How do you clean your hard floors at home? (Like the bathroom and kitchen floor tile?) I have ceramic tile in the bath and vinyl tile in the kitchen. What tools and what cleaning agents do you use? I usually mop them with Lestoil, but I've heard Lestoil is bad for vinyl tile. Also, for the life of me, I can't find a decent mop. All of them are silly, wimpy things that fall apart after a few uses. The heavy duty mops seem like they are designed for industrial or commercial jobs, and are too big for a home.
Mopping Up
- Thread starter Cogito
- Start date
- Status
JHZR2
Staff member
My wife seems to like the swiffer?
We have almost 2000 square feet of ceramic tile downstairs, and perhaps once a year I use a damp sponge mop over it. Other than that, with the sealed grout everything just vacuums up.
Before we built our current home we had two bathrooms that had vinyl flooring, and I just used Once and Done every year or two (Johnson and Johnson I think). Other than that it was a damp sponge mop.
I'd never use a "string" mop inside the house, although I do have one that I use on the floor of my shop.
Before we built our current home we had two bathrooms that had vinyl flooring, and I just used Once and Done every year or two (Johnson and Johnson I think). Other than that it was a damp sponge mop.
I'd never use a "string" mop inside the house, although I do have one that I use on the floor of my shop.
As a retiree of a major vinyl flooring company, I'd tell you to sweep the vinyl floor regularly, and use a solution of Mr. Clean in water to do the wash. Products like Once and Done are OK but some tend to leave a film that can attract dirt. If you have no need to wax the floor, don't.
We use 1 cup white vinegar to 1 gallon warm water. Mop the floor, then dry it with a towel. Alternatively you can spritz the floor with a squirt bottle and dry it with a towel, depending on how dirty it is.
My wife vacuums first, then does the above every 2 weeks on our ceramic and wood floors.
My wife vacuums first, then does the above every 2 weeks on our ceramic and wood floors.
Mike, while vinegar is a great and safe product it is BAD for tile floors.
Remember it is dilute Acetic acid. It slowly leaches out the limestone in the grout and eventually you have joints filled with sand.
It also may harm certain glazes and finishes due to its low ph.
Shop around for a product that has a neutral ph or slightly alkaline. Since soil is acidic you'll get better cleaning with the opposite ph.
We recommend Bridgepoint products. Made out in the midwest, they have a fab line of SAFE cleaners for you to use that do not allow the residual buildup you'll get from almost anything you buy in the store.
Remember it is dilute Acetic acid. It slowly leaches out the limestone in the grout and eventually you have joints filled with sand.
It also may harm certain glazes and finishes due to its low ph.
Shop around for a product that has a neutral ph or slightly alkaline. Since soil is acidic you'll get better cleaning with the opposite ph.
We recommend Bridgepoint products. Made out in the midwest, they have a fab line of SAFE cleaners for you to use that do not allow the residual buildup you'll get from almost anything you buy in the store.
Good posts. That's why I love this forum.
Thanks Boomer
Thanks Boomer
One thing to add. I have found that "Greased Lightening" is the best all around cleaner on the face of the planet. Not saying its the best for floors though. Sometimes you can get it for really cheap at the dollar stores.
If you ever want to test a cleaner for residual build up try this simple method. Water based only!
Mix the product into its ready to use state. Put some in a small oven safe container like a dish or bowl. Set the oven to 250 or so and boil it off. Examining the residue will give you a clue to its cleaning performance.
Cheap petroleum based products have a greasy mucus like residue while higher end professional products leave almost nothing or even a very light powdery one.
Mix the product into its ready to use state. Put some in a small oven safe container like a dish or bowl. Set the oven to 250 or so and boil it off. Examining the residue will give you a clue to its cleaning performance.
Cheap petroleum based products have a greasy mucus like residue while higher end professional products leave almost nothing or even a very light powdery one.
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Mike, while vinegar is a great and safe product it is BAD for tile floors.
Remember it is dilute Acetic acid. It slowly leaches out the limestone in the grout and eventually you have joints filled with sand.
