How To Clean Old Hardwood Floors That Have Been Under Carpet

Vacuum the area 1 2 times to get the most dirt out of the carpet so it doesn t transfer to a different room.

How to clean old hardwood floors that have been under carpet. Old hardwood floors usually have a wax finish while more recent hardwood floors have a polyurethane finish. The acidic properties of vinegar are what makes it a top pantry cleaning product. You have to be careful when cleaning unfinished hardwood flooring. Then you bend the edging over the carpet to hold it in place. White vinegar is on the top of everyone s list when it comes to cleaning hardwood floors.

If there is a white spot on the floor when the water dries then the floor has been treated with wax. Chemicals can stain and damage your wood permanently. All you need to do is run the cleaner along your floors and either push a button or pull a lever to release the cleaning solution. Remove carpet padding and all debris from the floor. You may discover carpet padding that has been attached with hundreds of staples or adhesive of some sort.

Vacuum well and ensure that no dust wood splinters and other remnants are left on the floor. Before you pull up the old carpet go over the entire carpet thoroughly with your vacuum to get rid of any dirt. When wall to wall carpet became popular in the 60 s and 70 s many wood floors were covered up. When you mix it half and half with water then it lowers the acidity to a safe level for your hardwood floors. These strips were pretty cheap and took some manhandling to get the carpet to snag on the spikes.

I bought a house about 3 weeks ago and it has hardwood floor in the living room when i tried removing the old carpet it left padding residue and marks on the floor. Dirt and dust can get in the way when it s time to sand your floors. One safe method is to use vinegar and water drying the floor by towel as soon as you re done cleaning it. With much older floors you may find screws and nails that previous homeowners used to stop squeaks. Rather than risk damaging your wood floor with harsh chemicals or scraping tools use ice or peanut butter to remove the glue.

Vinegar works wonders on carpets hardwood floors and even tile. It s quick efficient and much simpler than getting on your hands and knees to clean. Take a few short screws and secure the strip under the edge of the carpet to the wood floor. Once the strip is screwed down pull the carpet over the spikes and it should snag on them. To discover the type of finish on the floor place a drop of water on the floor and wait for it to dry.