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• Method 1 of 3: Clean the floors regularly
• Method 2 of 3: Make old hardwood floors like new
• Method 3 of 3: Polish old hardwood floors

Old hardwood floors are solid and very beautiful. With a little care, you can restore them to their former glory. Scrape away materials such as dried paint, wax residue, and pieces of carpet that have covered the floor. Use a hardwood cleaner or turpentine to tackle stains. Try hydrogen peroxide to remove pet odors. If necessary, polish the floor and re-stain the floor, but avoid sanding unless absolutely necessary. Sweep, vacuum and mop the old floor regularly to keep it in good condition.

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Method 1 of 3: Clean the floors regularly

1. Sweep your floors daily. Daily maintenance helps keep old hardwood floors in the best condition. Wipe or mop them daily to remove dirt, dust, pet hair and other debris. Make sure to sweep and mop in the direction of the grain of the wood. This will help prevent dirt and grime from getting caught in cracks between the planks.
   • A microfiber cloth is also great for removing dust.
2. Vacuum weekly (set on bare floor). Vacuuming your hardwood floors will remove dust and dirt from between the floorboards. The bare floor setting will help prevent the vacuum from scratching your floor. A soft brush attachment is also an effective way to prevent scratches.
3. Mop the floor every month with a terry cloth mop head and hardwood floor cleaner. Only use cleaning agents designed for hardwood floors. Do not use vinegar, ammonia and harsh chemicals. Spray a small amount of hardwood cleaner directly on the floor and then wipe the floor with a dry terry cloth mop.
   • Remember to use mineral spirits if the finish is not complete. Avoid using water-based hardwood cleaners on an unsound finish.
   • Avoid using a wet mop and always use as little moisture as possible when cleaning your hardwood floors.
4. Rinse the spilled material as soon as possible. Coffee, ink, paint, and pet junk are just a few of the materials that can stain for a long time. Wipe off these and other stains immediately so that stains cannot penetrate the floor.Use a slightly damp cloth and avoid oversaturation of the floor with water.

Method 2 of 3: Make old hardwood floors like new

1. Determine the finish of your floor. If you've just bought an old house, ask the real estate agent or former homeowner about the history of the hardwood floor. If you can't find information about your floor, you can test it to determine the finish.
   • Test the solidity of the finish by applying a few drops of water to a worn area. If the water pearls are left for a few minutes, then the finish is good. If the water is absorbed into the wood, the finish will not be complete and water-based cleaners should be avoided.
   • Dense finishes are likely to be more modern, while permeable finishes are more likely to be older.
2. Scrape off dried paint, gum, and other hardened materials. Older hardwood floors are often stained by caked, hardened materials, such as dried paint, wax deposits, or gum. If it has been covered with linoleum or carpet, pieces of the upholstery and glue may still be present. Scrape these materials off with a plastic spatula or dull putty knife.
   • If this causes problems, try placing a plastic bag filled with ice cubes on the gum or wax. Let this work for a few minutes and then try to scrape material off the floor.
3. Clean a good finish with a hardwood cleaner. If your old floor doesn't show any serious damage, then you may just need to clean, polish and retreat it. Remove all furniture and carpeting, and take off your shoes or cover them with a protective cover. Spray the floor with a small amount of hardwood floor cleaner. Wipe the floor with a dry terry cloth mop or terry cloth towel.
4. Clean a permeable finish with mineral spirits. It is best to clean a floor with a less solid finish with an odorless alcohol. Dampen a terry cloth towel and wipe the hardwood surface. Use a scouring pad or polish to tackle trickier areas.
5. Soak deep, large pet stains in hydrogen peroxide overnight. It will take some work to remove stains and odors if your hardwood carpeting is in a room that used to be used as a litter box. Pour hydrogen peroxide over the affected areas, cover the areas with rags soaked in hydrogen peroxide, then soak the floor overnight. The next day, wipe off any excess cleaner, then polish or sand the floor and apply another finish.
   • If you're dealing with only one light stain, cover it with a cloth soaked in hydrogen peroxide, but check the stain every 10 minutes. Once the stain disappears, wipe off any excess detergent.
   • In extreme cases of pet odor, the sub-floor under the hardwood is soiled. The hardwood floor must be removed to treat the subfloor.

Method 3 of 3: Polish old hardwood floors

1. Test if wax has been applied. Unless you know your floors have not been waxed, you should test on wax to learn how to best maintain your floor. Dampen a piece of extra fine steel wool and use it to sand down areas where you think there is still a layer of wax left.
   • Wax will show up as a light gray stain or stain on the steel wool.
   • Pre-1930 floors typically have many coats of wax over a tung oil or shellac finish. You can polish and re-wax the floor, or use a chemical to remove the wax and apply a polyurethane finish.
2. Polish your floor with a polishing machine. The easiest and gentlest way to restore a floor to its former glory is to polish it with a buffing machine, which you can rent at most hardware stores. After cleaning the floor, polish the edges and corners of the room by hand to treat those areas that the floor polisher cannot reach. Use a buffing machine with a 150 or 120 grit sanding disc to polish the floor, or polish the existing finish.
   • Sanding discs are color coded. The black, purple and brown discs sand roughly. Brown and white are fine polishing wheels, and green and blue are in between.
   • The sanding discs wear out quickly, so you'll need at least three to polish an average room.
   • The brushing will not remove deep scratches or heavy damage. However, it will help restore shine and remove scratches on old or dull hardwoods.
3. Refinish your floor. Once you have finished polishing, wipe down windowsills and other surfaces and vacuum the room thoroughly to remove any dust. Your choice of finish will depend on the results of your wash test.
   • For floors that have been waxed, apply wax paste to the floor. If your floor has been finished more recently, choose polyurethane. You can't use one if you started with the other: don't wax a polyurethane finish or vice versa.
4. Avoid sanding old hardwood floors unless absolutely necessary. If your floor is over 50 years old, you should avoid sanding. There is a limit to the amount of wood you can remove without permanently damaging the floor. When cleaning and revitalizing an old hardwood floor, only sand if it is so heavily stained that buffing or chemical stripping are not options.
5. Consult a professional with experience in restoring old floors. Get professional help if your old hardwood floor is badly worn or damaged, or if you are unsure about its composition. Word of mouth is usually the best way to find a good contractor. Find one with experience in restoration who doesn't recommend just ripping out the entire floor unless absolutely necessary.
   • For example, if your floor needs repair, you can have an experienced contractor remove part of the floor from a hidden area (such as under a cabinet) and use it to replace a worn or damaged area.