Is is advisable to use soap and water to wash off dirty hard wood floors?

The floors and windows of this century old house need cleaning before we start to sand and polish. Is it okay to scrub them with soap and water?


Or is there a better way to work on them as I plan to do it myself.Is is advisable to use soap and water to wash off dirty hard wood floors?
for your floors-- information on 'how to' from murphy's oil soap web site:





Before cleaning hardwood floors with any product, it is recommended to test the durability of the wood's finish:





1. First wash a small, hidden area of your wood flooring with the product.


2. If the finish doesn't change in appearance, proceed to clean according to package directions.


3. If the finish does change in appearance, consult a wood care professional.





for antique windows, you want to remove dust and spider webs with a soft cloth before you clean the glass.





You want to avoid scratching your glass--try a gel based window cleaner, using a soft cloth--it's gentle and works well for the corners and edges of your windows.Is is advisable to use soap and water to wash off dirty hard wood floors?
Soap can leave a residue.Try using Lysol liquid with some vinegar water.Or Murphys wood oil soap.
Before sanding and finishing use ammonia to clean wax off floors, as the ammonia will cut the old wax.





I just sanded and finished a house built in 1930, and it turned out beautiful, if you don't know how to run a drum sander and edger , then I would hire some one to do this. I drove from Florida to ILL, to do this for my granddaughter.
Use an oil soap or a cleaner specificly for hard wood. Never use lysol or harsh cleaners.