Dealing with dull hardwood floors? Check out how to shine hardwood floors and keep them shiny! It's easy to polish your floors and have them look like new again.
Do your hardwood floors look dull compared to when they were new?
Hardwood floors can look great when new but time can dull them.
I completely understand. We have dogs and a kiddo that really causes some wear and tear on our floors.
Last weekend I rented a carpet cleaner and today I went through and cleaned and shined my hardwood floors. It is amazing the difference polishing your hardwood floors makes.
When we bought our house our floors were extremely damaged due to neglect and some water damage. Over the last 10 years, our hardwood floors have been well used by kids and dogs. It always amazes me that they come back so shiny with just an hour of work.
If you are dealing with dull hardwood floors check out how to get your hardwood floors shiny again.
How To Shine Hardwood Floors
To get rid of dull hardwood floors and have them look shiny and new again you will need a few things.
Stuff you will need
- tennis ball
- mop
- vacuum
- Halloway House Quick Shine (You can pick it up on Amazon)
Cleaning and Removing Scuff Marks From Hardwood Floor
To start you will want to get up any scuff marks shoes or other things have left on your floor.
I like to use a tennis ball and rub it over the scuff marks. The tennis ball quickly takes the scuffs away.
If you don't have a tennis ball then you can get this scuff mark remover tool for not much more than a can of tennis balls.
Next, you will want to vacuum or sweep your floors. Pay extra close attention to the corners and edges to get all of the dirt and hair gone.
The hairs and dirt will show through on the shine if you don't.
Mop The Hardwood Floor
After you have swept the floor you will want to go over the floor with a damp cloth. I just use a microfiber cloth that was wet and then rung out. I have one that goes on a mop head so I can quickly clean the floors, it makes life so much easier when cleaning hardwood floors.
This helps get anything that is spilled or stuck to the hardwood floors.
Polish The Hardwood Floors
Once the hardwood floors are clean and dry you can now add the shine. I highly recommend Holloway House Quick Shine. Over the last 10 years, I have used it on our hardwood floors and I love it. I have tried Bona, Orange Glo, and other products and none come even close to Holloway House.
I hated the way Orange Glo made my floors look and feel and Bona really didn't do anything for them.
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The Quick Shine has a squirt top and you can spray a small amount of the Quick Shine out onto the floor and use a mop to spread it around. I just use an inexpensive foam mop to spread it around.
Work your way across the hardwood floors spraying and spreading the Quick Shine as you go.
When you have finished all of the hardwood floors wait for it to dry before you add another coat.
You can add as many coats as needed until you get the desired shine. The first time I used it years ago I added 5 coats.
Now I add about 2 coats twice a year. Each time you add a coat wait until the previous coat has dried.
Let The Hardwood Floor Dry
When you are finished just wait for the last coat to dry and then you can walk on it. I am amazed at how shiny my floors look for months after applying the Quick Shine.
If you are having a hard time finding Quick Shine you can buy bottles here and have them sent to your house. It used to be really hard to find, but more stores are starting to carry it.
I love the way my floors look after I follow these easy steps. They stay shiny even after muddy paws and snow-covered boots walk all over them. Check out the amazing before and after.
Looking for some more easy cleaning tips? Check out how to clean a dryer vent like a pro! It's easy to do and will keep your dryer running longer.
Diane says
Thank you so much for this! I've been searching the internet for years to find a product that will work on my old (1921) wooden floors that are in pretty good shape but dull. Lots of people swear by Murphy's Oil Soap, but that left a residue when I used it on the floors. I tried Bona, like you said, but it didn't leave a shine. I will be trying this for sure! I also really love your mop in the 3rd photo...I have the same one, I think! Is it a Flylady mop?
Julie says
It is! I love how well it has held up.
Jobie Medina says
I actually just bought this the other day. I was in the store trying to decide which to purchase between this and Bona. A lady walking by says she loves this one and uses it on her 100 year old floors. I was sold. I can't wait to try it! Glad so many people love it. I'm sure I will too.
Heather says
When we bought our house in 2011 the floors weren't even finished! We had that done and after a few years and 6 pomeranians (I know, I'm a crazy person...lol) Anyway I tried everything. Then I found this. I love it! I use their floor cleaner too.
Chantel says
Should the mop be wet or dry to start?
Julie says
Your mop can be dry or slightly wet before you apply it. You don't want much water on the mop or else it will dilute the product too much.
Johanna says
Is it Holland or Holloway House? Can't find Holland. Your floor looks GREAT!!!
Julie says
Sorry, you are correct. It is Holloway House.
Ashley says
A week after using polish I took my bona to mop floors and the polish started coming off. Then I had this sticky polish going everywhere. Any seggestions?
Julie says
I have never had this problem before. I have used Bona after using the Holloway House without any problems. Did you use the Holloway House brand polish? You can always try contacting the company for help.
Renae says
I want to try this. I have been searching high and low for something that gives the shine and is long lasting. What type of mop do you use? I have a microfiber mop on one side and the other is considered the mop. I'm curious if you are using what I consider to be a regular string type mop or sponge mop or what. TIA
Julie says
My mop is a regular sponge mop. I hope that helps.
Renae says
I will give that a try then. Thank you!!