Should You Use Vinegar to Clean Hardwood Floors ? The Truth About the Debate
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Should you use vinegar to clean hardwood floors? Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru shares the truth about the debate and why some say vinegar is safe for hardwood floors.
Others will tell you that using vinegar on hardwood flooring will void your warranty. Both are valid arguments, but here is what usually gets left out of the conversation. The type of flooring, the type of coating on the flooring, the type of mop used, and the techniques used for mopping.
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Check out these tips for cleaning hardwood floors. Mops, techniques, solutions, and more. ua-cam.com/play/PLh1fKdNH3piSlmViBNrGDYNsT2lvWkW8G.html
Long ago one of my elderly clients lived in a beautiful home with ancient hardwood floors and SHE would only clean them twice a year with a barely water-damp towel. They were the most well preserved wood floors I've ever seen!
Oh wow! It sounds like she had the secret to success. Thanks for sharing this inspiration. 😍
PProfessional cleaning lady since 2002 in the beginning I ruined somebody’s waxed hardwood floors but I was cleaning them with vinegar they had to have them re-sanded and waxed. Since then all I have been using is water and a wrung dry mop.
How black were her feet all the time?
@@nicolereadstarotthis 😭😭😭
I'm a homeowner and I've been binge watching your videos and have learned so much! Thank you!!
I cringe at the ways I've cleaned in the past. The misinformation out there is rampant! People have advised me to wash everything with vinegar, and then there was a H2 peroxide phase(facepalm, yes this went on my HW floors and cabinets) then for a while I had house cleaners who used murphy oil on my floors so I did that too, now I know that murphy oil is great for specifically cleaning my cabinets.
I was going to drop $400 on a fancy crosswave that mops and vacuums at the same time but I'm glad I found your videos and instead bought a hoover steam complete (on sale!) and know how to use it properly and steam sparingly thanks to your videos.
I'm so grateful for you, thank you for sharing your knowledge.
That is so nice of you to say. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement and support and for spending a few minutes of your day here with me. I appreciate you. :-)
Thank you for this video! We are professional carpet/rug/tile/stone cleaners and a lot of customers use vinegar on their floors. We're constantly educating them to not do that :) Sadly we've seen too many stone floors and countertops ruined by someone cleaning with vinegar as well.
Isn't that the truth? I don't have any good reasons why someone would use vinegar on stone and countertops. But THANK YOU for educating the people you speak with, and thank you for helping me leave the world a cleaner place. 😍💛🙏
It’s literally liquid acid.
Thank you for your clear explanation of the hows and whys and ending the debate. Mum *ALWAYS* used vinegar in the mop bucket to clean floors - linoleum, tile or hardwood - and never had a problem. Periodically, she would wax the floors and strip them. Guess no one should be doing this today unless they have old, solid hardwood floors and are still cleaning & waxing them.
Exactly! Glad it was helpful
I spilled a glass of water on my LVP this evening, and ran to my mop bucket. Usually I try to stick to a flat head mop and spritz with a cleaner, but this was a bigger mess, so I grabbed my O’Cedar spin mop and bucket. Thanks to this channel, I knew to only use a drop or two of Dawn in warm water , and I added some essential oil for scent (Bergamot and Lavender, ahhh). While I was at it, and because the water in the bucket was pretty clean, I did some mopping in a couple of other rooms that I’d been meaning to get to for a “deeper clean”: the kitchen (LVP floor) and front parlor (hardwoods from 1910 that look like they have a shiny clear coat).
I have been using a flat mop with Rejuvenate “All Floors Cleaner” for months, and my floors are so dull as a result. It makes sense, since the ingredients list a couple of waxes; plus, my flat head mop desperately needs a cleaning.
Tonight’s mopping with just water and Dawn has made them look soooo much nicer and cleaner !
I am so glad for your advice on this channel. Thank you for sharing your expertise with us! The life and preservation of my floors will be greatly extended thanks to you ❤
You're so welcome!
Totally IKEA. I used to appraise commercial industrial buildings. Saw how damaged a laminate floor gets from a ceiling water leak. We have hardwood floors from 2002 I don’t think they are sealed but they are polyurethane coated. Going to try to clean them for first time today. Watching many videos. This really gave me some insight. Thank you for this topic!
