This morning I got out of bed and decided that clutter in our house is causing clutter in my brain. The main area that’s getting on my last nerve is our kitchen / breakfast room / playroom area. Everything piles up in there because that’s where we keep keys, mail, camera, my purse, etc. – and any empty basket or bowl seems to become a receptacle for coupons, receipts, stray batteries, cell phones and the like.
And, quite frankly, I have hit the wall in terms of being able to deal with it.
Until the next time it gets cluttered, at which point I’ll sigh deeply and start all over.
So while I’m working on de-cluttering and THROWING OUT TOYS (hello? preschool department at church? I believe it’s your lucky day!), I need your help with a couple of floor-cleaning issues.
1) What do y’all use to clean hardwood floors? People always tell me to just use vinegar and water, but the problem with that is I DESPISE THE SMELL OF VINEGAR, and so using that method doesn’t leave me with a happy, oh-my-house-is-so-clean feeling. It leaves me with a sad, oh-my-house-smells-like-sour-vinegar feeling. Which isn’t very much fun.
So if you have a more, um, pleasant-smelling suggestion, I’d love to hear it. I just feel like the floor (around the breakfast room table especially) is starting to look a little dull, but I certainly don’t want to mop with anything that’s going to hurt the wood.
2) Alex’s bathroom has a white tile floor. Not off-white. WHITE. Mopping with a little Clorox diluted with lots of water will definitely get it clean (though it leaves it looking a little dull), but then we have to leave the house because the fumes are so strong. And somehow that strikes me as a little bit, you know, dangerous. I’d love to know if you have any non-bleachy alternatives to really make those white tiles shine.
Finally.
While I’m on my cleaning soapbox (OH, THE PUNNINESS! IT’S PUNTASTIC!), I have a little cleaning tip of my own: if you have a chance, check out these all-natural products if you haven’t already. I absolutely adore the lavender disinfecting spray – it’s smells great, it’s not harsh, and it’s great for when you need to “tidy up” before company comes over. And my absolute favorite is the lavender room freshener (I believe my love affair with the scent of lavender has been well-documented, so I will not elaborate on its magical soothing properties) – it’s great stuff.
All righty. I’m going to get out the mop and wait for y’all to tell me what to do to my floors. Don’t EVEN suggest that I spray something on my floors and then get on my hands and knees to wipe up said spray, because the odds of that happening are approximately, oh, ZERO.
(I love for the house to be clean, of course, but I certainly wouldn’t want to go overboard.)
Thanks in advance, y’all!
What? no comments yet? I was hoping to hear the answers to your questions! I don’t know what to use to clean our tile floors, but for our hardwoods, I’ve been using murphy’s oil soap for hardwoods….it’s what our builder recommended. I like the way it smells, too…kinda lemon soapy. I don’t know how GOOD a job it’s doing, but the floors don’t appear to be harmed and they certainly feel less sticky and gooky (for all of 15 minutes if I’m lucky! HA!). Anyways, good luck with your floors! And the clutter. I totally hear ya there, too!
Okay, from a girl who owns a janitorial service, here goes:
Hardwood floors…
I love Murphy’s Hardwood floor cleaner…It doesn’t build up and smells pleasant. The best mop is the one with a large paddle and terry cloth cover. It’s just like getting on your hands and knees and wiping it clean, except not.
White tile floors – what was anyone thinking when they invented those things?!
Hands down the best mop solution is Mr. Clean diluted in water…But, if you need some extra umph, try mixing OxyClean in with it. You said you didn’t want to hands and knees wipe, but the best thing EVER is a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser…Wipe your whole floor with that – you will be amazed. Then mop over it…You should be sparkly!! :))
Hope it helps! :)
Lisa
Okay, you’ve inspired me to get to work! I use the Swiffer Wet cloths on my (sealed)hardwood floors and have had no problems and they look great! My sis uses Murphy’s Oil on her hardwood and likes it too. Happy Cleaning!
