How To Make Hardwood Floors Shine Without Wax?

Cleaning hardwood floors is essential to maintaining your house and keeping everything in check.

Hardwood floors often succumb to dirt and dust, and if they are not cared for properly, they might start to deteriorate before time and even start to show signs of damage in the planks.

Many people want to keep their hardwood floors clean and make them shine. However, many homeowners often need to pay more attention to using wax.

The easiest way to make hardwood floors shine without wax is to use natural cleaning solutions or commercial products which support and condition hardwood floors.

Both of these options are extremely useful and effective and will be discussed later on. So stay tuned!

Reasons Your Hardwood Floors Look Dull

Here is a list of possibilities that can rob your flooring of shine and luster.

• Inefficient cleaning leads to a buildup of dirt, dust, and grime.
• Using a dirty mop or dirty water to clean your hardwood floors. Make sure to use a clean mop and replace water periodically for best results.
• Wax buildup
• Using harsh or extensive amounts of floor cleaners.
• Improper buffing after sealing or inefficient drying after using commercial cleaners.
• Stains and scratches
• Worn-off floors may require refinishing.

Also Read: Why Does My Hardwood Floor Look Cloudy?

Why Is It Necessary To Make The Hardwood Floors Shine?

The main reason to make the hardwood floors shine is to prevent them from getting dull and losing their color.

If you maintain the shine and ensure that it remains locked in, it will increase the life of your hardwood floors but will also help to improve the appearance and overall conditions.

In best-case scenarios, minimal damage on your hardwood floors can be reversed through proper care and maintenance.

It is a very pleasant experience to walk into a house with hardwood flooring; most certainly, everyone loves it.

Moreover, a hardwood floor that is crystal clean and has a nice shine is admired the most. Many homeowners want their hardwood floors to retain their value and are hence reluctant towards using chemicals and commercial products on their hardwood floors.

Resultantly, they shift towards natural alternatives to make their hardwood floors shine. If you are also someone who wants to make their hardwood floors shine, tread along, and you will find many useful tips.

Also Read: Should You Wax Hardwood Floors?

How Do You Make No Wax Floors Shine Again?

Making hardwood floors shine is a relatively easy task. If you want to do it naturally, you can assume that the job got easier. Natural shining solutions or polishes for hardwood floors are fairly simple and easy.

Below are many useful solutions which you can use depending on what your requirement is:

Vinegar & Olive Oil

• 250ml Vinegar
• 1 tbsp Olive Oil
• 250ml water

Vinegar is renowned in homes for its cleaning, cleansing, and purifying properties. The mildly acidic nature acts not just as a cleaner but also as a polish.

Not only will it make your hardwood floors shine, but it will also disinfect the surface and make it free of germs.

While acids can be a bit harsh on the wood, the oil in the solution comes as the savior at this point.

Olive oil is best for returning moisture to the surface and sealing it, so the hardwood is neither prone to humidity nor too dry that it starts to crack up. Mix both of these ingredients in water and make a solution.

Put the solution in a spray bottle and shake it well as the oil may start to separate. Spray it on your hardwood floors and rub well for a decent shine.

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Vinegar, Lemon Juice & Olive Oil

• 2 parts Vinegar
• 1 part lemon juice
• 2 parts Olive Oil

If your hardwood floors have been dull for a long time, this solution will help restore their original color and shine over time.

However, it would help if you remained patient, as the results will not appear instantly. The vinegar and lemon juice make sure to combat all the unwanted substances that might be present on the wood’s surface and make it clean again.

At the same time, the olive oil will ensure a return of moisture and seal it to prevent it from getting infected again. The oil finish will also give it a suitable shine and enrich its luster.

Mix these into a solution using a spray bottle or a bowl.

All In One Polish

If your hardwood floor is dark and you are worried that a strong polish might cause it to lose color, we have something in store for you.

This magic recipe will cure all your problems and make your hardwood floors look as good as new.

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 20-30 drops of lavender essential oil (optional)
• Spray bottle
• Soft cloth
• 1 tablespoon vegetable glycerin (optional)
• ½ cup apple cider vinegar
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

Add all these ingredients to a spray bottle and mix well. You can spray this on a soft cloth, clean the hardwood, or spray it directly on the wood.

