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Can I Use Bleach on Hardwood Floors? Flooring Risks & Tips

clorox bleach bottle with liquid bleach on living room floor

This is a common question and thankfully its easy to answer. No. Bleach can ruin a wooden floor even if you're super careful.

Many customers wish to use this harsh chemical to remove stubborn urine stains or to brighten a dull floor. I am recommending safer alternatives down below. There are many important aspects when it comes to using bleach and cleaning hard surfaces.

Raw undiluted bleach is not recommended on your solid hardwood floors or your engineered hardwood floors. A diluted bleach mixture can be used to clean a floor, because applying bleach on wood is safe technically. We don't recommend it and always advise bleach should never be used on hardwood. 

Table of Contents:

Can a Hardwood Floor Resist Clorox Stains?

Bleach, with sodium hypochlorite, is powerful for whitening and disinfecting. However, this power can damage hardwood floors. Using bleach water can strip the floor finish.

This leaves them dull and vulnerable. Discoloration will happen one day to your floor. You can be extremely careful 90% with this harsh cleaner, but the day you aren't is the day you can cause permanent damage to your floor.

bottle of bleach resting on a wooden floor

Bleach and Wood: A Recipe for Trouble?

Why is it such a bad idea for a wood floor? Porous surfaces like wooden floors absorb bleach readily, and this will cause permanent damage to your floor. This includes a diluted solution which many assume to be safer for a wooden surface. This is especially important for cleaning hardwood floors.

Flooring professionals generally advise against bleach, especially on hardwood. Safer cleaning methods exist for finished wood. Consider the type of flooring you are working with as some, such as laminate flooring, may react badly to certain cleaning products and cause water damage. These methods below will brighten and clean hardwood effectively without bleach damage hardwood floors.

When (and How) to Maybe Mop With It

If you must use bleach, some situations might be slightly more viable. However, the risks remain, and flooring professionals generally donât recommend using it.

Harder wood, like maple, might be more resistant. Even so, extreme caution is necessary when working with chlorine bleach and hard surfaces.

Test a dilute bleach solution on a hidden area first. Check for damage after 24 hours before wider application. This allows you to identify any negative effects before apply bleach to your whole floor.

For tough stains, a highly diluted bleach treatment may be attempted as a solution. Thoroughly clean the area and rinse immediately with clean water to avoid any bleach damage hardwood.

Disinfecting Alternatives for Hardwood Flooring

Fortunately, you have many bleach alternatives for cleaning hard surfaces like hardwood floors and removing stains.

  • Mild soap and water: Mix a drop of dish soap with warm water. Doing so can be great for cleaning hard surface floors.
  • Formula 409 and other all-purpose cleaners: Test these in a small area. Dilute the product according to label directions before using on hardwood flooring.
  • Vinegar solution: Mix white vinegar and water to tackle sticky residues. The vinegar solution works especially well for some tough messes.
  • Commercial hardwood floor cleaners: Many specialized products are available. They effectively clean and protect hardwood floors without bleach.

FAQs

Will bleach damage hardwood floors?

Yes, using bleach regularly is guaranteed to damage hardwood floors. It will strip the finish, discolor the wood, and if left to sit, can cause warping.

What is the best thing to clean hardwood floors with?

The best way to clean hardwood floors depends on the finish. Warm water, soapy water, or specialized cleaners usually provide the best results. If you are uncertain, stick with using plain warm water first. Don't ever use bleach on your wood floor.

How can I lighten my hardwood floors?

Bleaching is one method, but it's risky, even for professionals. Deep cleaning is a safer option and often helps. If you're looking for something to use as a dry mop, always make sure you know if the chemical composition is compatible with your flooring. Sanding and refinishing with a lighter stain provide the most dramatic results, though expensive. Before committing to sanding, research some examples of common stains on hardwood to make sure you fully understand the possible outcomes.  Just keep in mind that flooring professionals generally don't recommend using any type of bleach.

Conclusion

It is possible to use this harsh chemical in extremely limited situations with precautions. The risks are high tough. If you get pulled away from your cleaning session, you don't have to worry about coming back to a scarred floor if you use a safer cleaner. Bleach and hardwood don't mix. With gentler and more effective cleaning solutions available, why risk bleach damage? Stick to bleach alternatives for cleaning wood floors. Even Waterproof floors aren't safe from this cleaner.

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