Yes, there are certain household items that you can use on hardwood floors. As some can damage the hardwood floor, rather than cleaning them, you should always carry out the correct amount of research before using an item.
Many household items are suitable, and when mixed together can be a great alternative to regular household cleaner. The more natural options are better for the environment, and can also help you to save money.
More people across the US have started to use household items to clean their floors with, especially those that prefer to use items that are chemical free and less harsh on the skin. If you have a family member that does have allergies to the chemicals that are in household cleaners, finding a suitable alternative can be difficult. If you are looking for that special shine out of old and damaged wood flooring, however, click here.
However, there are many options that have been tried and tested, and are a favorite alternative to chemical based cleaners. Some of the most common methods used include vinegar, essential oils, vegetable oil, tea bags, and lemon juice. However, if you need to disinfect, click here to find the safest option for your floors.
While you may assume that not all of these items are effective, you may be surprised to learn that they have great gleaning properties. Random but good question to know the answer to: can vinegar kill black mold?
Can I use olive oil on wood floors?
Yes, olive oil is a great option to use on wood floors. While it may not seem like the first option that should be used, in many ways it is better than water. This is because it will help to hydrate the wood in such a way that it does not become ruined. It will also act as a polish, which allows it to be multipurpose.
When you use household cleaners and polishes, often these can cause the floor to still feel as though it has left over product on it, and it can add an attracting film to the wood which is not ideal.
Olive oil is a great option to use as it will also help to reduce the appearance of surface marks on the wood, which allows your floor to feel newer and fresher. If you are contemplating using olive oil on your wood floors, you will want to ensure you are using it correctly.
You will want to use just a small amount of olive oil on the wood floor. Typically, people will mix it with lemon juice, or white vinegar and water. This mixture will help to clean the floor and increase its shine too.
Alternatively, if you just want to hydrate the floor and buff it, you can use the olive oil separately. You can buff this in using a sponge or cloth.
Can white vinegar be used to clean hardwood floors?
Yes, white vinegar can be used to clean hardwood floors. While it may not have the most pleasant smell, it is a great household item to use. When using white vinegar, typically you will want to dilute it in water. As it is so acidic, this will help to decrease the overall acidity.
A good amount of white vinegar to add to water, it is around half a cup for every gallon of water used. It is important to remember that while white vinegar is a great cleaning product, because it is acidic, if you use too much, and it is concentrated, this can cause damage to your hardwood floors, which is something to avoid. Given this, always use it in small quantities.
In addition to this, if you are using the white vinegar and water solution to mop the floor, you will want to ensure that you are squeezing the excess water from the mop. Too much water can cause water damage to the hardwood floor over time.
After you have used white vinegar, you will always want to ensure that you are sealing the wood and varnishing it afterward. This is to help keep the wood from becoming damaged. If you are looking for a natural product, we would recommend olive oil, as we have covered above.
While white vinegar is a great option, you will just need to ensure that you are using it in the correct way.
Can you clean wood floors with soap and water?
Yes, you can clean wood floors with soap and water. This is a great way to ensure that the floors are being cleaned properly. Not only does it help to remove scum and dirt, but it will help to remove lingering bacteria.
There are a number of different types of soap you can use on wood floors. However, it is always recommended to check to ensure that the soap you are using is suitable and will not damage the floor.
As we have already mentioned in this article, while you can use water in the wood floor cleaning process, a lot of care will need to be taken. This is because the water can damage the wood floor if you use an excessive amount.
If you are going to be mopping or scrubbing the floor, and you are using a soap and water solution, it is always better to use a small amount to begin with, and then you can build on this. The mop or sponge should be damp rather than soaking wet.
If you are using dish soap, or other types of soap, as they are more concentrated, you will only need to use a small amount and then mix this in with the water well.
Can you use baking soda to clean wood floors?
While it is possible to use baking soda to clean wood floors, it is a household product that is best avoided. This is because it will cause more damage to the wood floors than it is worth. While it can potentially clean the wood floor slightly, it will also cause damage.
This is because baking soda is abrasive. While it is not as abrasive in comparison to other products or items, the abrasion is still enough to cause damage. This will cause the wood to become scratched. While you may not think that baking soda will cause a significant amount of damage to the wood floors.
Baking soda can cause scratching to the surface of the wood floor. While this scratching may not always be visibly noticeable, it can lead to lasting damage to the finish of the wood. If the finish is ruined this can cause the wood to look dull, aged, and it can lead to other things such as stains or water to affect the wood floor too,
In addition to this, the baking soda can cause stains to occur on the wood, especially if it has been mixed with other household items or chemicals. While some people will recommend using baking soda to help remove stains from wood floors, you should always be away from the potential damage this can cause before using.
Can I use bleach to mop wood floors?
We would advise against using bleach or household cleaning products containing bleach to mop your wood floors. This is because it can cause a lot of damage to the floor. While it will help to clean and get rid of stains and bacteria, it will ruin wood floors.
As you can imagine, bleach that has not been diluted will ruin wood floors. This is because it is a strong substance. Bleach will make the flooring weaker, and it will also cause stains that you will be unable to remove. Even when bleach has been significantly diluted in water, it is still not a great option to use as even then, it is too strong a substance.
Wood floors are a porous material. This means that to an extent the substance will soak into the wood. This is less than ideal, and it is better to avoid using bleach altogether. Instead, you will want to use a solution that is less harsh on the floor surface, and will not cause lasting damage.
If you have no other option but to use bleach, you will want to use it very sparingly and only occasionally as it is likely going to ruin the wood floor, especially with extended use.
Given that there are so many options you can choose from, there is no real need to use bleach. Especially when you take into consideration the options that are not chemical based too.
Can you use Tide to clean wood floors?
Yes, you can use Tide to clean your wood floors. While it may not seem like an obvious choice, it can be quite effective on many types of floors, including wood. If you are not aware of what Tide is, it is a laundry detergent.
As with many other types of substances you can use to clean wood floors, you will not want to use Tide individually. You will want to dilute the tide in warm water and allow it to mix fully. This allows the Tide to be less concentrated. For around every gallon of water, you will want to use half a cap of Tide.
As Tide is a powdered laundry detergent, you will want to ensure it is mixed fully. Next you will want to take your mop and saturate it into the Tide and water solution. Then squeeze the mop out well so that it is damp rather than too wet. You can then go ahead and clean the floor as you normally would.
As with any solution, you will want to ensure that you are not using too much water as this can damage the floor. What is great about using Tide is that it works well to remove grime and dirt, but it also has a pleasant and fresh scent that does not smell like chemicals too.
Will hydrogen peroxide damage hardwood floors?
No, in the vast majority of cases, hydrogen peroxide does not damage hardwood floors. However, this requires the person to use it safely and correctly. If you use an excessive amount of hydrogen peroxide, this can potentially damage the hardwood floors.
Hydrogen peroxide is used often in cleaning, and when it comes to how it works on hardwood floors, it does improve the look of them. If you are planning to use hydrogen peroxide, care will need to be taken, and you will want to place a small amount of the solution on the floor. It should be a very fine layer, rather than a significant amount as too much can ruin the hardwood floor.
When applied correctly it can help even dull wooden floors to look and feel fresh. In addition to this, it is safe to use around children and pets. This is great if you are looking for an alternative solution that will help to not only clean your hardwood floor, but will help to make it look fresher too.