Why Not To Use Murphy’s Oil Soap On Hardwood Floors?

Last updated on April 1st, 2024 at 07:56 pm

Murphy Oil soap is a water-oil mixture that is momentarily solid, meaning that water holds it in suspension when oil is liquid.

The polyurethane prevents it from adhering to the wood when you attempt to get a fresh finish. The water in the enclosure evaporates when the MOS is applied to the floor.

The other molecular components that make up Murphy Oil soap are all that is left after the water dries off the floor.

It would help if you do not use Murphy’s oil soap on wooden floors because it leaves a residue that eventually gives the floor a dingy and dirty appearance. Hardwood surfaces that have been damaged by it may need to be completely sanded and resealed.

The bottom line is that every time Murphy oil soap is applied, it leaves a shiny but greasy residue on the floor, particularly if Murphy oil soap is not correctly diluted, which is usually the case when oil in it is left on the ground.

This oil may and will get into the wood through the polyurethane finish on the surface.

Should You Use Murphy’s Oil Soap On A Hardwood Floor?

You can use murphy oil soap on the hardwood floor but it is advised that you do so sparingly and only on sealed floors.

Although Murphy’s oil soap may benefit hardwood floors, it is not considered the finest cleaning solution for hardwood floors.

To benefit from the oil soap without damaging your floor by causing an oily buildup, think about using it once every month or less frequently. Here’s how to remove Murphy’s oil soap sticky residue.

Although you can thoroughly clean wood flooring with Murphy Oil soap, it cannot buff or fix scuffs and scrapes.

The good news is that there is also Murphy’s oil soap wood floor cleaner which won’t harm your wooden floors.

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

Pros

• Budget-friendly
• It has a recognizable citronella fragrance
• Tends to last longer when used in a concentrated form
• It has been available for more than a century

Cons

• Leave a sticky smear
• It could harm the surface if used frequently
• Some clients have reported that the cleaner irritates the feet of their dogs
• Some individuals may find a strong scent to be too overwhelming
• Must dilute the fluid

How Does Murphy’s Oil Soap Damage Hardwood Floors?

Murphy’s Oil Soap is an oil-based cleaning solution that leaves an oily residue once dried. As it comes in a concentrated form, you have to dilute the solution using water and then apply it to your hardwood floors.

Once you’ve done this, the solution starts to dry but only the water and a few other substances evaporate while the oil remains on the surface.

This attracts dirt and mud as you tread on it or simply from the environment, slowly as you repeat this process there is a dark layer starting to form on top of your hardwood floors.

The oil mixed up with all the dirt and grime hardens and forms a solidified layer on the top.

Besides, this might cause your wood to lose its original color and grain while becoming dull and weak.

See Also: Can You Use Lysol Wipes On Hardwood Floors: Yes Or No?

What Types Of Surfaces Are Suitable For Murphy’s Oil Soap?

Wood, laminate, tile, and linoleum surfaces can all be cleaned and suitable for Murphy Oil Soap wood floor cleaner. Here are some areas in which you can apply Murphy’s oil.

Versatile Cleaner

It is suggested by the company that you can clean plastic, metal, glass, or wood objects with Murphy Oil Soap for outdoor furniture.

You can also apply it to other pieces of furniture, including bed frames, end tables, nightstands, and your wooden dining room table and seats.

Toilet Cleaner

You can use the Murphy Oil soap in the restroom as well. Use it on the ceiling, floor, absorbs, counters, bathrooms, showers, and other surfaces after combining it with water to make an all-purpose disinfectant for the space.

Check out my comprehensive guide on Does Murphy’s Oil Soap Disinfect Hardwood Floors.

Clothing Stain Remover

Use the Murphy’s soap at maximum strength on the stained areas to remove persistent stains, then wash the impacted items in the washer and dryer.

Give the mixture time to formulate before putting your garments in the washer to increase its efficacy.

Conditioner for Leather

Use oil soap to thoroughly clean leather surfaces and upholstery, but remember to keep it away from anything made of fabric.

Use the solution at full strength for best results and apply it immediately to a dry cloth. For added shine, rub the region firmly before buffing any leftover material off with an additional piece of cloth.