I would say the same thing too, my dad always used Murphy’s oil saop… and can I just mention for your trip to NYC they have free, let me say it again FREE concerts and stuff in Central Park all summer long. You can find out who will be there the week you are at http://www.summerstage.org (sorry for the off topic comment)
Murphy’s hardwood cleaner is awesome…and I have to disagree on the Swiffer wets on hardwood…they will build up after a few uses and streak terribly..at least they did on my floors. You need a paddle mop with a terry cover…they are the best..!!
I know you don’t want to hands and knees wipe, but your white tile will be absolutely sparkly if you use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on it …It doesn’t take long and they really are MAGIC!! I keep a case at all times…
Hope it helps!!
Lisa
Boomama,
We just installed hardwoods in our great area (kitchen/dining/living) and they are beautiful! I promptly went to the store and bought some OrangeGlo hardwood floor cleaner. My advice? STAY FAR FAR AWAY FROM THAT STUFF! It smelled fabulous, but left a dull residue and made my floor sticky. What has worked like a charm is Bruce’s Hardwood Floor Cleaner. I got a “kit” at Home Depot that came with a special cloth mop and a spray bottle of the cleaner. I spray and mop and I promise it does a BEAUTIFUL job. Love that stuff! It’s now one of my chores that I enjoy because the product is so great.
Yes, I’m a nerd.
I had to visit, because you are on the blogrolls of all of my favorite blogs! ~smile~ I actually have some good ideas for this~a little Dr. Bronner’s and water is great for floors, and Borax might help with the white ones. I also sell some natural alternatives here: http://www.shaklee.net/Titus2woman . I think I have a recipe for a fantastic scrub using Dr. Bronner’s and essential, if you’re interested… OH! and check out this great book! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/158017194X/ref=wl_it_dp/104-1953802-7151907?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3DQSUEAQI72JV&colid=35WPISX1E0HP0 I lent mine out and never got it back~WAH!
*HAPPY CLEANING!* (((((HUGS))))) sandi
oils~that should read essential oils! and I second the Murphy’s Oil recommendation too~forgot about that! (((((HUGS))))) sandi
So, I’ve never personally tried it, but my aunt swears by hydrogen peroxide for cleaning white tile. Mix in a bottle with some water and mop away, she claims. Mind you, as I said, I’ve never tried it…let me know if you do, because I’m curious if my Aunt Lynne is a crazy old lady or a sly old fox.
We have very old hardwood floors that swell if we use water products. Instead, I spot clean spills and stains with a wet rag and then mop with an oil-based furniture polish like Old English. It smells nice, though a little heavy, and the floors look great. At least until the children get to them again.
I used to use a magical combo of murphy’s oil soap and orange glo mixed in water. I can’t remember the combo, but it was something like 1/8 cup of each mixed in a gallon of hot water. I lost the recipe, but really, any combo should work fine.
Though I don’t have hardwood, I believe that Murphy’s Oil Soap would take care of those problems. You can also use those Swiffer Wet Jet thingies, but for the love of all that is recyclable, just yank out a mop and don’t fill the landfills with all of those little pad thingies. For Alex’s bathroom, what about Oxi Clean? They claim that you can use it on stuff other than laundry. Just a suggestion.
I have to agree with the Mr Clean Magic Erasers for the tile. Those things are amazing. You just wet them and go to town. Our old house had white tiles AND white grout in the KITCHEN. Gah! Drove me nuts. Had no choice but to do the bleach thing for years. Tried the Magic Erasers while we were getting it ready to sell. They cleaned the grout better than the bleach ever did. Wish I had tried it years ago.
Nancy
I use Murphy’s Oil on my hardwoods.
Please forgive me and indulge a stupid question: I LOVE what you’ve written in “About Me”~we are very similar! However, do you ever have trouble reconciling your love of TV and your love for Jesus? I hope not, so you can help me do the same! It’s like this inner struggle goin’ on~like I’m not allowed to do both…. (((((HUGS))))) sandi~really leavin’ now! LOL!