Thanks for watching the show and keep me posted on how the floors turn out. You got this! 👍
Hi Angela
🚨We had the best year ever In 2021🚨
Using lots of your advice and experiences you have been through,have made for a solid system we have devised together to get that customer satisfaction efficiently and safety ✊🏽🙏🏾🙌🏾
Thank you Angela 😊❤️
Wonderful! I love hearing stories like this. Thanks so much for joining me here and keeping me in the loop. I appreciate you. 🙏
I so appreciate the clarity of your instruction. Could you do a video on how to clean an oven with the heating elements on the bottom of the oven? I can't figure out how to clean the bottom without touching the coils.
Great suggestion! I’ll add that to the list of topics for videos. 😊
What about old hardwood floors. We about to do a refurbishment of the old wood floors. How do I keep it clean?
Hi. With old hardwood floors, they may have lost their original shine. You can clean them but after cleaning they may not have the shine they did when new. You would need to have them refinished to bring back the shine. Hope this helps. 🙃
I would love to see a video about cleaning tile and getting grout clean. I struggle with this being handicapped and part time in a wheel chair. I use my Swifter but I feel like I need a deeper scrub.
Great points. I'll make you a video that shows just how to do it. Thanks for the request. Happy Saturday! :-)
I just pour bleach and I use the toilet brush and I brush it. It really work for me
I recently moved into a home with engineered wood floors that wee waxed. How do I clean them?
Hi. If you are able, you should consult the manufacturer's cleaning instructions. If unable to locate those- try a pH-neutral hardwood floor cleaner and a damp mop. Be careful not to have the mop too wet and always vacuum first. It's probably a good idea to clean a small, unnoticeable area, let it dry, and check to be sure it's acceptable to you and the finish isn't harmed. If you're having issues with the waxed finish then I would consult a flooring expert. Hope this helps. ☺ Thx for watching. 🙂
Oh wow thank you Angela I will show this video to my client because she keeps telling me that just use water and vivger for the wood floor ⚘🌹🌹⚘🌹
If she is over the age of about 50 this is how our mom's and grandma's mopped floors. It's probably what she grew up with.
I live an apartment that has hard wood floors that have refinished with a polyurethane finish. I stopped using vinegar years ago on the advice of my floor guy. What is the best method for cleaning this type of floor? My floor guy recommends something called "Bona." It is used with a spray mop thing and a mop head that can be cleaned - sort of like a Swiffer WetMop, but reusable. Do you know anything about this product? If so, what is your experience with it?
The Bona Spritzer Mop amzn.to/33C6kIM has been around for a while and there are other similar brands of it on the market. Yes, they are good. If you are using it for home use it should be fine. If you're cleaning professionally, you'll probably want to go to a store to test the durability of the handles and make sure it's strong enough for you, and it's the right size for you.
@@AskAngelaBrown It's just me, so the consumer version is perfect for me. I've learned so much from your channel. I don't clean professionally, but I like to keep my home clean - not spotless, but clean and tidy.
I've had my Bona mop since 2015!
What should one do if the do indeed have 80 yo hardwood?
Here is what I found online for cleaning old hardwood floors: theflooringlady.com/how-to-clean-old-hardwood-floors/
I have glue down engineered hardwood flooring and the seams are FILTHY. Apparently I've been flooding it with water which just collects all the dirt and turns it into a waxy crack. Pleaeaassee have a suggestion that doesn't require refinishing?🙏
You can try using a steam mop or a damp microfiber cloth with a mild cleaning solution to remove the dirt and wax buildup from the seams of your glue down engineered hardwood flooring. Just be sure not to use too much water as it can damage the flooring. If this doesn't work, you may need to consider using a flooring cleaner specifically designed for your type of flooring or hiring a professional to clean it for you.
@@AskAngelaBrown thanks for your response😊 Unfortunately I think I used a steam mop for far too long with far too much water. I plan on renting a floor cleaner then a slow buffer to hopefully clean it as best I can...the crevices may have to stay the way they are :(
Hi! I live in an appartement build in the 1920s, the floor is original as it’s part of the foundations of the building. I use a bit of vinegar and baking soda with lots of water in a bucket, am I doing something wrong?
Thank you for your question! Your approach sounds fine as long as you're cautious about the amount of water you use. Make sure you wring out the mop or cloth well before applying it to the floor, and don't let excess liquid sit on the floor for too long to prevent any potential damage.
Unless you really have old wood floors that require waxing which I do in a 1930's home with original floors that we stripped, refinished and waxed. So it depends on your actual floors. I use Murphy's oil soap to clean my floors.
There are homes that still wax the floors, sounds like you've got one of them. Keep me posted, I'd love to hear how it goes for you.
