How to remove murphys oil soap from hardwood floors

When cleaning hardwood floors, it’s important to use cleaners that are gentle on the finish. Are you having trouble choosing the best hardwood floor cleaner? While vinegar is a versatile household cleaner, it can diminish a floor’s finish even when diluted. When in search of a hardwood floor cleaner that’s both gentle and effective, many turn to Murphy Oil Soap.

Best Hardwood Floor Cleaner

Hardwood floors require regular maintenance to prolong their shine and keep them looking like new. Regular mopping and dusting can not only help prevent scratches and improve the general appearance of your floors but also keep the hardwood floors free from common household allergens. From there, you can use the popular blend of Murphy Oil Soap ingredients to enhance the cleanliness of your floors.

Murphy Oil Soap explains that you should create a mixture of 1/4 cup of Murphy Oil Soap for every 1 gallon of warm water; you can increase the formula to 1/2 cup for every 1 gallon of water for sturdy woods and dingier messes. Being careful to avoid having excess water sit on the floor, dip the mop in the mixture and mop the hardwood floor section by section. To avoid leaving residue on the hardwood floor, pay extra attention to your mixture. The ratio of Murphy Oil Soap to water is important in keeping residue down; often, the residue left behind is either from too much soap or a reaction from a previously used cleaner.

For quick and straightforward hardwood floor cleaning, Murphy Oil manufactures a spray-as-you-go product. Already diluted, Murphy Oil’s Squirt & Mop cleaner is designed to spray directly onto the floor. First, prepare a mop and a bucket of water. Spray the floor with Murphy Oil’s Squirt & Mop and then follow up with a damp mop. Continue as you go, spraying first and then mopping away. To ensure there’s no accidental residue, be sure no other soap or cleaner is added to the mop water.

Murphy Oil Soap for Laminate Wood Floors

You can also use the product for laminate wood floors, explains Murphy Oil Soap. To keep the protective resin on laminate floors free from damage, avoid waxes and polishes that can warp the floor over time. A simple mixture of hot water and Murphy Oil Soap is all you need to keep laminate floors clean and shiny without the need for aggressive cleaners or harmful chemicals.

Dip a mop into the Murphy Oil Soap and hot water mixture and mop over the laminate floor with large, sweeping motions. Being careful not to leave excess standing water on the floor, move across the area, dipping and wringing the mop as you go. Once the water gets dingy, change it out for clean, hot water and more Murphy Oil Soap.

Be sure to read the manufacturer instructions for your floors before applying chemicals of any kind to verify that their use won’t invalidate your warranty. Aside from this, you should not need to worry about the periodic use of a gentle cleanser.

Clean Furniture With Oil Soap

While generally thought of as a hardwood floor cleaner, Murphy Oil Soap also makes an effective wood furniture cleaner. For gently used vintage wooden furniture, sometimes a quick and simple cleaning is all that is needed to bring life back into the piece. Murphy Oil Soap will improve not only the look of the furniture but also the smell. When cleaning vintage furniture, always start small and slow to keep an eye on how the piece responds. Adjust accordingly.

Dip a rag into a mixture of water and Murphy Oil Soap. Making sure the rag isn’t saturated, wipe down the wood furniture, being careful not to get the piece too wet. For particularly grimy pieces, use #0000 steel wool to get at tough scuff marks and dirt, being sure to move the steel wool in the direction of the wood grain.

Wipe down with the rag to remove any dust or remaining dirt dislodged from the wool. Once clean, wipe down with furniture oil to even out the color and bring back some shine.

Things You Will Need

  • Murphy Oil Soap

  • Water

  • Bucket

  • Mop

  • Rags

  • Steel wool

  • Posted on Nov 23rd, 2015, 8:31 PM, , User Since 238 months ago, User Post Count: 1479

    So I come home from work tonight and find that my cleaning lady had run out of Bona and used Murphy's Oil Soap Squirt and Mop on my hardwood floors.  Couple thousand square feet of them.  In addition to that, the cork flooring I had installed in Kitchen and laundry room.  

    This is obviously this first and only time that Murphy's has been used on the floors and everyplace I look online for a fix says "DONT DO IT" or "I used it for years and now floor is ruined".  I can't find an example of someone who had it accidentally applied just once with a remedy on how to remove the sh2t.  Any advice?  I don't want to do further damage and hope that a one time mistake by Rosio doesn't force me to sand and re-finish whole section of house.  

    Background on floors.  Both are two (2) years old.  Hardwood has several coats of Poly on them.  Both floors now have dull finish and the cork looks worse than the hardwood.  They looked spectacular before.  GREAT finish on them.

    TIA.

  • Discussion
  • How to remove murphys oil soap from hardwood floors

    Posted on Nov 23rd, 2015, 8:32 PM, , User Since 222 months ago, User Post Count: 19886

    Is this some kind of code for "sexytime" with ur cleaning "lady."

