|
|
Post by Carrie on Oct 14, 2008 10:24:22 GMT -5
A copy of my post from Listzilla, for those of you who don't read it regularly. Would appreciate any suggestions! :
Whew!!!! Just finished the floor FINALLY!!! My arm muscles are sore, the palms of my hands are red and calloused ........ but it's DONE!!! A clean floor for the first time in forever!! Got a little funky there towards the end and started singing "It's a Hard Knock Life" from "Annie" as I scrubbed .......... but that's ok.
Wondering now about maintenance. Figuring I'll sweep every day and mop once a week or so. What should I use to mop? Someone told me vinegar & water, someone else I know uses mop n' glow. Any suggestions?? I don't EVER want it to get that bad again!
Yay on me!!!!!!!!!
Carrie
|
|
|
|
Post by angelinahedgehog on Oct 14, 2008 10:34:10 GMT -5
CarrieOn, the wonderful and awful truth is that almost anything will work, as long as you do it regularly.
I use a Swiffer dustmop, with a damp washcloth on it. That works. A sponge mop will work. A string mop will work. A damp paper towel will work. (Especially if it's used to wipe up spills as they happen.)
What you use (either for the mop itself or for the cleaning solution) is less important than using it regularly.
No magic wand, I'm afraid. Just find something that you'll be willing to use regularly, and use it.
|
|
|
|
Post by sleepymom on Oct 14, 2008 11:06:09 GMT -5
I usually use Mr Clean or Lysol diluted in a bucket of water. I`ve also used diluted ammonia OR bleach (not at the same time!), but AH is right, anything will work.
Something wonderful I found a year or so ago that helps immensely if you usually wash floors by hand- I do, somehow it seems more work to mess with a mop, for me- is a set of cheap foam knee pads. Mine were an impulse buy at Lowes, and I`m so glad I picked them up!
|
|
papertyger
New Member
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 48
|
Post by papertyger on Oct 14, 2008 11:36:25 GMT -5
I use neat flash, elbow grease and a floor cloth.... but then I only tend to do it once every 6 -12 months ;(
|
|
|
|
Post by limegreen on Oct 14, 2008 13:58:32 GMT -5
I discovered flash wipes with the scratchy surface and they are brill for floors. Pricey, but it's not like I use them much. Oh that is a terrible admission  but it's a lot less effort to throw down a flash wipe tha get out a brush, a bucket, a rag and a bottle of flash |
|
papertyger
New Member
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 48
|
Post by papertyger on Oct 14, 2008 14:51:51 GMT -5
mine is more
1. put away 3 weeks of shopping.
2. put rubbish in bins
3. put escaped cutlery in washer
4. sweep
5. mop
6. flash and elbow grease on knees
7. sweep
8. mop
9.sweep
THATS why i only do it once every 6 months.
|
|
|
|
Post by CaringFriend on Oct 14, 2008 20:12:16 GMT -5
The others are right...............anything will do as long as you do it regularly. Having said that, I really would avoid the Mop & Glo because what I ended up with after a very short time was a yellow build-up. That made the floor look dirtier!  One of the cleaning gurus, Don Aslett, suggests a bit of liquid dish detergent in water - cheap, easy, and it works. I keep my old washcloths and towels for this job. Like Carrie, I put it under a Swiffer dust mop. Put some water in the sink with a bit of Dawn. Wet the cloth, throw it under the dustmop, wipe an area of the floor. Rinse the rag and repeat until finished. I do this in the bathroom as well. Only difference is that I don't even bother to sweep the bathroom. Once a month I still get down on my knees to get the corners, edges, and baseboard. I find the fewer pieces of equipment involved, the more likely I am to do something. This involves a rag and Swiffer dust mop---no pail, etc. Wishing you luck!  |
|
hopehope
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,815 
|
Post by hopehope on Oct 14, 2008 20:18:15 GMT -5
I always like those orange cleaners -- Like citra-solv. they have more commercial ones -- but that is so simple in the ingredients. you can buy it diluted or dilute it yourself. dont use if you have a high polish or wax or something.
|
|
masmom
New Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 32
|
Post by masmom on Oct 14, 2008 20:52:30 GMT -5
My dh does all of the mopping (he's a SAHD) daily because that is the one thing that really gets to him -- apparently his mother was the same way. He just uses a towel and dishsoap. He's great at mopping the common areas but I frequently need to remind him that there are other floors that get dirty  so he mops the other floors about 1x per week. Sweeping his done 4-5x per day. Now, if only we could get this kind of routine on the massive dust bunnies, finger printy walls and trash strewn all over the back patio . those are some of my projects on Friday when I only have to work 1/2 day. |
|
|
|
Post by fluffernut - now Jannie on Oct 15, 2008 9:17:40 GMT -5
First I sweep, then I wash with my Swiffer Wet Jet. About once a month I tackle the edges, under the stove, refrig and dishwasher with an old fashoned scrub brush and cheap PineSol (from the dollar store).
|
|
|
|
Post by Alexandra on Oct 15, 2008 12:55:40 GMT -5
I too use a Swiffer Wet Jet. But my husband says, after it dries, it feels like Comet on the floor...it doesn't feel shiny to the feet, know what I'm saying? I guess it feels more like concrete than glass, to give a comparison.
|
|
someday
New Member
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 54
|
Post by someday on Oct 15, 2008 17:04:43 GMT -5
Fabuloso is my favorite all-purpose cleaner. It cleans everything, and leaves a light, fresh scent the permeates my entire house.
|
|
|
|
Post by Script on Oct 15, 2008 19:54:03 GMT -5
*I don't sweep. Ever. It hurts my hands. I don't know if I have ever used a broom in this house (28+ years?). I also don't rake outside (same story).
*I vacuum the floor regularly. This helps a lot. I like hearing the crunchy bits of bread crumbs sucked up by the vacuum (canister model).
*I try to mop the floor weekly. Lately, this good habit has been falling by the wayside because of family/health issues.
*It has been several years since I washed a floor on hands-and-knees (too hard on various body parts, not just knees).
I use a Veleda mop. With vinegar and water. OR with a mild health-food-store cleaner.
|
|
|
|
Post by morningglory on Oct 16, 2008 11:24:28 GMT -5
Since bathroom floors have also been mentioned, I will say that I have found using anti-bacterial wipes (e.g., Lysol, Clorox) works well for me. I only actually sweep the bathroom if there is something big and visible on it (like hair after a haircut). Otherwise, I simply wipe it up with wipes periodically.
It works for me to just grab a wipe when I'm in the bathroom, anyway, and clean up a corner or whatever. I do the same for the toilet, itself. Just grab a wipe every so often and wipe it down. (With 5 boys in the house, I often do that BEFORE I use the toilet!)
As for the kitchen, I like using a SwifferWet. But honestly, it doesn't get it clean from the kind of grime that builds up on my floor. Our kids drop food and spill drinks and don't even notice, let alone clean it up. (If they do make an effort, it's just to toss a towel down onto part of the spill and leave it there!) So we end up with lots of sticky spots, which then have dirt stuck to them. Also gooey bits that need scrubbing or scraping.
I really have not found anything that works as well as hands-and-knees scrubbing. But I'm sure if I mopped regularly, just to get off the easy dirt, it would be better than it is!
|
|
|
|
Post by clearwaterush on Oct 16, 2008 20:38:16 GMT -5
I have grease and grime in a 2" path around my stove and refrigerator. What is the best way to get this off?
|
|
