Is Vinegar Safe To Use When Cleaning Hardwood Floors?

Hardwood flooring lends a beautiful and timeless look to any space, but knowing what to use to keep it clean can be difficult. Though there are plenty of cleaners out there to choose from, you may have heard about using vinegar as a natural alternative. However, you'll definitely be cleaning your hardwood the wrong way if you do so. Though vinegar is an excellent ingredient to keep stocked for both seasoning dishes and cleaning your home, when it comes to hardwood flooring it's definitely a product to steer clear of.

Solid hardwood floors can last for a long time (up to 100 years!) if maintained and cleaned properly, so it's key that you use the right products. Using the wrong ingredient to keep your flooring clean, even just a small amount, could have disastrous consequences that can't always be fixed. Luckily for you, we've gathered all the information you need to know about why you should avoid vinegar when cleaning hardwood floors and what to use in its place. 

Now you know to avoid using vinegar on your hardwood flooring at all costs, you're probably curious why the ingredient is such a no-go. It all comes down to the acidic pH of vinegar, which is too strong for hardwood and can break or harm your floor's seal. Once the seal of the hardwood floor has been damaged, even the shiniest of floors can look dull due to etching. Though diluting vinegar with water will lessen its acidity, we still don't recommend using this solution to clean your hardwood floor, especially sealed hardwood floor.

Plus, using too much water could overload your floor with moisture. This, in turn, leads to a whole other host of water damage issues, including potential warping, visible mold, and discoloration. It is sometimes possible to repair water-damaged wood floors, but the process is costly and may not restore your floor to how it looked pre-water damage. 

Instead of vinegar, try the following method to clean your hardwood floor. It's incredibly easy to carry out and suitable for all types of wood floors. For daily cleaning and maintenance, use a vacuum. This will help keep your floor free of dust and dirt. If your hardwood floor is in a busy area like a kitchen or entryway, add mopping to your cleaning routine weekly or twice weekly. Remember not to use too much water when mopping to prevent water damage. A good way to ensure you won't cause accidental damage is to squeeze out excess water from the mop until it is no longer dripping any water.

For mopping, use 4 cups of warm water with a small amount of mild dish soap. If you prefer, you can also spot clean using a soft cloth and the above solution. When you have finished mopping, do not let your floor dry naturally. Go in with a dry cloth or dry mop as needed. This method will keep your hardwood floor gleaming without the need for vinegar or other potentially harmful cleaning ingredients.