Weekends are when I get the majority of my house cleaning done. You know, the big jobs like mopping the floors. I like to send my husband to the park with the girls when I do this, not because I use a toxic cleaner that might hurt my loved ones (and my own) lungs. I just don't want them to muck up the floors I just mopped with vinegar.
Well not straight up vinegar, I dilute it of course, about ½ cup distilled white vinegar in a gallon of water. This is a safe way to clean hardwood, laminate or tile floors. It is safe for the floors and for you! Studies have shown that 5% solution of vinegar (straight out of the store-bought bottle) kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of germs (viruses). Plus it is not toxic! The smell dissipates much more quickly than Lysol or other cleaners.
Some people add a little dish soap or peppermint into their solution, but I go for the simple mixture and mop to my hearts content. Try it!!!
Esprit
Really, Fit? Vinegar? I never would have thought for floors! I use it in my coffee maker and to unclog drains (with baking soda) but I've never put it on my floor. Not intentionally anyways.
I usually use my floor steamer, and I soak the pad in bleach and water. My house always smells like a pool on Saturday morning.
1i was always told that a vinegar solution was the only thing that was safe to clean hardwood floors...and it really does make them look like new. just have to be sure to swiffer up all the dog hair first!
2Since we had our new kitchen floor installed, I've been using the vinegar/water solution and love it. No build up, no toxic fumes, very clean floors.
3I will definitely have to try this.
4Vigilante, are you aware that bleach and its fumes are very toxic? Household bleach is a weaker solution but exposure over time or its reactions with other agents in your home can be harmful to people, especially little ones. Ok, hope this doesn't sound like a lecture ...
5Vinegar smells horrible! I'm sticking to my swiffer mop.
6My mom always cleans with a vinegar solution, and her's are the cleanest houses I've ever been in. I didn't get the cleaning gene, alas.
7My mom has always done the vinegar thing...when I was a kid, I thought she was so weird! She has a whole book on the uses of vinegar...it's good stuff. FYI - nothing works better than Apple Cider Vinegar on a cotton ball to take the itch out of mosquito. Seriously, try it.
8supposed to be "mosquito bites".
9i use ammonia (maybe i should be using vinegar tho) and sometime tea tree oil mixed with water. I heart tea tree oil.
10Vinegar is all I've ever used on hardwood floors. For some reason, I've never even thought to use it in my kitchen. Is it okay on linoleum?
11I've tried it for tiles.. its just great!
12tea tree oil and vinegear work wonders
13gonnu try it out
14Sorry Bizzy! I posted this and then went out. For a day and a bit. I did hear about the bleach fumes and you're absolutely right, not good for kids. My little guy's got an immune deficiency tho so I need the disinfecting power of bleach and I don't want to use whatever that crap is called in antibacterial soaps. I'd never thought of vinegar, Brat #1 has an appointment with his paediatrician on Tuesday so I'll ask...he'll probably tell me to stick with the bleach.
Never a lecture misunderstand, that was what I was told as a kid so don't worry about scolding me! Especially when you're right!
15This post motivated me to mop my floors...which i hadn't done in a LONG time!
16does anyone have a "natural" way to get rid of soap scum?
17wow thanks!!
18i use this combination and hav ever since i moved out 6 years ago - my mom like to use the chemical stuff
i usually use hot water, some vinegar (just dump some in) and peppermint essential oil - or sometimes lavendar.
19i cleaned the pantry and found a TON of vinegar (i have no idea why i've been unconsciouslly collecting vinegar) and now i'm glad i've got a way to use it!! thanks!
20My mom always kept a spray bottle with the same solution in it to spot clean the floors. We even found that it worked really well on carpet when the dog had an accident!
21I use a vinegar/water solution to clean the expensive marley floor in my dance studio. It's the only thing that dissolves oil and dirt without leaving any residue. Try it!
22is it ok to use apple cider vinegar instead of white distilled vinegar on ceramic tile? and will ikt help to maker it none slip. thanks
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