Cleaning Unfinished Pine Floor

rdmccaw · 11-03-2008, 10:00 AM

I have a questions, I've just laid about 1200 sqft of untreated pine flooring. It took me well over a week and now I am ready to put down some varathane. my question in, what should, or can I use to clean the entire floor before putting down the varathane. I know I obviously have to sweep it clean, but there are foot prints and such that I need to clean off. What is the best thing to use to clean a large area of untreated pine? paint thinner? methal hydrate? turpintine? etc...

Thanks for your help, oh and what would I use to clean it with, a lint free mop?

Cheers!

Marvin Gardens · 11-03-2008, 10:38 AM

No matter how hard you try there will be dust in your finish. No way to get around that. Just keep all doors and windows closed and turn off the furnace if you have forced air.

There are different kinds of foot prints. If they are the rubber souled kind then a sander is the only way to get them out.

The way I do a floor is start in the far corner and sand any problem areas all the way to the other corner. Then wearing only well washed socks (so there is no lint) I go back to the far corner and vacuum the whole area. Then I go back and start putting down the varathane.

Read the instructions. Some chemicals will not mix well with varathane and what they say is perfect conditions is clean, dry wood in a warm environment.

rdmccaw · 11-03-2008, 10:49 AM

I want to avoid sanding at all costs... I'm putting down the floor without sanding to get the rustic look, and if there are a few spots that are sanded I'm sure it'll look spotty....

I just need some sort of chemical that will clean the tracked in dirt and at the same time evaporate so I can put a coat of sealer on within an hour or so... I don't know, maybe there is no such thing!!!

trjason · 11-04-2008, 09:33 AM

Alcohol is used to remove excess pitch on SYP. I'm not sure that it would clean up the foot marks, but at least it won't damage the floor if you use it.

Is this a rough sawn product? I'm confused how you're going to loose the rustic look by sanding.