Wondering if you can use Pine-Sol to clean your hardwood floor? Yes, you can but you also want to do it right. Some homeowners are particular about getting rid of dirt and stains on the floor but when this is not done the right way; it becomes a problem.
With Pine-Sol, the problem can be solved faster. The key is to use the right portion and to wipe clean as fast as possible.
Learn more about everything you need to know about using the solution in the best way possible for cleaning your wooden floor.
How Effective is Pine-Sol?
Pine-Sol has been in use since 1929 and has been rated one of the best cleaning products for floors of all kinds, including hardwood floors.
The effectiveness is because of these reasons:
- The Pine-Sol ingredients aid the faster removal of stains, and interestingly, they are not harmful to the body or the floor, when used in moderation.
- It belongs to the broad spectrum of disinfectants that meet the standards required for protecting the immediate environment. As such, you are certain that the solution doesn’t pose an immediate danger to use when used.
How To Clean Hardwood Floors with Pine-Sol
We are now going to introduce you to the exact steps to take if you must get that shine back on your wooden floor.
1. Gather the Cleaning Tools
Of course, you don’t just need the Pine-Sol for wiping the floor clean. Having the right tools will also go a long way.
These are some of the tools you need:
- Vacuum: you need this to get rid of the dirt or debris on the hardwood floor.
- Mop: go for the conventional, bristle-free mop. This helps you to collect the solution from the bucket and apply it to the floor for excellent cleaning.
- The Right Pine-Sol Product: generally, Pine-Sol is a collection of cleaning products that are used for a variety of purposes. For the hardwood floor, the best ones to use are Tropical Flower, Original Pine Multi-Surface Cleaner, Lavender Clean, and Sparkling Wine.
- Bucket: you need this for two purposes – for mixing the Pine-Sol product with water and for dipping the mop when cleaning the floor.
- Gloves: although most of the Pine-Sol ingredients are environmental-friendly, it doesn’t hurt to use gloves to protect your skin.
- Sponge: sometimes, the stains don’t come off at once. In that case, you need to use a sponge with the Pine-Sol solution to make them go away. You can also substitute the sponge with a toothbrush.
- Clean Towel: you can use either a clean towel or a dry, clean cloth. This is used to wipe off the floor after cleaning with the Pine-Sol solution.
2. Vacuum the Flooring
With the tools ready, start the cleaning process by vacuuming the debris, dust, or dirt on the floor. Depending on how long the flooring has been in use and the traffic around it (how many times it is used in a day); you may prefer vacuuming to sweeping.
3. Prepare the Pine-Sol Solution
The goal here is to dilute the Pine-Sol solution. Diluting it helps to reduce the toxicity it might bring if directly applied to the floor.
For the dilution, use this ratio:
- Dilute or pour ¼ cup of the Pine-Sol into a gallon of water. You can use either tap water or lukewarm water for this purpose.
- Mix the two thoroughly to ensure an effective solution is made.
4. Use Your Mop Wisely
Do not make the mistake of dipping the mop into the solution, taking it out almost immediately, and applying it on the floor.
The rule of thumb is to dip the mophead into the bucket containing the Pine-Sol mixture. Then, wring out excess water from it before applying it to the floor.
5. Clean the Floor Gently
A gentle roll of circular motioning of the mop on the floor is an ideal way to get rid of the stains.
To ensure the cleaning process is done excellently, follow the direction of the wood boards. That way, you clean in a particular order.
6. Extra Step: Tackling Stubborn Stains
Some stains don’t just go away when you roll the mop toward the direction of the wood boards.
For these kinds of stains, you need to take an extra step and this is where you need the sponge or toothbrush, depending on the one you want.
Here’s what to do:
- Dip the toothbrush into the Pine-Sol solution or pour some of the solution on the sponge.
- Fester or neatly spread the solutions over the stained areas on the hardwood floor.
- Use your mop over those areas, this time, a bit harder. The stains should come off. If they didn’t, repeat the process until the marks or stubborn stains are removed.
7. Rinse off the Floor with Water
The last step is rinsing the floor, as you don’t want to leave behind some residues, due to the presence of some of the Pine-Sol solutions.
Use a bucket containing clean water and a new, clean mop. You may also rinse the solution off the other mop and reuse it. There is also a third option – use a clean towel, only that it would be time-consuming and stressful.
Types of Wood Floors to Clean with Pine-Sol
You can use the Pine-Sol solution on a wide range of wooden floorings. Examples are laminated and engineered hardwood floors.
a. Engineered Hardwood Flooring
The solution is usable here because engineered hardwood floors are similar to solid wood floors. The similarities include being made out of wood and not having to bother about water pooling.
It is safe to use the Pine-Sol solution on engineered woods because of these reasons:
- Pine-Sol doesn’t contain ammonia, wax, or oil.
- Pine-Sol is a water-cleaning product; hence, the risks of water pooling are significantly reduced.
b. Laminate Hardwood Flooring
Can you use Pine-Sol on laminate wood floors? Yes, you can! The product is usable with different kinds of finished wood floorings, including laminated wood.
While the Pine-Sol solution wouldn’t “delaminate” the flooring, extra care must be taken to preserve it. The rule of thumb is to wipe off the remnants of the solution from the flooring with the aid of a mop dipped in clean water.
Precautions to Take When Cleaning Hardwood Floors with Pine-Sol
To achieve a streak-free finish, here are some of the measures to have in place:
a. Cautious Use is Advised
Only use ¼ cup of Pine-Sol with a gallon of water. You can increase or decrease the mixture, depending on the quantity of water you want to use and the length of the areas to be cleaned.
b. Be Careful with Stubborn Stain Removal
The ideal tools to use for removing stubborn stains and (shoe) marks are toothbrushes and sponges.
Do not use steel wool or scouring pads, as they are rough and could remove the flooring’s sealant.
c. Do not Leave the Flooring Unrinsed
Rinsing the flooring with clean water is a must. It is not limited to the laminated wood floors. By rinsing the floor, there would be little or no (excess) Pine-Sol solution left behind. These excesses tend to warp or crack the hardwood floor.
d. Pine-Sol is not Ideal for all “Wooden” Floors
Although Pine-Sol is adaptable to wood, you must not use it for all woods. For emphasis, you can use it for both laminated and engineered wood floorings. However, this comes with caution – these floorings must be sealed.
Also, you must avoid using Pine-Sol solution on waxed, oiled, unfinished, and unpainted wooden floorings.
Final Words: Pine-Sol is Ideal for Hardwood Floors
You can use a ¼ cup of Pine-Sol with a gallon of water to get rid of stains on hardwood floors. Of course, this is subject to the fact that the wood is sealed, finished, is not waxed, or oiled, and is painted.
With those in place, the Pine-Sol wouldn’t damage the floor but would leave it with a streak-free finish and a bonus – fresh-smelling scent.