Wood floors are known for being relatively low maintenance, and most of the time, a light damp mopping with a little bit of warm water is all that’s needed for routine cleaning.
You probably receive many compliments about your hardwood floors, especially if they are the original version included with your older home. As with any flooring surface, you need to clean hardwood to keep them looking great and extend their lifetime. This is where many people get confused because they have no idea what products to use. Did you know there are natural methods to clean hardwood floors?
Though hardwood floors may be good for your health and the planet, they sure do get dirty easily. Commercial products will give the floor a thorough cleaning and may even provide some sealant. However, you can get equally great results (and save money) by cleaning hardwood floors with natural products you have in your cabinets.
If your floor is sealed, get out a bucket, fill it with warm water, and add a bit of vinegar. Mop the floor with this solution, wringing out excess water from the mop before using it on the floor. This will clean the floor and if you prefer a streak-free look, you should dry the area with a towel before it has a chance to dry on its own.
To provide a sealed floor with excellent shine, combine one part vegetable oil with one part white vinegar. Get a rag and rub this mixture on the floor as if you were waxing your car. The resulting shine is incredible and will last for a while. If your natural wood floor is unsealed, spread on linseed oil using a rag, allow it to soak into the floor, and then use some more oil to mop the floor.
Natural products from Seventh Generation and Method are also available to clean hardwood floors. If you are not the mixing type but want to be eco-friendly, try one of these. They cost more but do not harm the planet. Whichever you use, the floor will look brand new and the compliments will continue flowing.
There are DIY cleaning products that work on almost every surface and area of the home, including wood floors. If your home has hardwood or laminate flooring, you might want to consider trying some of these homemade wood floor cleaners. But first, know what kind of floor you have and how it's finished and sealed before selecting a DIY wood floor cleaner to try. Water is usually not recommended for use on waxed floors and should always be used sparingly on all types of wood floors and finishes. Saturating a wood floor or letting water stand can cause damage. If you have any doubts about how to clean your wood floors, check with your manufacturer to see what they recommend.
You can also use boiling water and two teabags to clean hardwood floors. The tannic acid in tea creates a beautiful shine. Let two teabags steep in the boiling water for a few minutes. Pour the tea into a bucket. Take a soft cloth and wring it out in the tea. The cloth merely needs to be damp, not soaked. This will enable the floor to dry quickly. Wash the floor and be ready to be amazed by the sheen.
Covering scratches that remain after cleaning is part of knowing how to clean a wood floor. Take a crayon the color of the floor and rub it on the scratch to fill the gap. Turn a blow dryer on high, heat the area where the crayon was applied and buff it with a soft cloth.
You probably receive many compliments about your hardwood floors, especially if they are the original version included with your older home. As with any flooring surface, you need to clean hardwood to keep them looking great and extend their lifetime. This is where many people get confused because they have no idea what products to use. Did you know there are natural methods to clean hardwood floors?
Though hardwood floors may be good for your health and the planet, they sure do get dirty easily. Commercial products will give the floor a thorough cleaning and may even provide some sealant. However, you can get equally great results (and save money) by cleaning hardwood floors with natural products you have in your cabinets.
If your floor is sealed, get out a bucket, fill it with warm water, and add a bit of vinegar. Mop the floor with this solution, wringing out excess water from the mop before using it on the floor. This will clean the floor and if you prefer a streak-free look, you should dry the area with a towel before it has a chance to dry on its own.
To provide a sealed floor with excellent shine, combine one part vegetable oil with one part white vinegar. Get a rag and rub this mixture on the floor as if you were waxing your car. The resulting shine is incredible and will last for a while. If your natural wood floor is unsealed, spread on linseed oil using a rag, allow it to soak into the floor, and then use some more oil to mop the floor.
Natural products from Seventh Generation and Method are also available to clean hardwood floors. If you are not the mixing type but want to be eco-friendly, try one of these. They cost more but do not harm the planet. Whichever you use, the floor will look brand new and the compliments will continue flowing.
There are DIY cleaning products that work on almost every surface and area of the home, including wood floors. If your home has hardwood or laminate flooring, you might want to consider trying some of these homemade wood floor cleaners. But first, know what kind of floor you have and how it's finished and sealed before selecting a DIY wood floor cleaner to try. Water is usually not recommended for use on waxed floors and should always be used sparingly on all types of wood floors and finishes. Saturating a wood floor or letting water stand can cause damage. If you have any doubts about how to clean your wood floors, check with your manufacturer to see what they recommend.
You can also use boiling water and two teabags to clean hardwood floors. The tannic acid in tea creates a beautiful shine. Let two teabags steep in the boiling water for a few minutes. Pour the tea into a bucket. Take a soft cloth and wring it out in the tea. The cloth merely needs to be damp, not soaked. This will enable the floor to dry quickly. Wash the floor and be ready to be amazed by the sheen.
Covering scratches that remain after cleaning is part of knowing how to clean a wood floor. Take a crayon the color of the floor and rub it on the scratch to fill the gap. Turn a blow dryer on high, heat the area where the crayon was applied and buff it with a soft cloth.