I mop my wood floors with a Swiffer WetJet. They make a cleaner specifically for wood floors and it’s great :o)
i use the wetjet thingy too, because i’m lazy like that. i’m sure the murphy’s oil is better, i even have some…but haven’t used it in the three years we’ve been in this house with all wood floors! let me know if you use it and its worth all that extra mop n’ bucket business!
Glad you posted about this because we’re frantically cleaning and getting rid of clutter in preparation for a “trail run” walk through of our house and then a home inspection for adoption certification.
I’m going to read through your comments now.
I second (or third or fourth) the Murphy’s Oil Soap suggestion. It smells great and they also make a spray for other woodwork. Mr. Clean Magic Erasers all the way too. We have two “white” shelves over our bathroom sink and when we moved in they were much less than white. I tried to clean them with everything for years and I tried with the eraser the other day. They are shiny now!
What about Magic Erasers for the tile? Oh, that is the last comment…I am thinking Heather and I are on to something, :)
Thanks for the plug. The all-purpose cleaner will work on hardwoods safely. It will clean the tile, but I don’t know about gleaming white. Just for future reference…
Glad you like the stuff!
I got some of the barefoot products as well and LOVE THEM. The lavendar spray is AWESOME BABY.
Fling the clutter away. Give it away and don’t look back. It is so freeing. I’m a decluttering banshee now that my house is for sale.
Murphy’s Oil soap for the hardwood and a Swiffer scented antibacterial for the bathroom. Good luck with the de-cluttering. That is my life :)
Love ya!
Holly
BooMama,
I know you said not to mention water and vinegar…but, if it’s stinking up your house then there’s too much vinegar in there! I’ve been using that combination for years and it really does the best job ever.
I use Murphy’s Oil Soap on some of my older wood furniture and it’s really wonderful.
And, stay away from Swiffer products on wood. I have a friend that has a bad bad story…
Isn’t it fun to take about cleaning!
Sweet Mama of Boo
I’ve got good news for you!
White tiles got you down?
Does the dinge make you frown?
Put that smile back on your face
As there is a NEW way to ERASE
That Housecleaning Hunk
Mr. Clean, he’s no punk
Has come out with a MOP
With a MAGIC ERASER ON TOP!
http://www.mrcleantools.com/cart/mrclean_catalog_list.php?cat=7
You’re welcome.
We have laminate floors here, but I got a Bissell Flip-It and LUV IT! It will do hard wood, laminate & tile. It’s a combination dry/wet vac. No more hands and knees (and not much sweeping anymore, either)! It comes with cleaner for both wood & tile floors.
You could use Borax instead of the white vinegar. Dilute 1/2 cup in two gallons of water and add 1/4 cup of liquid soap (like castille soap or Murphy’s Oil Soap) for the sticky spots. And if you want a little bit of fragrance, you could probably just add a couple drops of essential oil to the mixture (spot test in a corner first). Borax won’t stink up the room like vinegar, but it’s a nice natural alternative to all those toxic cleaning products out there. Bonus: cut the amount of laundry detergent you use in half and add a 1/2 Borax to the load instead. It’s a natural laundry booster and has lots of other great uses!
I love the Murphy’s Oil and HATE the Orange Glo stuff! It leaves an oily surface and we slip and slide all over the place. I recently started using Pledge Multi surface floor cleaner. It does wood, ceramic and linoleum/vinyl. All you do is squirt and mop! It works grea on all my floors, even the tile, except my kitchen floor that is old, nasty wood with huge gouges and spintery areas. (97 year old floors!)
I LOVE my magic erasers, and I “thought” I recently saw a magic eraser mop, but I can’t find it online, so it must have been something else????? But that would be genious!
I’m going to try the vinegar on my floors, too!
I think I have tried every wood floor product known to man. I have used the water/vinegar combination, but nothing has worked as well as Holloway House Quick Shine floor finish. It comes in a handy bottle with a squirter thing on top. You take one of those mops with the nice big terry cloth thing on it, mop, toss the terry cloth thing in the washer, and ta-da, great looking floors with a really fresh smell.
HTH,
Blessings,
Kayla
Oops, I meant to add you can get it at your local Wally World.
