Smudge Marks On My Floor

Q: I used Murphy’s soap on my maple hardwood floor this past Christmas; I didn’t dilute it enough so I had a film over my floor and every mark noticeable. Since then, I have cleaned several times with the swiffer wood floor cleaner and it did get rid of the film. I still do notice that my floor now shows up every smudge mark which it never did. How can I fix my problem of smudging. It seems I’m cleaning my floor more than ever.
Thanks
A: With any oil or wax based products which are said to be usable for wood floors, getting this type of film is very common. I never suggest using products like Murphy’s or Minwax because this is an all too common result and when it happens it can be almost impossible to remove without damaging or needing to refinish the floor.
As far as cleaning the floor is concerned I would suggest using BonaKemi’s line of cleaners as theirs is the best out there. I would first suggest trying out their cleaner to see if it will remove the the film, it may take a few cleanings to see home effect and possibly a more vigorous mopping than usual, but ensure to not use too much cleaner. Should this not work, you could try using a white vinegar and water mixture. Typically as a regular cleaner the ratio is about 1/2 cup of white vinegar per gallon of water. Now you could concentrate this a bit, say to 1 cup per gallon and then test this out in a small area of the floor toward a corner. You will want to use very little and be careful as the vinegar in higher concentration can damage the finish on wood floors.
Another option would be to try very light amounts of mineral spirits. Typically mineral spirits (which is a very mild solvent) is used to remove excess adhesive which has gotten on the surface of a floor. Again, try using very little of this in a corner or less visible place (a closet for instance) before applying it to the entire floor. After using the mineral spirits, immediately follow up with a proper cleaner (such as the BonaKemi products) to ensure the mineral spirits do not remain on the floor – although mild mineral spirits can ruin a floor given time.