Hydrogen peroxide has been used as a cleaning and bleaching agent in homes for years.
But will hydrogen peroxide damage hardwood floors? For the love of hardwood floors, no one wants to take chances when deciding on DIY cleaning solutions.
Hardwood floors have the unique duality of being tough and delicate depending on the situation. They can easily dull when cleaned with a wrong solution.
Therefore, not just any traditional solvent can be used to remove those sticky stains on your floor.
Hydrogen peroxide solution is one of the best homemade wood floor cleaners that is effective at cleaning dirt and grime. It is environment friendly and safe for both pets and human beings. [Editor’s Note: If your pet dog has peed on your hardwood floors and you want to know the best method to clean it up, please check out our guide].
As a cleaning agent, hydrogen peroxide effectively removes stubborn pet stains and sticky dirt from your wood floors, making them look new.
It is also a suitable solution for removing a cloudy haze. With antibacterial and antifungal properties, the solution further sanitizes surfaces by killing household germs and bacteria.
In a proper concentration, hydrogen peroxide can also be used as a wood bleaching agent. The formula will not whiten your floors as long as you use it while in the right concentration for cleaning.
If you fear that it will bleach your floor, test it in a hidden area such as a corner of the room. Concentrated hydrogen peroxide is harmful and dangerous, and only a 3% solution is safe to handle.
How Do You Use Hydrogen Peroxide for Cleaning Hardwood Floors Properly?
For spot cleaning
You will need the following:
- 3% hydrogen peroxide solution
- A spray bottle
- Rubber cleaning gloves for protecting your hands
- Nonabrasive microfiber cleaning cloth
Procedure
- Using a spray bottle, apply hydrogen peroxide directly to the spot and allow it to remain for a few minutes.
- With your microfiber cloth, wipe off the excess solution.
- If the spots are stubborn, you can apply more force as you scrub to remove them.
Removing pet stains
Hydrogen peroxide is also suitable for removing pet urine stains and the lingering smell.
Soak a piece of cloth in hydrogen peroxide and place over the stain overnight or at least 8 hours during the day.
Wipe the solution with a microfiber cloth and the stain will have disappeared. If it persists, repeat the process until it is removed.
Alternatively you can combine the peroxide and baking soda for quicker results. Spray the 3% hydrogen peroxide solution on paper towels and place them directly on the stains.
Keep spraying the towels occasionally with the peroxide. After 8 hours, remove the towels and sprinkle baking soda on the stain and leave it until it dries. Vacuum to clear it away.
There is a one problem when using peroxide to remove pet stains. After the treatment, the wood finish on the affected area may get damaged or discolored.
You should get prepared to sand and refinish the section for proper wood protection.
General hardwood floor cleaning
To make a safe floor cleaning solution for general floor cleaning, mix one cup of 35% peroxide solution (cleaning grade) with one gallon of water.
You can use an alternative to get the same peroxide cleaning solution: mix one tablespoon of Sodium Percarbonate with a gallon of water.
Dip a nonabrasive microfiber mop into the solution and wring it out to remove excess solution. Clean your hardwood floor as you dry with a separate microfiber cloth to completely dry it off.
It is advised you clean in sections. If you are worried about the solution bleaching your floor, begin by testing it on a small area in a hidden corner.
By the end of the cleaning, the floor will be sanitized, smell fresh, and look new.
Conclusion
Hydrogen peroxide is safe on wood floor as long as you follow appropriate steps while cleaning. It is important to be cautious about the concentration you are using.
At WFC Wood Floor Cleaner we always recommend that any water-based cleaning solution should be completely dried off to prevent the solution from penetrating the finish.