My Wood Floors Look Dingy: What Can I Do to Make Them Shine?

Vinegar and Water

• An easy way to achieve proper shine on your wood floor is by using a mixture of vinegar and water to mop the floor. Vinegar and water can adequately clean a wood floor without leaving a dull residue or streaks on the floor. Vinegar and water cleans the floor without stripping off any of the finish. Use a mixture of 1/4 to 1/2 cup of vinegar to a gallon of water to clean floors.

Sweep Thoroughly

• One of the biggest mistakes made when attempting to clean wood floors is not sweeping the floor thoroughly enough. Excess dirt left on the floor often forms a dirty film when mopped and causes the floor to look dingy even after mopping. Ensure that you sweep all of the dirt from the floor, including under chairs, tables and cabinets. Running a dust mom over the floor after sweeping with a regular broom removes any excess dust that remains.

Mopping

• Using proper mopping techniques also keeps wood floors from looking dingy. Mop small sections of the wood floor at a time. After mopping each small section, rinse the mop in the mop bucket and wring the mop until almost dry. An overly wet mop contributes to water-damaged wood floors. After mopping three or four small sections, dry the floor by hand with a soft, nonabrasive towel or a dry cotton mop. Drying the sections yourself, without allowing the floor to air dry, will help buff the sections and improve the floor's shine.

Considerations

• Over time, your wood floor may completely lose its shine and need refinishing. A floor's finish eventually wears off due to high foot traffic, wear and tear and use of harsh chemicals. Dirt can be one of the most damaging substances a wood floor comes in contact with because it scratches the wood floor and then embeds itself in the open scratches.