Learn the claims that Scott’s Liquid Gold makes. See what it really does to hardwood floors!
Scott’s Liquid Gold is a popular, long-standing wood cleaning product. The company was incorporated in 1954. The product is designed for paneling, cabinets and wood floors. The product is appealing because it is an all-in-one wood cleaner does all the wood in your house. However, an all-purpose cleaner will never do a good job on your wood surfaces. All wood cleaners clean the wood finish, not the wood itself. A cabinet and a wood floor have completely different types of finishes. If you are using an all-purpose wood cleaner on your wood floors and on your furniture, it is apparent that you will never see the results that you want. It is an easy-to-use product that has a one-step application process. It claims to clean and polish.
Scott’s Liquid Gold promises a durable, lasting sheen but it does not deliver. Its pleasant cherry-almond smell makes the product unique. Most of the other wood cleaning products have citrus scents like lemon and orange. Like many of the other products, it is a spray on. If you have read any of my other cleaning articles, it should be clear that most wood sprays that come in aerosol cans leave a film or residue because they contain waxes and other hard oils that sit on top of your floor finish. Scott’s Liquid Gold is no exception. It uses petroleum distillate. This wax will leave a filmy residue on your wood floor.
Scott’s Liquid Gold is not suitable for floors that have paste wax or polyurethane. The reason that it cannot be used on polyurethane is because it will make the wood floor slippery. If the floor is slippery, it means that there is a slick film on your floor. That rules out the majority of hardwood floors. The company states that paste wax and polyurethane are not penetrable finishes. Liquid Gold cannot penetrate into the finish to reach the wood. However, no wood cleaning product enters the pores of the wood. All wood floor cleaners only clean the surface layer. No wood floor cleaner penetrates into the wood itself. This seems like a very questionable explanation for why paste wax and polyurethaned floors are unsuitable for Scott’s Liquid Gold.
Scott’s Liquid Gold might be an all-purpose wood cleaner but it is not designed for all wood surfaces and finishes. It is not suitable for bleached or veneer, simulated wood or on painted, waxed, laminated, whitewashed wood, compressed or particle board, parquet flooring or deteriorated finishes. The product may alter the appearance of bleached or laminated wood. This long list of wood surfaces that it cannot be used on makes me very weary of the product. The company does not provide adequate reasoning for the long list of wood surfaces to avoid.
Scott’s Liquid Gold has the ability to alter the color of your wood floors by darkening them. Personally, this would make me unhappy because the color will probably look uneven. It is almost impossible to apply the cleaner perfectly evenly. To ensure a more even application, the company reccomends spraying the product onto a cloth. However, because the product is in a spray can, most people will just assume that they can spray it on. It does not seem intuitive to spray the product into a cloth.
Scott’s Liquid Gold is also sold as a product that removes wax build-up. There is however a serious disclaimer. It says that Scott’s Liquid Gold has the propensity to create white cloudy circles. This will occur if silicone products were used on the wood surface previously. If cloudy patches occur, it may require that the wood surface needs to be refinished. This is very serious. If you use a proper wax stripper for wood floors, this will not happen.
In conclusion, Scott’s Liquid Gold may alter your wood floor’s appearance. It may change the color of the wood. It also may leave a filmy residue that will be hard to remove. Scott’s Liquid Gold is not worth the potential risk to your wood floor, especially if it might mean a refinishing job.