If you ask our staff at Canton Cleaning Company what one of their favorite tricks of the trade is they will all agree: White Vinegar.
This versatile ingredient does everything from shining mirrors to salad dressings. Vinegar is also useful for cleaning most types of flooring -- gentle enough not to damage factory finishes, yet strong enough to remove dirt and grime from finished hardwood, vinyl, laminate and porcelain tile. When you add a little soap and baking soda to the mix, your homemade floor cleaner becomes even more effective.
General Mopping Instructions
Combine a gallon of water, 1/2 cup of dishwashing detergent, with 1 cup of distilled white vinegar. Mop floors with the solution then rinsing thoroughly with clear water.
Mopping Soiled Floors
Combine 4 cup of water, 1/2 cup of dishwashing detergent, 1 2/3 cups baking soda with 2 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar. Stir the mixture until all the lumps are dissolved; then pour it into a clean spray bottle. Wash flooring in small sections by spraying on, mopping off, then rinsing thoroughly with clear water. Don't skip the rinse, or you'll be left with stubborn baking soda streaks that are tricky to eliminate.
Tackling Stubborn Stains
Flooring that's stained with spills and mishaps presents an entire new set of problems, but depending on what's marring your beautiful floors, either baking soda or vinegar or a combination of the two is likely to tackle it effectively. Apply full-strength vinegar to stains such as mildew, soap scum or hard-water deposits; then use a little muscle to scrub the stains away. Just be cautious when applying strong vinegar solutions to finished hardwood as it can damage the finish if left on too long. And don't allow vinegar or any other liquid to seep between the cracks in the boards.
Cleaning Darkened Grout
Stained grout is no match at all for a little baking soda paste applied with a toothbrush; add water to baking soda until it's a paste-like consistency. Next, paint over the grout lines with a toothbrush or any small brush. Follow up with an application of equal parts vinegar and water. Allow the mixture to foam; then begin scrubbing gently. Don't forget to rinse.
Where Not to Use Vinegar
Several types of flooring don't wear well if you use vinegar to clean them on a regular basis, including travertine and other natural stones such as marble and limestone. These types of flooring are sensitive to acidic substances like vinegar, and if you use it on a regular basis, it can damage the stone. If your flooring is any type of natural stone, play it safe and use a neutral cleaner instead of one that's acidic or alkaline. Also, take care not to allow strong vinegar solutions to remain on hardwood for any length of time as it can cause the finish to peel. As in most cases, it is still best to trust the professionals and the Canton Cleaning Company is a full service cleaning company providing Home Cleaning services in Baltimore, Commercial Cleaning Services in Baltimore, Commercial Cleaning Services in Charleston, SC, Commercial Cleaning Services in Philadelphia, and Commercial Cleaning Services in Washington, DC.