Washing hardwood floors

Hardwood floors finished with polyurethane need only be dust mopped or wiped with a damp rag if gotten dirty. A large volume of water as in a mop is not a good idea. Polishing is not necessary for a polyurethane finish.

-- Todd H.

Ehh, my hardwood floors have been covered by shag carpeting since 1959 - so they don't have any finish on them unless you count that flaking varnish.

My issue is that the floors are very dirty, and simple sweeping won't improve their look. That's one of the reasons why I was considering using a carpet cleaner.

While resurfacing the wood is probably the ultimate cure, it's hardly a task to take on a whim.

So mop away. And watch them warp.

Oh man what a pain in the ass. Guess I know why people prefer carpeting over hardwood.

Would renting a floor buffer speed things up or just tear my flooring all to shreds?

I prefer to use a dust mop. When I have to clean it well I use an oil soap and try to minimize the time the floor is wet.