5 Steps To Clean Unfinished Wood Floors In 15 Mins Or Less

Do you want to learn how to clean unfinished wood floors quickly and without ruining them? I have the perfect solution for you.

Unfinished wood floors are difficult to clean because they absorb everything. It’s puzzling why many people don’t just opt for a lacquered finish, but I respect your choices.

You might only be keeping them unpolished for a while and need a way to care for them in the interim.

I too have experienced having unfinished engineered wood floors for a while after our renovation.

To make matters more interesting, we even hosted a party at our house with the unfinished floors.

All the oil, food and drinks soaked into the floors within minutes. At that point, I was almost convinced that these stains were impossible to remove.

Here’s where it gets interesting. We had a flooring company scheduled to lacquer the floors within two days, which meant I had to act quickly. 

After giving it a thorough clean and getting it spotless for lacquering, I am so excited to walk you through the five steps I took to transform our grimy unfinished wood flooring and make the spotless.

Step-By-Step Guide For Cleaning Unfinished Hardwood Floors

Before I share the steps I must say that the cleaning process for unfinished hardwood floors in 15 minutes or less as promised depends on the surface area you are working with. 

Larger surface areas will require a bit more time. 

I called up about five flooring companies and these were the tips they shared with me.

Step #1 – Sand

Due to the nature of unfinished wooden floors, it will stain and become damaged over time. 

However, sanding is a good way to remove any set stains, Infact one of the wood flooring companies I called said it’s the only way to remove tough stains from raw hardwood. 

To use: 

• Go over the stained area with an 80 to 120 grit sandpaper or sanding block in a circular motion or back and forth 
• You may choose to go over it with an extra fine sandpaper with 360-400 grit but it is no necessary as any lacquering company, if you decide to lacquer, will do that anyway.

Estimated Time Spent: 3 mins

Step #2 – Spot Treat

Inspect the floor to see if there are any areas with hard stains. 

The nature of unfinished flooring means you might get a few stubborn stains here and there. Here are a few ways to get them off:

• For paint stains – I tested over 10 different ways to remove paint from hardwood and the best thing to remove paint is acetone/nail polish remover.
• For caked on stain – Try a plastic scraper to gently scrape it off.
• For liquid stains – Use a concentrated mix of warm water and dish soap over the stain. Work in circular motions and dry immediately. Raw wood floors don’t do well with water. 
• For oil stains – Put some lacquer thinner or mineral spirits/white spirit on a clean cloth and work over the oil stain. If it doesn’t come off, try step one.

Estimated Time Spent: 2 mins

Step #3 – Vacuum/ Sweep

Now it’s time to remove any dust from the surface of the wood.

You can use a soft-bristled broom to sweep but I prefer a vacuum cleaner because you are better able to get into the crevices of the flooring. 

If using a vacuum cleaner it might be worth using one with multiple attachments.

This way, you can use the brush attachments to get into the corners and baseboards/skirting boards. 

To vacuum correctly here are my top tips:

• Use the right setting for hardwood floors or switch out the beater bar attachment.
• Dust the room you are vacuuming, that way all the dust and dirt on surfaces can be vacuumed off.
• Start with the corners and edges.
• Work your way from the furthest corner of the room to the exit.

I share how to vacuum hardwood floors in more detail here. 

Estimated Time Spent: 5 mins

Step #4 – Mop

Mopping unfinished wood flooring is an art.

You want to clean in such a way that the water has no chance to penetrate the grain of the wood. 

Do not use steam mops because they may warp the wood due to the heat and potentially leaving too much water on the floor.

I prefer using a mop because I can control any excess liquid that is left on the floors.

To deep clean the floors and remove any dust or grime, I use a vinegar solution, however I must warn that this is a one time thing only and you have to do it very carefully else, you might damage your floors. 

Consistently using vinegar on wood floors whether finished or unfinished may eventually damage it.

So kindly follow my instructions. For best results, use a microfiber mop. Here’s how to do it:

• Add a cup of white vinegar to a gallon of warm water and add a drop of dish soap.
• Wring the mop until there is hardy any water left on it. You want a damp mop but not so damp that it soaks the grain of the wood. 
• Go over the wood in long strokes, if you feel any resistance on the floor as you mop, redip in the cleaning solution but don’t wring too much this time. Knowing how long to wring is an art and you’ll figure it out as you go along. 

Estimated Time Spent: 7 mins

Step #5 – Dry

If by any chance there is any excess water on the surface of the floor, go over it with a dry mop.

You can also go over any wet areas with a a dry microfibre cloth.

Estimated Time Spent: 3 mins

How To Protect Unfinished Wood Floors

Like I mentioned at the start of this post, the best option for keeping your wood floors looking good for years and years and prevent any permanent damage is by adding a protective layer.

Here are some options available:

1. Oil Finish
2. Wax Finish
3. Lacquer

I spoke to several wood flooring company representatives and the sentiments were unanimous. “You can’t live in a house with unfinished wood floors. Raw wood it will stain and damage in time”

They were also generous enough to share some pros and cons of the options available for a protective layer on untreated wood floors. 

Finish	Pros	Cons
Wax	Protects the wood without changing its appearance. Easy to apply and maintain.	Requires regular maintenance. Can be easily removed.
Oil	Protects the wood from moisture and scratches.	Requires re-oiling every 12-18 months. Can be difficult to apply evenly.
Lacquer	Very durable and water-resistant.You don’t have to clean as often.	Can be more costly.

Things You Should Never Use On Unfinished Wood Floors

These are some of the products you should never use on unfinished wood:

1. Baking soda & Vinegar: I know everyone and their mum uses this combination for everything, Never ever mix this and use on wood floors. It will darken it immediately and the only way to rectify it is by sanding it down. Trust me, I speak from experience using this combination on my raw wood serving board. It’s a mistake I still regret till today.
2. Bleach: Bleach is a harsh chemical that can strip the wood of its natural oils and color. It can also make the wood more susceptible to damage.
3. Murphy’s oil soap: Murphy’s oil soap is a popular wood cleaner in The United States, but it should not be used on unfinished wood floors. It can strip the wood of its natural oils and leave it dry and vulnerable to damage.
4. Ammonia: Ammonia is another harsh chemical that can damage unfinished wood floors. It can also create a strong odor that is difficult to remove.
5. Steam mop: Steam mops can be too hot and wet for unfinished wood floors. The steam can cause the wood to warp or swell, and the moisture can penetrate into the wood and cause damage.

FAQs On How To Clean Unfinished Hardwood Floors