Blessings, again,
Kayla
I had something to say but now I can’t get past Clementine’s comment….what a hoot…so I’ll go on my merry way.
Laura
I use Murphey’s Oil Soap. It has a good smell and the floors shine.
I use the Swiffer Wetjet on my hardwood floors. They have a wood floor cleaner that you can buy to use in the Wetjet. It makes my floors shiny and squeaky clean. It also has a nice fresh smell.
OK, Base Housing in PCB, FLorida is all white floors. THE WHOLE HOUSE! I love the oxyclean. I would spray stubborn areas with some diluted bleach, but virtually cleaned the floors with Oxyclean mixed with HOT water. The clorox smell was not noticable this way.
Have fun!
Amanda
Coming out of lurkdom for this. We have friends that lay hardwood for a living. He recommends just using warm water but to ALWAYS dry the floor when finished. Anything left wet on the floor will ruin the finish!
I’ve had hardwoods for 10 years and tried everything known to man. To me the best floor cleaner is Pledge wood floor cleaner. It has a nice orange scent and it does a great job. I put it right on my hardwoods and use a lightly damp mop to clean the floor. I looks nice and shiney when I get done. My floors are sealed and it’s safe.
For counter top surfaces I use Target’s all purpose cleaner. It is non-toxic and has a fresh cucumber scent. Lovely.
For bathroom floors I use a swiffer wet mop. It’s not the best, but it’s easy and gets the job done. But, for spot cleaning, nothing works better than a baby wipe! My kids are 8 and 5 and I still keep them around!
And when all else fails I call my cleaners. They seem to do the best job keeping my house clean!
Good Luck!
Blessings,
Georgia Mom
Hi– it looks like Murpheys is the popular one. I actually just use a damp microfiber mop. SOmetimes I spray my favorite Theives Oil Cleaner from Young Living. As far as the Mr. Clean, keep in mind that it is a very mild sandpaper. IF you use it on your wood floors, it will scratch it and leave a dull mark on it. I know- I’ve done it. I agree, I don’t like the smell of vinegar either.
Susan
What?! I kept waiting for you to say, “Help me, interents!” and you never did!
Clemntine is too cute! A cleaning poem?! She has talent!
We use those Magic Erasers at church. They get the crayon marks off of tables like nobody’s business. After all these suggestions, I’ll have to try them on tile! I do the vinegar and water thing, so I am no help for wood but what about laminate floors?
I think the trick is to add essential oils to the vinegar products to provide a nice fragrance. Here are some recipes from another blogger:
http://intent.squarespace.com/everyday-journal/2007/4/25/healthy-cleaning-products.html
Clementine stopped me in my tracks, too…what a funny little poem. She’s got talent, that girl.
Mr. Clean magic erasers need to be used ALL OVER my house. They work wonders, but I haven’t been able to get him to go to work around here! Wouldn’t it be great if he jumped out of the box and did the work for us? And winked at us like in the commercial….now that would make a woman’s heart melt, wouldn’t it????
I run a natural cleaning service, so I hope I can help! If the vinegar on the hardwood bothers you, add some fresh lemon juice to it. You’ll only smell the vinegar as it goes into the bucket. Then the lemon will overpower it.
For your white tiles, I use the same mixture – water with vinegar and lemon juice, only I add some Borax to it. I do have to tackle a few of the spots on my hands and knees, but only the tough ones. The key is: spray it on the bad spots and walk away for 5 minutes. Then come back and clean it. Let the product do its work for you.
If you absolutely can’t get your tile to sparkle the way you want, Seventh Generation has a non-chlorine bleach that doesn’t have the harsh fumes of regular bleach.
New visitor to your site. Found your site through a blogger friend of mine. Your words are refreshing. Great blog.
As far as the hardwood goes, I use Bruce dura-luster floor cleaner. Just spray on and mop with the terry cloth thingy…shines pretty and smells good too. You don’t want to hear about cleaning my bathroom. I get especially OCD about that..when I absolutely can stand it no more, only a toothbrush and Clorox clean-up will do. No help there. Sorry.
