Best Bare Floor Cleaning Product?
A long-time client came in today to pick up their Aerus Electrolux Lux Commercial model after its regularly scheduled maintenance. We got to talking about some of his small business clients, and their specific needs. I mentioned we have access through our suppliers, to all kinds of specialized cleaning product lines for different applications. Yes, of course The Vac Shop does Electrolux. We are the only factory authorized Electrolux repair centre between Red Deer and Lethbridge in Southern Alberta. Of course, we service all vacuum types. The Vac Shop is also your cleaning specialist! We have everything from carpet beads to air fresheners, laundry soap to pet stain treatments, everything from bags & filters, to all the sprays & treatments you will need to keep your home or business clean.
Our worst kept secret is our best price guarantee. We can get just about any cleaning product at wholesale cost for bulk commercial clients.
**Where our long-time client needed specific help: what is the best bare floor cleaning product? How do we get massage oil out of hardwood floors? How do we clean pitted/tumbled/honed/polished tiles? What is the fastest way to make my vinyl plank look like 900 little feet haven’t been wrestling lately? We at The Vac Shop know, and carry the right thing for your bare floor.**
Floor cleaner ingredients vary greatly. What you are buying off the shelf at the Big Box store is not always best for the materials you are cleaning. Some may have a strong scent, or just might leave your surface sticky. It’s essential to avoid cleaners that aren’t pH-neutral or aren’t specifically designed for your flooring. Knowing your type of flooring, how it’s finished, or your specific use helps tailor the correct cleaner, and read the label on the cleaner to be sure. Many synthetic floors look like real hardwood, and they need better cleaners.
Although natural cleaners like distilled white vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda are safe for your house, they aren’t safe for hardwood floors. The same goes for too much moisture. You should never steam clean your natural hardwood floor or use too much water with any wood floor cleaner. Skip oils, waxes, furniture sprays, or anything with ammonia. I did a bit of Googling, and I found out one of the top lines we carry at The Vac Shop, Bona, was rated in an article from Good Housekeeping as one of the 9 Best here. Bona Products are made with Hardwood Floors in mind!
How to Clean Wood Floors the Right Way
After your have run over the floors with a great bare floor attachment on your vacuum, let your mop, with a washable microfiber mop head, pick up the left-over dirt and grime. We use the Bona Spray Mop with a professional microfibre mop pad in our store. Because we have so much foot traffic, we have vinyl flooring. It cleans away every day foot traffic extremely well, and would do so in your home or business.
The above shown concentrate goes into a 32 oz container especially fit to the Bop Mop. However, using that container with any string mop, flat mop or spin mop will work, as long as the concentrate instructions are followed on the bottle. There’s no need to rinse; just let your wood floors dry. If they look a little dull, use a clean, dry microfiber mop to buff back the shine.
Routine Cleaning and Maintenance for Hardwood Floors
Sweeping daily help keep down the small particles from your shoes. These particles will carry through your home, and can scratch the wood’s surface. A durable soft broom is a good start to get the job done.
Most people think, the vacuum is just for carpet. Use your vacuum bare floor attachments to suck up the dust bunnies along the baseboards. Get the particles in between the floorboards. Micro particles get missed when sweeping. Remember: Bits and bobs might not seem like a big deal, but those particles could end up scratch the sealants or the materials in your floor.
Your floor’s material & surface seal will determine how it is cleaned. Use hardwood floor cleaners or waxes with oil-treated or untreated floors.
Surface-Sealed Floors
Surface-sealed floors are sealed with urethane, polyurethane, or polyacrylic to make them stain and water-damage resistant. Your floor installer has likely recommended a floor-cleaning product to use for cleaning, but sometimes it’s not possible to use those products either due to cost or availability. If this is the case for your own floors, your best solution is Bona floor cleaner. Make sure you wring the mop out completely before using it on your floors, because even though your floor has been sealed, excessive water is still tough on wood. If you look up how to clean hardwood floors, you might see advice about adding vinegar to the water. While some people swear by this, we wouldn’t recommend it. The acidity in the vinegar can dull the wood over time.
Oil-Treated or Untreated Floors
Penetrating-seal, oil-treated, lacquered, shellacked, varnished, and untreated floors require a bit more labor-intensive upkeep since these surfaces are not as resistant to moisture and general wear and tear, and therefore are generally treated with wax. |Annually, use a floor stripper to safely remove the old wax from the panels. Once the floor has dried, apply a thin coat of new wax and let the fresh layer dry. For the best results, use a liquid wax or paste wax that is specifically designed for wood floors (acrylic or water-based waxes can discolor your woodwork).
Come by The Vac Shop with all your cleaning questions!