You have to thoroughly clean the floor touch up any deep scratches and roughen the existing finish with sanding screens so the new finish will adhere well.
Cleaning and refinishing hardwood floors.
They ll dull or scratch the finish.
Steam can dull the finish and damage the wood.
Expect to spend at least one full day on this prep work for refinishing hardwood floors.
You need to use special techniques for cleaning heavily soiled hardwood floors without a finish.
Because different floor finishes have unique care requirements the best way to clean hardwood floors will depend on the type of finish rather than the wood species e g cherry maple oak.
Unfinished wood or floors with worn down finish are a very different story and require another approach.
Method squirt and mop and bona hardwood floor cleaner are two good ones.
Don t rely on lemon juice or a vinegar and water solution to clean hardwood floors.
You can also use a spray and mop product or disposable wet pads that are safe for hardwood floors.
As with any wood floor refinishing project 90 percent of this job is preparation.
Afterward mop using a micro cloth and concentrated cleaner specially made for hardwood floors.
Unless you use a steam mop designed for cleaning hardwoods steam cleaning is not advised for hardwood floors.