Hardwood floors-every body wants them, but no body wants to clean them!

Hardwood floors seem to be the most coveted floors for offices and residential homes these days. They give your home a very clean, sleek look, along with the benefit of being  allergy friendly. There are so many kinds of hardwood floors, along with different textures, finishes, and looks-the possibilities seem endless! 

We have serviced numerous homes, and I can think of ten different types of hardwood floors we have had to clean already, and I’m sure there are many more then I have even seen. So what is the best way to keep these floors clean and spot free? Hardwood floors are beautiful, but as with any type of flooring, they do not enhance your home when they are dirty! Footprints, food, dust and dirt all take away from the beauty of hardwood floors. In the next few chapters I am going to quickly give several cleaning options depending on the type of hardwood floors you have.

There are a lot of products out there, but from my opinion (and somewhat expert), there are only a few good one’s that should be used. I will start with the cheapest and most common, the most expensive.

1. Good old fashion windex. Yes I said it…windex. There is a standard rule to use when treating hardwood floors. Anything you can use on windows, can be used on hardwood floor. This would also include vinegar. 

2. Murphy’s oil-this is my least favorite product to use now, mainly because the type of hardwood floor previously in home’s has changed drastically.

3. Pine sol (lemon of course) with a little bit of vinegar.

4. Bruce hard floor cleaner-sold only at Home Depot as far as I know it. This cleaner can only be used with a Terry cloth sponge (the mop head and sponge come in the kit).  

5. Last but not least, my favorite “Bona”-sold at Lowe’s, Benjamin Moore, and Bed Bath and Beyond. If you buy this kit, it comes with a fuzzy sweeper, and a terry cloth sponge to clean the floors with. 

I know I just gave you a long list, but I will specify which product works best on which floors.

If you  have the good old fashioned hardwood floors, that were installed as actual wood, sanded, stained, then treated with a finish (my favorite kind of floors), then you can use any of the above products. You can use a wet mop, and mix Murphy’s oil with a little bit of lemon pine sol; lemon pine sol mixed with a little bit of vinegar; or a dry terry cloth mop with either Bruce cleaner or Bona. 

This type of floor does not dry streaked, therefore your only concern is to basically get if cleaned. You don’t have to worry about it drying streaked.

The other types of floors, are those that are installed into your home, but do not require anything but assembly. THe stain, sanding and finish is all done in the factory…so when the floors come into your home, the contractors only need to nail them into place. These floors are the most difficult to keep up with, because the finish on them dries streaky if not cleaned properly. This type of flooring is in the majority of homes today.

The best product to use on these is 

1. Always use a terry cloth rag ( no wet mop). These are found in the Bruce and Bona kit.

2. Bruce Hard wood cleaner

3. Bona Hardwood cleaner

Depending on the color of your floor, certain products may work better. I have found that Bona works best on all three. It seems that Bruce does not work as good on dark hardwood floors, not exactly sure why. 

If you have a residue on your floors, or can’t seem to get them really clean, then I recommend using Amonia, along with a rag (if you clean them on your hands and knees), or a terry cloth rag attached to a stick pole. You must change your water every few feet, to keep the residue from being spread over the area you are trying to clean. This will get the finish up, and allow you to “start over” so to speak with cleaning and maintaining your floors. 

Now if money is an issue (as the Hardwood floor cleaners can get expensive), you can subsitute windex for the Bruce or Bona cleaner. Also use with the terry cloth rag and stick pole that come with the kit.

Every once in a while, you may want to clean your floors with hot water, and a cleaning product mentioned above, but do this very little. Water will strip the shiny finish off of your hardwood, causing it to dull. I only mop my floors when they have been tracked up from food and dirt, or excessive traffic. After I mop them, I do have to follow up with the Bona cleaner, to get the shine back into my floors.

I realize there are other products out there for hardwood floor (which I will not mention), however I do not recommend using them. They look good at first, but eventually either strip your floors, or leave a residue that is hard to get up.

I hope you found this article helpful, and you achieve the shiny new look you once had after cleaning, as you did when you first bought the floors. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend anything for scratches and nicks….sorry :-(

(Source: brucehardwoodfloor.com)

Hardwood floors-every body wants them, but no body wants to clean them!