Hello, I'm a home owner and I use a product on my wood floors that will make it shine, instead is dull no shine and left a wax film to it that every time you walk on it lives shoe prints.😔 any advice to get it out?
This is an important point you bring up - using a product designed to make the floor shine but leaves a film that shows shoeprints. Lots of "products" do this to hard flooring. For the most part, the products can be skipped as they do leave a residue and a film. A damp cloth mop head does the best job at wiping away dust and dirt. Try it without the floor shine products and see how it does. (Note, if you have a heavy build up of these products, you may need to mop a couple of times to get it off.)
@@AskAngelaBrown thanks 😊
Hi Angela, ever since I ran an insect killing fogger inside my apartment my laminated floors have an annoying oily film. What do you recommend to clean my floors?
You could try using a light vinegar solution to cut through the residue. Remember to avoid excessive moisture and thoroughly dry the floor after cleaning to prevent any damage.
@Angela Brown Cleaning PLEASE how does one clean an old school hardwood floor from the early 70’s? I guess is called a natural floor…is that the correct term? Is there a video for this type of floor and would I use just water on a damp mop after vacuuming? Thank so much!
When you say old school do you mean unsealed hardwood? Has it been refinished? Does it have a wax buildup on it?
@@AskAngelaBrown thanks for the prompt reply! It’s unsealed, never waxed and I believe unfinished.
But, for some of us who do have real hard wood floors, my brother redid mine a couple of years ago and put down polyurethane and in my high traffic area looks really bad. I was using Bona ,now using Murphy Oil. Don't know what to do????
Maintaining hardwood floors in high traffic areas can be tough! Since polyurethane is worn in the busy spots, it may be time to lightly sand and recoat that section with a fresh layer of polyurethane if you want a uniform look. Periodic buffing with a soft cloth can also help revive polyurethane between recoats
I have a 1960 floor we just stripped and will put a water based polyurethane on top. Can i use wax on top of the polyurethane to make it water proof?
Using wax on top of a water-based polyurethane finish may not be the best approach for achieving waterproofing. Adding wax on top of it could create a layer that might not adhere well and could cause issues with the finish. You might want to apply multiple coats of polyurethane per the manufacturer's instructions to achieve a durable and waterproof finish. See what's written in their instructions and go from there, good luck!
We moved in a home with vinyl plank floors. Very Shiney. To try to maintain that shine we tried to use mop and glow. Now it is cloudy with patches of shiney.. How do we fix our mistake?
Hi Carla, Here is a video on how to clean hardwood floors ua-cam.com/video/9nx43IzLyhA/v-deo.html and the same rules apply to luxury vinyl plank flooring. This product amzn.to/3xXEYc6 will do wonders for removing the build-up and restore the floors to their original shine.
NOTE: Resist the temptation to use more than a single drop of Sal Suds in your cleaning bucket - A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY. Let me know if this method fixes your challenge. 😀
I have luxury vinyl plank flooring and the manufacturer instructions said not to use mop and glow type of products. I suggest you contact your manufacturer to find out how to fix them.
Question 1: I know vinegar is acidic, and all the floor pros say to never use it to clean hardwood / LVP floors, but doesn’t diluting the vinegar remove much of the acidity, making it less of a risk?
(In theory, anyway… as I saw a video showing the effects of mopping hardwoods with diluted vinegar over time, and those results were not pretty.)
Question 2: What CAN you safely clean with vinegar ?
I live in a house build in the early 70s, the floors appear to be original and have lots of crud worn in to them. Would scrubbing with plain water be my best bet for trying to lift all the build up or is there a product that wouldn't add to the problem? Thank you!
Thank you for your question! Scrubbing with plain water is a good starting point to lift built-up crud on original floors, especially if you're concerned about adding more products to the situation. However, if water alone doesn't do the trick, you might consider a mild cleaning solution, such as a mixture of water and a small amount of gentle dish soap. Test it in a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure it won't damage the floors
What would you do if you wanted to disinfect your floors? Floors get all kinds of nasties tracked in from outside, or maybe someone in the house has been sick. It doesn’t seem like that one drop of Sal suds would be sufficient for getting rid of bacteria?
You are probably correct about one drop not being enough to disinfect flooring. My question is though, why are you disinfecting the floors? Sanitizing the floor will remove 99.9% of the organic load. Unless you are performing heart surgery on your floors, cleaning the floors is probably good enough in most cases. Please note, that the first time someone walks on the floors with socks from other parts of the home, or if a door opens, or a pet runs through the room, germs will enter the room and eventually end up on the floor - and the flooring will no longer be "disinfected."