I was getting worried no one had mentioned Holloway House Quick Shine floor finish…until Kayla posted about it. Our entire house is hardwood and this is, by far, the best product I have EVER used on hardwood. Vinegar? Stinky. Orange Glo? Slimy, yucky. Holloway House (from Wally World)…just right!
Um…I guess I’ll just say, “good luck with all that.” You have no shortage of helpers. :)
I shop from a health and wellness company called Melaleuca. They have loads of natural products that work BETTER THAN ANYTHING I HAVE EVER TRIED IN MY LIFE. Their cleaning products are amazing and I especially love their Tough and Tender to clean hardwoods. If my 4 year old were to swallow an entire bottle of any of their cleaners, I wouldn’t have to take him to the hospital or call poison control – they’re that safe. And bonus – our house smells lovely, and the kids haven’t been sick AT ALL in over 2 years since we’ve been using the products. Feel free to email me if you’d like more info – check into their site – it’s awesome! http://www.melaleuca.com
I heart cleaning products!
I must say I LOVE Method’s ALMOND scented hardwood floor cleaner. Method is a brand Target sells. This cleaner comes in a squirt bottle (just squirt it on and mop up). Your floor will absolutely SHINE. (Well, for a few weeks…not forever).
They also sell dusting wipes with the same glorious almond scent.
I use Mrs. Meyers Geranium scented all- purpose cleaner (1/4 cup per gallon of water) for my tiles.
(I would use bleach dilluted in water for a deep clean on the white tiles.)
Happy cleaning!
I am too tired to read all the other comments so just ignore me if I am repeating. My husband did not like the smell of the Murphy’s Oil Soap (I think it triggers traumatic childhood memories. My mother in law is always happiest when she is cleaning.)
I use the Method brand at Target. They have a great floor cleaner just like Murphys that you squirt on and then mop with the big wide cloth thing. They even sell a kit with the mop and a bottle of cleaner. You rinse the cloth and then start squirting, it is the easiest thing ever. Oh, and the smell, it smells like almonds and it is pretty strong at first but it goes away in half an hour.
Oh, and my neighbor just told me last night she messed up her floors with Holloway House. She is going to have to pay the refinshers to come out and fix the area where she used it.
I’d just like to point out that Jenifer’s comment was not there when I started typing mine. I mean, I’m tired, but I’m not that tired…
I am so with you on this my friend. My wall was hit two days ago when I just couldn’t take the clutter one more day. How does it always seem to return no matter how much we try to avoid it? Anyway, I started in the kitchen with the counters and didn’t stop until 3 hours later. Even created lists for each family member of what they needed to declutter. I tell you that when it was all said and done, I felt like I’d lost 20 pounds, maybe even 30 pounds…of stress, that is.
I just cannot live in clutter. Even if everyone else is fine with it, I can’t think straight or create…much less write a good article or blog post. So now that things are clear, I can’t wait to get back to regularly scheduled activities.
As for cleaning hardwood floors, no answers here. We had hardwood floors at one time but I can’t remember what I did to clean them. Hmmm, maybe I didn’t do anything…who knows? Now we have the trusty vacuum for all things floor-like.
Take care. Keep up the great writing!
tasra
I just want to second Jennifer’s vote for Method’s Almond Scented hardwood floor cleaner. Get the big mop with terry cloth cover, squirt and mop. SOOOO easy, I love it! Plus, it is all natural and non toxic.
*Totally off topic because I am absolutely MIFFED that boomama and I have come to a parting of the ways over the fact that I swoon over the smell of vinegar, although I had to reswoon over the mr clean magic eraser mop thingie…
BOOMAMA :) Will you do a poll? Over the question burning in my mind, do more folk post a comment THEN read thru the others, or read thru and THEN comment? I am losing sleep over this other important’er issue as we speak. Thanks and have fun cleaning, more vinegar for me ;) xoxo melzie
Dearest BooMama,
I have to agree with melzie on the parting of the ways about vinegar. I have been using it for over a year to clean just about everything in the house… plus as a fabric softner for the laundry. It works like a champ, it’s CHEAPPPPPP!!, and the smell is gone as soon as it dries. As a frequent headache sufferer, I have found that a whiff of the old vinegar while I’m cleaning normally makes the headache go away,too. Bonus.
