I'm hoping someone can suggest something that will work with my hardwood floors. I've been using the Bona mop and spray and I've tested to see how it was cleaning, because our socks seem pretty dirty still after I clean the floors from this thing! So I went over an area twice in the kitchen with the bona mop and spray and then went down on my hands and knees and sprayed and used hand towels and I STILL had dirt showing up on the towels!
How do I get these floors cleaned?? I make sure the kids and I take our shoes off before walking in the house. My husband is not much help, he puts his work shoes (work shoes for a business man) on and walks around before heading out the door, keeps the shoes up in his closet! I clean our dogs paws off everytime he comes from outside!
I've read that using those steam cleaning machines are not the best thing to use, because the water can damage the wood.
I reallly do not want to get down on my hands and knees to clean the floors, to much, it would take me so long to clean too!
Any suggestions??
Thanks so much for any input :)
Happy Halloween ;)
I use a regular sponge mop, that gets squeezed in half, with a bucket of white vinegar and water.
I used to use a special hardwood floor mop that had a washable, terry cloth cover. That was OK for light cleaning, but it is not strong enough to remove the built up dirt and stains.
I used to have cherry floors, now I have oak.
GL!
If your floor is properly sealed you can use a steam mop without damaging it and should get good results.
If your floor is unsealed or worn a steam mop (and any kind of water based cleaner) can soak into the wood and damage your floor. Oil based cleaners are better for your floor in that case.
Unsealed or worn floors are REALLY hard to get totally clean (as in white socks stay white clean). Superfine particles settle in the grain of the wood and are hard to remove just by mopping with a moist mop - that's why people used to scrub their floors on hands and knees...
So it depends on your floor... if it is worn you may consider sealing it. It can be done DIY, but tends to be a big project...
Good luck!
Vinegar and hot water by hand get our floors very clean. The only people who wear shoes in the house are guests, then we clean the floor again the next day. Helps keep the carpets clean too.
The main reason for the vinegar/water is that our floor had to be refinished due to a water leak near the dishwasher. Poor plumbing by the previous owners.
Shark steamer. You just have to make sure you don't saturate the area but for the most part the steam is so hot it evaporates within a few seconds. My new shark actually has a hardwood laminate setting.
Murphey's Oil Soap is my favorite
2nd favorite is BioKleen
Hi--
You are right about the steam mops. The manufacturer of our floors specifically told me not to use those because over time they damage the wood. AND they will not guarantee your floors (the steam mop company) and using the steam mop will void the guarantee from your manufacturer. I use a microfiber mop. I use a spray bottle with water and just a little bit of vinegar and then wipe it right off. The microfiber soaks up the water immediately so it doesn't damage the wood, and it's great at getting the floor clean. Sometimes I need to get down on my hands and knees for harder to clean spots. Then the microfiber mop goes in the washing machine to clean it. I got it at a home show, but I think they also sell them on TV.
J.
I'm a fan of the squirt and mop Murphy's oil soap. I rinse my mop under running water after each approx 3x3 ft square(ish) area. Then squeeze out really well so it's not too wet. Dries pretty quick and the oil soap helps protect the floors.
But I'm also the person who will never get on her hands and knees to scrub her floors ... EVER LOL And don't expect my socks to stay clean even when wearing them in the house.
I use regular cleaner like Spic and Span with the Rubbermaid Reveal Mop.
Once a month I use the Orange Glo Hardwood Floor cleaner/conditioner.
I am considering purchasing the Shark Steam Mop for them though. I hear WONDERFUL things about it.
I use the shark steam mop and I LOVE it! I have never seen floor so clean before. It works great
I'm not an expert, but I use pledge hardwood floor cleaner with a microfiber mop. It seems to do pretty well and it's not expensive. I have a steam mop, but those were a pain to use and I started to see it damage my floor a little. But I have to do the pledge stuff often, just b/c kids are dirty and are always dragging dirt in.
Shark brand steamer is the best. We have been using this for years and never had any trouble with the floors or warranties. You have to keep the steamer moving so as not to damage the floor, makes sense. But I steam the floor every week and you can feel the difference on your feet.
I use the swifter wet jet, or a refillable microfiber mop and fill with water and a little vinegar. Don't sweat it, your floors will NEVER be 100% dirt free with kids, husband and dog, lol!
I clean houses that have hard wood floors and they all use the Bona mops and Bona cleaning products. Are you dusting before you use a wet mop? If you do not get the dust up then all you are doing is swirling dirt around, no matter what kind of system or cleaning agent you are using. If you really want clean floors I am sorry best way is hands and knees Cinderella style with HOT water and vinegar. You will not have streaks, it will be clean= )
I use the Swiffer wet mop pads. Package claims its safe for hardwoods...I don't notice any residue and my floors are shiny (and it smells so good!) when I get done. I do go over the first swipe or two with a microfiber mop, just because the pads are almost soppy...so I try to avoid letting the liquid sit on the floor -- so I just "polish" with the micro-mop and it looks great! Then I go on with the wet pad, with no drippy mess. It does take me 3 pads to get all mine done (lots of area to cover!), but they work great for me.
I've used Quick Shine Floor Cleaner (available at Meijer).
Also in the process of putting out house on the market we used Quick Shine - Floor Shine. Stuff smells a little funky but the floor has never looked better -- it really does shine, my husband keeps thinking it's still wet.