I used vinegar mixed w water as floor detergent. Now the surface of the wood is sticky. Please advise me how to make the woods smooth again? Thanks
Your floor mopping mixture may have been too strong. Mop with a hot, damp mop pad and no cleaning chemicals. If the floor is still sticky when you are done, repeat the process until the floor is no longer sticky. Adding more chemicals will only make the floor more sticky. Using a damp mop pad will be a pH neutral solution that will help get it back the way it was.
@@AskAngelaBrown thanks. I will use hot water only.
@@AskAngelaBrown I tried your method n repeating them many times for the last 2 days. But stickiness still there . The flooring is thin laminated wood.
I have to return this room in sept. Any advice? Thanks
A lot of DIY hardwood cleaning recipes shown on youtube include vinegar.
i love an ad before the video starts
LOL, it's true, ads before the video, ads during the video, ads at the end of the video. We now get docked as content creators if we don't include "paid promotion" in every video we create, just in case the video auto links to products shown in the video. To keep the FTC happy - we now include "paid promotion" in every video we publish. Welcome to my world. LOL. 😜
I know this video is old but, if i have true wood floors, red oak, then vinegar is acceptable?
Yes, vinegar can be used to clean wood floors like red oak, but it's important to dilute it properly and avoid using too much water because excessive moisture can damage wood floors over time. Happy cleaning!😊
We purchased a home with wood floors and no matter how often I mop the wood always turns my feet black. What do I do? I have even steamed twice
It sounds like there is a chemical buildup on it that is causing this and it could be from a cleaning product. Once the floor is clean, if you don't wear shoes in the house, and you don't have dogs tracking in mud from outside, the floors should stay fairly clean. That said, it could be any number of causes, from air filters that need to be changed, to living near a chemical plant that omits toxic smoke in the air nearby... is the black residue on your feet always the same? Have you tried mopping with just a plain damp mop pad and a drop of Sal Suds in your mop water? Are you dry dust mopping before you damp mop?
How do I get the shine back on my engineered hardwood floor? Now I know what happened to them, we used vinegar. The house is only 12 yrs old. It was so pretty when we moved here and it is so dull now. Please help. Thank you for all you do to help others.
Try mopping the floors with just a drop of Sal Suds amzn.to/3FS9PIi - here is a video I made that shows you how ua-cam.com/video/9nx43IzLyhA/v-deo.html . Sal Suds makes dull floors shiny. I'm so sorry to hear the news about your floors. 😞
@@AskAngelaBrown Thank you. I am going to try this.
Thank you for the useful information about hardwood cleaning, but I am curious as to why vinegar should not be used.
Thank you for your question! Vinegar is not recommended for cleaning hardwood floors because its acidity can gradually damage the finish and surface of the wood. Using a pH-neutral hardwood floor cleaner is a safer choice to maintain the beauty and longevity of your hardwood floors.
Hi. I used vinegar on my hard floor , and all shine gone please help me what should I do to restore my hard floor ?! Please help me 😨🙏🏻
The vinegar will remove the shine it's true. Before you resort to anything drastic, try cleaning it with Sal Suds. (And I do only mean a drop) Here is a video about that process ua-cam.com/video/ayvJReGiLjM/v-deo.html
So how do you prevent the mop from getting contaminated by putting it back in the bucket? Did I miss something? Is it even possible? Of course we could get crazy and rinse the mop in fresh water and restart with a fresh bucket of clean water, but I dont think you're talking about doing that right?
Hi Mike, The secret is in changing the mop to a flat head and then using a charging station. Here is the version for a home, rather than commercial use ua-cam.com/video/ayvJReGiLjM/v-deo.html
My bamboo floors have dark spots and gray areas. How do I get it to look like they did before?
In this case I highly recommend consulting a flooring expert who can assess the damage and recommend appropriate cleaning or refinishing techniques tailored to your specific situation
Just got a o cedar mop system and I only use warm water and salad spin that baby so it’s just damp..GAME CHANGER!! I have friends that put tiny bit of tide or fabuloso in it…I’m unsure as I have real,dented, hardwood floors
I love that you landed on a mop that makes your heart sing. Thanks for sharing this.
How should I clean an old unfinished yellow pine floor? Original finish was a drying oil or tung oil but that's pretty much worn off now.
