Budget hardwood cleaner tip!!

[TheLittleRoo]

I searched the web exhaustively yesterday looking for a cleaning solution that was endorsed by someone well-known for cleaning. It seemed like there was no agreement about which cleaner was good/horrible. What some people loved, other people said it ruined their floors.

Until I found this one at Queen of Clean for using tea as a floor cleaner!

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/lv_household_tips/article/0,2041,DIY_14119_2275102,00.html

It sounded too good to be true, but I tried it and was AMAZED! I had used Bruce Hardwood floor cleaner and sometimes Fabuloso, but I never got the streaks or film off the floor with it. It looked good until it dried and then those streaks came right back with the other cleaners.

When I finished washing the floors (my mop was out of service) with tea in a wrung out dish towel, they absolutely GLEAMED lustrously! Today, when the sun came up and the light hit the floors, they looked better than new!

Hope this helps others have beautiful floors and save money using tea!

 

[NaplesRI]

Thanks- I am going to try this!

 

[lisaross]

Do you wood floors have a polyurathane finish?

I searched the web exhaustively yesterday looking for a cleaning solution that was endorsed by someone well-known for cleaning. It seemed like there was no agreement about which cleaner was good/horrible. What some people loved, other people said it ruined their floors.

Until I found this one at Queen of Clean for using tea as a floor cleaner!

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/lv_household_tips/article/0,2041,DIY_14119_2275102,00.html

It sounded too good to be true, but I tried it and was AMAZED! I had used Bruce Hardwood floor cleaner and sometimes Fabuloso, but I never got the streaks or film off the floor with it. It looked good until it dried and then those streaks came right back with the other cleaners.

When I finished washing the floors (my mop was out of service) with tea in a wrung out dish towel, they absolutely GLEAMED lustrously! Today, when the sun came up and the light hit the floors, they looked better than new!

Hope this helps others have beautiful floors and save money using tea!

 

[donnabc]

Wow, really? Just plain ol' tea? Doesn't have to be decaf, etc?

 

[TheLittleRoo]

My floors are about 2 years old, and are made by Bruce. I'm assuming they are sealed with polyurethane; they were glossy when I got them. Buildup was making them dull and smudgy, but no they gleam!

I used two Lipton tea bags steeped in 1 C of boiling water for 2 mins. Then I added enough water to make 1 qt, and got a clean white shop towel and started washing the floors with the wrung-out wet towel. I'm just still surprised - I mean, who is the first person to try this and say, hmmmm... I think I'll use some tea to wash my floors?!?

 

[ceecee]

I'm just still surprised - I mean, who is the first person to try this and say, hmmmm... I think I'll use some tea to wash my floors?!?

Maybe someone spilled their cup of tea, wiped it up and discovered how clean it made the floors!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Have you tried this with your mop? Maybe it was the fact that you were on your hands and knees with a towel and not the tea?

I'm game, willing to try anything once. Although I do love the smell of Murphy's Oil Soap.

 

[squirrlygirl]

We tried it this afternoon. The floors look great! I will admit that I suspect that half of it was doing it on hands and knees, but there was no streaks or smears when we were done

 

[Muushka]

Thanks OP, I will try it tomorrow!

 

[lisaross]

Let us know...

Thanks OP, I will try it tomorrow!

 

[kpadalik]

Can you use it on the wood laminate flooring or strictly wood flooring?

 

[Jewel1310]

Tried this earlier today. The floors are definitely cleaner. They feel like they don't have any buildup on them when you walk on them in bare feet. They are not shining though . Maybe I waited too long... There is no streaky film. Better than before but I miss the shine.

 

[aceys_h0ney]

Thanks for the tip I am going to try this!

 

[jennifer293]

if anybody has any success with a mop let me know...I want my floors to shine, but I am not getting on my hands and knees to make them shine. I have too much hardwood, and I would hurt for days!!

 

[lisaross]

Probably have to get them Polyurathned again...Then they'll be shining!

Tried this earlier today. The floors are definitely cleaner. They feel like they don't have any buildup on them when you walk on them in bare feet. They are not shining though . Maybe I waited too long... There is no streaky film. Better than before but I miss the shine.

 

[Muushka]

Let us know...

Well, I used the 'tea' method yesterday. In summary, my floors did not shine. But I found that the solution worked pretty well at actually cleaning the surface. And considering how much it costs (next to nothing!), I will use it again. But to be fair, my hardwoods are 16 years old. But I use Holloway House liquid shine, and that leaves them looking brand new. I will try the tea on my new hardwoods in the bedroom and report back.

Thanks OP.

 

[sherry7]

Hardwood floors are dulled when you use cleaner that has soap or detergent in it. It leaves a buildup on the floor, and it dulls it over time.

The guys who did my parents hardwood floors a few years ago told her to never use any type of cleaner on them. He said to just use plain water, with a barely damp mop. If they're truly dirty, he said to add about a 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the bucket of water.

I only have hardwood in my front entrance and hall, but it still looks brand new even though it's 7 years old.

 

[3boymthr]

Any reports if the mop works? I have an older home and the only room in my house that's not wood is my kitchen. I would be all day if I had to clean it all by hand.

 

[limdougl]

A poster above mentioned the water with vinegar. This is exactly what the man who refinished all of our hardwood six years ago said. They still look very much like the day he finished. The detergents and soap do cause the build-up. If you have a stubborn scuff, pour a little vinegar.

 

[Cloud9]

A poster above mentioned the water with vinegar. This is exactly what the man who refinished all of our hardwood six years ago said. They still look very much like the day he finished. The detergents and soap do cause the build-up. If you have a stubborn scuff, pour a little vinegar.

A co-worker also swear by vinegar. He washes all the floors in his house and he only uses vinegar & water. When I lived by a cement plant vinegar and water was the only thing that cuts through the residue of the cement dust to clean the cars.