How to Clean Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are beautiful and can easily last a lifetime if you take proper care of them. First of all, when we talk about hardwood floors we are talking about sealed hardwood floors. Unsealed floors have not been installed in homes for a very long time. If you think that your floors are not sealed, they must be sealed immediately or they will absorb every liquid spilled on them and will quickly start to dry out and fall apart.

Great Homemade Cleaner for Hardwood Floors

There are a wide variety of commercially available wood floor cleaners. Many of these are quite expensive and contain harsh chemicals. A very simple homemade cleaner can be made from adding a few drops of basic dish soap with distilled water. Put the mixture in a misting spray bottle and clean your hardwood floor in small sections. Make sure that you spray the area that you want to clean and then wipe up immediately with a micro fiber cloth or clean towel. Never let any area remain damp for any period of time as moisture is your floor’s enemy. Adding a splash of white vinegar and lemon juice will add some major cleaning power to your homemade floor cleaner. However, if you add these ingredients to your cleaner, you will have to do a quick wet mop with clean water before you dry each section.

Quick tips to maintain your hardwood floors:

• Sweep your floors at least every week with a Swiffer or with a soft bristled broom. To save time, I have found a get trick for cleaning your floors. If you are sweeping your floors, sweep the dust and dirt onto a carpeted area of your home. Vacuum the carpet thoroughly to remove all of the debris and to help keep abrasive dirt off of your hardwood floors.
• Always wipe up all spills immediately. Water and other liquids can do severe damage to even sealed hardwood floors.
• Protect your hardwood floor by placing furniture pads under the legs of each piece of furniture. This will spread out the weight of your furniture over a larger area and keep your floors from getting scratched.
• Use area rugs to protect your hardwood floors in highly trafficked areas. Also, use floor mats in all entrances to your rooms with hardwood floors. This helps trap dirt and debris and keeps them from scratching the surface of your floors.

Related Posts:

• Microfiber Mops
• Keep Your Floors Cleaner With These Moping Tips
• Floor Cleaning Week Recap

Basic Cleaning Equipment

We have gone over basic cleaning supplies in the past, but there are a few pieces of equipment that I find indispensible. Having the right tools will save you a ton of time when cleaning. First, every home needs a good wet/dry shop vac. These are great for cleaning up spills, flooding, and general high-powered vacuuming. Second, my collection of different brushes has saved me a ton of effort. I have a brush for each occasion. I keep toothbrushes for fine cleaning, general hand brushes for general cleaning, and specialty grout brushes that make deep cleaning tile and grout a snap. Third, everyone needs a squeegie. These are great for windows, counters, you name it. Fourth, good brooms and a good mop. A few years ago I threw out my cheap stuff and got a good plastic bristled broom, a traditional straw broom, a Swiffer duster, and a self-ringing mop. These save me time and do a much better job than my old cheap stuff. Fifth, good sponges will save you money in the long run. I know it's tempting to buy the ten pack of cheap sponges and just pitch them when they get dirty, but a couple of good, shaped sponges with the scrubbing back will last years if properly maintained and cleaned.

Removing Oil Stains From Your Driveway or Garage

Like many of us, I own an older vehicle. It is a wonderful little car that still gets great mileage but has over 200,000 miles on it. On occasion it leaks a little oil. I have been all over the engine, and I cannot find the source of the leak! There's no oil around the heads, the oil pan, or anywhere else. But, after I let the car sit for a while, there's an oil stain on my concrete!

How to Remove Oil Stains With Cat Litter

The absolute best product for removing oil from concrete is cat litter. Using non-clumping litter, completely cover the spill and work in with a stiff-bristled broom. Let sit for a few minutes and then sweep it up. The cat litter dust pulls the oil from the porous concrete, leaving a clean surface. Even really old oil stains can be removed with cat litter, they just may require a second application. I have seen commercial cleaners available at different home supply stores and most of them look and smell like cat litter, but they cost about ten times as much! There are also some nasty chemicals that you can buy to remove oil stains. These cleaners boast health hazards and claim that they may damage the surface! Stick with something safe and effective, cat litter!

My father always kept a glass Ball jar full of cat litter in the garage just for quick cleanups and spills. Just make sure that you store the cat litter in an air-tight container to keep it fresh! Moisture will cause the litter to lose its ability to absorb liquids.

Make Your Broom Last Three Times Longer

A high quality broom is a good investment. It will clean in fewer strokes, saving you lots of time. To keep your broom in tip top shape, cut a 4 inch band from an old pair of pantyhose and rap it around the bristles half way up. This will keep the bristles tight and keep them from fraying. When storing your broom, always keep the bristles in the air. Over time gravity will wear them out.

Say Goodbye To A Dusty Broom

Dipping the tip of your broom in water will help keep the broom from throwing up dust. Be sure not to lift the broom head too far either, as this will throw the dust up into the air spreading it everywhere. Short smooth strokes work best. Instead of using the dust pan, use the wand on your vacuum to clean up every last bit of dust.