All-In-One Stain Remover

• ½ cup baking soda
• ½ cup of Water
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar

You will likely have stains on your wooden floors if you have kids in the house. This all-in-one stain removal solution will restore your wooden items’ spotless look.

Mix these ingredients into a solution and spray it over the stained area. Scrub with a clean cloth and wipe with damp kitchen paper.

Lemon Juice & Water

• 1 part lemon juice
• 2 parts water

Many people are against vinegar as it will make the wood lose its color and is too harsh because of its acidic nature.

If you are not aware of what harm the frequent use of vinegar can do to your wooden floors, I encourage you to read this article I have recently written the surprising way vinegar can damage hardwood floors.

If you also think similarly, you can replace vinegar with a natural acid.

Lemon juice is not only the right type of acid to clean your hardwood floors and make them shine, but it also gives them a pleasant fragrance that deodorizes them.

Besides, it would be best to make a diluted solution, and you will be ready.

However, remember that this shiner should not be used on wooden surfaces with an oil finish.

Tea

• Tea bags
• Water

Due to its acidic nature, tea is an amazing cleaner and shiner for hardwood floors. This technique is fairly simple and can benefit you in various ways.

Firstly, it is fairly easy and can be done in minutes; you must brew the tea and clean the floors with it. Secondly, it is quite cheap and convenient compared to other solutions.

Therefore, it is a suitable method to restore the shine of your hardwood floors which might have been lost some time ago.

Vegetable Oil & White Vinegar

• 1 part vegetable oil
• 1 part vinegar

This harsh solution should be used on something other than new hardwood floors.

It is not diluted in any way as it is made for old hardwood floors, which have lost their color and shine for some time now.

Besides, this is also very easy to make as you need to mix two ingredients in equal portions and apply them to the surface.

As vinegar is a natural polish, it will restore the shine of your hardwood floors and combat dirt and grim to clean the floors.

Vegetable oil, on the other hand, will seal the floors and lock the shine in so it can last longer.

Commercial Products

If you are fine with using commercial products to clean and make your hardwood floors shine, there are many options that you can choose from.

Below are some tested and proven cleaners and polishes to make your hardwood floors shine.

Murphy’s Oil Soap

Murphy oil soap can bring shine and clean your hardwood floor with proper guidance.

While different oil soap brings out the shine of flooring, Murphy oil soap does a much better job cleaning wood. Unlike polish, it does not buff or fix scuffs and scrapes.

However, it is designed to intelligently combat any residues or remnants on or on the surface of your wooden floors. It clears any blockage in the pores and adds shine and moisture to them.

Without creating a greasy residue, the product is designed to lay out a healthy shine on wood surfaces, paneling, and furnishings if not used in excess.

It seeks to bring out the charm of wood gently and naturally. Wood treated with Murphy’s Oil can develop a satin surface and a deep, rich luster.

Pine-Sol

Pine-Sol is a superb disinfectant and shiner for wooden surfaces. Often, wooden polishes are only suited for some surfaces and finishes.

You might’ve encountered situations where acid-based cleaners and disinfectants ruined oil-finished surfaces.

But thankfully, this is not the case with Pine-Sol, as it is a very mild polish suitable for all types of surfaces.

Coming to its effectiveness, it has been tested on different types of wood and finishes. It has come out successful in all tests and is a verified disinfectant.

Moreover, it does not damage porous wooden surfaces as most disinfectants do. They usually seep into the pores, making the wood swell and lose its original form.

Instead of bringing out the shine, this causes clogging of the pores and allows molds to build.

However, Pine-Sol is very gentle on your wooden belongings and an effective disinfectant that you must have in your house.

Bona Pro Concentrated Cleaning Solution

Bona Pro hardwood concentration is a non-toxic, ph-neutral wooden floor cleaner and shiner with a recipe designed for professionals.

It brings out an exceptional amount of long-lasting shine in your hardwood floors, which you might wish for.

Moreover, unlike many of its competitors in the market, it is super affordable and long-lasting.

One gallon of diluted concentrate should last around a year based on a 500-floor clean once weekly. Besides, you can create 7 gallons of solvent with only one gallon!

Another mind-blowing feature of this product is its compatibility with all types of surfaces, whether they are finished, unfinished, waxed, or sealed.

