If you really want them to look good, you should get them efinished, which entails sanding them, floating out any voids with a wood putty made from the same type of wood they are and glue, sanding that off (second time to sand) re-applying a stain, and sealing them with a polyurethane. usually runs about 1.50 to 2.50 per square foot.

they are actually in pretty good condition. they are just very dirty. If I use a buffer will the dirt lift? Are there any strong but safe products I can use to clean it?
Thanks!!!

Try using some wax and grease remover that is used when prepping a car finish for painting. If the surface is greasy feeling, that stuff should be able to remove it.

Would that be safe on wood? Do you have a brand name?
Thanks!!

It is difficult to tell without seeing it. You might have embedded grease that can come out with a powerful cleaner, or you might need to sand or strip and then refinish your floors. I would progress through stronger and stronger cleaners, and, if all else fails, move to powerful, toxic strippers like JASCO and refinish the floor. If you do so, then you should at least finish-sand the floor to make it smooth.

Murphy's Oil is only good for maintenance cleaning: it is intended to be more mild so as to help preserve the wood. Goo-Gone and Goof-off are both good cleaners. The Citrus cleaners are o.k. on only a limited number of stains: they are useless on most. Solvent-based cleaners are still the best.

[This message has been edited by Lawrence (edited May 01, 2003).]