Note: This page may contain affiliate links.

Can You Use Pine Sol On Wood Floors

Can You Use Pine Sol On Wood Floors? (Read Before You Try!)

Pine-Sol is safe on the wood floor but not on unfinished, worn-out, oily, or unpainted floors. In 2020, the US EPA approved that pine-sol cleaner could kill COVID on frequently used hardwood floors.

However, you should dilute the solution by adding ¼ cup of Pine-Sol to about a gallon of water to maintain the floor’s durability.

Also, using a damp cloth/mop or leaving the solution droplets on the wood floor will damage it.

Keep reading for a detailed cleaning guide for using pine-sol on hardwood floors.

🤔Is Pine-Sol Good for Cleaning Wood?

Is Pine Sol Good for Cleaning Wood

Pine-sol is safe for cleaning solid wood floors if you use it in diluted amounts (i.e., ¼ cup in 1 gallon of water) and sweep or vacuum first.

🧹 Dry mopping is best for wood flooring because water is wood’s enemy.

When moisture stands on the wooden floor for a long time, it depletes its structural integrity and shine and can cause or lead to mold growth.

So, it is advisable to dry mop hardwood floors and absorb spilled liquid or excessive moisture with towels or a sponge, after cleaning the floor with Pine-Sol.

👨‍🏫 Does Pine-Sol Damage Hardwood Floors? Look at the Ingredient List!

Have a look at the ingredients of pine-sol:

  • Cleaning Agent
  • Pine Oil and Pinus Palustris (Longleaf Pine) Oil
  • Ethoxylated Undecyl Alcohol
  • Benzoic Acid
  • Isopropyl Alcohol
  • Sulfonic Acids, Petroleum, and Sodium Salts

None of the Pine-Sol ingredients are harmful to use on wood floors in small amounts. In fact, isopropyl alcohol is best for wood floors, as it dries up quickly.

Similarly, pine oil disinfectant is useful for cleaning bathrooms, kitchen countertops, dirt, and tough stains from floors. It also acts as an air freshener, leaving a pine scent.

Direct application of ammonia, alkaline products, or harsh cleaners leaves an abrasive or dull finish; luckily, none are present in Pine-Sol.

Also Read: How To Restore Hardwood Floors After Removing Carpet

💢 Precautions for Using Pine-Sol on Floors

  • Avoid using Pine-Sol on oily, waxed, and unsealed wood floors.
  • Do not use steel wool, hard-bristle brushes, or rough scouring pads to clean wood floors.
  • Use diluted Pine-Sol solution and avoid using it regularly to preserve the wooden flooring and furnishings. 
  • Before using Pine-Sol on wood floors, test on a small spot by applying the cleaning solution and waiting a few minutes.
  • If you have sensitive skin, wear gloves when working with Pine-Sol directly for a long duration.

✅ How To Mop Floor with pine-sol: Step-By-Step

How to mop floor by pine sol Step by Step

Follow this step-by-step guide to mop the hardwood floor with pine-sol:

  • Remove rugs, furniture, and other items from the floor.
  • Prepare a dilute Pine-Sol solution by mixing just 1/4 cup of Pine-Sol in 1 gallon of warm water.
  • Use a soft mop, clean water, and a washing tub or bucket.
  • Add the dilute Pine-Sol solution to the washing bucket, soak the mop in it, and mop the floor.
  • For stubborn stains, scuffs, and scratches, pour a few drops of Pine-Sol on a sponge and apply to the desired area to avoid scratches on the furnishings.
  • After mopping the floor with Pine-Sol, mop the floor again with clean water.
  • Let the floor dry to enjoy the woody scent.
Also Read: 3 Ways To Dump Mop Water Correctly

🙌 Tips to Keep in Mind

  • Before using Pine-Sol, broom or vacuum the floor to remove dust, dirt, pet hair, and lint.
  • Don’t rinse Pine-Sol directly off the wooden floors.
  • After you have mopped the floor with Pine-Sol, remove all the extra drops of water from the floor to avoid scarring and warping.
  • Don’t let the water stand or leave excess water puddles on the hardwood floors for long.

💁What Can I Use Instead of Pine-Sol for Mopping?

What can I use instead of Pine Sol for mopping

Reportedly, people find pine-sol acidic, as the concentrated pine-sol can rip off carpets.

(Therefore, we advised you to dilute pine-sol first)

So, here is a list of neutral cleaning solutions to use besides Pine-sol

  • Bona: Bona spray and natural hardwood flooring cleaners are non-toxic and scent-free.

    It is easy to wipe off dirt, dust, food spills, mud footprints, and scuffs on a large surface with a single spray. 
  • Murphy Wood Cleaner: It is prepared from natural ingredients like coconut, giving off a natural fragrance. Add half or one-fourth cup (as per requirement) of Murphy Oil Soap to 1 gallon of warm water and get a natural shine on your hardwood floors.
  • Homemade Cleaner: To make homemade cleaner, you can use:
  • Vinegar (a natural disinfectant) with water
  • A few drops of essential pine oil in a homemade cleaning mixture
  • Baking soda (a cleaning agent) and water to remove rust, harsh stains, and food spills
  • Castile soap (a prime ingredient in Pine-Sol) to clean porcelain surfaces

👀 FYI:

On October 25, 2022, Clorox recalled Pine-Sol Scented Multi-Surface Cleaners and a couple of other pine-sol cleaners for having Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacteria that can cause serious infections in people with low immunity.

💡Can You Use Pine Sol On Wood Floors FAQs

What should you not use Pine-Sol on?

You should avoid using Pine-Sol on:

1. Oily, unfinished, unpainted, unsealed, and waxed floors
2. Marble and metal surfaces
3. Pets as a shampoo
4. Dirty dishes

Do you have to rinse pine-sol off floors?

If you use a dilute Pine-Sol solution, you need not rinse it off the floors unless you are using it for harsh stains.

Can you use pine-sol on laminate wood floors?

Yes. It is safe to use pine-sol on laminate wood floors. Pine-sol will remove stains, dirt, and scratches if used in the right concentrations, leaving a sparkling laminate floor.

Can you use pine-sol on wood tables?

Pine-sol can be used as a cleanser and disinfectant for wood tables. Add ¼ cup of

Pine-Sol per gallon of water, dip the cloth or damp sponge, and wipe off the wooden table. Scrub harsh stains with concentrated pine-sol and rinse them off with water.

Can you use pine-sol on engineered hardwood floors?

You can safely use pine-sol on engineered hardwood floors as they’re more durable than wooden floors.

So, the pine-sol works perfectly on them without causing scratches, dents, abrasions, and water pooling.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top