The Right Way to Use TSP on Wood Floors

January 10, 2018

Posted in macstaff

Your hardwood floors aren’t going to clean themselves, and if you have troublesome stains, it can be challenging and annoying to try to clean your wood flooring. Nevertheless, there is a way to take the stains out without too much elbow grease: TSP.

TSP (trisodium phosphate), is a robust cleaning option that not only helps the stain stick to hardwood better, but it also removes grease, stubborn junk, and mildew from both painted and unpainted wood. When it comes to your wood flooring, you want the best clean. Here’s how to properly clean your wood floors with TSP.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

The first step to cleaning with TSP is just that: finding the right gear. You should wear rubber gloves and goggles to protect your hands and your eyes. Cover nearby flooring as well as tile or laminate since TSP can react adversely to other floor types. Remove all furniture from the room and use plastic sheeting to cover anything that cannot be removed from the room like fireplaces. Also, wear old clothing that you do not mind getting dirty.

Remember that TSP is a toxic and powerful cleaning agent. When you are using it to clean, you need to take precautions to keep pets and kids away from the flooring until it is fully dried, and you need to wear the correct gear to protect yourself while cleaning. You also want to gather the right materials.

To use TSP on wood floors, you want first to collect the following supplies:

Two buckets large enough for a gallon of water
Two soft sponges
Goggles
Rubber gloves
A wooden stirring stick (paint stirrers work)
TSP powder
Towel or terry mop

Step 2: Prepare Your TSP Mixture

Next, you’re going to prepare your mixture for cleaning. Grab two buckets about the same size. Fill the first bucket with a gallon of warm water while stirring in a ¼ cup of TSP powder. You will want to use a wooden stirring stick to mix this use to prevent plastic or metal from breaking down. In the second bucket, you are going to fill it with warm water about the same temperature as the mixture. For cleaning purposes, you are going to want to use a soft sponge to get the job done.

Step 3: Clean Your First Section of the Wood Floor

Grab your sponge and dip it in the solution of TSP. Very carefully you are going to wipe only a two-by-two-foot portion of the wood with the saturated sponge to help detach the mildew and other grime. You will want to clean in small sections just to make it easier on you.

Step 4: Rinse the Section of Wood You Just Cleaned

Take a second small sponge and drench it in the bucket of warm water only. Squeeze out the excess water in the bucket, and slowly wipe it over the area you just cleaned with the TSP solution. You want to ensure that you are thoroughly rinsing the wood.

Step 5: Repeat the Process Until You’re Finished!

Continue cleaning the entire floor surface as described above, one space at a time. Since TSP can be difficult to work with, take your time and avoid spills or mishaps. When finished cleaning your floor, you need to dry the wood entirely with your terry towel or mop. Some people even choose to dry as they apply the TSP on their floors, just to keep too much water from soaking into the wood.

If you’re looking for the best product on the market for wood flooring, try MacDonald Hardwoods Easy Hardwood Floor Cleaner today.