Cleaning Wood Floors - while being Green and Safe
Thanks to people who responded with a safe and green way for me to care for my wood floors. The consensus seems to be to use water and vinegar — and generaly to minimize the exposure to water as much as possible, especially because the finish on my floors is water-based. One person suggested that…
Thanks to people who responded with a safe and green way for me to care for my wood floors. The consensus seems to be to use water and vinegar — and generaly to minimize the exposure to water as much as possible, especially because the finish on my floors is water-based.
One person suggested that I don’t use water at all unless I need to spot clean a spill or mess. I’d love to do this, but this is my main dilemma about not mopping or doing some sort of wet-clean of wood floors:
When one opens the windows in NYC, no matter where you live, quiet tree-lined street, or on an avenue with a bus route, there is a black film that collects on surfaces due to the exhaust and pollution in the air. We have a no-shoes policy in our home, and yet, within a week (we’re in a high traffic area and we don’t use A/C so our windows are always open) the bottoms of our feet and/or socks will begin to reflect the build-up of the outdoor pollution (they turn black).
How do New Yorkers manage to keep their homes relatively free of this black film? Is the only option to keep the windows closed?
I’d be happy to avoid using water on my floors if I lived somewhere where there is less pollution, but that’s not my reality right now.
Any thoughts?
Since you’re looking for a green solution, and a couple of people suggested swiffer, I’ll follow their line and suggest Method’s omop. reusable microfiber cleaning head with a non-toxic wood cleaner.
don’t use water. it’s not good for your wood floors. use a swiffer and clean it regularly. you could also buy one of those robot vacuums. if it’s a crappy old wood floor then i guess use water but if it’s new then i would be more wary.
Whatever liquid you use on your wood floors, water with vinegar, Murphy’s Oil Soap, or whatever, make sure that the mop is tightly wrung out so you’re not sopping liquid on the floor. The mop should be damp, not wet. You should be OK that way.
I had central vac installed. Its amazing. Works pretty well in Brownstones because you just have to install one tube that goes from the basement to the top floor. The unit is in the basement.
SWIFFER
wear black socks – you’ll be less inclined to drive yourself crazy with this never ending quest for clean floors.
Maria, I thought your comment was funny.
I think there is nothing wrong with getting finished wood floors wet, just don’t let the water stand or pool up. But you do really need to mop occasionally with at least something damp to get rid of the dirt. Unfortunately new york is a dirty place and it really does require a lot of cleaning to keep it very clean. I know its very frustrating to me when i clean my windows only to find a week later they are completely covered in that black film all over again!!! Just clean as much as you can and accept the fact that it won’t be perfect 🙂
Really, that’s not cool Maria… you obviously didn’t understand the OP’s concerns, nor did you read an earlier post by OP, so cool the snarky remarks… totally not productive.
OP, I use the vinegar/water solution on my waterbase poly oak floors and it has been working nicely…
The chronic dust issue is “always and forever” I’m afraid! 🙂 I dust every chance I get, and vacuum blinds, etc… use a dry dustmop for the floors inbetween damp mopping with vinegar and water.
Good luck! 🙂