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Floor & Furniture Cleaners

Vinegar: A few drops of vinegar in the cleaning water will help remove grease particles.  Dull, greasy film on no-wax linoleum can be washed away with ½ cup white vinegar mixed into ½ gallon of water.

LINOLEUM

• Mild Detergent, Baby Oil, and Sour Milk or Skim Milk: Damp mop, using a mild detergent and water for day-to-day cleaning.  To preserve the linoleum floor, you may wish to add a capful of baby oil to the mop water.  Adding sour milk or skim milk to the rinse will shine the floor without polishing.

WOOD FLOORS

• Vegetable Oil and Vinegar: Mix a 1:1 ratio of vegetable oil and vinegar into a solution and apply a thin coat to floor, rubbing in well.

PAINTED WOODEN FLOORS

• Washing Soda: Mix 1-teaspoon washing soda (also called soda ash) (sodium carbonate) into 1-gallon hot water and wash the floor with a mop, sponge, or soft-bristled brush.  This solution can also be used to remove mildew.

RUBBER TILES

•  Mild Detergent: Avoid oils, solvents, and strong alkalis, as they will harm the surface.  Wash with clear water, a mild detergent and a clean mop.

BRICK & STONE FLOORS

•  Vinegar: Mix 1 cup white vinegar into 1 gallon water.  Scrub the floor with a brush and the vinegar solution.  Rinse well with clean water.

CERAMIC TILE

•  Vinegar: Mix ¼ cup white vinegar (more if very dirty) into 1-gallon water.  This solution removes most dirt without scrubbing and doesn’t leave a film.
• Sour Milk or Skim Milk: Rather than polishing, mix sour milk or skim milk in the rinse water.  The floor will shine!

VINYL AND ASBESTOS TILES (Wax Remover)

• Club Soda: Remove wax buildup by pouring a small amount of club soda on a section.  Scrub this in well.  Let it soak in a few minutes and wipe clean.

 

REMOVE BLACK HEEL MARKS

•  Arm & Hammer Baking Soda: Rub the heel mark with a paste of baking soda and water.  Don’t use too much water or the baking soda will lose its abrasive quality.

REMOVE TAR

•  Butter or Margarine: Scrape up excess tar with side of dull knife, then, rub vigorously with butter or margarine.  Rub again with your fingernail, a Popsicle stick or anything that won’t scratch the floor.  Finally, wipe up the tar with a dry cloth.

REMOVE CRAYON MARKS

• Toothpaste: Crayon marks on the floor may be removed by rubbing them with a damp cloth containing toothpaste. Toothpaste will not work well on wallpaper or porous surfaces.

REMOVE GREASE FROM WOOD FLOORS

• Ice Cube or Cold Water: If you spill grease on a wood floor, immediately place an ice cube or very cold water on this spot. The grease will harden and can then be scraped off with a knife. Then iron a piece of cloth over the grease spot.

FURNITURE POLISH

The idea behind furniture polish for wood products is to absorb oil into the wood.  Many oils commonly found in our kitchens work very well.

• Olive Oil and Vinegar: Mix 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar.  Apply and polish with a clean soft cloth.
• Vegetable Oil or Olive Oil and Lemon Juice: Mix 2 parts oil and 1 part lemon juice.  Apply and polish with a soft cloth.  This leaves furniture looking and smelling good.

UNFINISHED WOOD

•  Mineral Oil: Mineral Oil is flammable.  Apply sparingly with a soft cloth.  For lemon oil polish, dissolve 1 teaspoon lemon oil into 1-pint mineral oil.

CAUTION!  MINERAL SPIRITS SHOULD NEVER BE SUBSTITUTED FOR MINERAL OIL, AS IT CAN BE DANGEROUS WHEN INHALED OR ABSORBED THROUGH THE SKIN!

 OAK WOOD

•  Beer and Sugar and Beeswax: Boil 1-quart beer with 1-teaspoon sugar and 2 tablespoons beeswax.  Cool, wipe onto wood, and allow to dry.  Polish when dry with a chamois cloth.

MAHOGANY

• Vinegar: Mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water.  Wipe onto wood and then polish with a chamois cloth.

 

SCRATCHES

• Lemon Juice and Vegetable Oil: Mix equal parts of lemon juice and salad oil. Rub into scratches with a soft cloth until scratches disappear.

WATER SPOTS

• Toothpaste: To remove water marks, rub gently with toothpaste on a damp cloth.

WASHING WOOD

•  Mild Soap: Dampen cloth with a solution of water and mild soap, such as Ivory or Murphy’s Oil soap.  Wring the cloth almost dry and wipe the furniture section by section, drying with a clean dry cloth as you go so that no section stays wet.