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 Cleaning Hardwood Kitchen Floor?
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl

4737 Posts

Dawn
Naperville Illinois
USA
4737 Posts

Posted - Mar 17 2013 :  08:35:44 AM  Show Profile
I currently am using the Swiffer wetjet wood floor cleaner, but I don't feel like the kitchen floor is getting really clean. Does anyone have a suggestion on what I can use on a weekly basis without damaging the wood floor?

The Swiffer product is fine for the rest of my house (all wood floors) because I do them every other week with it. But the kitchen needs a weekly good cleaning. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Dawn in IL

SarahJ
True Blue Farmgirl

198 Posts


Shreveport Louisiana
198 Posts

Posted - Mar 17 2013 :  11:34:01 AM  Show Profile
I currently have a Shark Rotator Vac or Steam, which I love using on my wood and stone floors. It vacuums, then you can change the head and it becomes a steam mop. The steam mop has three settings: dust, mop and scrub. The dust setting is perfect for wood floors, and it sterilizes the stone floor. Also, no chemicals or cleaners, so it's eco friendly. The down side is that it was very pricy, but I've already paid for about half of it by no longer buying swiffer pads or cleaners.

SarahJ

Farmgirl Sister #116

http://bayoumama.wordpress.com/
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl

4737 Posts

Dawn
Naperville Illinois
USA
4737 Posts

Posted - Mar 17 2013 :  12:37:55 PM  Show Profile
SarahJ, does the steam warp or dull the finish on your floors? I have a steam cleaner, but it is too strong for wood floors and has only one setting.

Thanks,
Dawn in IL
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SarahJ
True Blue Farmgirl

198 Posts


Shreveport Louisiana
198 Posts

Posted - Mar 18 2013 :  05:04:36 AM  Show Profile
The lightest setting does not, but I'd check the website to see if there is any fine print about certain kinds of floors.

SarahJ

Farmgirl Sister #116

http://bayoumama.wordpress.com/
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mjscanlan
True Blue Farmgirl

218 Posts

Mary Jo
Dennison Minnesota
USA
218 Posts

Posted - Mar 31 2013 :  07:52:11 AM  Show Profile
This works great- 1 cup water,1 cup vinegar, 1 cup alcohol, 2-3 drops dish washing soap. I would stay away from the wet swifter because the solution has anti-freeze in it and it is bad for pets and kids.

"A City girl with a Country Heart."
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HodgeLodge
True Blue Farmgirl

662 Posts

Tiana
Berkeley Springs WV
USA
662 Posts

Posted - Mar 31 2013 :  09:40:14 AM  Show Profile
I use Murphys Oil Soap, and feel like it cleans pretty good.


Farmgirl #4817-The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses. ~Hanna Rion

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Hodge-Lodge-Clothesline/285366378259342

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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl

4737 Posts

Dawn
Naperville Illinois
USA
4737 Posts

Posted - Apr 04 2013 :  05:56:02 AM  Show Profile
Thanks ladies, I'll give them a try. I'm not a fan of Swiffer and would like to quit using it.

Dawn in IL
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl

1825 Posts


Virginia
USA
1825 Posts

Posted - Apr 04 2013 :  10:35:52 AM  Show Profile
I use my Shark steam mop on my wood floors and it works beautifully.
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl

4737 Posts

Dawn
Naperville Illinois
USA
4737 Posts

Posted - Apr 04 2013 :  4:08:32 PM  Show Profile
I am worried I'll take the finish off the floors if I use steam. We have all wood floors here and I worry I will mess them up!

Dawn in IL
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl

1825 Posts


Virginia
USA
1825 Posts

Posted - Apr 04 2013 :  5:24:48 PM  Show Profile
Dawn, the steam mop I have (the cheapest in the line made by Shark) has different pads that you use for different kinds of floors. The mop is designed for use on wood as well as tile, vinyl and other types of floors -- even carpets. You will not damage your floors. I have been using mine at least weekly, with no problems.
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl

4737 Posts

Dawn
Naperville Illinois
USA
4737 Posts

Posted - Apr 04 2013 :  6:32:00 PM  Show Profile
Thanks Rosemary, I'll look into it.

Dawn in IL
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cjeanjellybean
True Blue Farmgirl

71 Posts

Cassie Jean
Plant City FL
USA
71 Posts

Posted - Apr 09 2013 :  1:36:44 PM  Show Profile
Anyone had a problem with their Shark steam mop dying on them? Mine and my mother's were both only a couple years old, if that. She is on city water, and I am on well water...neither will steam any longer. Thoughts? They worked beautifully on our wood and tile in the beginning...

~Cassie Jean
Farmgirl #1356

" Stand still & let God move." ~The Isaacs
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl

4737 Posts

Dawn
Naperville Illinois
USA
4737 Posts

Posted - Apr 09 2013 :  2:11:11 PM  Show Profile
I had a Shark steam mop and a Shark vacuum that both died right away. Fortunately I got them at Bed, Bath and Beyond and returned them without a problem. I currently have a Haan steamer that has been holding up really well. Unfortunately it has only one setting that is pretty high. I won't use it on my hardwood floors, only on the bathrooms tile floors.

