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Whether fresh installed or more than a hundred years old , hardwood floorsare a striking feature in many homes . Wood is a naturally springy material , and sealed with a urethane finish hardwood flooring can take even the enceinte use for many years before need to be refinish or , in rarer caseful , replaced . Yet while woodwind instrument floors are on many a “ must ” list for their traditional elegance underfoot , they do necessitate more picky charge and maintenance than such material aslaminate , vinyl , or tile , which resist scuffs and are comfortable to clean house .
While hardwood floor cleaners abound on the market , there are several smart reasons to make your own . Some commercial products contain chemicals that can irritate the eyes , skin , or respiratory system , or be toxic if ingested . If you have young children or pets often playing on ( or eating off ) the trading floor — or you simply appreciate the health and environmental benefits of a “ dark-green ” home plate — you may wish well to avoid commercial-grade cleaner in favour of an all - natural approaching . Plus , store - bought mathematical product specifically formulate for hardwood floor can be pricey , around $ 7 to $ 20 for a 32 - ounce nursing bottle , while the homemade hardwood trading floor clean recipe here can get you nearly 200 32 - troy ounce mix from a single $ 16 , 32 - Panthera uncia bottle ofcastile goop .
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
That being said , not all instinctive cleansing products are appropriate for hardwood floors . rough acidic ingredients like vinegar or lemon can strip the urethane finishing , making floors seem nebulose and dull . And too - vigorous scrubbing — either with a cleaning instrument or by adding an harsh ingredient likebaking sodato a cleanup solution — can also damage the refinement . The best homemade hardwood level cleaner will remove dirt without harm the ending of the floors below . Our formula relies on castile soap , an eco - witting choice to dish detergent or other cleansers , and a microfiber launchpad to scavenge mildly .
Before using the formula , sweep or void flooring well to remove any loose dirt or dust . Then simply merge , mop , and admire your handsome hardwood !
Tools & Materials
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Step 1: Mix the cleaner.
Mix 1 teaspoon Castilla soap , 4 cups H2O , and — if you ’d like a light scent—5 to 10 drop of all-important oil ( peppermint , orangish , or lavender are all good selection ) to a atomizer feeding bottle . Screw the top on tightly and shake up well to mix .
Step 2: Test the formula.
Before using any new cleanser on your full floor — this one included — test it on an out - of - the - means spot , such as under a composition of furniture . practice following the direction below and rinse , then check for any hint of damage before continuing with the rest of the floor .
Step 3: Spray the cleaner on the wood floor.
Working in pocket-sized areas ( about 3 straight feet at a fourth dimension ) , spritz the cleaning miscellanea onto the flooring .
Be careful not to spray too much of the homemade hardwood floor clean at once to avoid piddle sit too long on the surface . Excess wet can penetrate the wood andcause serious damageto the dining table along the line of swelling , cupping , warping , and even separating .
Step 4: Mop the floors.
Using back and off motion along the grain of the forest , work in the cleansing resolution with a drymicrofiber mop , or a Swiffer - type mop wrap in a microfiber material . ( Avoid pre - dampened lodgings ; there ’s ample moisture in the atomizer ) . proceed working in small mend , rinsing and nip excess urine off your mop as it becomes grime until you ’ve done the whole floor .
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Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
