We all want to have sparkling floors for a healthy environment. While there are many different types of floors, there are also various ways in which you can use to clean them. How do you clean your hardwood floors? If you don’t know how you can clean your hardwood floor, I will show you how to clean hardwood floors with vinegar.
Vinegar is made from the fermentation of alcohol products, which include apple cider and red wines. When cleaning hardwood floors, white vinegar is the best to use. This is because white vinegar is the least expensive, and it does not leave stains on the floor.
Is Vinegar Safe To Clean Hardwood Floors?
White vinegar is safe to use when cleaning hardwood floors because it is less toxic. After applying vinegar in cleaning, there is no need for rinsing it from the floor. It ensures that the hardwood floor has a shiny appearance left, and thus it makes it more attractive.
Make sure when using vinegar, you don’t use it together with water. This is because using both cleaning agents at the same time may bring some undesirable effects on the hardwood floors. They may include discoloration and swelling of the wood. This happens when the wood intakes more water in it, and the wood will get darkened.
Vinegar is an acid, and it breaks down the finish of the hardwood floor. It should, therefore, be used in its diluted form. Hardwood floors require a neutral cleanser as it is gentle on woods. Before cleaning any part of the floor, try out first with a part of it and then follow to the other parts if there are no abnormal effects.
Before cleaning hardwood ensure the following;
- You sweep the floor to get rid of any debris.
- Use a Ph a neutral cleaner that will not harm your wood.
- Use a mop that is microfiber. They do not leave excess water on the floor.
- Clean section by section using spray mist. This ensures that the floor does not have excess water.
Contents
How to Clean Hardwood Floors with Vinegar (Top 3 Ways)
1. Mopping with the vinegar and water solution
Make sure there is no debris left on the floor as they can scratch it and make it unsightly. This also saves time as it reduces the need for mopping. Mix vinegar with water in a bucket. You may also use a few drops of essential oils. Dip a mop into the water and vinegar solution and squeeze it until it is damp. Ensure your mop to the direction of the grain. If the water gets soiled, change it, and replace it with clean water.
Use warm water and three tablespoons of vinegar. Wet the tips of the microfiber mop with warm water and wring it out. Use the same proportions of water to vinegar. Make sure the floor does not get too wet as it will cause swelling, and this may damage it. Wipe off any moisture on the floor and make sure that the floor has no traces of liquid. If possible, open the doors and the windows to quicken the drying process. Let nobody get access to the room before the floor is dry.
2. Cleaning small parts of the floor manually with vinegar and a cloth
Mix the vinegar and water into equal proportions. Dip in the cloth and squeeze out the liquid making it damp. Alternatively, use a spray bottle with the liquid and spray it on the cloth. Work from section to section until clean. Use a dry cloth to dry the floor. In case there are messes on the floor, scrub them using a sponge. The sponge does best since it is semi abrasive and does not harm the floor. Finish by wiping off with warm water and then dry using a dry cleaning cloth.
3. Cleaning with a vinegar-based solution
- Use oil and vinegar to clean
Add two cups of vegetable oil with an equal amount of vinegar in a spray bottle. Form a uniform solution. Spray a thin layer onto the floor and rub it with a clean rag. Buff in circular motions with a separate clean rag. Do the same process on the whole floor. This method also effective for cleaning dark wood floors.
- Vinegar, olive oil, and hot water Cleansing polish
Mix olive oil and vinegar in equal proportions. Add a few cups of water. Use the solution to give your floor a nice polish using a damp mop or a clean rag. After that, buff the floor to give it a shine.
- Make orange vinegar
Pick a glass jar with dried orange peel and fill it with fresh orange peel from the top pour white vinegar. Cover the mixture and let it sit for about two weeks. Strain the mixture from the vinegar and use the liquid to clean. Mix the soap with the vinegar and add a few drops of essential oils. Clean using the above process and make sure you dry the floor. In case there are sticky messes, add baking soda to the solution. Rinse off with hot water and dry the floor completely.
Cleaning and maintaining hardwood floors require a lot of care. This will make the floor last long and have an attractive shiny appearance. Hardwood is commonly used in flooring due to its durability. Its thickness is recommendable as it makes it able to stand several finishing. In the cleaning of hardwood floors, vinegar is used despite its acidic nature. Vinegar is a product of alcoholic substances that is prepared through the fermentation process.
In this case, white vinegar is the recommended one for cleaning hardwood floors. Before cleaning hardwood floors, make sure that the floor is free from any debris which might cause scratching. The debris can be removed by sweeping or by damp mopping. Ensure that the floor is dried before you allow passage or entry of people in the room. This will prevent some permanent marks that may form on the floor when you step on it when still wet.
Be extra cautious when using liquids to clean the hardwood floors. Excess liquids remove the top furnish on the wood and penetrate the wood. The wood later swells and discolors. This makes it unsightly and reduces its lifespan.