been doing it this way for years on many clients floors and my own. Floors still look good as new!

The hardwood flooring is about 75 years old, has been covered by carpeting for over half that time. It's a big change for us. Personally, the hardwood is a bit uncomfortable for bare feet, but I can use footwear to cushion. I got some area rugs and pads for softer under foot too. I was thinking it should be enough to dust around the edges, occasionally hit it with a liquid product. Thanks to all. Lots of different opinions.

cat-ky

I use the Multi Surface Floor Finish on everything.

Multi Surface Finish

Thank you. I havent seen that one here in town either, but, I know Walgreens carries their products too, so will look there when I next make a trip to a bigger city.