Furniture polish should never be used to clean hardwood floors, because doing so creates a dangerously slippery surface. If polish gets on your floors, you can fix the problem with a simple solution of water and distilled white vinegar, the same mixture sometimes used to remove a buildup of polish on furniture. The mixture will also cut through the polish residue left on your hardwood floors and other surfaces on which polish does not belong. Removal may take more than one attempt, however, if the furniture polish was applied thickly or more than once.
Step 1 Sweep
Sweep or dry mop the floor to remove any dust and dirt residue. This helps prevent scratches when you wash the floor.
Step 2 Mix Your Cleanser
Combine 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1/2 cup of water warm water to make a cleaning solution if you need to clean only a small area. For larger areas, use 1 cup of vinegar to every 1 gallon of water.
Step 3 Wash the Floor
Wet a rag or mop with your cleaning solution and wring it out thoroughly so that it is almost dry. The less water applied to hardwood floors, the better. Wash the floor with the rag or mop, working in small sections and moving with the grain of the wood.
Step 4 Dry
As you work, dry each section of the floor with a soft cloth to add shine to the floor and avoid water spots.
