How To Remove Murphy’s Oil Soap From Hardwood Floors?

Murphy’s Oil soap can leave your floors sticky and hard to remove afterward. Often, people use too many solutions and then worry about how they will remove them from their hardwood floors to prevent them from getting damaged.

The easiest way to remove Murphy’s Oil Soap from hardwood floors is to use a vinegar solution that can counter the solvent’s oily nature and get your floors clean again. However, you must make sure you use only a little of it, or you can damage the finish on your floor.

Let’s dive into the different methods of removing Murphy’s oil soap from hardwood floors.

Does Murphy’s Oil Soap Leave A Residue On Hardwood Floors?

Murphy’s oil soap leaves an oily residue on the surface of the floors. Once you’ve applied MOS on the surface and it dries out, the water evaporates leaving behind an oily residue that can attract dirt and grime and even cause a bad smell if not treated on time.

This residue has been a concern for many hardwood floor owners who want to have a clean finish on their floors without any greasy content.

Does Murphy Oil Soap Have Wax In It?

Murphy’s Oil soap is an oil-based product and does not include any wax in it. As the company claims, it is not made with wax and does not contain any such ingredients in the formula.

It does contain, however, oils that are used for cleaning.

How Do You Get Murphy’s Oil Soap Residue Off Hardwood Floors?

Make a vinegar solution and use a soft toothbrush to rub it into the discoloration, then wait a moment before wiping it away.

If someone places a sticker or adhesive tape on your wood floor, these techniques may still be effective.

Also Read: Does Murphy’s Oil Soap Disinfect Hardwood Floors?

Why Is Vinegar Effective Against Murphy’s Oil Soap?

The acidic properties of vinegar allow it to counter the base present in Murphy’s oil soap solution and remove it from the hardwood floors. I used Lucy’s vinegar for cleaning residue and it magically removed all the buildup.

You can eliminate the sticky residue using a surface cleaner opposing pH to the tough dirt.

For instance, using a base to clean a base is much less effective than using a cleaner for biting surfaces to remove alkaline grime.

Doing so will only increase the intensity as well as quantity of the base. Hence, you need an acid to counter a base.

A decent mop would be good enough to clean the surface with the vinegar solution; however, make sure you don’t dip it in for too long.

It is best to wring out the mop first, so you don’t use an excessive vinegar solution.

Besides, it is better to dry it off and wipe it with a towel as soon as you mop the surface. This helps to prevent the solution from staying on the surface.

Cleaning The Hardwood Floor With Vinegar

Let’s go over how to remove Murphy’s oil soap with Lucy’s white vinegar step by step:

• Add a cup of white vinegar and a gallon of water to the bucket, make the solution, and use a regular mop for cleaning; however, you can also use other products if you like.
• Microfibers are the best cleaners. They are claimed to remove bacteria and perform way better than regular cleaning products.
• Utilize the vinegar solution in a small area before cleaning to see if the wood responds incorrectly. Maintaining a clean, dry floor will help you identify the sticky region.
• Start by using veggie oil. Rub the residue with some veggie oil. Then submerge it for two to three hours. Use the hairdryer to dry the debris with warm air. It will greatly loosen the sediment. Wipe the region with warm water and a dry cotton cloth. The gummy residue will disappear.
• You can then use the furniture polish to remove the adhesive residue. You must apply the polish to the region with a cotton cloth. You should apply the polish more than once to achieve improved results.
• You can use nail paint remover to remove the wood’s stickiness. Apply the nail polish eraser to the region with a cotton ball. Ensure you are distributing in the region where the residue is by rubbing the region in a circular motion. After letting it sit for a while, use a cotton cloth to clean the region. Next, using a damp cloth, remove any remaining nail paint remover from the area.
• You can attempt to use mineral oil to get rid of the adhesive buildup. After applying the oil, rub the region with a cloth. Wipe the dirt off the surface after some time has passed.
• This stage is for persistently sticky, hard messes on the floor. It would be best if you used denatured alcohol to get clear of them. However, you can use a few because they risk damaging the surface.
• To eliminate the sticky residue from the floor without causing any damage to the surface, test the one that only works. Apply alcohol to the area, and then use a towel to wipe it down. It works as an enchantment.
• The adhesive material can be removed using a steam mop. All you have to do is mop the surface with a solution made of warm water and vinegar. When using the mop, you must apply weight. Clean the surface with a mop until the gummy buildup is gone.
• On the market are professional sticky removal tools. You can use natural ingredients to avoid dealing with the inconvenience. Please make certain that it is wood-safe only.

Also Read: What Does Vinegar Do To Wood Floors? The Surprising Effects

Use A Bleach

Although sticky surfaces are annoying, you can remove the debris causing them in various ways.

You can start by using bleach. You have many options, but 3% hydrogen peroxide might be the best choice for such a situation. I use and recommend HARRIS Concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide due to its extra-strength for cleaning residue.

• Spray a two-foot portion of your floor, then wait about two minutes for the cleaner to dry.
• Next, scour the floor area where you applied the cleaner with a dish-scrubbing sponge.
• Immediately wipe the area with a clean, damp cloth after scrubbing to prevent the residue from drying on the hardwood floor.
• Repeat this procedure to remove the remaining Murphy’s oil soap residue from your hardwood floor.

Get A New Finish

The Murphy’s oil soap solution may have gone inside the surface if you’ve left it for a long time. Such situations are not able to be tackled with bleaches or vinegar.

Your only solution now is to sand the floor, remove the current finish, and apply a new finish. It isn’t the greatest option if you have reinforced hardwood floors.

