I clean for a lady who has finished, hardwood flooring. She mentioned interest in having me use "oil and vinegar" to clean her floor. I’ve done a little bit of searching on google and though oil SOAP with vinegar are suggested for oiled instead of finished floors, for finished flooring, just some vinegar (1/2 cup) in a bucket of warm water is suggested – minus the oil. Does anyone out there know anything more about this recipe?

There are so many different finishes used on wood flooring these days, including some which are closer to plastic than any kind of varnish.

Oiled flooring just requires a good oil soap like Murphy’s. The method to use it is at the first site below.

Polyurethane-Coated Hardwood Flooring is usually cleaned with either oil soap in water or vinegar in water, see the second site (including comments). Unlike older finishes, polyurethanes can build up a static charge and also they are not prone to water damage.

Vinegar works well on glass, but was usually used on floors because it was available, not because it does a great job. However, to keep the lady happy, I would suggest using the minimum amount of a professional oil soap in water with only a tablespoon or so of vinegar added (white vinegar is better than cider vinegar). Just use enough of this solution as needed to remove the dirt. Do not leave this on to soak.

I have old hardwood floor and after I clean them, they still look dirty, how can I go about cleaning them and making them healthy enough for two small children.

That dirt may well be just the patina of the floor. As wood ages it takes on a different look from new – the wood becomes more ruddy and the shine is a bit fuzzier. Dark spots appear in various crevices, etc. Antique collectors and lovers of old homes find this to be quite attractive. The only way to get ride of it is to strip. Don’t do that…old floors are beautiful!! If you are using a wood cleaner that contains silicone (like Pledge) your floors will look dull. The more silicone that is added, the duller they will look. Forget about that. Clean them well with a fresh mop and plenty of warm soapy water. Scrub them GOOD! The water will be grey and need to be changed often. After they dry, get another clean mop and a heavy dose of wood oil (a good brand with no added color or citrus) and apply this to the floors with your mop. Buff to a high shine. They will look great. Think about sweeping and polishing wood floors, not mopping them with a harsh liquid.

Good luck!!