ClickChick is working at home tomorrow and sent us a good question: I've celebrated Thanksgiving already so I'll be spending Thursday finally tackling the wood floors throughout my apartment.
I'm fairly certain that they are coated in polyurethane. So for the past 4 years I've been washing them with just vinegar and water. (they were freshly finished floors when I bought the place)
But lately I've noticed that the floor seems to feel tacky to my bare feet. Any ideas to remedy this?
Good Questions: Cleaning Sticky Buildup on Wood Floors
Maybe I've just waited too long between washings (this spring) and the dirt and skin oils are building up. Or maybe it's all in my head. I seem to be only one with the super spidey sense that detects things like tacky/sticky dishes (particularly plastic) in other people's homes. (hangs head in shame)
Anyway. Thankfully I've dismissed the idea of scrubbing my floors with my scrub brush to loosen the dirt and oils. That'll probably scratch. Dare I try baking soda?
Maybe after 4 years it's time to have them finished again. (can't really afford that right now.)
Ideas? Advice?
It sounds like you do have a build-up on the floors and perhaps the vinegar/water combo just isn't strong enough to release it at this point, as it has built up over time. We would recommend trying a floor wash that is still based on vinegar and water but with a small amount of a gentle liquid (vegetable oil) detergent/soap mixed in to help make it a bit more effective at loosening the dirt/oils.
If successful this time, you can return to the vinegar and water combo for regular cleaning maintenance and simply do the slightly more "soap-y" version every few washings to stay ahead of the buildup.
We recently read that adding in a 1/2 cup of peppermint herb tea to a floor wash makes for a lovely fresh scent as you clean - you might want to give that a try as well.
Any other ideas/suggestions for ClickChick?
Photo: Naturally Cleaner Home
Comments (7)
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At the recommendation of a (older, wiser) friend, I have used cold black tea to strip residue off of wood furniture before. It is very gentle and gets the surface quite clean without harming the finish. You might want to try that.
view lu2's profile
read this:
"Cleaners are available in various PH's. This is a measure of their alkalinity or acidity. The lower PH cleaners (more acidic like vinegar) will work on dissolving hard water and mineral deposits. So this makes vinegar a good rinsing agent but a poor cleaning agent. It won't clean grease or dirt. A high PH cleaner ( more alkaline like soaps and harsh detergents) are really good at dissolving grease and dirt, but this higher PH will, in time, dull the floor finish. They will harm your skin also. Cleaners that are PH neutral are available at most cleaning supply houses but they are formulated for washing vinyl floors that have been waxed with an acrylic polish without harming the wax. That's how mild those cleaners are. The Cleaning Center at www.cleanreport.com carries a product that is specially formulated for wood finishes."
view Johnp's profile
You don't need to refinish your floors unless the finish is damaged or scratched.
Use Bona X. It is simply the best cleaner out there for wood floors. It is available at most specialty flooring stores and good hardware stores. It has earned several awards
http://www.bona.com/en/US/Consumers/Floor_Care/
I believe Restoration Hardware also sells it, but for twice what anyone else does. Also, RH only has the pre diluted cleaner, while other retailers will have concentrate that you dilute yourself.
view siobhan.'s profile
Oooh. Thanks everyone.
One more question. For the solution posted by Janel, when you say 'soap' what are you refering to? Dish soap? Floor soap?
I'll try it in the morning... I'll be washing the floor with the aid of sunlight ... so I don't miss any spots! (I'd so rather clean than cook - so that makes for a good holiday!)
We got fresh snow overnight... so the light bouncing in is bright and cheery!
What a glorious day!
view clickchick's profile
I've been using Orange Glo's hardwood floor cleaner on my apartment's wood floors. Works wonderful on removing sticky spots (thank you, cat vomit), helps seal over scratches in the flooring and makes the floor shine.
view bramasoleiowa's profile
i've been using method's hardwood floor cleaner lately. but i use it on all surfaces, not just my hardwoods. i inadvertently spilled about a pint of paint on my tile floor in the bathroom, and method cleaned it all up, including the grout. it has a pleasant almond scent, to boot. and i like that i can use it and don't have to worry about my cats subsequently walking on it and ingesting chemicals.
view kl's profile
Get a Bona Kemi Cleaning kit and the Bona Kemi refresher. You will be ecstatic and for less than $50.
Hardwood Maniac
view Hardwood Maniac's profile