It may be time to do a deep clean on the floor (dry mop + steamer + wait until the floor is completely dry) and reapply a stain/sealant. The sealant can be applied with a paint roller on a long handle and the process is similar to mopping the floor, only instead of using a mop, you are using a paint roller. Once the floor is resealed - a dry and damp mop will be all you need to maintain it.
Hi, we moved into our first home Aug '21, and the main level floors are knotty pine that are NOT sealed! They were put in right before we moved in. How do I clean? And should we seal them? We have a baby so it's a bit nervewracking. Scratches easily and she's gonna spill things soon 😬
Congratulations on your first home! Cleaning and maintaining knotty pine floors can be a bit different from other flooring types, but with the right approach, you can keep them looking beautiful. Since your floors are not sealed, it's important to take extra care to prevent any spills or stains from penetrating the wood. Use a soft broom or vacuum with a brush attachment to remove dust and debris regularly. For routine cleaning, damp mop the floors using a mild cleaner specifically designed for wood floors. Avoid using excessive water or harsh cleaning products that can damage the wood. As for sealing the floors, it is generally recommended to apply a protective sealant to prevent moisture absorption, reduce scratches, and make cleaning easier. Consider consulting with a professional flooring expert who can assess your specific situation and recommend the most suitable sealant for your knotty pine floors. With proper care and maintenance, you can enjoy your beautiful floors while keeping them safe for your little one.
What natural solution would you recommend on hardwood floors besides vinegar? All the solutions sold in stores have harmful chemicals in them.
Here's a video I made on how to mop hardwood floors not using any vinegar ua-cam.com/video/9nx43IzLyhA/v-deo.html the secret is just a damp microfiber cloth.
@@AskAngelaBrown thank you!
Would borax dissolved in water help? Should I sprinkle it on the area dry and then sweep up later?
Or baking soda? Vinegar is my go to odor neutralizer😕
If we are talking about mop water for hardwood floors I would not add any Borax or Baking Soda to the water. Here is a video I made about mopping hardwood floors that may help. ua-cam.com/video/9nx43IzLyhA/v-deo.html
Enjoy all of your videos. What kind of wax was used on old wood floors?
There were a variety of different ones on the market that we used. Here is an Amazon link to the ones they still sell today for those with strip and wax floors. amzn.to/3rGDHlF
Maybe I missed something. I understand not using vinegar on engineered wood. But what about actual hardwood floors?
It depends on the type of hardwood and the finish. If it's an older, waxed floor, vinegar might be okay. But if you're unsure of the finish, it's best to avoid anything acidic like vinegar, as it could damage the surface.
You’re the mentor I’ve always needed.
Oh wow, I'm honored. Thanks so much for saying so and for taking the time to drop me a line. I appreciate you being here.
Hi, we have original hardwood floors from the early 1960's. What is the proper way of cleaning them? Thanks!
Hi Kelli, you do have the older floors then. Have they been refinished? And do they have wax on them? You can still clean them with a damp cloth and I would avoid any standing water in the mop process.
@@AskAngelaBrown Thank you for responding! They have not been refinished and as far as I know do not have wax on them.
Hi. Any suggestions on how we should clean an unfinished engineered wood floor that's been painted with an interior satin floor paint?
Wow, that sounds like a custom DIY project. My best guess is to contact the manufacturers of the paint to find out what they recommend. I wouldn't know where to begin on this one. I'm sorry. 😞
@@AskAngelaBrown Ha ha. Thanks for replying anyway
May not be a cleaning problem, but what causes the black spots that will not come off mirrors?
That has to do with moisture. Check out this link: mycustomglass.com/2020/06/what-causes-black-spots-on-a-mirror/
@@AskAngelaBrown Thanks!
I had nice new flooring when I bought my house a year ago. Swiffer with the duster then mop with warm water and vinegar. Shiny and clean floors!!! Then I had a water leak on day 367 of owning my house. 2 months later and I finally have floors again. I got luxury vinyl plank and I HATE them. They are always dirty! I'm so ticked off. I had to buy product made by the flooring maker. So so so mad.
Oh wow...so sorry that happened! I hope that you like your floors some day. I know it's an adjustment.
I love your videos! Thank you for all the instruction. I'm wondering if pre-engineered includes the vinyl plank products. I've been using vinegar on LVT but wondering if I should just use the water with a drop of soap?
Hi Loris, thanks for your kind words and for watching. Yes pre-engineered includes vinyl plank flooring. Please don't use vinegar on LVP, wood, or linoleum, it will break down the surface. (Not immediately or in one use, but over time.)