  • Posted on Nov 23rd, 2015, 8:43 PM, , User Since 158 months ago, User Post Count: 799

    Man, you are pickier than me. Let it dry. Clean it as usual. See what happens.

    And why did you keep that sh!t around anyway?

    Finally, get rid of that damn stuff. Get the tile that looks like wood strips. Costs more but looks better and wayeasier upkeep.

  • How to remove murphys oil soap from hardwood floors

    Posted on Nov 23rd, 2015, 9:01 PM, , User Since 238 months ago, User Post Count: 18158


    mnjayhawk wrote: Man, you are pickier than me. Let it dry. Clean it as usual. See what happens.

    And why did you keep that sh!t around anyway?

    Finally, get rid of that damn stuff. Get the tile that looks like wood strips.Costs more but looks better and way easier upkeep.

    BL.

  • How to remove murphys oil soap from hardwood floors

    Posted on Nov 24th, 2015, 5:44 AM, , User Since 182 months ago, User Post Count: 6701

    2 cups white vinegar in a gallon of water, mop vigorously and let dry, repeat as needed. Will a couple of drops of dawn dish soap should do the trick.

  • How to remove murphys oil soap from hardwood floors

    Posted on Nov 24th, 2015, 5:51 AM, , User Since 188 months ago, User Post Count: 30613

    I thought hardwood floors was the specific purpose of murphy oil soap.

  • How to remove murphys oil soap from hardwood floors

    Posted on Nov 24th, 2015, 6:08 AM, , User Since 238 months ago, User Post Count: 22892

    It's fine. Just tell her not to use it again. You don't want to use that stuff for multiple applications because it essentially creates a build up of wax on your hardwoods.

    It'll be fine for a one-time thing. Maybe use apple cider vinegar and water on the next few applications.

  • How to remove murphys oil soap from hardwood floors

    Posted on Nov 24th, 2015, 6:10 AM, , User Since 235 months ago, User Post Count: 7382

    Have you ever used a hardwoood floor cleaner from Bruce?

    This stuff is great. Should have it back to looking great in a few applications.

    Here's a link:

    http://www.bruce.com/cleaning-hardwood-flooring.html

  • Posted on Nov 24th, 2015, 8:18 AM, , User Since 238 months ago, User Post Count: 1479

    Thanks for the advice guys. Will try all.
    Btw: hardwoods are humblebrag?
    Putting wife on Cinderella duty today with hot water rag and small amount of dish soap to scrub. Then will mop with the vin Solution.
    Floor installer recommended Bona but from my internet ting have come across Bruce as well. Will give it a shot.

  • How to remove murphys oil soap from hardwood floors

    Posted on Nov 24th, 2015, 8:33 AM, , User Since 188 months ago, User Post Count: 30613

    I think having a cleaning lady would be the humblebrag in question. Unless you were just talking about your wife. Why doesn't she clean the house? To busy day drinking at the club and nailing the tennis pro?

  • Posted on Nov 24th, 2015, 9:12 AM, , User Since 238 months ago, User Post Count: 1479

    I made huge mistake of having four (4) kids. Two (2) of which are newborn twins.
    I need all the help I can get.
    If having a cleaning lady and hardwood floors is "making it" then Steve Winwood and I will just be over here livin the High Life.

  • Posted on Nov 24th, 2015, 9:16 AM, , User Since 154 months ago, User Post Count: 3828

    Humblebrag is off the charts with this one.

    In order of highest to lowest.

    1. "Couple thousand square ft"  .... give or take

    2. "run out of Bona"

    3.  "in addition.. cork flooring"..  Not only 1000's of ft of hardwoods.. but i also have cork.

    4.  "Rosio"

  • How to remove murphys oil soap from hardwood floors

    Posted on Nov 24th, 2015, 10:14 AM, , User Since 225 months ago, User Post Count: 9690

    mnjayhawk wrote: Man, you are pickier than me. Let it dry. Clean it as usual. See what happens.

    And why did you keep that sh!t around anyway?

    Finally, get rid of that damn stuff. Get the tile that looks like wood strips. Costs more but looks better and way easier upkeep.

    Nothing will happen.

    Follow mnjay's instructions.  Don't use it again.  You floor isn't ruined, that stuff is supposed to be used on wood, just not a good choice for floors IMHO, but it's not going to ruin them in one use, Nancy.

  • How to remove murphys oil soap from hardwood floors

    Posted on Nov 24th, 2015, 11:09 AM, , User Since 127 months ago, User Post Count: 11335


    ManDeffense wrote:

    Humblebrag is off the charts with this one.

    In order of highest to lowest.

    1. "Couple thousand square ft"  .... give or take

    2. "run out of Bona"

    3.  "in addition.. cork flooring"..  Not only 1000's of ft of hardwoods.. but i also have cork.

    4.  "Rosio"

    I was more impressed that he has a kitchen myself.