I do love me some Mr. Clean Magic Erasers, because they’re so… magic and all. I don’t know how he does it, but I wish Mr. Clean lived in my basement and made his magic little erasers all day long.
My favorite cleaning product BY FAR… is my wet/dry dust buster. It picks up everything and then some. Happy Cleaning!!
Lisa
Our first floor is all wood except the island that is the great room. They were installed when we built the house and the guy used Bona finish and highly recommended it as a floor cleaner as well. http://www.homeandbeyond.com/prod-0005415.html I’ve always been told that the vinegar/water combo was the best too but I hear your chatter on the smell and cannot bring myself to use it – I do not want my house to smell like I’ve been cooking pickles all day. Our floor installer pro did say stay far, far away from Murphy’s Oil Soap – just sayin.
You can get Bona in the handy gallon re-fill container AND a spray bottle.
As for the bathrooms – no idea. I use an ammonia mixture but I’m sure you wouldn’t be liking that fumage.
And now my 40 pound dog is acting like a 10 pound cat and I must go string him up by his toenails.
Good luck!
P.S. I lurve the smell of vinegar but prefer it on french fries – not floors. :-)
I am taking a quick in-law break to check back and let you know that I am still alive. :)
I’ve read recently to use warm water with a touch of dishwashing liquid and a few drops of peppermint essential oil. Your floors will be clean and smell wonderful!
And I’ve not tried the products you mentioned, but I’m currently in love with Mrs. Meyers Geranium-scented products. The handsoap smells so good I wash my hands when they’re not dirty!
Lots of great comments so far. Love the idea of Murphy’s Oil Soap, Mr. Clean and Magic Eraser. I have new light maple, prefinished hardwood floors and they have been driving my crazy. I also have cherry floors in another location and love them, using Bona Swedish Formula Hardwood floor cleaner and a microfiber mop. Good luck.
The absolute best wood floor cleaner is Bona (Swedish formula). I get mine from Restoration Hardware but they may sell it at Bed, Bath & Beyond–not sure. You don’t need to use a lot. I get the big jug and fill the little bottle to save money.
Nothing compares to it, in my humble experience. :)
I just use a damp mop on my hardwoods with an occasional squirt of Bruce Hardwood floor cleaner (cause I have it in the pantry), but I’ve heard great things about the Holloway House cleaner too & I’m going to make a special point to pick some up at Wally World next time I’m in there.
Hope you get the clutter controlled…that’s what gets out of control at my house too. All that paper! I could scream sometimes.
Cleaning is not too much fun, but a necessity. I tend to put it off & do it in spurts.
Rhoda
Southern Hospitality
I’ve also used Bona cleaner. You dilute it, spray it on the floor, then mop with a big flat mop with a terry cloth cover on it. Now I use Armstrong, which works well, too.
Okay, I’ve decided that I just love ya! *THANK YOU!* for your thoughts on my TV question~such a big help to find friends to come along side ya in the midst of struggles! I really appreciate your taking the time to answer me, too~especially to be so off topic and strange, huh?
I guess I really enjoyed reading your About Me because it is honest~does that make sense? You seem *real*. (((((HUGS))))) sandi
Does the Murphy’s Oil Soap leave your floors with a nice shine??