@@AskAngelaBrown Thank you! My husband will be particularly happy with this as he hated the smell of the vinegar for this :-)
How do i clean it wnough to stip getting black feet
To keep hardwood floors from making your feet black, sweep or vacuum daily to remove dirt. Mop with a damp cloth using a few drops of hardwood floor cleaner or mild dish soap, then dry thoroughly. Avoid harsh chemicals and consider using rugs in high-traffic areas. Regular deep cleaning with a hardwood-specific cleaner also helps.
There is no fake wood that looks just like wood flooring.
Here is a paid link amzn.to/3H5vpNh to several wood replicas that could be included in what I'm talking about here. Or, are you referring to something else?
I try to use only water on just about everything these days 😂 I have ruined to many things over the years 😬 less is more.
11.5 alkalised water is best ,acid free it’s amazing 🤩
Good point. It's hard to go wrong with pH neutral which is what water is. That said, too much water can also cause damage. It's all about having the right tools and techniques. Thanks for watching. :-)
I have wood floors that are possibly 100 years old that was under the carpet I just pulled up. Carpet was roughly 35yrs old. After pulling carpet they're was/is a thick layer of glue I'm assuming. I didn't know how to remove it so I got some contractors solvent called de-solv-it and sprayed a pretty large area without thinking it through apparently. It says the toughest challenge should be sprayed and let sit for 25 minutes. Needless to say it didn't work and now I've got a large section that has oil on the wood and I don't know what I can use to absorb the oil. Please help.
Oh no! Sorry that happened. I suggest contacting the solvent company to see what they suggest you use to soak up the oil. Their contact information should be on the product.
better to use Vinegar than Bona or Mop and Glo....it's fine when diluted....just DON"T GO to wet...I've been doing my floors like that on my hands and knees for 30 years...NO ISSUES!!!!
Thanks so much for watching the video.
I SAY USE whatever works for you...light on the vinegar on a VERY slightly wet cloth in my case or mop...too much water is NO GOOD FOR floors...they will warp and separate...MY floors are squeaky clean...no residue no finish damage....gorgeous
@Vivian Swim yes and EITHER ARE ALL the slop products sold in stores...I USE What works for me...I'm 64 years old/.,.....
@Vivian Swim yes Vivian...I am aware that vinegar is NOT recommended for hardwood floors...I appreciate your concern...have a great day....
Info starts at the 2 minute mark...
Thanks for sharing!
I ruined my engineered floors using vinegar. Do you know of any product to revitalize the sheen that was lost?
I'd contact the manufacturer. Without knowing more about your floors it would be difficult to give you an accurate recommendation. You may also want to have a flooring expert come to your home. They make house calls, can tell you exactly what is needed and give you an estimate of how much it would cost if a professional did it, or perhaps give you tips if you want to refinish it yourself.
My house built 1922 and is 100 years old and are real hardwood. All I wanted to know is....if I could use vinegar to disinfect and clean.
Great question - here are a couple tips. Always be careful when using vinegar on hardwood floors because it can strip the finish and damage the wood if used in excess.
Prevent this by diluting the vinegar (1 part vinegar, 4 parts water) and then testing it in a small inconspicuous area first. If it doesn't do any damage, you can move on to using it on the whole floor. Clean with a soft cloth or mop. Avoid using things like steel wool or scouring pads that can scratch the hardwood.
After cleaning, use a dry cloth or mop to remove any excess moisture and prevent the hardwood from warping or buckling. Make sure to limit vinegar cleaning to once every few months.
I thought the question was about hardwood floors. You only talk about newer laminate flooring in the video. If you do have hardwood..should you use vinegar?
No. Vinegar is not to be used on Hardwood floors. Vinegar is on the pH scale a 2.5 and you want a pH neutral cleaning product for hardwood floors. Something around a 7.
I am so glad that you made this video. I just started getting into vinegar really big.. I was putting essential oils and it's all's and a little bit of dawn in with it. I have one church that I claim that they only want me to use the bone amop. Are those Safe? They buy the bonus solution and the mop heads Reusable cloth.
Are you talking about the spray mop? amzn.to/33C6kIM Yes, they are safe. The secret to using them is prewet the mop pads. Wring them out as tightly as you can. After vacuuming or sweeping the floor then you can use the Bona Mop to wipe down the floors. Use the spray if you come to a spot that doesn't easily come up.
