The company offers three main products. First is the original version of Glass cleaner, second is Vinegar based version, and the third option is the Ammonia-free version. Not many people know that Windex Ammonia-Free version does amazing results cleaning hardwood floors.
Ammonia is a wax stripper agent that is commonly used to remove acrylic waxes on hardwood floors. When your floor is exposed to ammonia, it strips off the dry finish and warps the wood. Therefore, Windex should not be used for cleaning sealed wood floor.
Since vinegar is an acid, it will actually break down the finish on the surface of your floor, and over time it will reduce the shine, and leave a dull appearance. Using vinegar and water to clean floors can also lead to an excessive amount of water on the floor, which can cause swelling and discoloration.
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.
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!
Can I use Windex on my hardwood floors? Yes, you can, but you need to use the Ammonia-Free version of Windex. It safe, universal cleaner and will not harm your hardwood floors. Use it with a Swiffer sweeper to get the best results.
For a wood coated with a hard surface, like wooden furniture, Windex is completely harmless. If it is sprayed on and kept dry, it will leave a water spot, which could be cleaned off. It won't damage your furniture when used as a cleaner.
Spray the Windex on the surface of the floor or on a microfiber pad that you're using to clean the floor. Rub the mop back and forth vigorously over the flooring. Get into every corner and crevice, and go back and forth over particularly stubborn stains or marks.
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.
Don't use straight ammonia, alkaline products or abrasive cleaners. They'll dull or scratch the finish. Don't rely on lemon juice or a vinegar-and-water solution to clean hardwood floors.
Use a broom or hardwood floor mop for cleaning wood floors daily. A microfiber dust mop pre-treated with a dusting agent will pick up dust and dirt and prevent scratches. Vacuum your hardwood floor once a week.
Granite or marble
This is a big NO. “Windex shouldn't be used on granite or marble kitchen tops. Cleaners like Windex can etch or dull the surfaces of natural stone,” says Rick Glickman, president of Dream Kitchens, a design studio in Highland Park, Illinois.
Ammonia-Free windex is the safest way to get your floors super clean. We recommend a dry swiffer [or something like it] and a mist of windex. The best part is, you can use this cleaner for just about every flooring surface in your home.
Pine-Sol is safe on hardwood floors and can be used to clean and disinfect them. What is essential is to use the right concentration and correctly follow the instructions: Sweep or vacuum the floor to remove loose dirt and debris. Take ¼ cup of Pine-Sol and mix with a gallon of water in a bucket.
Mix a one-to-one ratio of water and vinegar, dampen a cloth, and rub off the hazy buildups. Rinse with another cloth dampened with clear water and dry the floor immediately with a third rag. Washing coupled with wear and tear can eventually make the hardwood floor look old and cloudy.
Give glass surfaces a streak-free shine. This product is formulated with vinegar and doesn't leave behind the smell of ammonia. It's safe to use on all glass surfaces.
5.0 out of 5 stars Better than blue Windex. This provides the same quality Windex cleaning without the pungent smell of the original blue formula. I was seriously doubtful on how effective this vinegar based cleaner would work but it left a streak clean shine in glass and other household surfaces.
Windex® Vinegar Multi-Surface Cleaner is versatile and the special ammonia-free formula has no harsh vinegar smell—just a fresh, clean scent.
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.
And a quick Google search reveals that a lot of people still recommend using it. But vinegar should not be used as a hardwood floor cleaner because its acidity can lead to etching in the wood's surface. Avoid ammonia – Ammonia will discolor, deteriorate, and dull the finish.
The Recipe. Mix 1 cup of white vinegar in 1 gallon of warm water. To get shine on the floor, add several drops of vegetable oil. Keep in mind that this will deposit a residue on the floor similar to an all-in-one hardwood cleaner and polish, which can build up over time.
Generally, Clorox® Regular Bleach2 is suitable for disinfecting floors made of hard surfaces like ceramic tile, vinyl, and linoleum—not marble or other porous surfaces that aren't safe for bleach. Wood is porous, and generally we only recommend bleaching exterior finished wood surfaces, not interior hardwood floors.