Insect Repellent

Make a natural bug repellent for gardens and landscaping by combining Murphy Oil Soap, rubbing alcoholic beverages, water, vegetable oil, and lemon juice.

You May Also Like: Can You Use Lysol Wipes On Hardwood Floors: Yes Or No?

When Should You Not Use Murphy’s Oil Soap?

If your hardwood floors are not sealed or have a finish that goes against oily substances, you must refrain from using MOS on your hardwood floors.

Unsealed porous surfaces can be heavily damaged by the residue as it can see in and settle in the pores of your hardwood floors causing clogging, trapping moisture, and attracting dirt and grime inside the hardwood floor’s surface.

Hence, it is recommended to not use MOS on any unsealed porous surface.

How To Safely Use Murphy’s Oil Soap On Hardwood Floors?

Let’s get started with the instructions for using Murphy’s Oil Soap to clean hardwood floors properly:

• Set aside a big container, water, and the oil soap. For this job, you can employ any mop that you like.
• Fill a large container with a gallon of warm water, 1/4 cup of soap, and other cleaning supplies. To prevent the water and oil soap from separating, apply the water right after the oil soap.
• Using the mop you’ll be using to clear the floor, thoroughly combine the bucket’s contents. The right amount of liquid should be on the mop’s fiber after you wring it.
• Commence mopping your surface as you would with cleaning products from this point forward. Let the mop be dipped once more into the solution every few strokes.
• If you already have a diluted version of the soap, apply it straight to the floor and mop it up as usual. Following that, you won’t need to use the container any longer!
• In the end, let the scrubber air dry your floor by itself.

Related: Do You Dilute Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner: Expert Tips

Is Murphy’s Oil Soap Toxic?

When used according to instructions, the components in Murphy Oil Soap aren’t toxic.

However, studies indicate a danger of toxicity if you have children under two or three who crawl on the floor and lick it.

Children may experience toxicity if they consume the product. Still, they are unlikely to do so by clicking a surface that has been cleaned with it.

Suppose you use it regularly on your hardwood floor. In that case, it will become toxic because it creates residue and damages your floor.

Murphy Oil Soap includes sodium gallate, trisodium MGDA, and lauramidopropyl dimethylamine oxide; none of these constituents are toxic when the product is used as directed as a floor cleaner.

However, ingestion can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Murphy’s Oil Soap Vs. Bona

Your hardwood, laminated material, tile, and linoleum surfaces will shine with Murphy Oil Soap. You can use this oil-based soap for a variety of tasks.

Although Murphy’s Oil Soap works wonders on some surfaces, wood makers advise against using it on hardwood or applying it too frequently because it leaves a residue.

On the other hand, Bona hardwood floor cleaner completely shields all polyurethane-finished hardwood surfaces that have yet to be waxed or oiled. Its pH-neutral, water-based, and pet-friendly composition also dries in just 90 seconds.

This residue-free cleaner is made to clear various surfaces, including laminate and hardwood floors.

It won’t harm your wood surfaces over time and gently removes filth and grime for an organic shine, keeping no particles, dust, or dirt behind.

Don’t Miss: Why Does My Hardwood Floor Look Cloudy?

Does Murphy’s Oil Ruin the Hardwood Floor?

Murphy’s Oil soap has ruined millions of square meters of wood flooring.

You should be aware that using it frequently over a prolonged time can damage hardwood floors, making them dull and covered in an oily buildup. Your surfaces need to be fixed if this occurs.

Applying a fresh MOS coat to clean your floors locks in an additional layer of filth and dirt that is now contained in and beneath the MOS finish.

If you keep doing this, it eventually layers up like an onion. MOS on top of dirt, on top of grime, and so forth.

As a result, when you try to clear it, the wood’s grain and hue of your floor become duller, darker, and dirtier.

Takeaway

Murphy’s Oil Soap can be used on hardwood floors if you follow the instructions precisely. It can clean various types of surfaces and show amazing results.

However, if you don’t use it the right way, it might even destroy your wooden flooring. Hence, it is important that you pay heed to the points mentioned above and ensure that you use them safely.