Hi Angela, what about unfinished real hardwood floors? I have been using dish soap, warm water and vinegar
When you say unfinished what does that mean? Is it raw wood? Is the intention to stain or glaze it? If this is a DIY project, it's best to keep it covered with floor paper to protect the wood amzn.to/3tLpLJQ until you are able to seal it.
@@AskAngelaBrown it is unsealed, raw wood - but the clients have no intention to seal it or glaze it or anything like that.
How do l remove carpet glue on my parquet floor
Thank you for your question. Removing carpet glue from a parquet floor can be tricky. You could try using a citrus-based adhesive remover or a mixture of vinegar and water. Gently scrape the glue with a plastic scraper, and be cautious not to damage the wood. Before applying any solution, test it in an inconspicuous area to make sure it won't harm the floor finish. If the glue persists, consider seeking assistance from a professional.
How can I remove pet urine odor from a long ago finished wood floor?
OdoBan Neutral pH Floor Cleaner for Pets amzn.to/3tNWyOE is what I would recommend. This does a great job and dissolving the odors rather than just covering them up. I would be interested to know if it works in your particular situation. Without knowing more it's hard to make a recommendation, but we've used OdoBan professionally for years and their products are spectacular.
@@AskAngelaBrown I’ll try it. Thanks so much🏡
Can you make another video just on tile floors because I clean a lot of tile floors at my church
Sure. What are you cleaning the tile floors with now?
@@AskAngelaBrown Vinegar and dawn
Hi Angela, thank you for the helpful videos, I just found your channel!😄
What would you suggest to clean historical hardwood floors from 1875 (they're sealed now)? How often as well?
Thanks so much!
Cleaning wood of any type should be done with pH neutral cleaning solutions. We use 1 drop of Sal Suds castile soap mixed with water in a charging bucket. Here is the process: How to Clean Hardwood Floors - ua-cam.com/video/9nx43IzLyhA/v-deo.html
Thank you!!!
+Daniella Latham how often you clean them, depends on how often it needs cleaning. I would say regularly (weekly) with a dust mop, this is dry - to pick up dust, pet hair, or other particles that have fallen on the floor like crumbs. As far as the mopping, a damp microfiber cloth mop head would be my recommendation if the floors are sealed. 👍
I am almost 2 minutes into the video and the entire thing is an ad. What the??
I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on the show.
@@AskAngelaBrown the last 2/3 was interesting with the wax. A high number of polished floors now are polyurethane and vinegar is used to remove polyurethane coatings. I was searching for videos showing the process when I found yours.
I stumbled accross the discovery when I sprayed some vinegar on a discoloured floorboard recently to treat it incase there was mould. I then discovered that most of the polish on that board was removed 😂
I've been watching your videos for several months now. I have question, which is what is the difference between General Clean and Deep Clean from your expertise.
For a general clean we have a checklist of items we clean. A different list of tasks that is done on a deep clean. savvycleaner.com/maintenance-vs-deep-cleaning/ they are two separate jobs.
What about using bona hardwood floor cleaner?
You can use it if you like. Let me know how it goes for you.
@@AskAngelaBrown I’ve been using it for years and love it. Both for hardwood and tile.
What about engineered wood floors
Please use nothing more than a damp microfiber cloth on them. Otherwise you'll get a buildup that is cloudy and leaves a film.
You walked out of the house with your booties that were supposed to protect your floor 🙃
Yes, at the end of the job we walk out of the house with our shoe covers and our dirty Swiffer Duster heads. The last stop is at the customers trash where we toss our personal protective equipment for the day before getting in our car and going to the next house. You are correct though, once you've exited the house you wouldn't re-enter with the same shoe covers as that defeats the purpose of keeping their floors clean.
the guy (read idiot) who is building my house insisted that the hardwood floor be laid before the guy came to mortar stone onto our fireplace form.....the guy who did the mortaring got mortar dust all over the new hardwood.....now my hardwood is very groovy....and not in a 60's kind of way......it's distressed and meant to have a rough finish....basically I have a concrete like substance embedded in the surface......the lady who came to do the new construction cleaning got rid of some but says she has no idea how to get it all out......this is solid hardwood with a rough surface.......HELP!
The hardwood should have been covered with floor paper or plastic sheeting before the project began. The concrete guy should be responsible for any clean up to the hardwood floor. Note: The mortar should be water based which could in a pinch be removed with a steamer + rubber scraper. Check with the hardwood floor company to make sure this process will not void your floor warranty.
