HOW TO CLEAN HARD SURFACE FLOORS
Everyone loves a clean floor, right? We might all have different methods for cleaning our floors but finding just the right combination of products and tools is magic and makes the chore of floor cleaning just a little more enjoyable. I love testing out products to recommend to you – this post is a result of my extensive testing.
Before I clean the floors, I always start by dry dusting or vacuuming to get rid of crumbs and dirt. If you have pets or a lot of dust, you may want to follow up with a quick sweep using a microfiber based floor duster.
Every day of the week I have ‘check floors’ as part of my routine. This means that after meals we check the kitchen floor and sweep or vacuum as needed. If I see something on an another floor in the home, I do a quick sweep or vacuum.
ALL-PURPOSE FLOOR CLEANER
Try this DIY Recipe for ANY floor – this recipe is for a 16 oz spray bottle and is super easy to mix up. Use it in a spray bottle or in a refillable mop.
FLOOR CLEANING SPRAY
- 1 3/4 cups warm water
- 16 oz. spray bottle
- 1-2 drops of Sal Suds or castile soap
- 3-5 drops ESSENTIAL OILS if you’d like a little scent – some of my favorites are lemon + clove for the castile and pine + lemon for the Sal Suds (it has a pine-y scent already)
My favorite application for deep cleaning is with a spray bottle and microfiber cloth but you can also spray and use a microfiber mop or spray mop or pour the solution into a small bucket and wipe up with a microfiber or cleaning cloth or with a mop.
HARDWOOD FLOORS:
Before using any cleaner, make sure that your hardwood floors are sealed. How to clean your wood floors is not always dependent on the kind of wood but rather the finish that is on them. If you aren’t sure what sort of finish is on your floors, check with the manufacturer. I prefer to use a refillable or microfiber mop versus a steam mop on my hardwood floors. While many people love the ease of a steam mop, my personal preference is to play it safe and use a more gentle, less moisture approach with a damp microfiber mop – just use a spray floor cleaner and spray and wipe you go. I also use a refillable spray mop with a microfiber pad.
UNFINISHED OR BAMBOO FLOORS:
If you have unfinished, waxed, or bamboo hardwood floors, the best approach is to use a barely damp (with water) microfiber mop pad. Always check with your manufacturer’s instructions first.
COMMON ISSUES:
If you are using a microfiber pad, dampen it before starting and rinse often while washing the floors. If you have streaks with a steam mop and rinsing the mop head frequently doesn’t solve the problem, you might need to use distilled water (purchase by the gallon at your local grocery or drug store). If you have hard water the minerals in your water may be contributing to streaking and residue on your floors.
FAVORITE CLEANERS:
When it comes to just what brand or formulation of floor cleaner I prefer, I like to give a range of options and solutions. Some people love making their own cleaners while others prefer the pre-mixed, ready to go options. I only recommend products that are non-toxic and safe to use around people and pets, but these are all products that I use and love.
If you are looking for the most economical and green choice, then making your own cleaner is the way to go.
Vinegar-based floor cleaning recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1 gallon of warm water
- 2-3 drops ESSENTIAL OILS (I love lemon or lemon and clove for my hardwood floors)
I mix this up using the same ratio in my refillable floor mop:
- 3 teaspoons white vinegar
- 16 ounces of warm water
- 1-2 drops ESSENTIAL OILS (I love lemon or lemon and clove for my hardwood floors
LAMINATE FLOORS:
One of the biggest complaints I hear about laminate floor cleaners is that all the commercial cleaners leave behind a sticky residue that attracts dirt and dust. My all time favorite laminate floor cleaner is a simple DIY cleaner using every day ingredients. Try out this recipe for an effective, economical solution to cleaning your laminate floors. Again, I prefer using a refillable mop for ease, but this solution can be mixed up and put into a spray bottle as well. The vinegar cleans and the rubbing alcohol aids in the drying and adds a sanitizing component. The combination is great for getting those floors perfectly clean. Laminate and water are not a good combination so you’ll want to use this in a spray format in lieu of a mop and bucket.
Mix equal parts of:
- white vinegar
- rubbing alcohol
- water
I like to add several drops of peppermint essential oil for an invigorating and fresh scent. I mix up five ounces of each of three ingredients with 3-5 drops of essential oil to fill a 16 ounce spray bottle or to pour into a refillable mop
TILE AND LINOLEUM FLOORS:
My favorite way to clean tile floors on a weekly basis is by using a steam cleaner. Steam cleaning is about as simple as it gets and uses just water to clean. All it requires is a quick initial vacuum or sweep to remove dirt and crumbs and a couple minutes to heat the water.
If you prefer using an actual solvent based cleaner, I have several DIY recipes that are perfectly suited for tile floors. Both contain readily available household ingredients and are safe to use on any sealed tile floor. The Lemon and Peppermint Tile Cleaner is mixed and sprayed while the Citrus Tile Floor Cleaner is intended to be used for mopping. If you prefer not to use essential oil or don’t have any on hand, you can certainly eliminate them as they are mostly intended to just add scent.
LEMON AND PEPPERMINT TILE CLEANER:
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1 cup warm water
- 5 drops lemon essential oil
- 3 drops peppermint essential oil
Add the ingredients to a spray bottle and shake to combine. Spray thoroughly on tiles and allow to sit for 5-15 minutes. You can scrub if necessary, rinse and allow to air dry or dry using a clean cloth.
CITRUS TILE FLOOR CLEANER:
- 1/4 cup Borax
- 1 gallon hot water
- 5 drops lemon essential oil
- 5 drops orange essential oil
Mix the Borax, water and essential oils in a mop bucket, stirring to dissolve. Mop as you normally do. Rinsing is usually not required. If your floors are extra dirty, you can add a drop or two of castile or dish soap to help cut the dirt. You may want to have a bucket of clean water on the side to rinse instead of using the cleaning bucket water. This will help eliminate streaking.
Please note: If you have marble, granite, or travertine tile you should not use vinegar, lemon, or anything acidic to clean them because the acid will etch the stone. Steam cleaners work well as does the Floor Cleaning Spray recipe in this post.
Once you’ve cleaned up your little or big mess, move on to more important things! I hope this post helps clear up some questions and gives you some ideas of methods and products that work!
Contact us
How can we provide better support and services
Pro Maid Cleaning Services
Facebook: FACEBOOK LINK
Mobile: +6016-9669641
Please click below WhatsApp link
0 comments:
Post a Comment