If you have hardwood floors in your home, you’re probably often wondering what products you can safely use on them. Using the wrong products can result in permanent damage, so it needs to be avoided, but how can you tell what is and isn’t safe?
A lot of people use Windex for cleaning and it has some great advantages, but is it safe for use on hardwood floors, or is it too harsh? Let’s find out!
Can you use Windex on hardwood floors? Ammonia-free Windex is safe for use on hardwood floors, but ammonia-based Windex isn’t, so make sure you know this before you buy any. Ammonia can damage wood and leave dark stains, so you don’t want to use a cleaning product that contains it, or you might permanently mark the floor.
Can You Use Windex on Hardwood Floors?
As long as you purchase ammonia-free Windex, it should be safe for use on hardwood floors. Windex is an excellent universal cleaner, and it will make your hardwood floors look amazing. It doesn’t leave marks or clouding on the floor, and it won’t cause your footprints to show up when you walk on it.
A lot of people struggle to find a cleaner that is suitable for use on their floors, and go through a whole range of different cleaners in their attempt to find something suitable. This can be expensive and time-consuming, and could result in the floor getting damaged.
Remember that your floor likely has a seal on it to protect the wood. If you damage this seal by applying harsh cleaning products to it, there’s a high chance that the floor will start to deteriorate quickly. It may look messy, dirty, or just dull, which is very frustrating if it was recently installed.
Windex will not hurt your wooden floor as long as you choose an ammonia-free version. Ammonia can damage wood quickly – it’s one of the reasons that pet urine leaves big, dark stains on hardwood floors. Don’t use an ammonia-based cleaner of any sort on your hardwood floors.
How Do You Use Windex on Hardwood Floors?
To use Windex, start by vacuuming or thoroughly sweeping your floor to remove all loose dirt and dust. Next, put clean mop pads on your mop and spray the Windex over your mop pad.
If you are cleaning a large floor, spray the mop several times while mopping. Use the mop to work the Windex into the floor and move dirt out of it, working in the same direction as the grain.
When you have finished, make sure your floor is able to dry fully, and check back on it when it has dried. Try not to walk on it while it is wet, or you may leave footprints on its surface.
Some people use Windex directly on the floor, but this risks creating a mark. Any liquid standing on the surface of your wooden floor for a significant length of time could leave a stain, and should be avoided. By applying it to the mop instead, you can make sure you are only using a small quantity.
How Often Should You Use Windex On Hardwood Floors?
This depends on the kind of floor you have and how much foot traffic it gets, but in general, cleaning it with Windex about once a month should be sufficient. You can vacuum it in the meantime to pick up bits of dirt and debris before they scratch the wood. Applying Windex a lot more frequently could wear the floor out faster.
Why Can’t You Use Ammonia-based Windex on Hardwood Floors?
If you already have ammonia-based Windex, you might be tempted to put it on, but this could stain the floor. Ammonia tends to discolor wood and it can mess up the finish, making it look cloudy or dull.
Some people do choose to use ammonia-based Windex on their floors, but this is quite likely to darken the wood. If your wood is already dark, you may not notice it, but on the whole, this is best avoided.
Should You Dilute the Windex First?
Some people do dilute the Windex with water before applying it to their floors, but this can be problematic, because it involves adding water to a floor that will react badly to getting wet. It is therefore much better not to do this.
Simply spray the Windex on your mop without diluting it, and it should work. This is one of the reasons that Windex is such a good cleaner – it doesn’t need diluting and you won’t be putting any water on the hardwood floor.
Does Windex Make Hardwood Floors Sterile?
Most forms of Windex are not designed to sterilize the surface that they are applied to, so Windex probably won’t sterilize your hardwood floor. Cleaning the floor removes dirt and germs, but does not entirely kill bacteria.
However, you probably don’t really need to sterilize your floors. Although many people feel they need to leave a surface germ-free in order to have cleaned it properly, it is becoming increasingly clear that sterile environments can be dangerous in the long term and will lower your immunity. You probably don’t need to sterilize your hardwood floors.
Can You Use Windex to Spot Clean Hardwood Floors?
If you just want to clean one area of your floor, Windex will work well. Spray a small amount of Windex onto a clean cloth and rub the marked area firmly, working the product into the floor. Buff the area with a second clean cloth, and the mark should have disappeared.
Remember, using Windex too frequently isn’t a good idea, so only use it for spot cleaning if the area is dirty and cannot simply be swept or vacuumed to clean it.
Final Thoughts
Windex can be used on hardwood floors provided that it is ammonia-free. Ammonia-based Windex is potentially damaging and could leave black marks in the wood, so be careful about this. Otherwise, Windex can be used as often as once a month to leave your hardwood floors clean and shining with minimal effort.