It is intended for all non-waxed, polyurethane, aluminum oxide, or acrylic prefinished wood, bamboo, and cork flooring in the home and commercial settings.

It poses no threat to you, the environment, or the floor. The VOC concentration is under 3%, and there is hardly any smell.

Preparing Your Hardwood Floors for Shining

• Achieving a sparkling shine on your hardwood floors requires more than just applying a solvent. Proper cleaning and disinfecting are crucial steps to prevent bacteria and infections from damaging the surface. If you’re unsure about how to clean and disinfect your floors, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.
• To start, thoroughly vacuum the floor to remove any dust, food residue, lint, or fur that may be present. This step is crucial to prevent these particles from getting trapped on the surface during the polishing process. Avoid wet mopping the floor if it’s too dirty, as this may create a muddy mess or move dirt around.
• Once you’ve finished vacuuming, it’s time to mop the floor with water and your desired cleaning product. This will eliminate any remaining dust particles that the vacuum may have missed. Be sure to clean the corners and edges of the floor with a wet cloth, as these areas are often missed by the mop.
• If your floor hasn’t been cleaned in a while and has crusted dust, use a mild brush or toothbrush to scrub it away. This will remove any dirt and grime stuck between the flooring boards. After cleaning, use a paper towel to wipe the surface dry and remove any unseen stickiness. Pay special attention to the corners and edges, as these areas are prone to accumulating dust and grime.

By following these steps, you’ll ensure that your hardwood floors are properly cleaned and disinfected before polishing, resulting in a beautifully shiny and long-lasting surface.

Related: What Is The Cheapest Way To Clean Hardwood Floors?

Shining No Wax Hardwood Floors

Shining hardwood floors with natural or commercial products is very easy.

Although there are instructions available on the commercial products, we will provide you with a general shining method to allow you to use the products correctly and receive maximum benefit.

• Firstly, you must make the solution or get the product you want.
• Then you must clear the area of any objects and make sure that the floor has been cleaned according to the method mentioned earlier.
• You can add natural solutions into a spray bottle and apply them to the desired areas. Commercial products either come in a spray bottle, or you must make a solution from them. You can make a solution and put it in a spray bottle if it’s the latter.
• Once you’ve applied the solution to the desired surface, start rubbing it with a microfiber or lint-free cloth.
• Make sure you rub along the wood grain for best results, as it allows the solution to settle into the surface and makes the shine last longer.
• Lastly, dividing the area into portions and shine is best to make it easier. Besides, ensure you’ve given it enough time to dry off before stepping on it. If you’ve used a natural solvent, you do not need to rinse it; however, the case may vary with commercial products, so it’s best to consult the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Why Shouldn’t You Use Wax To Make Hardwood Floors Shine?

Waxing hardwood floors is not recommended because it may attract dirt and grime, make floors slippery and difficult to maintain, and cause damage to the floors over time.

It is better to use a specialized hardwood floor cleaner designed to clean and protect floors without leaving a waxy residue.

However, if you still want to wax your wood floors to get instant shine, check out this comprehensive guide on how to wax hardwood floors naturally.

Here’s the detailed discussion!

• Staining

The most disturbing disadvantage of wax finishing is its attribute to stain the wood over time and cause it to darken or lose color.

Although timely re-waxing can be avoided, it is still a major concern.

• Inefficiency

Although it is very cost-effective and easy to apply, it is less durable and long-lasting than many competitors, such as polyurethane.

This means that although you get a pretty strong protective shield for some time, it might last less than expected.

After some time, you will surely need to replace it with new coatings and repeat the process.

• Not Suitable For Most Surfaces

No wax or finished surfaces do not support any wax and will only be damaged by it; hence, wax is only compatible with some surfaces.

Moreover, you can’t use wax on surfaces treated or sealed by urethane or polyurethane.

These two categories don’t go hand in hand; if you try to mix them up, you’ll ruin your hardwood floors.

Final Thoughts

Shining hardwood floors without wax is a very simple and useful process. Whether you use natural or synthetic products, you will surely receive favorable results, and your hardwood floors will experience a decent shine.

Besides, doing so will also allow the floors to retain and restore their color for a long time which can certainly increase the life of your wooden flooring.

Hardwood floors are an investment, and you must ensure that your investment retains its value.

Hence, if you have not polished or attempted any shining solution on your hardwood floors, now is the time to do so