You have probably heard that a cheap, effective way to clean hardwood floors is with a combination of vinegar and water. In fact, if you do a quick search on the internet, you will find plenty of articles touting the same homebrew for your wood flooring. But following this advice could cause a lot of harm to your floors.
Consider the Ingredients: Water
You never want to add water to your hardwood floors. Too much moisture will damage the finish and can cause them to buckle. Therefore, we always recommend that you keep your floors dry and wipe up any unintentional spills that occur. To intentionally mop your hardwood floors with a solution of water and vinegar would go directly against this advice.
Consider the Ingredients: Vinegar
Vinegar adds acid to the recipe. This is what makes it a great glass cleaner. It also does a fantastic job of cutting through hard water stains in a flash because it breaks down mineral deposits quickly and efficiently. This, however, isn’t something you want in a floor cleaner.
When you clean your hardwood floors, you are cleaning the finish of the floors. Unfortunately, the vinegar will quickly break down that finish leaving you with dull, lifeless floors, vulnerable to everything from which the finish would normally protect them.
What is the Answer? How to Clean Your Hardwood Floors
Start by sweeping, vacuuming, or dust mopping your floors.
Then use a cleaner that is specifically made for hardwood flooring. For example, Dave’s Floor Sanding has a citrus floor cleaner that we have been using for years. It is available in a concentrate and pre-mixed spray.
Lightly spray the cleaner on the floor and use a microfiber cloth or mop to wipe it dry. Your floors will be shining like new.
Have Vinegar and Water ruined your Floors?
Do your formerly gorgeous and gleaming hardwood floors look dull and lifeless? Has a homebrew vinegar and water solution eaten off the finish? Don’t worry; Dave’s Floor Sanding and Installing Inc. is here to help. We’re experts in refinishing and restoring hardwood floors.
Call us today at 763-784-3000 or contact us online if you have any questions or if you would like us to help clean, protect and restore your hardwood floor!