It also may harm certain glazes and finishes due to its low ph.
Shop around for a product that has a neutral ph or slightly alkaline. Since soil is acidic you'll get better cleaning with the opposite ph.
We recommend Bridgepoint products. Made out in the midwest, they have a fab line of SAFE cleaners for you to use that do not allow the residual buildup you'll get from almost anything you buy in the store.
Interesting information. The flooring company that installed out floors recommended the vinegar/water mixture at that specified amount to us and their regional manager confirmed that information for me as well. As I don't know about the grout, but I can say the floor sure feels super clean with no residue after drying.
I could possibly imagine they don't know what they're talking about or they don't mind me ruining my floor (more business for them). They did say to not leave it wet and to always dry with a towel so maybe they do understand the chemistry.
I'll check into the company you posted though and thanks for the heads up.
Mike, while vinegar is a great and safe product it is BAD for tile floors.
Remember it is dilute Acetic acid. It slowly leaches out the limestone in the grout and eventually you have joints filled with sand.
It also may harm certain glazes and finishes due to its low ph.
Shop around for a product that has a neutral ph or slightly alkaline. Since soil is acidic you'll get better cleaning with the opposite ph.
We recommend Bridgepoint products. Made out in the midwest, they have a fab line of SAFE cleaners for you to use that do not allow the residual buildup you'll get from almost anything you buy in the store.
Interesting information. The flooring company that installed out floors recommended the vinegar/water mixture at that specified amount to us and their regional manager confirmed that information for me as well. As I don't know about the grout, but I can say the floor sure feels super clean with no residue after drying.
I could possibly imagine they don't know what they're talking about or they don't mind me ruining my floor (more business for them). They did say to not leave it wet and to always dry with a towel so maybe they do understand the chemistry.
I'll check into the company you posted though and thanks for the heads up.
Originally Posted By: dwcopple
Originally Posted By: Rtstrider
Been using this mixture for a few years now
what mixture? you mentioned nothing.
Yea I wondered about that.
Originally Posted By: Rtstrider
Been using this mixture for a few years now
what mixture? you mentioned nothing.
Yea I wondered about that.
I hate string mops, but have yet to run across a sponge mop that looks like it would work well and wasn't outrageously priced. It seems like I tried one of those Libman mops and found that the built-in "wringer" gadget didn't work very well.
BTW, I remember using a mixture of vinegar and water to clean the outside of the plate glass windows in a store I worked at. It seemed to work well, but I agree, you have to wonder about the long-term effects of using a weak acid solution on your floors.
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
We recommend Bridgepoint products. Made out in the midwest, they have a fab line of SAFE cleaners for you to use that do not allow the residual buildup you'll get from almost anything you buy in the store.
Who is "we?" Where are these Bridgepoint products sold? I've never heard of them.
We recommend Bridgepoint products. Made out in the midwest, they have a fab line of SAFE cleaners for you to use that do not allow the residual buildup you'll get from almost anything you buy in the store.
Who is "we?" Where are these Bridgepoint products sold? I've never heard of them.
Bridgepoint is a HUGE cleaning biz out in Utah, run by Mormons. Very honest and ethical folks.
On the net. Easy to find. High quality stuff. But you won't see it in retail stores. Real nice line of 'green' products that clean well. I buy about 2 grand a month from them as I'm a huge fan.
For those who are puzzled, the stuff sold to pros is VERY different from the stuff sold in stores. "Consumer" products are usually designed to leave residues on things so you'll be back to buy more consumables.
Pro stuff (with exceptions of course) is generally designed to give specific results.
On the net. Easy to find. High quality stuff. But you won't see it in retail stores. Real nice line of 'green' products that clean well. I buy about 2 grand a month from them as I'm a huge fan.
For those who are puzzled, the stuff sold to pros is VERY different from the stuff sold in stores. "Consumer" products are usually designed to leave residues on things so you'll be back to buy more consumables.
Pro stuff (with exceptions of course) is generally designed to give specific results.
- Status
Similar threads
