How to Clean Unsealed Wood Floors

Spills should be mopped up immediately and cleaning should only be done with a non-water based cleaning product.

1. Vacuum the unsealed wood regularly. Vacuuming on a regular basis with your vacuum's brush tool, will reduce the chances of dirt and other materials penetrating the raw wood. The vacuum's crevice tool can be used to clean up debris in tight spots. But, if you do not have access to a vacuum that can be used for wood floors, sweeping is also sufficient. Vacuuming and sweeping should also be done prior to routine cleaning.

2. Apply odorless mineral spirits to a clean cloth in order to clean smaller sections of unsealed wood floors. Odorless mineral spirits are safer to use indoors because they lack the dangerous vapors that are found in ordinary mineral spirits.

3. Fill a spray bottle full of the odorless mineral spirits for bigger jobs. If you have a large area of unsealed wood that is in need of cleaning, the odorless mineral spirits can be sprayed on the floor and spread with a microfiber mop. The microfiber mop will allow the mineral spirits to clean the unsealed floor and dry it at the same time.

4. Pour ammonia into a bucket and apply with a sponge mop. If you do not have odorless mineral spirits available, ammonia can be used. You should open the windows to allow for proper ventilation before use, ring the mop out before applying, and be sure to dry the floor thoroughly afterward with a microfober mop.

5. Wax your unsealed wood floors with a non-water based wax in between cleanings. Cleaning your wood floors can make them look dull. But, even unsealed wood can be brilliant, and applying the wax with a soft cloth can give unsealed wood a certain level of protection without an overwhelming shine.