Apple cider vinegar is safe for most floor finishes, but if your finish is worn and fragile, wipe the floor with a rag dampened with water to remove the vinegar before drying the floor. Apple cider vinegar has a distinctive aroma, but it goes away quickly.
The strong odor of white vinegar can be unpleasant, in which case you can use apple cider vinegar instead. It has the same cleaning properties as white distilled vinegar, but since it's made by fermenting apple juice, it also has a slightly sweet scent.
Apple cider vinegar is a natural cleaning agent that works well on wood floors, as when diluted with water, it is a safe cleaner for both finished and unfinished wood floors, while remaining strong enough to clean and disinfect the floors.
In most homes, the best wood floor cleaner is plain old soap and water, and the only tools you need are a broom, vacuum, and mop. The best mop for wood floors is a microfiber flat-head or string mop you can easily wring out.
Vinegar is an acidic substance and over time, can eat away or deteriorate the finish on a hardwood floor. The process may be hastened if vinegar is used in conjunction with very hot water. The result will be cloudy, dull or white patches on your floor.
White vinegar is ideal for cleaning wood floors. You can also buy cleaning vinegar, which generally has a higher concentration of acid than regular vinegar.
Is vinegar safe on hardwood floors? Both apple cider vinegar and white vinegar have exceptional cleaning benefits and are effective on many countertop surfaces, tile, glass and more. However, cleaning with vinegar can result in significant damage to your beautiful hardwood floor.
Clean wood floors with vinegar by adding 1/2 cup white vinegar to a gallon of lukewarm water. Follow the tips for how to clean hardwood floors with a mop, above, to prevent water damage. Then use vinegar to naturally clean the rest of your home!
Use a damp-mop with a flat-head mop and microfiber pad or a microfiber string mop that has been thoroughly wrung out when it looks dingy. Move with the grain, and control the amount of cleaning solution by using a spray bottle, aiming for a heavy mist or gentle squirt of about a half teaspoon per 2 square feet.
Ammonia. Ammonia is a pungent chemical that has many cleaning uses in your home, but it should never be used on hardwood floors. “The ingredient damages the surface and dissolves the lignin in the wood,” explains Leanne Stapf, chief operating officer at The Cleaning Authority.
Surfaces that Should Not Be Cleaned with Vinegar
hardwood floors, wood furniture, and other word surfaces – due to its acidic nature, vinegar can damage hardwood floor finishes, causing them to look dingy. Use either a cleaner specifically made for hardwood floors or a mix of soap and water.
Vinegar makes an excellent wood cleaner because it won't damage wood finish or warp wood like other products do. Cleaning with vinegar is a green alternative to the sometimes toxic and expensive cleaners offered at the store.
While you can use apple cider as a pickling agent, white vinegar is a better option due to its higher acidity level.
The most obvious difference between the two is their color. White vinegar, also sometimes called distilled or spirit vinegar, is clear and apple cider vinegar is brown. Standard white vinegar contains 4 percent to 7 percent acetic acid and 93 percent to 96 percent water.
Mix one part apple cider vinegar with one part water and you're ready to roll. You can use this diluted vinegar to wipe down a variety of hard surfaces like kitchen counters. The diluted vinegar has enough acid to get rid of stuck-on debris and bacteria.
Whether you're cleaning one area or all of your flooring, Murphy® Oil Soap is safe to use on hardwood floors.
An alternative natural cleaning solution is warm water and dish soap (1/4 cup of dish washing liquid for a bucket of warm water). For spot cleaning needs, sprinkle baking soda on the affected area and scrub with a sponge. To ensure the area is thoroughly clean, rinse with warm water and dry.
While vinegar is safe to use on hardwood, it should be diluted in order to work properly. Using undiluted vinegar can lead to sticky flooring and a strong odor that takes quite a while to dissipate.
Apple cider vinegar and cider vinegar are one and the same. The term “cider vinegar” is more specific and more commonly used in daily life, while “apple cider vinegar” is specific and complete.
Full-strength vinegar can remove the stains, though. Carpet stains are no match for apple cider vinegar, either. Pour a few tablespoons of salt into the vinegar and rub it into stain(s) before vacuuming it all away. You can also add it to water for use in your carpet steamer to blast away stains.
White vinegar suits wood well. Not only does it remove dirt and dust, but it also helps polish the wood. It provides a shimmering effect, giving the wood more life. When there are wine, milk, and other liquid stains on wood, you can apply the vinegar and allow it to soak for a few minutes.
It isn't a good idea to clean wood with pure, undiluted vinegar. In addition to leaving water marks, the acid in the vinegar could “eat” certain kinds of finishes. However, for polishing wood, a homemade treatment of half olive oil and half white vinegar can buff up stained and oiled wood finishes nicely.
Try mixing a weak solution of water and dishwashing soap. Dip a soft cloth in the solution, wring it out and wipe the entire piece. You want a damp cloth, not a wet one. Don't saturate the wood, and rinse your cloth often.
Mix a solution of ½ cup of distilled white vinegar per gallon of warm water. Mop floors. If you're using it on hardwood floors, it's very important to wring your mop out as much as possible.