Happy Friday
Same to you! And Happy Weekend. It's great to have you here again. You cheered me up. 😄
I'm so glad you made this video it's very confusing on what to do I believe I have the exact same hardware floors as your house
Here is a video I made on how to clean Hardwood floors - ua-cam.com/video/9nx43IzLyhA/v-deo.html
Vinegar people think it's so good to use to clean like your floors and stuff but it's really really not actually it harms your floors it harms the sub to tank and you know what vinegar should be used in salad
Thank you for sharing your input and for watching the video!
Very, very interesting and informative! Thank you!
Thanks for watching and thanks for reaching out. :-)
I have learned alot by watching this channel . Thank you so much for the knowledge .
Thanks Bob for spending a few minutes of your day here with me. I appreciate you dropping by.
Hi Angela, love your videos! I have bedrooms (3) in the house that had carpet pulled up, real wood floors sanded and refinished with a dark stain- how would you recommend cleaning those? I’m unsure what they were stained with. The rest of my house apart from bathrooms is the engineered stuff so learning these tips are helpful, thanks so much
+bette marie The best bet for this type of flooring is a dry dust mop to pick up all of the hair, pet hair, dust, etc. When mopping a damp microfiber mop will do just fine with no chemicals whatsoever. If you feel you must use a chemical in a charging bucket use one drop of Castile soap we use Sal Suds. amzn.to/3AHDPFI Here’s a video I made on how to do that. ua-cam.com/video/ayvJReGiLjM/v-deo.html
@@AskAngelaBrown thank you!
@@AskAngelaBrown greetings from Palm Coast Florida, I am new to your channel. I am looking for floor cleaners that are safe on dogs because my two dogs nibble on their paws and get an ear infection on the ear they lay on the floor with. We have real wood floors in the living room and bedrooms and ceramic tiles in the kitchen, bath and hallways. Do you recommend a floor cleaner safe for dogs ? Thank you!
This video actually has good information, but I almost didn't get to watch it because it had a nearly unbearable, unrelated commercial for the first 2 minutes and I almost quit watching
Thank you for the feedback! I hope you were able to skip the ad.
1:50 advertisement
Thanks for watching!
You are awesome
Thank you so much, I appreciate you watching the show. 😊
Vinegar stinks.. I like a matte finish
Yes, vinegar does have a strong smell that can make your eyes and nose twitch.
You can't smell it after it dries. I've used mostly water with a splash of vinegar and a splash of alcohol few drops of dawn soap and an essential oil.
It's strong at first while wet, but once dry, you can't smell the vinegar at all.
But that was when I had tile.
I now have new beautiful hard wood so I'm researching what to use. :)
Do not use vinegar on your hardwood floors, finished or unfinished, manufactured or not. It’s an ACID. Just Don’t. If you use bona, clean the mop thoroughly immensely after use as the solution will ‘harden’ on the mop cloth.
Yes, what you said. Thanks for your tips. It's great to have you here.
Sorry, it doesn't anything like real hardwood. It doesn't look like hardwood it doesn't feel like hardwood it doesn't last like hardwood it doesn't anything like hardwood. They don't make the stuff to save trees they make it to increase their profit margins and charge more money in the end. Not to mention they don't last and with each passing day they look worse and worse very quickly.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on wood floors : )
Interesting information on hw. My grandma 50 year old hw floors definitely has a barrier of wax.
Wax was used a lot back then. Thanks for watching!
@@AskAngelaBrown , yw.
Angela claims that traditional mopping by dunking a mop to rinse it into water in a mop bucket is nasty. Excuse me, then baths, washing dishes by hand, etc. would be basically the same thing. It isn't gross because of all the hot water that is being used. What is weird is just using 2 cups of water to mop a floor because of her magic cloths that she endorses. The only thing magic about those cloths is how money magically appears in her pocket for endorsing them.
Thank you for sharing your opinion on the video topic.
I have real hardwood floors not fabricated, I use vinegar & a microfiber towel, my floors are beautiful
That is awesome! Thanks for sharing!
Can I work for you?
I don't know. What are your skills? I always need more help. :-)
@@AskAngelaBrown
I live in Canada
My skills, I work in a chemical plant.
I've been a janitor for over 10 years.
I've been taught well by lots of people.
How to be safe.
The correct way safe way of doing things.
If you would like to know more I well be happy to answer them.
Now I'm definitely learning more from you.
I appreciate that.
You're getting funnier......
+Terri Gelbaum Ha ha. Thanks for saying so. Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll take the show on the road. 🤪😂👍