Using Vinegar to Clean Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors withstand the test of spills, burns and high traffic. Besides being prized for resilience, hardwood floors have an aesthetic value. Vinegar is a well known hardwood floor cleaner. This is because of vinegar's composition; it is 30 percent acetic acid and acids are known for their degreasing ability. Using vinegar as a cleaner also depends on whether the floors are finished or unfinished. Be sure to check with your wood manufacturer to find out whether you can use vinegar or not. Regardless of the wood's finish, vinegar can help keep floors looking good if used properly. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Take 1 cup of vinegar and dissolve it in 2 gallons of water. Use this as a cleaning solution to mop the finished floor. Don't make the hardwood floor too wet, since that may warp the wood. It is best to use a damp mop to clean any hardwood floor. There is no reason to rinse the floor after you are done.
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Use equal amounts of vinegar and oil to clean an unfinished hardwood floor. The vinegar will dissolve the grime and the oil will moisturize the wood. You can use this same ratio to spot clean.
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Use vinegar to neutralize bleach after the bleach is used to clean a stain. Apply bleach directly to the stain and let it soak, preferably overnight. Then apply vinegar to the stained spot to neutralize the bleach.
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Use vinegar to remove stains from hardwood floors by applying it directly to the stain and allowing it to soak for an hour. Then rinse it with damp cloth and wipe it dry.
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Use vinegar to get rid of the smell of smoke in hardwood floors. If you move into a house where the previous residents smoked cigarettes or cigars, the smoke may still linger in the wood. You can use vinegar to erase the smell. Clean the hardwood floors with straight white vinegar and make sure the room is well ventilated to keep the smell down to a minimum. Both smells will dissipate eventually.
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Tips & Warnings
Always vacuum the floor before cleaning to ensure you don't spread dirt around. Always test any cleaner on a small area to determine if it safe and effective for the hardwood floor.
