Unfinished wood floors can be a little tricky to deal with when it comes to cleaning, especially because they lack the protective barrier found on finished floors. Fortunately, there are several materials and cleaners that can do the job — as long as you follow the right steps.
It’s best to use a natural solution like vinegar and water, a TSP solution, dish soap and water, or mineral spirits to clean unfinished wood. Always take special care and follow the proper method for whichever option you use. Avoid using a steam mop on unfinished wood, as it can cause damage.
Let’s take a closer look at how to clean unfinished wood floors without damaging them, including the best products to use as well as the products you shouldn’t use under any circumstances.
What’s the Best Way to Clean Unsealed Hardwood Floors?
If you want to clean unsealed hardwood floors, you’ll have to use a cleaner that isn’t too harsh or corrosive but is still good enough to get the job done. It can be difficult to find the right option since many substances are already harsh on hardwood generally, let alone unfinished wood — and, unfortunately, water alone won’t be sufficient.
Fortunately, there are a few products that work well, including both natural and commercial options.
The first thing you should do before proceeding, however, is to vacuum the floor. This will take care of any dirt and debris and ensure it doesn’t get mixed into the cleaning process or forced down into the floor.
It’s critical to stay aware of the fact that the hardwood is unfinished, and you need to be super careful. Let’s now go through some of the best products to use:
Vinegar
The first thing you need to do when cleaning the floor with vinegar (which you can buy on Amazon) is to prepare a good cleaning solution. You can do this by mixing one cup of vinegar with a gallon of water in a bucket.
Although many people might be used to using more vinegar, you need to remember that the floor is unfinished and therefore more delicate, so watering down the vinegar as much as possible is ideal.
You’ll then want to mop the floor with the vinegar solution. Try squeezing out the mop each time you dip it in the solution to remove as much of the excess liquid as possible. Wood is prone to moisture damage, so you don’t want to let any seep into the floor.
You should then make sure the floor has adequate time to dry. In the meantime, keep objects off the floor and avoid walking on it.
Spot Clean Stains With TSP
Sometimes, you may not need to clean the floor but just get some stains out. For this, Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) (on Amazon) is ideal, because it doesn’t harm the wood. You can also use TSP over the entire floor if necessary, although you usually don’t have to.
Dissolve half a cup of the TSP into about two gallons hot water. Some TSP already comes pre-dissolved, but for this step, we’re assuming you bought the powder. If not, you can go ahead and skip this step.
You should apply around a teaspoon of the solution to any stains you might see. You can use a toothbrush or a shoe polish brush (on Amazon) to scrub out the stain. The ideal brush size depends mostly on the size of the stain, so choose whatever works best and seems to be most efficient.
Unlike vinegar, you shouldn’t leave the TSP solution to dry on its own. Instead, get a towel and pat the area dry. The stain should be gone.
Mineral Spirits
Mineral spirits are stronger than the above methods, so make sure you’re wearing the proper safety equipment like a respirator mask and safety goggles and ensure the room is as well ventilated as possible before continuing.
You can then take your mineral spirits in a spray bottle and spray them where needed. They should be able to get rid of any stains.
Make sure you use a dry cloth to absorb any cleaner that’s left on the floor after doing this, as it can become corrosive when left for too long.
Dish Soap
Perhaps the most mild cleaner — and the one that’s least likely to do damage to the unfinished floors — is dish soap (which you can also buy on Amazon). You can mix equal parts dish soap and warm water together in a bucket and then go ahead with cleaning the floor.
Lightly mop the floor with the solution, making sure to squeeze the excess off before making contact with the floor. Again, you don’t want to risk water seeping into the wood.
You can then leave the floor to dry once you’ve mopped it all. This is the best solution if the floor doesn’t need too much of a heavy clean, but it may not be the best at getting rid of very stubborn stains.
What’s a Good Cleaner for Unfinished Wood?
If you don’t want to mix up your own solution, there are a few commercial cleaners for wood that work quite well, such as:
- Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner Spray (on Amazon)
- EcoDecors Wood Cleaner (on Amazon)
- Method Daily Wood Cleaner (on Amazon)
You shouldn’t, however, grab any old cleaner nor should you use one that isn’t intended for wood. For example, some cleaners may be intended for laminate floors. These are meant for much more durable surfaces, and definitely shouldn’t be used on unfinished wood.
So, how do you tell a good cleaner? Firstly, you’ll want to make sure it’s specifically designed for wood. You’ll also want to make sure it has good reviews.
If it doesn’t specifically mention in the product description that it’s for unfinished wood, try searching the reviews for the word ‘unfinished’ to see success stories. You can also check the ingredients — anything with ammonia, for example, won’t be good for unfinished wood.
If you plan to use the cleaner on your whole floor rather than just staining the wood, it’s always helpful to use a tiny bit of the cleaner first and work your way up to more.
Can You Use a Steam Mop on Unsealed Wood Floors?
It’s generally not recommended to use a steam mop on unsealed wood floors, as the high heat and moisture can cause the wood to warp or buckle, or even damage the finish if the wood is stained.
Unsealed wood is particularly susceptible to damage from moisture, so it’s important to be cautious when cleaning it.
It’s better to stick to a spray mop or a dry mop. A steam mop is just too harsh for unsealed wood, and it can even be bad for stained wood.
Common Mistakes When Cleaning Unsealed Wood Floors
There are a few common mistakes people make when cleaning unsealed wood floors, including the following:
Not Vacuuming First
Whatever method you’re using to clean your wood floors, you should vacuum first. This gets rid of any dust and debris that may have collected, which could pose a problem if you clean while it’s still there. Dust and debris could end up sinking deeper into your wood floors during the cleaning process.
Using a Harsh Product
Another common mistake people make is using too harsh of a product. Although it may be tempting to use bleach or something equally corrosive on a stubborn stain, this can be a huge problem, as it could damage the floor, and you may need a professional to come and fix it.
If there’s a stain you can’t get out with one of the above methods, try repeating the method when the wood is dry or calling a professional before the problem is beyond repair.
Excess Water
Many people use the right method but too much water. Water stains can show up on the wood as unexplainable white marks, and, in the worst-case scenario, they could sink into the wood and cause water damage and mold.
Mold can be very hard to get out of wood, especially when it hasn’t been finished and can set in easier.
Harsh Equipment
Another common mistake people make is using harsh equipment. Steel wool, for example, can scratch the floor, and a steam mop can also do damage, as we mentioned above.
The harshest thing you should be using on the floor is a shoe polish brush or toothbrush, as the bristles are about the scratchiest thing an unfinished floor can withstand.
What Happens if I Use a Harsh Product?
What’s the worst that can happen is if you use a harsh product on your unfinished wood floor? There are a number of potential issues:
- It can remove the natural color from wood. This can lead to discoloration and patchiness on the floor.
- It can break down the lignin in wood fibers, which are responsible for holding the wood together. This can lead to weakened wood fibers that may splinter, crack, or even break.
- The moisture content in harsh cleaning products can cause wood to expand, leading to warping or buckling. This can cause the wood to become uneven, making it difficult or impossible to lay flooring over it.
- It could have a strong, unpleasant odor that can linger for days or even weeks. This can be particularly problematic if the wood is in a living space.
- If it’s a harsh method rather than product, you could scratch the wood. This could be visible even after finishing it.
Final Thoughts
All in all, unfinished wood floors can be cleaned successfully, but they do require more care than finished floors.
Always make sure you use the appropriate products and methods since resorting to something harsher or rushing the job could make a bigger mess than you started out with (or worse, cause a problem that’s beyond repair).