Hardwood floors seem to be the most coveted floors for offices and residential homes these days. They give your home a very clean, sleek look, along with the benefit of being  allergy friendly. There are so many kinds of hardwood floors, along with different textures, finishes, and looks-the possibilities seem endless! 

We have serviced numerous homes, and I can think of ten different types of hardwood floors we have had to clean already, and I’m sure there are many more then I have even seen. So what is the best way to keep these floors clean and spot free? Hardwood floors are beautiful, but as with any type of flooring, they do not enhance your home when they are dirty! Footprints, food, dust and dirt all take away from the beauty of hardwood floors. In the next few chapters I am going to quickly give several cleaning options depending on the type of hardwood floors you have.

There are a lot of products out there, but from my opinion (and somewhat expert), there are only a few good one’s that should be used. I will start with the cheapest and most common, the most expensive.

1. Good old fashion windex. Yes I said it…windex. There is a standard rule to use when treating hardwood floors. Anything you can use on windows, can be used on hardwood floor. This would also include vinegar. 

2. Murphy’s oil-this is my least favorite product to use now, mainly because the type of hardwood floor previously in home’s has changed drastically.

3. Pine sol (lemon of course) with a little bit of vinegar.

4. Bruce hard floor cleaner-sold only at Home Depot as far as I know it. This cleaner can only be used with a Terry cloth sponge (the mop head and sponge come in the kit).  

5. Last but not least, my favorite “Bona”-sold at Lowe’s, Benjamin Moore, and Bed Bath and Beyond. If you buy this kit, it comes with a fuzzy sweeper, and a terry cloth sponge to clean the floors with. 

I know I just gave you a long list, but I will specify which product works best on which floors.

If you  have the good old fashioned hardwood floors, that were installed as actual wood, sanded, stained, then treated with a finish (my favorite kind of floors), then you can use any of the above products. You can use a wet mop, and mix Murphy’s oil with a little bit of lemon pine sol; lemon pine sol mixed with a little bit of vinegar; or a dry terry cloth mop with either Bruce cleaner or Bona. 

This type of floor does not dry streaked, therefore your only concern is to basically get if cleaned. You don’t have to worry about it drying streaked.

The other types of floors, are those that are installed into your home, but do not require anything but assembly. THe stain, sanding and finish is all done in the factory…so when the floors come into your home, the contractors only need to nail them into place. These floors are the most difficult to keep up with, because the finish on them dries streaky if not cleaned properly. This type of flooring is in the majority of homes today.

The best product to use on these is 

1. Always use a terry cloth rag ( no wet mop). These are found in the Bruce and Bona kit.

2. Bruce Hard wood cleaner

3. Bona Hardwood cleaner

Depending on the color of your floor, certain products may work better. I have found that Bona works best on all three. It seems that Bruce does not work as good on dark hardwood floors, not exactly sure why. 

If you have a residue on your floors, or can’t seem to get them really clean, then I recommend using Amonia, along with a rag (if you clean them on your hands and knees), or a terry cloth rag attached to a stick pole. You must change your water every few feet, to keep the residue from being spread over the area you are trying to clean. This will get the finish up, and allow you to “start over” so to speak with cleaning and maintaining your floors. 

Now if money is an issue (as the Hardwood floor cleaners can get expensive), you can subsitute windex for the Bruce or Bona cleaner. Also use with the terry cloth rag and stick pole that come with the kit.

Every once in a while, you may want to clean your floors with hot water, and a cleaning product mentioned above, but do this very little. Water will strip the shiny finish off of your hardwood, causing it to dull. I only mop my floors when they have been tracked up from food and dirt, or excessive traffic. After I mop them, I do have to follow up with the Bona cleaner, to get the shine back into my floors.

I realize there are other products out there for hardwood floor (which I will not mention), however I do not recommend using them. They look good at first, but eventually either strip your floors, or leave a residue that is hard to get up.

I hope you found this article helpful, and you achieve the shiny new look you once had after cleaning, as you did when you first bought the floors. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend anything for scratches and nicks….sorry :-(

(Source: brucehardwoodfloor.com)

How to clean your kitchen counters, and what products work best?

With so many different type of kitchen counters available to us today, its confusing to know which products work for your particular counter,  and the best way to care for them. Long gone are the days when you could use “comet” to clean up a few relentess stains: that would  most likely do permanent damage to them. And cleaning isn’t just “wipe and clean” anymore..its “wipe, clean, dry, and polish!” No one wants a clean countertop, with a streaky finish! Like I always say, it must be “Squeeky Clean”, not “streaky clean!”.

