Cleaning My Hardwood Foors - Help for the Holidays!

I use Basic H2 for my floors. It is a non toxic biodegradable cleaner. Many other uses for it as well and cost effective. If you would like to order it go to www.shaklee.net/mamabear.

M.

I use a swiffer. First I use a dry swiffer to gather dust and such and then I use the wet swiffers to finish up. Very easy and fast. Also not as expensive as some of the other hardwood cleaners I have found. We also have mostly wood flooring and some tile. I like the swiffers because I can use it on both. I have been using the swiffer for over 2 years and love it.

I was so worried about this as well. Especially with a little one crawling around, I wanted to make sure they were as clean as possible.
I read the book, "Home Comforts: The art & science of keeping house" (a GREAT book by the way!)

She suggest using mild soap, something pH-neutral. She gives a long list of suggestions like a light duty laundry or dish detergent. I use an organic, enviormently friendly dishwashing liquid soap I got a the health food store, just a small amount in a bucket of water.
First dust or vacum the floors and then use your detergent solutions...I get on my hands and knees but we don't have a huge area!...As you go along use a second rag and just water to "rinse" the floor as you go along. I sometimes dry what I've washed and rinse and sometimes just let it air dry. Our floors look good and are easy to swiffer up when crumbs drop.
I was never sure about what to do and her suggestions made sense to me. A lot of products seem like they're for quick wipe ups or freshening things up and with a baby crawling around, I didn't feel good about having floors covers with lots of chemicals.

I hope you find something you're comfortable with and makes your floors look great!

Hi,
I use vinegar and water, and a sponge mop. No particular recipe, put water into the bucket, add vinegar. Gets them clean, but I also heard the product from Home Depot is good.
L.

My sister has always used Murphy's Oil on her hardwood floors about once a week. With a swiffer type mop. Not sure if this helps, but her hardwood floors are always beautiful.

Hi A., I use the orange glo system. It's a micro fiber mop a clean and then a shine, protectant. I just got it but I like it so far. I just got it at big lots for 9 bucks. The whole kit and caboodle. Merry Christmas!

Murphy's oil soap the day before then Pledge it the morning of. It will be a little slpiiery, but it will look great!

Hi! We vacuum and then use Bruce Hardwood & Laminate floor covering. It's $5 at Home Depot. Do you have an old swiffer? Once we spray the cleaner on the floors, we have an old swiffer with a piece of felt attached and clean that way. You can buy felt at JoAnn Fabrics. When you're done cleaning you just wash the felt piece in the washer & dryer. Super easy, low cost, works great!

When I have alot of stuff to clean up (spills, sticky spots from missed spills...) I get down on my hands and knees with a bucket and old washclothe and use Murphys Oil Soap fro hardwood floors. The first time I hated it because I didn't follow the mixing directions. If you're going to use Murphys you MUST mix as directed otherwise you will get streaks and cloudiness. It's not hard to follow directions it's just a matted of getting out a measuring glass. For the in between times to make them pretty I use Orange Glow for hardwood floors. Use a wet sponge mop and squirt this down as you go and you have a great shine. I love the way the floors shine like you do but after washing them a few times on your hands and knees your in between washes will get to be more and more apart. I'm actually thinking that I am going to be washing the floors today. Oh such fun - LOL!

I like the orange glo as well...I really like the mop that it comes with. You can wash it in the washer when you are done. It's a lot better than a swiffer mop, as it is more durable.

The pledge gardwood floor cleaner works great. I also love Murphy's oil soap.

The makers of OxyClean and KaBoom products have a line of orange oil cleaners, specifically, I think, for wood. I used some on a handrail of wood and it not only got it nice and clean, but smelled wonderful too. So you'd have a quality product and a nice smelling home.

anything with orange oil in it or specifically for wood and wooden floors.

I'm interested to see what others say I'm looking for more ideas to.. but I wash our floors with a sponge mop with a cleaner I got from Whole Foods that smells like Lavendar. I just sponge mop. They do look so nice when firstly washed.

I use a product from Aco hardware It is from Parkey-Bailey and is called Clean Wood Floors. It has Vineger in it and works great. I just spray it on and wipe with a paper towel. I think the cost is less than $5.00.

I use Murphy's Oil Soap when it is really dirty, but to just freshen it up, use a citrus oil based cleaner (Orange Glow is fine, and so is lemon oil). Murphy's needs to be rinsed off, but really cleans well, and leaves it shining.
good luck, L.

Bruce's hardwood cleaner (green bottle). Spray it on and rub it in with a micro fiber cloth or microfiber mop pad.
It cleans well, dries quickly and leaves a nice shine. I buy mine at home depot. Its aroung $8.00 a bottle. It's available at most stores. I was told by a friend who works at Reimer floors that vinegar and water will etch the finish on your floors. It should only be used for a through
cleaning once or twice a year.