Manufactured floors can usually only be cleaned and refinished a few times before the planks become damaged.

Using this technique as a last option is generally not preferred because it can be pricey, time-consuming, and messy regardless of your wood or engineered hardwood.

Important Pointers: You must use a mop if you want to clean your hardwood floors quickly and effectively. I use Swiffer mop for dry and wet mopping both. I have written a detailed guide on using Swiffer on hardwood floors that I encourage you to read!

While using water to clean the surface is generally safe, moving around rapidly and quickly drying the area with a dry cloth and a fan is crucial.

When damp, wood expands naturally, and if exposed to moisture for an extended period, it can rot, fracture, and splinter.

Because wooden surfaces have pores, the cleaning agent from the wipes may seep into the hardwood floor.

It might discolor the timber and make it rot. The health of genuine wood floors will suffer because of moisture absorption.

Due to their cross- and end-grain construction, they are not protected in any manner, which allows water to permeate the entire material through the capillaries.

Murphy’s Oil Soap can seep into these pores and settle in, causing the floors to trap moisture and remain sticky.

Besides, a white film can also form over them, which might attract dirt and grime and appear as white stains on the surface.

Therefore, unless the area has a finish that closes the pores, like a urethane-protective wood finish, using MOS on your hardwood floors is not recommended.

Many cleaning solutions, such as Murphy’s Oil Soap, contain polyurethane. When liquid, it resembles plastic and shields wooden surfaces as it forms a film over them.

You can clean hard, non-porous flooring with Murphy’s Oil Soap and water solution, particularly the bathrooms and kitchens. Clean every few weeks to get the best results and maintain your floors’ health.

When To Use Murphy’s Oil Soap?

You can use Murphy’s oil soap to clean dirty floors if they are sealed and protected.

Moreover, if your hardwood flooring is non-porous or composite wood, you can use Murphy’s Oil Soap On.

Non-porous wood is a type of wood substance that is sealed and shielded from the elements.

You can clean non-porous hardwood or varnished wood floors with well-known floor cleaners such as MOS.

The company claims its products can be used safely and efficiently on coated (or polished) hardwood surfaces, such as vinyl or treated counter blocks.

Also, don’t forget to go through some conditions when and why you should not use Murphy’s oil soap on hardwood floors.

How To Prevent Hardwood Floors From Getting Dirty Too Quickly?

Although you would need to deep clean them at a certain point, general cleaning, and regular check and balance can keep the hardwood floors from getting too dirty.

Whether you live alone or with a family, you are responsible for looking after the house and ensuring that everything is pristine.

While other family members, especially kids, can spoil the condition of your hardwood floors by throwing food or spilling drinks, your pets can play a major role in your floor’s deterioration by urinating on them.

Hence, cleaning your hardwood floors timely and preventing permanent damage is best. Here are some tips for maintaining hardwood floors and preventing them from getting dirty or infected.

• Clean the wooden items or hardwood floors daily so that dust doesn’t get layered.
• Wipe the floors with a damp, warm cloth at least once a week so the shine of the hardwood doesn’t fade away. If you want to know if Murphy’s oil soap is good, check out my article Does Murphy Oil Soap Make Hardwood Floors Shine.
• Apply a homemade polish every 15 days to restore the hardwood’s lost shine and lock it in.
• Lastly, spray a natural hardwood disinfectant at least once a month to eliminate any risk of infections festering into your floors.

Does Murphy’s Oil Soap Have A Smell?

Murphy’s oil soap has a fragrant smell when applied but this smell can turn into a bad odor once the substance has dried off.

Moreover, once the residue is left behind, it keeps on degrading and after a day or two, you might start to smell a funny odor on your hardwood floors.

A day or two after this, the oily residue leaves off a bad smell which might be unpleasant to your senses and would make you want to get rid of it immediately.

The oil soap that is left behind as a residue will keep on stinking until you have to rinse the floors or use a deodorizing method to get rid of this smell.

How To Get Rid Of Murphy’s Oil Soap Smell From Hardwood Floors?

Baking Powder

Baking soda is a proven ingredient to remove bad odors and stains. If your hardwood floors are also suffering from a bad odor caused by Murphy’s Oil Soap; baking powder can help you in this case.

It is safe to use on sealed or unsealed hardwood floors; however, it will require some attention if your floor is not sealed.

It would help you apply a minimal amount of Nutricost baking powder on the floor you used Murphy’s oil soap on.

Let it sit overnight and vacuum or mop the area the next morning for the best results. Due to its neutralizing abilities, baking powder can soak up smells and toxins from the surface or surroundings. This trick did wonders for me and hopefully it will do it for you too!.

Hardwood Floor Fragrances

Another easy way to get rid of the oily MOS smell is to use a fragrance for hardwood floor cleaners.

This can be a deodorizing agent or a wood conditioner which does not leave any residue and gives you the best results in the removal of bad odors.

You need to wash and dry the affected area with a mop and towels before you attempt to use these types of products.

Letting it sit on Murphy’s oil soap residue would not be suitable as both solutions might react and destroy your hardwood floors.

Once the area has been cleaned, apply the product to the affected area and let it stay for the recommended time before you remove it.

Related: How To Clean And Deodorize Hardwood Floors? The Easy Guide

Bottom Line

Murphy’s Oil Soap is a good product, but if not used correctly or in excess, it can leave residues on the hardwood floors and cause them to become sticky.

Hence, it is important to clean your hardwood floors promptly. When you attempt to clean them with Murphy’s oil soap, make sure you make the solution in the right concentration and don’t use excessive solution.