We're huge fans of having vinegar in our cleaning arsenal. It's great at lifting stains, freshening laundry, cleaning windows, and much more. Plus, it's inexpensive and all-natural. But vinegar is also acidic, which means that you can't quite use it everywhere. Skip it on these spots:"The acid in vinegar can etch natural stone," says Carolyn Forte, director of the Home Appliances and Cleaning Products lab at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute. Use a mild liquid dish detergent and warm water instead.Just like countertops, the natural stone in your bathroom doesn't take kindly to acidic cleaners, like vinegar and lemon. Avoid ammonia, too, and stick to cleaning with special stone soap, or dish detergent and water.If you drop an egg on the floor (or find that your house or car has been the victim of some rambunctious teens), don't reach for the vinegar to help clean up. Just like when you poach an egg, the acidity can cause it to coagulate, making the egg more difficult to remove."Vinegar can damage the internal parts of an iron," says Forte.

"So don't pour it through to freshen and clean it out. To keep irons from clogging, empty them completely after use, and follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions." The jury's still out on this one: Some homeowners find that vinegar solutions cleans their sealed hardwoods beautifully, but others report that it damages the finish. Use a cleaner specifically formulated for hardwood (we recommend Bona). But if you want to try vinegar, always dilute with water and test it on an inconspicuous spot before you tackle an entire room. Blot, sponge, and try as you might, grass stains, ink, ice cream, and blood won't come out with vinegar alone, says Forte. They tend to set into the fabric quickly or just don't respond to acid, so treat them with a prewash stain remover like Shout Advanced Gel, and launder with a detergent with enzymes (check the package — most stain-fighting detergents have them).NEXT: 7 Smart Uses for Vinegar »Skip to main content. Home Guides Home Home Improvement Home Cleaning How to Clean Wood Floors With Apple Cider Vinegar Fermented apples create a natural floor cleaner that's easy on the finish.

Distilled white vinegar is a strong acid that cleans well but can dull the finish on hardwood floors. dryer vent cleaning services hawaiiIf you want to use an all-natural disinfecting cleaner but also protect your floor's finish, use apple cider vinegar instead. best way to clean 2 inch wooden blindsIt's produced by a double fermentation process that forms acetic acid, its active cleaning ingredient. which vacuum cleaner is best for bed bugApple cider vinegar has a brownish, sometimes cloudy appearance caused by the presence of the fermenting enzymes and bacteria that won't harm the finish. Sweep the floor with a broom or vacuum it. Remove dust from the cracks between boards to reduce the chances of water absorption.

Mix 1 cup of apple cider vinegar per 1 gallon of warm water in a bucket. Wash the floor with the cleaning solution. It's best to use a rag and do it by hand to avoid leaving water standing on the floor, which is more likely if you use a mop. Whether you use a mop or a rag, use it to wipe the floor, but avoid rubbing, which could force the cleaning solution into the gaps between the boards. Wipe the floor dry with a clean cloth immediately after washing it. Don't leave any standing water, or it may soak through the finish and discolor the wood. Things You Will Need Broom Vacuum Apple cider vinegar Bucket Rags Mop Tip References Bobby's Healthy Shoppe: Apple Cider Vinegar -- Can I Use It in My Home?Care 2: 10 Tips for Using Apple Cider Vinegar Photo Credits Lecic/iStock/Getty Images Suggest a Correction I believe protecting your family from harmful chemicals doesn't have to be overwhelming. Anyone can do it, one small step at a time. Are you ready to take charge of your family's health?

These are a few of my most popular posts Homemade Non-Toxic Deodorant That Actually Works!The Beginner’s Guide to Making Non-Toxic Household CleanersHow to Wash Grapes the Right WayThis Homemade Floor Cleaner Doubles as the BEST All-Purpose Cleaner!How to Make a Non-Toxic Scouring Powder With 2 Simple Ingredients Where to buy Non-Toxic Products and Ingredients Get my latest non-toxic posts on the Nature’s Nurture mobile app! User-Friendly FormatAdvanced SearchOffline CapabilitiesSave FavoritesFor 20 years, Bruce Lubin and his wife Jeanne have been collecting tips and hints to save time, money, and make everyday tasks easier. Their book "Who Knew?"by TeleBrands includes thousands of money-saving secrets for cooking, cleaning and other tasks around your home. As you move from room to room, you'll discover how to affordably clean your home using all-natural, homemade cleaners; get rid of any kind of stain on the planet; organize like a whiz; keep your car at its best;

and perform simple household repairs. We are republishing a fabulous tip from the book on how to get your wood floors gleaming. You don't need to buy a special cleaner for your wood floors. Simply mix equal parts vegetable oil and white vinegar in a spray bottle, and apply. Then shine with a clean cloth until the solution is gone. Click through our slideshow to see other household tips. Do you have a home story idea or tip? (PR pitches sent to this address will be ignored.) Wood Floor Car New Use For Vegetable Oil Shine Wood Floors With Vegetable Oil Shine Wood Floors With Vinegar Clean Wood Floors 8 Tips for Cleaning Hardwood Floors (Image credit: Adrienne Breaux) Okay, we've tackled the best ways to clean laminate, tile, and carpeted floors, and now it's time for the [my] holy grail of flooring: hardwood. Maybe you have gorgeous hardwood floors that you'd like to pass on to your great-grandchildren, or you want to pay the proper respect to the trees that gave their lives, or perhaps you just want shiny, shiny floors;

in any case, read on... Here is some of the best advice from around the web for keeping your hardwoods happy.Martha Stewart's right-hand man Kevin Sharkey refinished his wood floors and wants only the best for them — and for your floors. His crucial first stage of attack is to vacuum every day, or just dust mop "when you don't have time to vacuum". Wax Yearly, Mop Never: Martha herself reminds us that if our floors are waxed, we should never mop them. She recommends wiping up spills right away, but does not mention how she would clean up the everyday grime.Back in 1995, Martha advised "For wood floors with a polyurethane finish, damp-mop with a combination of one quart water and one-quarter cup vinegar." However, in 2002, she told the New York Times, "And contrary to fairly common advice, you should never use diluted vinegar or ammonia to clean polyurethane. The acid can etch the finish, making it dull." Dust Smart: Better Homes & Gardens recommends frequent dustings with either "a mop that has been treated with a dusting agent" or disposable electrostatic cloths.

This should be enough to keep things clean between semi-annual deep cleanings. Damp- Not Wet- Mop: BH&G goes on to describe the correct way to deep clean your hardwood floors, and while it does involve a mop, it barely involves any water at all. When it comes to any mop and cloth involved in the washing and rinsing process, "wring it almost dry so it feels only slightly damp to the touch". Diaper Genie: As for what type of cloth to use, Real Simple suggests that "Cloth diapers work well for buffing, because they’re very soft and absorbent." Those of us that are baby-free can improvise. Make Yourself A Spot Of Tea: Oh my goodness, you are going to love this one: The DIY Network's solution involves two teabags and boiling water! "The tannic acid in tea creates a beautiful shine for hardwood floors." Dust & Mist: Finally, an Apartment Therapy reader who owns a floor cleaning company sent in thorough pro tips that all make perfect sense to me. I hope I'll be able to put them to use someday, after the Hardwood Floor Fairy pays me a visit!