Hardwood floor care: Cotton dust mops are the safest way to dust a hardwood or laminated floor without damaging the floor. The long strings prevent grit from scratching the surface of the floor. If your floors are large and the cotton mops in the grocery just aren't large enough, head to a janitorial supply store. The folks are very knowledgeable and will be happy to assist you in getting the right size dust mop for your home.
A word of warning about Murphy's Oil soap on hardwood floors: When I was professionally cleaning homes one of my clients had to sand and refinish their wood floors because their prior cleaning lady had used Murphy's on it. I've since had several of my seminar attendees repeat this same story. You cannot sand and refinish laminated flooring. It must be replaced.
Older wood floors: The wood floors in this category usually range from 35 to 100 years old. They require different care than newer floors. Dust weekly with a cotton dust mop. Spot clean to avoid frequent damp mopping. Dry the floor immediately.
Clean these floors by mixing one-quarter cup of white vinegar per quart of water in a spray bottle. Lightly spritz a terry towel draping it over the Mary Moppins Mop Head. Immediately dry the floor to prevent water damage.
Older floors should be treated with a paste wax made for wood floors to maintain their luster. Depending on household traffic, usually two to three times a year keeps them in sufficiently good condition. Get the best kind of wax possible by checking with several companies who sand and refinish wood floors. Generally they are quite knowledgeable on this subject.
Clean newer wood floors and laminated floors in the same manner. Do not use excess moisture on any wood floor. The water works between the boards and will warp them. Lightly spritz a terry towel with the above white vinegar and water mixture. Mop the floor shifting the towel as it soils. Generally drying wood floors is unnecessary if you are using a lightly dampened towel. Otherwise damp mop a section at a time drying the floor with a second towel as you go. Newer wood floors generally do not require waxing.
Read specific cleaning tips for different floor types: Hardwood, Stone, Linoleum.
This article may be reprinted only with proper credit given to
Mary Findley, owner of Mary Moppins, Co.
