Through all the years in the hardwood flooring business, the question I am most asked is, "How do I clean my hardwood floors?" Whether it's a new floor, old floor, solid hardwood floor, engineered hardwood floor, laminate floor, or if it's the first or fifth home someone has owned with hardwood floors, they still want to know how to clean them. A lot of people have heard (usually from grandma) that warm water and vinegar is a great solution for cleaning, and it's true. It's inexpensive, simple, and quick. It breaks down dirt and grime without damaging the finish and if done properly is virtually streak-free. There is a problem though that I come across a lot. People that use a water and vinegar solution or even just straight water, typically use way too much on their floors! One of the worst enemies of your hardwood floor is water. Too much water will cause the floor to swell and warp causing a ripple effect in the wood. But by following these simple guidelines, you will have the results you are looking for.

In a bucket, you will want to mix approximately 1/2 cup of white vinegar to 1 gallon of warm water. It's the acetic acid in the vinegar that helps to cut the grease and grime but it won't leave any residue that may cause problems down the road when you're ready to have your floors refinished.how much does it cost to clean a furnace blower I've found the best way to clean is to use a sponge mop. dryer vent cleaner kitsAn inexpensive one is fine, just be sure it's the kind that has a spring type wringer on it. best leather care for king ranchThere are some that have a semi-abrasive pad on one side which will come in handy if there are dry, sticky spills. DO NOT use one of those commercial "swab the deck" type cotton mops.

You can never get enough water out of those and will definitely damage your floor. The key is to get as much water out of the mop as possible. If you notice any puddles at all while you're cleaning, your mop has too much water in it. If that happens, be sure to use a clean absorbent cloth or towel and wipe the floor dry. If you keep the mop just slightly damp, the floor will dry very quickly and there is no need to dry it off. If it's only a small area you need to clean, you can get on your hands and knees and use a sponge or cloth with the same solution. But again, be sure to wring the sponge out well so you're not putting a lot of water on the floor. Another good idea is to keep an inexpensive spray bottle filled with the same 1/2 cup:1gallon solution with your cleaning supplies. This is great for spills in the kitchen or spot cleaning the floors around the house. Just shake it up, spray some on a cloth or even a paper towel to clean up grease splatters around the stove or the dogs muddy footprints at the door.

There are a lot of good products on the market you can buy to clean your hardwood floors, but grandma's time tested solution of warm water and vinegar is probably the simplest and most economical way to keep your hardwood floors clean and beautiful for years. Contact Alpine Flooring in Boulder or Denver Colorado, for your home's wood floor installing and/or refinishing needs. Or give us a call at your convenience: 303-884-8020 Swiffers Quick Tips for Cleaner Hardwood Floors How To Clean Hardwood Floors: Quick Tips From Swiffer 1. Sweep often — at least once a week. By sticking to this routine, you can clean your floors before dirt has time to collect on the surface. 2. Unlike carpeting that collects allergens and keeps them around, hardwood floors can be easily wiped clean of dust and allergens. Keeping a Swiffer Sweeper handy can help remove pollen from your floors. 3. Accidents happen — especially spills. But if you’re prepared to clean them immediately you can prevent stain damage to your floors and grout lines.

4. Vacuuming is also an option to get your floors clean. Be sure to use a vacuum that has a setting for hardwood flooring. Or pull the plug on the vacuum altogether and use a Swiffer SweeperVac. It’s great for sucking up dirt in between grout lines missed by other traditional cleaners. 5. Make sure you’re using the right cleaner for your hardwood floors. Always look for manufacturer reassurances or hardwood specific products. 6. There’s a tool for every job, even cleaning floors. Whether dirty, dusty, sticky or muddy, selecting the right tools for the job can be the difference between just cleaning your floors and getting them cleaned the Swiffer way. Taking these preventative steps can help you maximize on your clean and extend the life of your floors. For a Quick Clean Try using Swiffer WetJet Wood Starter Kit. Its solution breaks up the tough, sticky messes with ease and reveals the natural beauty of your floors with little effort.

