Flooring Cleaning and Care

• wood and laminate floor cleaner
  1/2 to 1 cup (125 to 250ml) vinegar
  1 gallon (4 liters) warm water
  
  Keeping wood floors clean is the key to keeping them lustrous and beautiful. After a thorough sweeping, pick up an residual dirt with a damp mop and a combination of 1/2 cup (125ml) vinegar and the water (if you have been using oil soap on your floor, increase the vinegar to 1 cup or 250ml). The vinegar will prevent hard water spots from forming on the floor as it dries. 

• floor cleaner with fragrant herbs
  2 tablespoons liquid soap or detergent
  4-8 tablespoons white distilled vinegar
  6 tablespoons fragrant herb tea (peppermint adds antibacterial qualities)
  
  Combine ingredients in a bucket of water. Swirl the water around until it lathers a little. Proceed as normal. Discard the remainder after use. 

• No wax floor cleaner
  1 cup vinegar
  1 gallon of warm water
  
  Wet mop no-wax floors with solution of vinegar and water to remove spills and kill many germs. Should not remove 'Perma-wax seal'.

• cheap cleaning solution
  1/3 part white vinegar
  1/3 part rubbing alcohol
  1/3 part water
  3 drops dishwashing liquid
  
  Mix in a (recycled) spray bottle and you have the equivalent of the floor cleaner. Just spray and mop. It also recommended for deodorizing a room and for a fast cleanup. Use this on any tile floors with great results. The alcohol is added to make it dry faster, but you could leave it out, if you want. 

• vinyl floor cleaning
  For effortless cleaning and less bending, try squirting vinegar on the head of a moistened mop and wiping over the floor. Environmentally friendly and cheap! 

• all-purpose floor cleaner
  1 cup (250ml) vinegar
  1 cup (250ml) isopropyl alcohol
  1 cup (250ml) water
  6 drops dishwashing liquid
  
  For fast floor cleanups, keep a bottle of this all-purpose cleaner handy: Fill a medium spray bottle with the vinegar, alcohol, water, and dish washing liquid. Shake gently to combine. To use, spray sparingly and mop until dry.    

• red wine remedy for carpets
  2 or 3 handfuls baking soda
  
  Red wine has a fantastic ability to stain, owing to its acidic nature and abundance of colorful plant compounds. Whatever you do, don't rush to blot a spill for you may inadvertently drive the stain deeper into the pile of the carpet. Instead, cover the area thoroughly with baking soda and let it absorb the liquid, then scoop up the baking soda. Apply a fresh layer of baking soda and let dry overnight. Then simply vacuum in the morning. 

• removing the smell of animal urine
  Blot up the urine with a soft cloth and wash several times with lukewarm water. Apply a mixture of equal parts vinegar and cool water. Blot up again, rinse, and let dry.   

• removing lime deposits
  Use one part vinegar to one part water to clean tiles and grouting. On newer tiles, test in an inconspicuous area first, especially if colored grouting has been used.    

• floor cleaner
  Add 2/3 cup (150ml) vinegar to 1 gallon (3.75 liters) of water to keep your vinyl floors clean and shining.    

• waxing a floor
  When waxing a floor after scrubbing with a floor stripper, add 1 cup (225ml) of vinegar to the rinse water. It neutralizes the chemicals and makes the wax or floor finish adhere better.