  • How to remove murphys oil soap from hardwood floors

    Posted on Nov 24th, 2015, 11:14 AM, , User Since 227 months ago, User Post Count: 7338

    How to remove murphys oil soap from hardwood floors

  • How to remove murphys oil soap from hardwood floors

    Posted on Nov 24th, 2015, 11:19 AM, , User Since 122 months ago, User Post Count: 8754


    ManDeffense wrote:

    Humblebrag is off the charts with this one.

    In order of highest to lowest.

    1. "Couple thousand square ft"  .... give or take

    2. "run out of Bona"

    3.  "in addition.. cork flooring"..  Not only 1000's of ft of hardwoods.. but i also have cork.

    4.  "Rosio"

    What about the subtle drop later about the fact that they have a cleaning lady, yet the wife does not work (put her on Cinderella duty today)?  This thread is an applause worthy example of a humblebrag.  Well done, sir.

  • How to remove murphys oil soap from hardwood floors

    Posted on Nov 24th, 2015, 12:02 PM, , User Since 157 months ago, User Post Count: 17332

    You and the "can't smoke a turkey because it might rain" guy should get together and help each other with your home economics homework.

  • Posted on Nov 24th, 2015, 12:26 PM, , User Since 154 months ago, User Post Count: 3828

    FeelingPhoggy wrote:
    ManDeffense wrote:

    Humblebrag is off the charts with this one.

    In order of highest to lowest.

    1. "Couple thousand square ft"  .... give or take

    2. "run out of Bona"

    3.  "in addition.. cork flooring"..  Not only 1000's of ft of hardwoods.. but i also have cork.

    4.  "Rosio"

    What about the subtle drop later about the fact that they have a cleaning lady, yet the wife does not work (put her on Cinderella duty today)?  This thread is an applause worthy example of a humblebrag.  Well done, sir.

    I was torn on this one, but a decent humblebrag wouldn't have the wife doing any work on hereknees that doesn't involve sucking the D.

  • Posted on Nov 24th, 2015, 1:55 PM, , User Since 138 months ago, User Post Count: 2370

    i have a tia that my help you

    her nombre es flora mop y she great at cleaning tings like floor y windows you juant mi to ask her?

  • Posted on Nov 24th, 2015, 3:04 PM, , User Since 238 months ago, User Post Count: 1479

    Man, you guys must be super poor.

  • How to remove murphys oil soap from hardwood floors

    Posted on Nov 24th, 2015, 3:07 PM, , User Since 238 months ago, User Post Count: 18158

    I've been to FletchCCC's house.  Mansion in Overland Park (190ish and Nieman area).  He also drives a yellow Corvette.

  • How to remove murphys oil soap from hardwood floors

    Posted on Nov 24th, 2015, 3:11 PM, , User Since 116 months ago, User Post Count: 2110

    FletchCCC wrote: Man, you guys must be super poor.

    I'm going to my safe place now. Sh it is about to drop.

  • How to remove murphys oil soap from hardwood floors

    Posted on Nov 24th, 2015, 3:29 PM, , User Since 174 months ago, User Post Count: 935

    TaTownBacker wrote: I've been to FletchCCC's house.  Mansion in Overland Park (190ish and Nieman area).  He also drives a yellow Corvette.

    So North OKC. Nice area for a farm. A mansion, not so much.

  • How to remove murphys oil soap from hardwood floors

    Posted on Nov 24th, 2015, 5:19 AM, , User Since 141 months ago, User Post Count: 8247

    First-world humblebrag problems?

  • How to remove murphys oil soap from hardwood floors

    Posted on Nov 24th, 2015, 8:46 AM, , User Since 141 months ago, User Post Count: 8247


    Shaknbake wrote: I think having a cleaning lady would be the humblebrag in question. Unless you were just talking about your wife. Why doesn't she clean the house? To busy day drinking at the club and nailing the tennis pro?

    Not only that but her name is Rosio.

Does Murphy's Oil Soap damage hardwood floors?

Whether you're cleaning one area or all of your flooring, Murphy® Oil Soap is safe to use on hardwood floors.

How do you get soap residue off hardwood floors?

Mix a one-to-one ratio of water and vinegar, dampen a cloth, and rub off the hazy buildups. Rinse with another cloth dampened with clear water and dry the floor immediately with a third rag.

Will Murphy's Oil Soap leave a residue?

When diluted properly, Murphy® Oil Soap Original Formula does not leave a residue. Despite the fact that it is called "oil soap," there is no "free oil" left behind. If you see a residue after applying Murphy® Oil Soap for the first time, it's likely that another cleaner was previously used.

How do you get soap residue off floors?

If the residue is still there after mopping with vinegar, add a drop of dishwashing soap to a non-abrasive sponge and scrub the floor. Rinse the sponge and reapply the soap as often as needed. Finally, mop the floor with vinegar again to remove the residue from the soap.