Dawn in IL
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl

2817 Posts

Heather
Haysville Kansas
USA
2817 Posts

Posted - Apr 09 2013 :  2:56:17 PM  Show Profile
mine worked great, till i moved to very very hard well water....then i found out, you were only supposed to use bottled water. i bought another and have only used bottled water and so far so good. i've heard that you can replace the tubing in the ones that died (of not using bottled water) but i haven't had time to try that yet.


http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com
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levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl

9321 Posts

Denise
Beavercreek Ohio
USA
9321 Posts

Posted - Apr 09 2013 :  6:54:15 PM  Show Profile
I use hot water and distilled vinegar. I don't use any type of soap or detergent as it will strip the wood eventually.

farm girl sister#43
http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
O, a trouble's a ton or a trouble's an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it!
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only--how did you take it?

--Edmund C. Vance.
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cjeanjellybean
True Blue Farmgirl

71 Posts

Cassie Jean
Plant City FL
USA
71 Posts

Posted - Apr 10 2013 :  11:04:05 AM  Show Profile
Since my steam mop died I have been using murphy's oil soap(only on occasion) or vinegar with water & orange essential oil. I have to go back and wipe it dry, though, because it will spot if I don't. We have hard Florida well water. This house has a water softener, so it's a little better, but we still have to be very careful...Florida water is full of iron!
Oh, and my mother's steam mop died too, but not with well water...she used her city water in it. I guess maybe next time, only use distilled?

~Cassie Jean
Farmgirl #1356

" Stand still & let God move." ~The Isaacs
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LeighErica
True Blue Farmgirl

306 Posts

Erica
PA
USA
306 Posts

Posted - Apr 10 2013 :  3:53:45 PM  Show Profile
I originally started with a Bissell steam mop...and it stopped working due to the hard water. Now I have the Shark Pro Steam Mop, and only use distilled water..and do not have a problem with the mop..works beautifully. Even if you are on city water...you can still have hard water...I am living with it now. We do have hard wood floors in our home as well, and I use the steam mop 1-2 times a week on them. With my mop..there are three temp settings. The dust mode is the appropriate mode to use when mopping on hardwood floors. The other two modes get hotter and sanitize better...so I usually use the scrub mode on my bathrooms and kitchen area since that is tile. I will admit that I don't always feel the steam mop is getting the floors as clean as I like them...but, I am not willing to use alot of water on my wood floors, so I am just mop more frequently with the steam mop. The other upside to the steam mop is it dries immediately...there are no wet spots or puddles....I love that!!! Hope you can find something that works for you...let us know how it goes. Erica:)

Farm Girl #2731
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl

4737 Posts

Dawn
Naperville Illinois
USA
4737 Posts

Posted - Apr 10 2013 :  7:55:18 PM  Show Profile
I am going to look at the Bissell steam mops to see how much they cost. Since my house has all wooden floors, I can't use something that has to be wiped off right away. I'll never be done cleaning them!

Thanks again to everyone for their suggestions and sharing what you use on your floors!

Dawn in IL
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl

2817 Posts

Heather
Haysville Kansas
USA
2817 Posts

Posted - Apr 10 2013 :  9:39:57 PM  Show Profile
I currently have a shark but I believe the one I bought at my local home show (the one I killed with hard water, btw I now have city water that is also hard!) was better then my shark. So if you have a local home show I would look there. I lived in NYC when I bought my first one from the home show, but I live in Kansas now and see the same one sold here at the home shows. I'll warn that the one sold at the homeshows are more expensive then the shark, but now that I have had the shark, even though the shark is fine and good (and was very cheap!) the one at the home show that I had was better, and cleaned up a LOT more grime etc. I liked it over all better. But, if I could only afford a shark, the shark is still a sight better then the old mop and bucket method.


http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com
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Amanda14
Farmgirl at Heart

4 Posts

Amanda
Hampton CT
4 Posts

Posted - May 15 2013 :  07:55:52 AM  Show Profile
I also use a steam mop and it seems to work OK although sometimes it seems to me that it just smears some of the dirt around on the wood floor. Maybe its just a matter of changing the pads more frequently but I'm not sure that the old way I used to do this - with Murphy's Oil soap and two mops or sponges didn't do a better job.

As if with magic.
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl

4737 Posts

Dawn
Naperville Illinois
USA
4737 Posts

Posted - May 16 2013 :  06:40:14 AM  Show Profile
I have been doing a rotation with how I clean the floors every week. I use the Swiffer Wetjet system one week, steam clean another, and dry dust mop before starting over again. The floors look nice and shiny. The Murphy's Oil method won't work for me, my entire house has wood floors and I don't have the time to clean them like that on a regular basis. Maybe I'll try it when it is time for the super fall cleaning.

Thanks for all the advice!
Dawn in IL
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