Cleaning Bare Wood Floors Before Polyurethane

The buffer will eat right through the finish down to bare wood at high spots.

Cleaning bare wood floors before polyurethane.

Look out for ridges. Safely cleaning an unsealed wood floor. Tips on cleaning dust from sanded wood floors. Clean wood floors with vinegar before applying the polyurethane.

After the last application let the piece dry for 24 to 48 yours before you place it in service. Wood floors are usually prized by homeowners for the warm natural look that they give to any room. Sand your wood with at least 220 grit sandpaper. Whether you ve just installed a wood floor or added some fresh trim to your windows or doorways or even built a craft or furniture piece from scratch you may find yourself in a situation where the unfinished wood needs cleaning but you want to use something that won t affect the wood stain you plan to use in the near future.

For open grain woods like oak ash or walnut you can apply a wood grain filler before the polyurethane to create an ultra smooth finished surface. After you have done that final light polishing you can begin the cleaning process. That way the surface will not only be dry but the chemicals in the polyurethane will have had enough time to cure. Using a soft bristle attachment thoroughly vacuum the floor baseboards and windowsills.

This final step makes a big difference in the quality of your finished floor by erasing any last traces of edger swirl and allowing the floor to absorb your finish uniformly. As with all wood finishes good results depend on smooth clean wood surfaces but this goes double with clear finishes such as polyurethane. Because different floor finishes have unique care requirements the best way to clean hardwood floors will depend on the type of finish rather than the wood species e g cherry maple oak. Wood floors bring style and classic elegance to your home whether in a dining room bedroom or workshop.

However if your home features unsealed wood flooring. Still be sure to test out the polish in a small hidden or inconspicuous location on the wood before tackling the entire floor. Repeat the coat dry sand process several times until the wood achieves the finish you intend. And if your floor is colored with wood stain you ll be left with light colored strips where the stain has been rubbed off.

To protect the flooring a clear polyurethane coating is often added to seal the flooring. Clear and clean your wood floors of dust and dirt.