Test Results

THE REAL WORLD TEST

Experiment

A wood floor was repeatedly cleaned with Murphy® Oil Soap and then recoated by an independent contractor.

Wood

An oak parquet floor made by a leading manufacturer, with factory-applied polyurethane.

Test Method

Murphy® Oil Soap was diluted in a gallon of water at two different concentrations: 1/4 cup, as directed in label instructions; and a full cup, four times the recommended usage.

The floor was then professionally recoated. Surface was roughed up with 100-mesh screen and recoated with a leading water-based polyurethane.

Results

The polyurethane adhered to all areas of the floor cleaned with Murphy® Oil Soap — even areas cleaned with four times the recommended concentration level.

THE SOAK TEST

Experiment

Wood was left to soak in Murphy® Oil Soap, then recoated.

Wood

Two types of red strip oak: one sanded smooth and used raw, the other sanded and finished with two coats of polyurethane.

Test Method

Murphy® Oil Soap was diluted in a gallon of water at three different concentrations: 1/4 cup as directed in label instructions; 1/2 cup, and 8 cups, 32 times the recommended usage! Wood was soaked in each of the three concentrations for two to 24 hours, and allowed to dry without rinsing.

The wood was then recoated with oil-based and water-based polyurethane from leading manufacturers of both professional — and consumer — grade coatings. The raw wood was coated without sanding, screened, then coated a second time. The coated wood was screened with 100 mesh and then recoated.

Results

All the polyurethane coatings adhered to all the surfaces — even those soaked in 32 times the recommended concentration level of Murphy® Oil Soap.

THE RESIDUE TEST

Experiment

Using sophisticated laboratory techniques, surfaces were examined for any trace of residue left from cleanings of Murphy® Oil Soap.

Wood

Samples of typical finished wood.

Test Method

Murphy's was diluted in a gallon of water at two different concentrations: 1/4 cup, as directed in label instructions; and 1/2 cup.

Three measurement techniques were used: scanning electron microscopy, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

Results

No residue was detected from cleanings with Murphy® Oil Soap, not even in microscopic trace amounts!