how clean wood floors with vinegar
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. 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
Since this is supposed to be something that should be easily figured out objectively, let’s take a closer look at the matter. Using a natural hardwood floor cleaner offers several benefits for ordinary homeowners.
best vacuum cleaners for pet hair 2013The first and most obvious reason to use this is because it’s very cheap.
the best vacuum cleaner 2013 ukYou don’t have to pay good money for branded cleaning products when you have such handy materials already with you. There’s also the fact that water and vinegar are obviously safe. Many household cleaning products are not. They have chemicals which can prove harmful when breathed in, they can be bad for the eyes, and they may not all that safe to touch. Sometimes two different cleaning products can be accidentally mixed to produce toxic fumes.
Many also attest that using water and vinegar for wood floors is actually simple and very effective. When done right, grime and dirt can be removed without damaging the finish. It’s also free from streaks. Vinegar is used as a floor cleaner because it contains acetic acid. It’s this ingredient that helps you remove the grime and dirt without any problematic residue. So here’s how to clean hardwood floors with vinegar. Some experts suggest a mix of a half cup of white vinegar to a gallon of warm water in a bucket. Then you can use a sponge mop, preferably one that comes with a spring-type wringer. For small areas, you can use a cloth or a sponge using the water and vinegar solution, while for dry and sticky spills you can use a semi-abrasive pad. The number one rule to remember is that it is imperative that you wring out as much water as you can from the mop before you put it to use on your wood floor. If you’re cleaning with a mop and there are water puddles, then you’ve got too much water.
You need to get down on the floor and use a clean absorbent towel or cloth to wipe off the moisture. This is why many proponents of the water and vinegar mix for hardwood floors insist that commercial cotton mops should be avoided. They will definitely do harm to your wood floor because it’s almost impossible to wring out the water from them. Now for most people, the real “time-tested” way of doing this is by getting down on your hands and knees, preferably with a microfiber cloth that’s only slightly damp with the water and vinegar solution. But that is seriously unpleasant for many people, and the smell of the vinegar may be off-putting as well. For some, the best option is to use a microfiber mop, but the same principle of using only slightly damp cloths applies here too. Many experts do acknowledge that water and vinegar is a great option for a DIY cleaner. It can really clean a lot of stuff such as windows, the water and vinegar is cheap, and the environment isn’t damaged.
But they do warn against the use of water and vinegar for hardwood floors. Too many people don’t really know how to clean wood floors with vinegar properly, and that causes damage to wood floors. The main problem is that often people make mistakes by using too much water. For hardwood floors, water is anathema. It’s like Kryptonite for Superman. It’s the one substance that can really damage wood floors, which is why many experts tell you to immediately mop up any water that spills onto your wood floor. When you use too much water on your floor, the wood will swell up and warp. The water may also discolor the wood floor as well. The vinegar is also a problem for some proponents of commercial cleaning products. Cleaning hardwood floors isn’t actually about cleaning the wood, but cleaning the finish of the wood. The finish is that chemical layer that protects the hardwood floor. The problem with vinegar is that it is an acid. So what it really does is break down the finish on the floor surface.
Eventually, the shine of the hardwood floor decreases and it looks dull. While this will happen whether or not you use vinegar, the use of vinegar may speed up the process. Whether or not you use water and vinegar as a cleaning solution for your hardwood floor, there are some things you can do regardless. You have to sweep and vacuum the floor regularly, so that you can remove all the dirt and grime that damages hardwood floors by acting as sandpaper. You should also prioritize the use of microfiber cloths, as they don’t attract lint. They’re non-abrasive and they’re very effective at lifting dirt from the surface. They can last for hundreds of washings, and they’re hypoallergenic. When using a cleaning product, it may be a good idea to use a fine spray mist. You can use this with the water and vinegar as well. The great thing about water and vinegar is that it can be used to clean many things around the home. While there’s disagreement as to whether you can use water and vinegar for hardwood floors, there’s no debate that as a general cleaning solution for windows and ovens and glass items water and vinegar truly works well.