In the next few paparagraphs I will briefly discuss the few types of countertops, how to clean them, and recommendations if you are about to update your kitchen.

Laminate

 First you have your basic laminate countertop. My first home had these, and though they weren’t fancy, they were SO easy to keep clean. Any basic cleaner will work on these counterops, including soap and water. You only need to spray and wipe. No drying, no polishing, no fuss. Now if the counter top is white or beige, you may be experiencing some pesty stains that will not go away with basic cleaning. That is where bleach, or clorox cleanup will become your counter tops new best friend. Just pour a small capful of bleach, or spray clorox clean up and let sit for about ten minutes. Your countertops will look as good as new.

Though these countertop are the easiest to clean, they are also the easiest to destroy. NEVER cut directly on your countertop, and NEVER put any hot pots, pans or plates  directly on them. You must always use a potholder for resting hot pans, and a cutting board or plate to cut anything. Failure to do this will result in scratched, stained countertops. 

Marble/Granite

These are the most desired countertops by most households, and the most common type of countertops. They are beautiful, elegant, and add a certain richness to your kitchen through their simple look. They hold up well under cutting, they rarely burn, and seldom crack.  I will say, however, from personal experience, they are the biggest pain to keep “clean”. By clean I mean, looking new and shiny like they did when they were first installed. Having a window anywhere near them is  even worst. The natural light from outside, will show everything on your countertop!

With laminate, as I mentioned previously you can simply spray and wipe. Granite however requirest a few more steps. If you do not have the budget to constantly buy granite cleaner (it adds up), you can simply use warm soap and water. Just damp your rag, add a small drop of dish soap, and wipe (do not use dishwasher or hand soap). If you have granite cleaner, just spray and wipe as well. However, before the product dries, you must always dry your countertops, or they will leave a haze and dry they will dry streaky. You can use a towel, followed by paper towels, or simply just use paper towels. Everytime you wipe them with anything wet, you must dry them to achieve the proper shine. This can be cumbersome and tedious, but is a must if you want to maintain the quality of your countertops.

It is okay to use windex periodically, but continual use will begin to remove the shine and finish leaving them dull. Never use amonia, this will damage the countertop. Also as soon as your countertops are installed, you need to seal them. “How will I know if my countertops are sealed?”. If you get a spot on the counter wet, and it remains dark for about 30 minutes, then your countertops are not sealed. Sealing countertops is super easy and cheap. You just need to go to Home Depot, purchase “Granite Sealer” and follow directions on back. It is just as easy as cleaning them. 

You may also about once a week polish them. You just smear the polish on your clean countertops, and wipe away to a finish. Any kind of polish works well. Target sells a great “Method” polish and cleaner.

There are also professionals who will buff your countertops with a professional had buffer. I have witnessed the effects of this, and they look beautiful! If your countertops have lost their shine and luster, I highly recommend this. They will look like glass when they are finished!

Now there are several granite counter top cleaners out there, sold at Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, and perhaps even your local supermarket. My favorite, and cheapest cleaner however is sold at Home Depot. Home Depot has their own cleaning line of products, called “ZEP” products, and they work just as well as all the other products. The only difference?.. their bottles are cheaper, and larger. Make sure you get these products from their “cleaning section” only. Home Depot sells several granite cleaners, but they can run anywhere from $8-$15 per bottle. the ZEP granite cleaner was only $4.95 last time I purchased it three months ago. In my opinion there is no need to buy “Countertop Magic”, “Granite Magic”, or any of the other great countertop products that are out there. I say great, because they are no doubt great products, however just a bit overpriced in my opinion.

Corian

Lastly these types of countertops are a bit cheaper than granite, but give you the same clean sleek look as granite. THey do scratch very easily however, so you must use caution as well when cooking on these types of countertops. 

You can use Granite Cleaner, Soap and Water, or anyother countertop product that is not too harsh. Stay away from bleach like products, as they will fade the countertop and could take off some of the finish. 

Like granite, these countertops need to be dried to a shine when you are finished wiping them. I do recommend a light polish to keep them looking good as new. A great product for that would be “Countertop Magic”, priced at around $8 (with your 20% off coupon of course :-) ). 

