Hoover Hardwood Floor Cleaner FloorMate SpinScrub with Bonus Hard Floor Wipes Corded Bare Floor Cleaner FH40010B "No hesitation - the best wet/dry Hardwood Floor Cleaner!" - By (Texas, USA) I, like many of you, had been shopping for a hardwood floor cleaner for over a year. I knew they were expensive, and frankly I was exhausted with all of the options. So it's been me and my Swiffer WetJet for years. I ordered the Hoover FloorMate from Amazon after reading countless reviews, then comparison shopping. I found Amazon to have the cheapest price around. Plus, free shipping....how can you go wrong? So when it arrived in a week or so, I was ecstatic to try it out. Instructions were very easy to follow and within minutes I was experimenting with my tiled kitchen floor. One of the best features of this vacuum is that it does it ALL... full review Homekeeping 101: Cleaning Your Hardwood Floor Whether you own your own home or not, keeping your floors clean and in good condition is an important step in general house keeping.

Flooring, particularly in high-traffic areas, takes a lot of beating and you may sometimes feel as if your floors are never free from injury and insult. If you have hardwood floors here are some tips for how to keep them looking their best.clean up hp laptop fan The mortal enemies of wood is moisture and dirt; clean laptop fan hpboth of which will most likely settle on your floors continuously. air conditioning coil cleaning costStanding water or liquids can warp the wood and cause it to swell, so addressing spills as soon as they occur is important. Dirt-catching methods such as using entry rugs, leaving your shoes at the door and regular vacuuming and dusting can stave off tiny particles like dust and dirt that can easily scratch the floor.

To figure out the best cleaning method for your floor you need to find out how your wood floors are sealed or finished (usually either wax or urethane). If you've recently installed your flooring and are able to obtain a sample and get manufacturing details, then consider yourself fortunate. Samples are the best way to assess what exactly is underfoot and will enable you to test cleaning solutions and methods. If you have no clue as to what exactly you have then try as best you can to determine if there is any top coat or finish. Floors treated with a urethane finish (usually a polyurethane or a polyacrylic) are the easiest to clean and a quick swipe of a damp cloth will do the trick. Here are the best rules of thumb for cleaning your hardwood floors, no matter what type of finish you have: Do not use ammonia, or harsh, abrasive cleaners Do not use furniture sprays which can leave a slippery, waxy build-up Do use a wood cleaner that is designed for floors. There are many on the market and you may need to spot-test your floors to see which works best.

You can also make your own solution by mixing about a quarter cup of pH-neutral soap or Murphy's Oil Soap to a bucket of warm water. Use a sparing amount of water to clean and be sure your cloth or mop isn't dripping with water. Go over the floors a second time with plain water to rinse. Do use wood appropriate cleaning tools. Soft, non-scratching fibrous cloths (like microfiber) are perfect for picking up surface dirt without marking your floors. If you really don't know what you have underfoot then never fear. Start by going to a local hardware store or better yet, a flooring store. All questions and concerns are best left to people who work with wood on a regular basis. Sometimes these shops carry their own proprietary brands of cleaning solutions and it's a great place to pick up supplies and cleaning cloths. As stated before, the best way to maintain a clean hardwood floor is to prevent dirt and spills from accumulating in the first place. Image credit: Frenchescar Lim

Home / Housekeeping / DIY / Hardwood Floor Cleaners & TipsHardwood Floor Cleaners & Tips  62 Comments    Print     EmailHere are several different recipes for mixing up your own cleaners for hardwood flooring, just a few simple ingredients are all that’s needed. Keep in mind that a little goes a long way, you just need enough liquid to dampen the mop (or cloth) and scrub away.If you’re happy to damp mop with straight water, try adding about 10 drops of essential oil per gallon of water for extra cleaning muscle. Some suggestions: lavender, tea tree oil, pine or eucalyptus oil will add antiseptic qualities.You’ll also find tips on this page for removing scuff marks, how to test for wax (and remove it), a few DIY polish recipes and a scratch repair method that may surprise you.Getting Started: Sweep or vacuum surface to remove as much dirt and dust as possible.Directions:When using one of the recipes below, damp mop only. Saturating the floor with liquid may cause spotting or warping of the surface.

You can either lightly spray one section at a time or lightly spray the mop head.Scrub in the direction of the grain of the wood to grab and remove as much of the dirt as possible.Wipe dry with a soft cloth after washing.Mix 1 gallon warm water with your choice of the ingredients below…Solution #11/4 cup vinegar1 TBS castille soapSolution #21 cup white household vinegar (*Is it safe to use? See notes below)Solution #31/4 cup borax1/2 teaspoon mild dish detergent (liquid)Solution #41 cup vinegar10 drops peppermint essential oilSolution #51/8 cup mild liquid dish soap1/2 cup vinegarSolution #61 TBS Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap1/8 cup vinegar1/4 cup brewed black teaTea Mixture:Steep 1 bag of tea in 2 cups of boiling water and leave until it comes to room temperature. Remove tea bag and soak cloth in liquid, wring out then wipe floor clean. Dry with a soft cloth. The tannic acid in the tea will help bring wood to a shine.For Oil-Finish: Damp mop with straight water after first cleaning with the recipe below.1 TBS rubbing alcohol2/3 cup hot water*Is vinegar safe to use?

Isn’t it too acidic for hardwood?If you poured a bottle of vinegar directly on the floor and allowed it to sit, it would most likely damage the surface. However, in the mixtures above it is well diluted and only used as a damp mop (meaning excess liquid is squeezed out). Vinegar is an excellent household cleaner and brings a lot of muscle to the job. If you’re concerned about the effects it may have on the finish over the long-term, consider doing a clear water rinse after wiping floor with a mixture that has vinegar as an ingredient (then wipe dry as usual).Removing Scuff MarksKeep a spray bottle with a mixture of 50/50 vinegar, water and about 15 drops of essential oil of your choosing.Sprinkle scuffs with baking soda then spray solution, let fizz for a few seconds.Scrub marks until they are removed then dry with a soft towel.Wax Testing & RemovalWet your fingers with water then flick into a corner of the floor where there’s not much traffic. If there’s wax on the surface, the floor will turn white under the water beads (may take a half hour or so to turn white).

To Remove Wax:Scrub the surface with mineral spirits using a household sponge with a nylon scrubby side. Wipe dry with a soft cloth as wax is dissolved. Repeat process a second time if needed.DIY PolishWash surface as usual and dry thoroughly. Using one of the mixes below, apply polish to surface then wipe dry with a soft cotton towel.Recipe #1Mix equal parts olive oil and white household vinegar.Recipe #21/4 cup vegetable oil (or olive oil)2 TBS cider vinegar3 TBS vodkaRecipe #31 TBS olive oil mixed with 1 tsp lemon juice. Apply to a clean, dry mop and treat floors after cleaning.Quick Tip: You can also spray commercial furniture polish onto the mop head and then wipe over surface.Scratch RepairRub a crayon that is the same color as the flooring into the scratch, filling the space as full of the wax as you can.To seal in place, heat with a hair dryer to soften the wax, allow to cool for a few seconds then buff with a soft cloth. Print     Email Published: November 16, 2011Updated: June 9, 2012