Because who needs more steps in the cleaning process For a Deeper Clean Give the Swiffer BISSELL Steamboost a go. Cleaning your floors regularly with a steam mop is a great strategy to cut down on the dirt you knew was there, as well as the dirt you didn’t.You’ve just grabbed the mop to clear up a spill or wipe away the day-to-day dirt, but will you actually make your floors dirtier by using this cleaning tool? If you’re left with dingy flooring no matter how much you clean, you may be breaking the first rule of mopping: Vacuum first, mop second. Without a clean sweep or vacuum job, mopping a floor covered in dust, dirt, and hair simply spreads the debris around. If you’ve been making this mistake all your life, there may be a couple of other areas for improvement in your cleaning routine. So, once you’ve successfully incorporated this first step, try implementing the equally crucial components that follow, and your floor will be so clean you could practically eat off of it.

The Right Cleaner for the Job It’s a common misconception that more soap equals cleaner floors. In reality, using too many suds leaves behind a sticky residue—and that sticky residue can trap more grime. Whether you opt for a homemade or commercial cleaner, choose the one that’s best for your floor type, and use it sparingly. • Hardwood: Check if your floors are finished with polyurethane or wax. If your floors are sealed with polyurethane, use a mild or pH-neutral soap with water. Avoid cleaning products (natural or commercial) with acidic additives, which can damage wood over time. If your floors are waxed, use a damp (almost dry) mop once a week at most—even a small amount of water may cause warping. • Laminate: As is the case with hardwoods, less is more when it comes to water; you want to keep it from seeping underneath the laminate planks. Try damp mopping and spot cleaning, but never use a commercial floor cleaner with polish. • Vinyl: One of the best cleansers for this floor surface is a solution of apple cider vinegar and water.

Due to its acidity, vinegar helps remove dirt without leaving behind a buildup, and it disinfects at the same time. • Linoleum: Not as resilient as vinyl, this floor surface requires a milder cleaner. Mix a few drops of dish soap with hot water in a spray bottle, and then spritz the surface section by section. Finish up by going over the floor with clean water from a dampened mop. • Stone tile: Mop with a pH-neutral, non-chelating cleaner that won’t react with the minerals in the stone. Skip bleach, ammonia, and vinegar, as even small amounts could damage the seal on stone tile floors. • Ceramic tile: White vinegar and water create an effective, odor-eliminating, nontoxic cleanser for this floor surface—great for households with pets and children. Put It Through the Wringer A string mop, or “yacht mop,” is what most people think of when they think “mop.” A sponge mop, however, is worth considering, depending on your flooring type. When choosing between the two, keep in mind that string mops absorb large amounts of water, so they require several rounds of wringing, while a sponge mop holds much less water, making it ideal for hardwoods and laminate flooring.

Once you choose your mop type, dip the mop in your cleaning solution so it’s immersed up to the top of the head. Let the mop absorb the cleaner, and then wring out as much moisture as possible. Remember, you want the mop damp, not wet. In some cases, as with hardwood floors, laminates, and linoleum, the mop needs to be wrung out numerous times until it’s almost dry. Two Buckets Are Better Than One Here’s a hygienic idea: Use one bucket for rinsing and one for the cleaner. By dipping the dirty mop into a separate rinse bucket, you can wring out the water without contaminating the detergent bucket with whatever debris was picked up. When the water in either bucket gets too dirty, replace it, but don’t just dump the old batch down your kitchen sink. Mop water is full of germs and dirt, so dispose of it down the toilet—not in the same vessel you’ll use to rinse off your chicken and vegetables during tonight’s meal prep. Wipe in the Right Direction As you would if you were painting a floor, begin mopping in one corner of the room and work your way back toward an exit to avoid stepping in the area you just cleaned.