We had a carpet cleaner come out today and we paid extra to have the hardwood floors cleaned. They used some type of large machine and the waste water was very dirty when done, but the floor looks duller now. It was slightly dull before, but worse now........clean but dull.

So, I can assume the "cleaning" pulled up the remaining finish? (The floor hasn't been treated with anything except vinegar for 8 years)

So, now what do I need to do? What's the best approach to take? I suspect this is a DIY job, but time is tight and I would probably prefer to contract it out. Who should I be looking for and what do I need to know?

Thanks for any help

Who knows what the carpet cleaner used. Sounds like they used a bunch of dirty water and a buffer, with maybe some kind of cleaning agent? As a rule...you want to stay away from using excessive moisture when cleaning hardwood floors. Just guessing...but sounds like scrubbing with dirty water, may have left a dull residue.

The original dullness that you mention could be from using vinegar for 8 years, ( vinegar will cloud the floor).

Again..hard to say...but it may come clean using Bona, ( the proper cleaner). But that's a lot of years of vinegar.
http://www.mybonahome.com/lines/hardwoo ... aners.html

It also may just be time, after 8 years, to have a pro, re-coat the floor.

Thanks. I took a look at the Bona website then called the cleaner. He used the deep cleaning method and product from Bona!

But now what? He said the floors need to be "refinised" and he recommended a product from Betco? The company he works for doesn't offer "refinishing" services but he's hoping to do it for me on his off hours, but not sure if he'll have time.

Is there a difference between "refinishing" and "re-polishing?" He suggested I could do it, and it simply involved a micofiber mop and a liquid he uses from Betco?

In case he's not available, I just need to figure out my next step?

Thanks,

If it was me....I would a get hardwood flooring professional over there, that does refinishing for a living. Maybe the floor needs to be sanded..maybe you can get away with a re-coat. Someone that's an expert in that area will know for sure. And will use the preferred products. Otherwise your just throwing good after bad. If my dog has an internal health problem...I don't take it to a groomer

If he is just going to use a "refresher" all it is is a watered down finish. And it may not stick very well and it certainly will not last very long. Refinishing involves a complete sanding job down to bare wood. Screening involves just screening the surface and putting down a coat or two of real finish.

If your down to bare wood in some spots you need a complete sanding job. Unless you don't care what it looks like.

Yikes!!!


Don't let that guy near your floor!

What he is suggesting is going to cause more headaches than good!

As someone suggested, you need a professional wood guy, not a carpet cleaner!!

Never use soap on a finished floor. It does exactly what happend to your floor (slowly eats away at it). Only way you will get the shine back is if you have it recoated. Don't call someone who isn't an experienced refinisher to fix your prblem or it won't get fixed properly. Theres no "deep clean" method you either need to buff and coat or refinish.