I've been washing my hardwood floors with vinegar and water for a couple months now. Sometimes with a bucket and sometimes with a mop (I like the Rubbermaid Reveal mop). My preferred method (for results, not knees) is the getting down on my hands and knees method.
(You can see my original post here, if you are interested.) I am not a fan of the 'just pickled' smell that my house has after washing the floors, so I took to the comments and tried adding a little essential oils to my water/vinegar solution. No vinegar smell before, during or after the floor washing - yay!
It's super simple, here's what you'll need.....
- I use a bucket of clean, plain water (for rinsing the dirty cloths during floor washing)
- a bucket with hot water and vinegar (I use the ratio of 1/2 cup white vinegar to 1 gallon of warm/hot water)
- a drop or two of essential oils added to the water/vinegar solution - I like this brand and I use a combination of lemon and orange or lemon and clove
- microfiber cloths - I use three or four as I wash the floors - for drying and when the cloths get dirty
It's been almost 2 months since I posted about this method - anyone trying it out?
Hi Becky, I have been using vinegar for a few months now on my bamboo floors and I love it. Very effective getting out food spills and stains (I have two girls under 4 yo). I prefer the hands and knees method ... One hand wiping with the vinegar, the other drying it up....like the karate kid 'wipe on, wipe off'!! The vinegar here (australia) isn't too bad so I dont mind the smell but might try adding some oils to it. I don't dilute.. Just straight vinegar in a spray bottle.
ReplyDeleteGreat tip! I will definitely do this.
ReplyDeleteIf you've got a pet cat, be wary about using essential oils on the floor. It's quite toxic for them. The cannot metabolise certain components of the oil and it can build up and prove fatal.
ReplyDeleteConsidera hydrosol instead.
I have actually been cleaning hardwood floors for vinegar and water solution for a year or more and I really like it. I don't mind the smell, it goes away right after it dries in about 5 minutes.
ReplyDeleteVinegar is really good for tons of household cleaning, I add it to laundry and bathrooms and all sorts of rooms. It's cheap and works better than anything I have found.
I also use the Rubbermaid mop, I don't LOVE it, but it's the best I've found so I keep using it. The mop with vinegar and water is the only system I have that cleans hardwood well. I would recommend this to anyone. My cousin uses a Norwex system with good results too.
I wash my floors with the two bare feet and two microcloths method. Wet your microcloths and put one under each foot and wash with your feet. Better than a mop but not as tough on your knees as the hands and knees method.
ReplyDeleteHaha. Love this!
DeleteOften, when using a client's mop, I resort to this method. It does a much better job. (And doesn't leave crap everywhere like a lot of string mops too!)
WOW I love this post. When we moved in our new home 7 years ago we asked the place where we got our hardwood flooring from what to use on our floors. They gave us 2 options BONO floor cleaner(which is very expencive) or vinegar water. I chose the vinegar option & have used it exclucively since. The smell goes away real quick. I have started using other options for cleaning w/ vinegar in the past few months. Baking soda is also another great cleaner. I usually use a mop simply because I have bad knees & a bad back & it cleans great. Use one that you can wash the mop head after a couple uses. also just found your blog & enjoying it:)
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to try this. When we first moved into our house we mistakenly used Orange Glo {HUGE mistake}as our floors still have orange glo grime on them despite using BONO floor cleaner for the last 3 years! I'll have to try vinegar and water on my hands and knees to see if it works. Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteI know it probably works amazing but i dont know if i could stand the smell of vinegar. How long does the smell stay? I use this http://jessica230918.blogspot.com/2012/08/five-cleaning-products-everyone-should_27.html?m=0
ReplyDeleteI use lemon vinegar. Just slice a lemon into a quart jar of vinegar and steep in the windowsill (or whereever) until the lemon loses it's color and the vinegar is pale yellow. Strain lemon peel out and use lemon vinegar in place of "regular" vinegar in natural cleaning. (I'm guessing you could do this with any citrus fruit?!) There's a slight vinegar smell, but if you add a few drops of lemon essential oil, it's super fabulous!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is how my mom has always cleaned her floors, all hard surface floors not just hardwood. I grew up with it and when I got into my own home thought it would be fun to buy cleaners... Now I know why mom stuck with vinegar and water. I have never thought that the smell lingered once it was dry. Then again, although I don't measure, I don't think I use quite that much vinegar per gallon. I don't have hardwood only tile and vinyl but I do NOT rinse after washing with vinegar water. Great Page!
ReplyDeleteCan you use this on laminate hard wood flooring?
ReplyDeleteHardwood floors provide lots of benefits to house owners and homemakers. Apart from the aesthetic value, this type of flooring is durable and eco-friendly. And it can last for a long time, as long as it is properly maintained and cleaned. Another tip to make hardwood floors clean is vacuuming it regularly. Dirt, grit, and sand can cause damage on the material and reduce the longevity of the wood. And to avoid scratches, don’t use a beater vacuum brush.
ReplyDeleteCool tips, I never knew that natural thing such as vinegar could be one of the best use to clean floors. Is that also applicable to all types of hardwood flooring? Probably, maybe. Anyway, I have a great time reading your post and I do enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteFinally, an issue that I am passionate about. I have looked for information of this caliber for the last several hours. Your site is greatly appreciated.
ReplyDeletetile
Actually I'm so happy to be here at this good kind of blog that share nice Carpet and Hardwood Floor Cleaning Little Rock AR, so it could be better if you'll keep on posting!
ReplyDelete