Introduction

Whether your unfinished wooden floors have been for years or newly installed, you have been handed the keys to your rustic home: but how to clean unfinished wooden floors?

Believe it or not, your normal cleaning ways with just a mop or an old broom may do more harm than good. Because they are in a natural state, it is more important to maintain your pricey investment.

If you are in a panic about your floors’ damage. Don’t worry. With simple love and care, your unfinished wooden floors can be up-kept by following a few instructions unique to your flooring type.

Before we get to some tricks and tips on the best ways to clean, let’s get to know about your brand floors:

Unfinished wooden floors?

We can define the unfinished wooden floor as a raw material. The planks have been made of bare timber and become the planks of flooring without going through the finishing process. All hardwood flooring must be applied to a protective layer of lacquer or oil (a finished layer) on the surface to prevent wear and tear from causing damage, so you should add protective layers once you install the unfinished floor.

The aesthetic value of unfinished wooden flooring is very high, its beauty comes from a wide range of style and color options. It helps you achieve a unique look of your home.

What to do?

Step 1: Remove Dust and Debris daily (It is very important)

The first one is always the most important. Cleaning dust and debris is routine activity needed to keep them from staining and scratching your unfinished wooden floors.

The simplest way which everyone knows to remove dirt and debris is by using a vacuum or a broom.

Almost everyone does not think twice before vacuuming. But, remember to inspect the wheels and vacuum head before you activate it. Why? Abrasives like sand, gravel or salt may hide somewhere in your vacuum and they can act like sandpaper which quickly destroys the flooring surface, whether it is finished or unfinished.

It is best to use a vacuum with a dedicated wood floor setting since unfinished wooden floors are so vulnerable.

Also, there are some tips to do it at best:

A microfiber mop: Wipe the wooden surface gently with a soft cloth is one of the easiest techniques for the dirt removal. Make sure the cloth is kept clean during the cleaning process so as not to spread the dirt around.

A soft brush: Wipe away gently every small pieces of debris with a soft brush then vacuuming. It employs soft to touch so it is very safe for the wood.

Step 2: Deep Clean the Unfinished Wooden Floors (Must-Do)

Note: Before starting to clean, keep in your mind that too much water can discolor or curve the wood and toxic chemicals can stain the natural wood grain.

Clean with Trisodium Phosphate

Trisodium Phosphate is a crystallized powder which used as a stain remover in flooring. Since unfinished wooden floors are not made water-resistant, so it is easy to absorb the water and leave stains on the surface, discolor or curve it. Therefore, never forget not to use too much water while cleaning.

After pouring a small amount of Trisodium Phosphate onto the stained area, use a scrub brush to work gently onto it. When the stain is cleaned, follow the next step with a warm water rinse.

Since unfinished wooden floors are water-absorbent. Right after rinsing water, take a dry cloth to wipe through the floors again. Try to absorb as much moisture as possible so that the wooden floors cannot be ruined.

Clean with Mineral Spirits

Mineral Spirits is a petroleum-based liquid, a strong chemical which often used to eradicate paint from paintbrushes, and of course, it really works on floor-cleaning.

Firstly, you have to prepare a lint-free cloth or a soft pad to get started. Then rub gently on the stained area. Mineral Spirits has the power to help you to get rid of every stubborn stain without causing any damage to your floors.

Finishing by cleaning with a towel or rag, make sure that no excess amount is left on the floors.

Although this chemical liquid is completely harmless to the floors, it appears to be a toxic product on human beings. Therefore, before cleaning with mineral spirits, keep your rooms breathable. Moreover, wearing a mask can bring extra protection.

Clean with Vinegar

If you are finding an ‘old but gold’ product to clean your house, look no further than your pantry. That’s right! You will find a weapon: Vinegar.

Vinegar is a very popular product in every household. Unlike the two chemical products above, I highly recommend you using Vinegar because of its nature and safety. It is free of toxicant, cheap and simple to use.

Although the cleaning power is great, Vinegar still has some disadvantages. The acidity of vinegar is too strong to be used on its own so it can do more harm than good. Rather, its terrible smell makes it not ideal to keep it linger in your home.

Luckily, we had found water as a smart solution. You can dilute Vinegar with water to control the acidity and reduce the smell. The solution calls for ½ cup of vinegar diluted with every 1 gallon of water

To clean unfinished wooden floors with Vinegar, you need a mixture of Vinegar and water following the proportion above. Dip the clean mop in the mixture then start to mop the floors until they are all clean. Mop the second time with water again to remove all the residues and smells. Easy to do, right?

Safety Precautions

Apart from Vinegar, these two chemical products above are volatile and risky. Both are highly flammable so you should not store them in anyways and never use them in the presence of an open flame or near any flammable area. If you deal with either of these materials, use extreme caution.

Always wear a mask when you work with harsh chemicals like these things. Make sure your room is clear and never use them in the presence of anyone with respiratory problems, especially children.

If you have vulnerable skin, these chemical products can cause painful reactions. So you should wear thick gloves specialized for chemical applications to protect yourselves.

Make sure you read all the instructions carefully. Repeat important thing: these items pose significant hazards – ensure safety. You should dispose of all the cleaning cloth for extra protection.

Conclusion

It is so easy to clean unfinished wooden floors if you know what cleansers to use and how to make use of them. Don’t worry if you make some mistakes. The unfinished floors’ beauty is in its original taste and this beauty will be never lost.

If you have a sense of panic to do everything on your own, call for a professional cleaning company, they were born to help you with these things. And if you work with these hazardous yourselves, please follow my guidelines, remember all the notes carefully and keep your safety.

Hopefully, you will find our article informative. If you like our guides, please share this article with your friends and family members to let them know.

So, do your unfinished wooden floors make your home elegant and charm? How do you keep them clean? Please leave comments below. Thanks for reading!