Lysol wipes come in handy for numerous cleaning and disinfecting jobs. When you happen to spill something on your hardwood floors or wooden furniture, the first thing that comes to mind is grabbing a wipe and cleaning the mess. You might also want to use them to disinfect these surfaces. But is it a good idea?
Main Topics
Can You Use Lysol Wipes On Wood?
You can use Lysol wipes on finished wood surfaces, including hardwood floors and furniture. You shouldn’t use them on unfinished wood, though, because the alcohol and chemicals in the wipes can damage it. If you decide to wipe away spills or disinfect your wooden floors or furniture with Lysol wipes, test them first in an inconspicuous area to prevent damage.
Can You Use Lysol Wipes on Wood Floors?
You can use Lysol wipes to clean all hard and non-porous surfaces.
The brand doesn’t mention whether its disinfecting wipes are safe to use on hardwood floors. However, considering that hardwood floors are finished and treated with an impermeable product (that makes them water-resistant), you should be able to use Lysol wipes on wood floors without damaging them.
Another indicator that you can use Lysol wipes on wood floors is their formula. Lysol recommends its All-Purpose and Multi-Surface cleaners to use on wood surfaces.
Both cleaners contain ingredients you can find in Lysol wipes, including ammonium chlorides and alcohol. Since these multi-purpose cleaners are safe to use on polished wood floors, Lysol wipes should be safe to use, too.
To prevent damage, you should always test the product in an inconspicuous area before wiping the entire surface. If you want to use Lysol wipes to disinfect the floors, make sure the surface stays wet for at least four minutes.
Wait for at least 24 hours after the test before wiping the entire floor with Lysol disinfecting tissues. In this way, you can rule out any damage.
Can You Use Lysol On Laminate Floors?
Laminate floors are generally made of MDF or HDF, which are two types of engineered wood. The wood core is then covered with a resin wear layer. The resin is a plastic material resistant to the action of common cleaning and disinfecting agents, including Lysol liquid cleaners and Lysol wipes.
However, if the substances in these cleaning products soak into the core layers, they could damage the wood material. Damage signs can vary from staining to swelling and layer separation.
While the top surface of laminate floors is impermeable, the tongue-and-groove connections between the planks could let liquids seep through. This is why you should check the cleaning instructions or contact the manufacturer to ask if you can use Lysol on your laminate floors as it is or if you should dilute it with water.
Generally, laminate floor manufacturers recommend mixing ¼-cup of liquid cleaner into one gallon of warm water. If you want to clean the floors with wipes, you should rinse the surface with clean water after disinfecting it.
Can You Use Lysol Wipes On Wooden Furniture?
You can use Lysol wipes on wooden furniture finished with an impermeable lacquer layer. The topcoat acts in the same way as hardwood floors finish, preventing the chemicals from soaking into the wood core.
You can also use Lysol wipes on MDF cabinets, as long as the veneer sheet covering the engineered wood is intact.
How To Disinfect Hardwood Floors?
There are two types of hardwood floors: polished (non-porous) and unpolished (porous). If you have unpolished floors, always ask the manufacturer how to clean and disinfect them. Common cleaning agents, including Lysol, can damage these floors. If you have polished floors, follow the steps below to disinfect them.
Things You Will Need:
- Lysol wipes or Lysol cleaner (all-purpose or multi-surface)
- Warm water
- Mop and bucket
- Vacuum cleaner or sweeper
1. Pre-Clean Your Floors
Dust and debris on your floor can easily transform into grime if they come in contact with liquids. For this reason, it is essential to get rid of as much dust and debris as possible before mopping. Use a vacuum cleaner or sweeper to remove crumbs, dirt, and other particles from your floors.
2. Clean And Sanitize
Mix ¼-cup of Lysol cleaner with a gallon of water and mop the entire surface. Start from the far end of the room and move back towards the door to avoid standing on spots that you just mopped.
Leave the cleaner on for a minute, then wipe excess moisture with a clean, dry mop – the floor surface must remain wet for an entire minute so that the cleaner can kill the germs.
If you prefer sanitizing with Lysol wipes, divide the floor into smaller areas and wipe one area at a time. Leave the product for four minutes, then mop with clean water and remove excess moisture with a dry mop. Let the floors air-dry.
3. Manage Spills
You can also use Lysol cleaner and wipes to manage liquid and grease spills, including oil and red wine. Use undiluted Lysol cleaner or disinfecting tissue to wipe off the spill. Leave the cleaning agent for one to four minutes (depending on whether you’re using liquid cleaner or wipes) to sanitize the surface before rinsing thoroughly with clean water and mopping with a dry mop.
How Do You Disinfect Wood Furniture?
While you won’t need a sweeper or mop, you can use Lysol wipes to clean wood cabinets, tables, and other pieces of furniture following the same steps above: pre-clean the surface to remove the dust and wipe with a Lysol tissue.
If you’re disinfecting hardwood furniture, rinse with a clean, damp cloth after four minutes, then dry with a clean microfiber cloth.
If your cabinets are made of MDF and the veneer is intact, rinsing is not necessary but recommended if the surface comes in contact with food or if you have small children that could put their mouths on the surface. For instance, toddlers might bite the corner of a cabinet or lick a tabletop.
FAQ
Are Lysol wipes safe on wood?
Lysol wipes are only safe to use on non-porous wood surfaces. You should never use them on unfinished wood or finished but porous wood surfaces (such as hardwood cabinets painted with non-washable, water-based paints which might be permeable).
To End
Lysol wipes and other Lysol cleaners are excellent choices for polished hardwood floors and lacquered hardwood cabinets. You can also use them to clean laminate floors or MDF furniture. However, you should not use Lysol wipes on porous wood surfaces. Whether you decide to use wipes or a liquid cleaner from the brand, remember to always rinse the surface after disinfecting it to prevent damage.
