How to Clean Wood Floors With Mineral Spirits

While this isn't quite the same as a refinishing job, it can help make your floors look nicer during the couple decades in between refinishings.

1. Be safe. Ventilate your room by opening the windows and turning on any fans. Also, wear rubber gloves, safety glasses and a mask.

2. Test in an inconspicuous spot since there are many types of woods and finishes. Depending on which method below best fits your needs, you should test the procedure first in an area that cannot be seen. Then wait until it dries to make your decision if it is safe to clean your floors using mineral spirits.

3. Put mineral spirits on a clean rag for surface finishes. Surface finishes include varnish, urethane and polyurethane. Use just a little bit of mineral spirits at a time. Rub into your wood floor to clean up stains and scuff marks. Rub in a circular motion to bring back the wood's beauty.

4. Use mineral spirits to clean white water stains on your wax floors. Use a fine steel wool and gently roughen up the water stain. Then put some mineral spirits on a rag and rub in a circular motion to remove the stain. After that, you will have to add a floor wax to the spot. Apply the floor wax to a rag and gently rub it in. You may have to buff it with a clean rag when finished.