Cleaning hardwood floor with vinegar is sort of a myth, with everyone having their own opinion. The most important question is: will vinegar damage my wooden floor? Closely followed by: does it really help cleaning? That’s what we’re about to find out.

Although the National Wood Flooring Association recommends adding a cup of vinegar to a bucket of water, there are some manufacturers that argue that doing so can eventually damage the floor finish. To be safe about it, if your floor has a urethane based finish, you’d better use a proper polyurethane cleaner (mixed with water in the prescribed ratio).

Mopping your floor once a week with a damp mop is the easiest way to keep you floor in mint condition for a long time. Regarding vinegar, as it doesn’t actually help removing stains and grease, it’s better you stick to using dedicated cleaning products – approved by your floor and finish manufacturer. That’s the only safe way to know your cleaning procedures won’t damage your floor after some months/years of treatment. Your house will also smell a lot better, not having to use vinegar (even in such a diluted form).