How to Clean Polyurethane Floors

Co-authored by Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Last Updated: October 28, 2020 References

Polyurethane is a common coating for floors, particularly hardwood floors and concrete floors. These coatings are generally durable, but they do require a little special care to keep them shiny and strong. Wood floors, in particular, take a bit more care than concrete floors.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:
Cleaning Polyurethane Wood Floors

1
Vacuum the floor. The first step in everyday cleaning is to remove debris from the floor. Vacuuming can do the trick, but a vacuum cleaner designed for cleaning the floor is best. If you don't have a vacuum cleaner like that, you can turn off the interior rotation brushes (if possible) to make the vacuum for your floor.^{[1]
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- If you can't turn off the interior rotation brushes of your vacuum, check that it doesn't scratch the floor before you use it to vacuum the entire room. You could also use the vacuum's brush attachment as an alternative to the vacuum itself.
2
Dust mop or sweep the floor. Instead of vacuuming, you can simply sweep the floor. A broom with synthetic fiber tips (exploded tips) is often the best solution. You can also run a dust mop over the floor instead.^{[2]
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3
Remove spills with a damp cloth. If you spill something on polyurethane hardwood floors, use a damp cloth to clean it up as quickly as possible. If the spill has dried and isn't easily cleaned up, you can try a bit of glass cleaner to help clean it up.^{[3]
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4
Mop with mild soap and water. You can also mop the floors if they get particularly dirty. However, you want to stick to just a damp mop, not a sopping wet mop. Add a small cap- or spoonful of a mild cleaner, such as dishwashing soap or a wood floor cleaner, to clean water. Use one cap per bucket of water.^{[4]
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- Dip the mop in the solution. The mop should only be damp, so squeeze out as much water as you can. When you mop the floor, go in the direction of the grain.
- Change out the water as needed.
- Make sure you don't use more cleanser than is recommended. This can mess up your floor.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:
Cleaning Polyurethane Concrete Floors

1
Treat concrete polyurethane as you would tile. Polyurethane on concrete floors creates a durable surface. For the most part, you can treat it like you would any durable floor. In fact, it's often used in warehouses and other industrial areas, where heavy machinery is used.
2
Sweep or vacuum first. Like wood floors, you can simply vacuum up debris. Set the vacuum to the hard surfaces setting to vacuum this type of floor. It doesn't hurt to set it to hardwood if you have that on your vacuum.^{[5]
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Research source} Otherwise, use a broom or dust mop to remove debris.^{[6]
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- When using a vacuum, you can protect your floors by using the brush attachment instead of the vacuum itself. The brush attachment will clean your floor without risking scratches.
3
Wipe up spills. Most spills won't stick to this coating. Therefore, if you get them up as quickly as possible, it won't take much work to clean them up. Use a soft cloth to wipe them up quickly. You can also use a little glass cleaner on the spill if it won't come up easily.^{[7]
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4
Use a mild cleanser. Even though polyurethane is durable, it's still a good idea to use a mild cleanser. If possible, read the directions for the particular coating you have. However, mild dish soap in a bucket of water or a mild floor cleaner should be just fine.^{[8]
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- Wait a few minutes for the cleanser to treat grime and buildup before you mop it up. However, don't let it dry on the floor, as this can damage it.
- You can also use a cleaner like Simple Green (one part Simple Green to eight parts water) if you are trying to clean up grease spills, such as if you're cleaning a garage. Alternatively, you can use half a cup of ammonia in a gallon of water.
- Skip acidic cleaners, such as ones with vinegar or citrus, as they can damage the coating.^{[9]
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5
Wet mop the floor. Unlike hardwood, concrete polyurethane can be wet mopped. However, you still shouldn't flood it with water. Simply dip the mop in and wring out most of the water. Scrub the floor gently with the mop until clean.^{[10]
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- The best mop for the job is a hard foam mop.^{[11]
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Community Q&A

Question

How do I bring back the shine to polyurethane cement floors?

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids based in northern Colorado. Driscoll received her Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health in 2016.

Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Founder, Mulberry Maids

Expert Answer

Start by buffing your floors, then lightly re-polish them using a fine grit abrasive. This should bring back the shine! After it's shiny again, maintain the shine with regular wet and dry moppings.