Once your countertops become scratched and dull, it is probably time to have them buffed by a proffesional as well. This will have them looking as new as they did the day the day your purchased them.

Remodeling

So what is my opinion on the best type of countertops for your kitchen if you are looking to replace them? It really depends on your budget on how much maintenance you are willing to put into them. Another type of countertop I did not mention, is cement countertops. They are extremely functionally, cheaper then granite, and still give you that sleek look. They are a bit on the industrial looking side, so if you are more of a French Country or Traaditional stylist, then these countertops are not for you.

Hope these tips helped!

Weekly Cleaning Tips

January is the time of year when you begin to clean and organize your home. And for those of you who live up north, a snow day is the perfect time to get extra things done around the house! Maybe it’s part of your New Years Resolution, or perhaps after taking down your tree and Christmas decorations you feel the need to keep cleaning. Whatever your motivation is, make sure you add your kitchen to your cleaning routine.

1. Get rid of any food that has been in your cabinet for more than 4 months.  You can look to donate can goods that have not yet expired, or try to find ways to use them so they are not wasted. Sometimes the best place to grocery shop is right in your cabinet!

2. Make sure you wipe down the bottoms of your cabinets. Its very common for bottles to leak, and cause sticky residue to build up in your cabinets and pantry. If sticky residue wont come up from regular wiping, try pouring hot water on spills and let sit for about 5 minutes. Also a scour pad (not S.O.S) can be used to help loosen residue. 

3. Clean and sanitize your spice rack and spices in cabinets. These items have the most bacteria (besides the kitchen sink). While you are preparing raw food, you are touching the food, and opening cabinet doors and opening spice bottles. This is one of the most common forms of cross contamination. If a restaurant operated the way some of us do in our kitchen, they would be shut down! We need to take precaution in our homes, and make sure we clean and sanitize as much as possible.

4. Wipe down handles on cabinets, and kitchen doors. For the same reason your spices need to be wiped down, is the same reason cabinet doors and handles need wiping.

5. Always clean out your kitchen sink. There was a report done that said there are more germs in a kitchen sink, then there are in a toilet! Always use bleach products, or all natural products that kill germs and bacteria. My favorite kitchen sink cleaner is always, good old fashioned comet. If you have a new stainless steel sink, you should use a scratch free cleanser like Ajax scratch free cleanser. Sometimes your kitchen sink become a dull shade of brown, most commonly caused by coffee. Cleanser is a great way to remove these stains as well. Don’t forget to clean faucets as well, then dry to a nice polish finish with windex and a paper towel.

6. If you have grout on your floor, sometimes it turns black, from all the dirt and foot traffic. Depending on the type of tile you have, sometimes cleaning the grout makes all the difference in the look of your floor. The best way to clean your grout is with bleach and hot water. Allow this to sit on the floor for a good 15 minutes. (Make sure you don’t track it from your shoes onto the carpet). Follow up with a scrub brush. You will need to scrub each part of the grout. Allow to sit further, then clean up with a mop. If it is still not as clean as you want it to look, try another round (you can also you Clorox Cleanup spray, and apply directly to the grout).

7. The unforgotten microwave…used so much, but cleaned so little. The quickest way to clean a microwave is to microwave a coffee mug of water for at least two minutes. This loosens all the food that is stuck to the walls, and allows you to wipe clean with not much effort at all. 

Your kitchen will be so clean, that you will probably not want to cook in it for a while! 

Next week’s cleaning tips will feature “Cleaning kitchen countertops.” With so many different  counter top materials, and products out on the market, one could get confused as to what products to use and not use. I will cover the different types of materials used to make counter tops, the best way to clean them, and what products are the best bang for your buck. 

I love Lemon Pine Sol…

Lemon Pine Sol - not to be confused with REGULAR Pine Sol - is is my favorite cleaner of all time. It’s also my favorite smell! It smells fresh, sanitizes, and it’s cheap! You can use it on hardwood floors, in toilets, and on granite (at your own risk!). Happy cleaning!

My favorite vacuum…

This is my favorite vacuum of all time. It’s super, super light, and really powerful. It’s perfect for cleaning up after kids, and it’s so lightweight seniors can maneuver it with no problem. My secret tip is to buy the floor models, since they usually sell at a reduced price. For more info, click here.