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. I've found the best way to clean is to use a sponge mop. An inexpensive one is fine, just be sure it's the kind that has a spring type wringer on it. There 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. direct energy duct cleaning costBut again, be sure to wring the sponge out well so you're not putting a lot of water on the floor.best vacuum cleaners target Another good idea is to keep an inexpensive spray bottle filled with the same 1/2 cup:1gallon solution with your cleaning supplies. best vacuum cleaner in chennaiThis is great for spills in the kitchen or spot cleaning the floors around the house. what is the best way to clean louvered blinds

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.best way to clean louvered blinds 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.laptop cooling fan kmart 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 Cleaning with vinegar is possibly one of the best kept secrets of the cleaning world. While everybody knows the culinary uses, but many don’t realize it can be used as a cost effective way to keep your house sparkling clean.

For now, we will focus solely on the benefits of cleaning wood floors. It is important that vinegar is ALWAYS diluted with water before it is applied in order to protect the wood and it’s finish from any damage. There are many benefits of using it as a cleaning solution in practically every room of the house: It is inexpensive, so there is more money to spend on the more important things in life. It is non-toxic, meaning parents and pet owners can feel comfortable in the knowledge there are no nasty chemicals being used on their floor. It is an organic substance, it is created from the fermentation of ethanol, not by mixing heavy or dangerous chemicals. So by using vinegar you are doing something good for the environment. While it is a natural substance, it is also acidic which means it is a powerful cleaner. It can dissolve mineral deposits from smooth surfaces, this is why it needs to be diluted with water to ensure no damage occurs to your floors. It has anti-bacterial properties.

For generations it has been used to combat mold and bacteria. Which vinegar should I use? I strongly recommend you only ever use basic white vinegar for cleaning purposes. White vinegar has no particular color, so will not stain hardwood. Some of the other types, such as apple cider vinegar, as delicious as it is, will have a brownish tint which could potentially damage floors. White vinegar is also the most inexpensive option. How do I clean my wood floors with vinegar? Cleaning your floors with vinegar is a very easy process, which is no more time consuming than a store bought, chemical laden cleaning solution. Below I have listed the simple steps that should be taken: Thoroughly sweep or vacuum your floor. It is extremely important there is no dust or dirt on the floor as this can lead to scratches. Using a ratio of one gallon of warm water to a half cup of white vinegar fill up a clean bucket. Plunge a clean mop into the water/vinegar mixture and ensure it is thoroughly wrung out before mopping.