Gotta agree with Clementine…it is so awesome that Magic Erasers now come in a mop. I have seen them in Target and Lowe’s. They are about $14. Read directions though because I think you have to use an additional Mr. Clean cleanser with it. ??? Those marketing gurus will get ya! (But don’t use this on hardwoods…will leave residue…)
Living with hardwood floors and white bathroom tile for 30 years, I have to agree, Murphy’s Oil Soap is the best to clean the hardwood floors, especially, if they don’t have sealer on them. I’ve tried just about everything on the white tile floors, and the Magic Eraser tops the list. It works really well on kitchen counters and the stove. :-)
The manufacturing guys over at Evolving Excellence also commented on home clutter this weekend.
http://www.evolvingexcellence.com/blog/2007/06/less-storage-sp.html
Ken
Have you ever used Method products from Target. I loooove love them. I am Canadian and everytime we head south i stock up. They have a great o-mop that has cleaner I like – sometimes I use it straight and sometimes I add 1 prt vinegar, 1 prt rubbing alcohol, 1 prt HOT water and 1 prt cleaner which cuts down on the “french fry” smell your house gets with just the vinegar!! Their lavender spray is great for counters and I have used a bit of that with my other mixture. Also the stainless cleaner and minty window cleaner and amazing – try them – they are environmentally frendly…http://www.methodhome.com/
I see a white floor and I want to paint it black.
White floors are evil. I know this because I have a HUGE stupid, white floor. I did not pick this floor. Some idiot, two owners ago did.
Give Alex a small rubber glove to wear and hand him a Mr Clean Eraser thingy. Let him scrub the bad apots. He’ll think it’s fun.
No, really. He will. My girls fight over who GETS TO scrub the scuff marks off the floor.
Then mop it with turpentine. What? No turpentine? (Picky. Picky. Picky!) Then try water and Basic H from Shaklee or whatever floor cleaner you like the bestest.
I would use Murphy’s Oil Soap on the wood floor, I used it in my old house on a wood kitchen floor, and it really made it shine. It also smells pretty good. As far as the white floor, who knows! I actually hate mopping so much that I would rathe wipe the floor on my hands and knees than mop- how wierd am I? :) Enjoy your mopping!
Whaaaat??? You like the lavender room freshener? I am in total shock!
I know I’m a little late on this… but here are my two cents, because I know everyone cares, and every single person that reads your blog will be flocking to read my comment … [ehem]
We have Brazillian Cherry Hardwood Floors on the first level of our home. They are dark and show everything. My husband (because I rarely mop floors — he does) has learned (after trying all kinds of things on the floors) that the best thing to use on the floors is hot water (clear — no soap or other stuff) and a terry cloth towel.
He just found a great flat mop with a bucket that has a press. The mop “head” is terry cloth, folds in half, and you put it in the hot water, and then in the press (it “wrings” it out). Then you mop your floor with it. Then, he tosses an old dry towel on the floor, and puts the mop head over it and runs it over the wood to dry it. It looks beautiful afterward.
Swifter will damage the finish. Vinegar will damage the finish. Any thing with soap will dull the finish.
Murphy’s oil will restore the shine. It will be a bit slick for a while, but maintain your floor with water, water, water.
Besides… I’ve heard water is pretty safe for the environment, and I try to do my share to be green! Ya know what I mean?
I know I’m a little late on this, but I have hardwood floors, too, and I use a product by Bona called, this is great, Hardwood Floor Cleaner. :) My parents own an interior store here in town, and they told me to use this for my new floors. It came in a starter kit with a “mop” kinda like a swiffer, but you just take the cloth off the mop and wash it (I bleach it if necessary) and re-use it. It works great and I don’t have to keep going back and forth to the sink for water, and this dries so quick.
THE BEST EVER.
http://www.hollowayhouse.net/hardwood.aspx
Seriously. Buy it now. Your floors will shine like new!
FYI- Never. use. Pledge. Ummm the year I moved into my “new” house (never had hardwood beore…) I created a Christmas skating rink in my foyer. Didn’t go over well. Kids liked it- in-laws- not so much. whoopsy.
Nearly put Santa on the disabled list that year. Had to use stinky vinegar just to take down the shine a bit.
Might make a nice slip n slide for the summer though….;)
Just in case no one’s mentioned it – I think you would like Method’s products. They make a “swiffer”-like contraption with cleaners for wood or tile and it’s all natural. You can find it at Target. I think Peroxide, mixed with some lemon juice might work well on the white tile. Blessings!