How To Make Hardwood Floors Shine With Natural Cleaners
Hardwood floors are all the rage among people with a taste for classy interiors. They add a royal touch and warmth to your space making them look inviting and elegant. Interior designers across the globe are in favour of this flooring as it exudes an opulent ambiance and is quite strong and durable. It is a perfect long-term investment and comes in a variety of colours and appearances such as pre-finished and unfinished floors.
The timeless beauty of hardwood floors is also admired by homeowners for improving air-quality as it has no fibres, embossing or grouting which can lock in the dust, allergens, pollen, particles etc. The only glitch is the maintenance and cleaning. Often in houses with high foot-traffic, pets and kids, the wooden floor is subjected to a lot of stress and scratches. Consequently, it begins losing its sheen and appears dull and drab.
No amount of sweeping and mopping can bring back the lustre and shine of the wooden floors. You can prevent the wear and tear by following a no heels policy in the house and regularly clipping the nails of your pets. Still, it leaves a lot to be desired. Some people ignore the situation and carry on with the lifeless floors. Others go for a refinishing job, but it proves costly.
Thus the best way to deal with the problem it is to hire professional bond cleaning in Australia to make the wood glow like new again. However, if you want to try your hand at cleaning, you must follow the tips given below to retain the radiance and near-new look of the flooring.
1. Vinegar and Water Solution
The cleansing properties of vinegar are known to all homemakers. It is the most potent tool in your kitchen which can be utilised for cleaning tough stains from appliances, countertops and bathrooms. It works like magic for hardwood floors too by wiping out the grime build-up.
To take advantage of this chemical-free and environment-friendly cleaning solution, mix one gallon of warm water with ½ cup of white vinegar and dip a cloth in it to wipe the floor. You will be amazed by the results. As the vinegar removes all the dust and gunk, you get your sparkling clean floors back in minutes.
2. Oil-Based Solution
Here is a solution that not only cleans but also leaves behind a mesmerising fragrance that makes visitors take notice of the floor. For this magical potion, you need a cleaned squirt bottle.
Now pour two tablespoons of olive oil, one tablespoon of distilled white vinegar, 10-15 drops of essential oil like lemongrass or orange and two cups of warm water in it. Shake the concoction well and spray it on the floor. Now use a mop cloth to wipe it and restore the lost shine.
3. Vinegar and Oil Solution
Though water forms the base of almost every cleansing solution, many don’t wish to apply it on their wooden floors. While water can be used on laminate flooring, it is not recommended for some wooden floors that come with a unique finish.
Thus you can make a solution without water to solve the problem. In this too, the process remains the same. Mix ½ cup of vinegar with ½ cup of vegetable oil or olive oil to create a mixture that will glam up your floor.
4. Soap-Based Solution
This solution works wonders for windows and mirrors and adds the much-needed gleam to wooden floors. Just pour ¼ cup of white vinegar and a few drops of plant-based liquid soap in a spray bottle and fill it up with water to make this cleaning agent. You can also add some essential oil to get the fruity aroma from your clean-up job.
5. Cleaning With Tea Bags
Boil two bags of black tea in a pot of water and then simmer for a while. After it cools down, soak a cloth in the water and squeeze it to get rid of the dripping water. Now use the cloth to wipe your wooden floor and you will find a neat and clean surface which shines like new.
6. Lemon Juice-Based Solution
To make the solution more strong, make a cleaner by mixing three-quarter of a cup of olive oil and half a cup of lemon juice in one gallon of hot water. Now use a mop to clean the wooden floor with this liquid to enjoy spick-and-span floors.
7. Dish Detergent-Based Cleaner
People who are fond of laminate flooring, but are concerned about cleaning can rely on this powerful solution. Add one-fourth cup of white vinegar, half a teaspoonful of dish detergent and two and a half cups of water to make a cleaning solution. Pour it in a spray bottle and then sprinkle it on the floor. Now use a microfiber mop to clean the floor.
Endnote
Thus you can use your household items for a quick cleaning but if you need the much-desired lustrous sheen, then call professional bond cleaners in Australia.
Nobody would disagree: Cleaning aged or dirty surfaces isn't a homeowner favorite. But with these floor cleaning tips, you can take an unpleasant but necessary task and turn it into a job well done.
MAKE THE JOB EASY.
If you have hardwood floors throughout the home but tile or laminate in the bathroom and kitchen, choose a cleaner that works as a maintenance solution for all of them. A mix of warm water and detergent does a good job of removing dirt on many kinds of flooring.
USE THE RIGHT TOOLS.
Some appliances do more harm than good. A soft mop won't damage the floor, but abrasive tools like a non-hard-surface vacuum can.
IDENTIFY THE BEST CLEANERS.
Give preference to a natural cleaner like Murphy® Oil Soap, which won't eat away or damage the finish as it lifts deep stains.
DO THE JOB AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE.
Cleaning your floors regularly helps to avoid damage from the dirt and debris that accumulates from dirty shoes and other everyday activities.
CLEAN ON THE FLY.
If you're out of cleaner or short on time, just use hot water to clean the floors — it works for most accidents. For optimal maintenance and to remove this common grime or spillage, revert to water-only cleanings in a pinch.
TEA UP YOUR FLOOR'S SHINE.
Here's a secret: Tea's tannic acid makes for an excellent surface shine, according to HGTV. Boil a couple of teabags in some water and dump the tea into a bucket. Wring out a rag or mop in the solution and use it to mop the floors.
COLOR OUT SCRATCHES.
Find a crayon that's the same color as the floor, and pass the crayon back and forth over the scratch to fill it in. Turn on a blow dryer on high heat and pass it over the crayon so it melts into the scratch. Finish the job by buffing the area with a rag.
REMOVE BLACK MARKS.
Black sneaker and shoe marks come off in a flash using WD-40, which is tough on residue but gentle on the surface itself. Spray a little on a rag and get to scrubbing the affected area.
CLEAN IN BETWEEN.
You don't need to vacuum and mop daily. In between regular cleanings, however, use a dust mop to quickly remove dirt and debris.
BUFF FOR A DEEP SHINE.
Here's a surprising, cost-effective tool that will really make your floors shine: cloth diapers. When you're really intent on getting your floors to shine, put the kids to work with some diapers in hand. The absorbent cotton material is soft so won't damage more delicate hardwood, and it soaks up remaining moisture — eliminating streaks and bringing out the floor's natural shine. Just be sure to separate the diapers you use to clean floors from those that perform traditional "duties" for your little ones.
With these floor cleaning tips in hand, you'll be equipped to deal with whatever comes your floor's way, and keep your home looking great.
This article was brought to you by Colgate-Palmolive Company, the makers of Murphy® Oil Soap. The views and opinions expressed by the author do not reflect the position of the Colgate-Palmolive Company.