Great, easy way to clean hardwoods :)

[8FillTheHeart]

There was a discussion couple weeks ago about cleaning hardwoods. I wanted to share what I found that works extremely well......steam cleaning (not the kind for carpets.;) ) I bought the Shark hardwood/tile steam cleaner and I absolutely love how it works. (though it seems rather cheaply constructed. I think I would research to find a sturdier product next time.) It steams down into the grout in the tile, lifts dirt off both, and dries almost instantly. Not only that, it is sanitizing (which has been a huge issue around here this week with serious yuckies going on!) without chemicals.

[Claire]

I have a big steam cleaner (Google "vapor steam cleaner" to find different brands like mine) and love it for cleaning tile surfaces. I would *never* use it on hardwood floors, though. It might be okay for some, but I read a couple of reports of steam cleaning damaging the finish on hardwood.

[Sharon in SC]

Hey!!Do y'all think this would solve my problem described in an earlier post today about dirt that is collecting in my ridged tile?!? If you think so, could you post a link to your model? Many thanks!

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7117

[Claire]

Hey!!Do y'all think this would solve my problem described in an earlier post today about dirt that is collecting in my ridged tile?!? If you think so, could you post a link to your model? Many thanks!


Here's a link to the one I have. My only gripe about it is that it is a little big and heavy to lug around the house, especially when there is water in it. I think most people could do just as well with a lighter weight, less expensive model. Mine is built like a tank and will probably last several generations!

I think it would help your problem a lot. However, it is not a matter of just hitting the dirt with steam. There is a brush on the end of the hose, and you also need to apply elbow grease to rub the brush back and forth to get the dirt out. Basically the steam vapor softens the dirt, and the brush digs it out. You then want to wipe up with a rag to pick up the dirt. (I buy white rags a couple of dozen at a time from Sam's Club.) Steam vapor means that there is a lot of heat but little water in the steam, so it's not like you have to sop up a really wet floor. You are just wiping a thin film of water and dirt up.

I would say the advantages of using steam over other methods are (1) you are not using any chemicals so it is easy on your lungs, and (2) it works pretty darn fast. If you have pits of dirt in the tiles, you will still need to apply elbow grease so the brush can dig out the dirt. However, it will be easier than a purely mechanical approach, or even a chemical + mechanical approach.

My tile floors consist of large limestone blocks. It's pretty easy to steam clean them with a cloth clipped to the large brush. However, if the grout is stained, I still have to get down close enough to rub the stains with a small brush on the end of the hose. Still, this is the fastest and easiest way I have found to clean grout.

There were some online video demos when I was shopping around that were helpful for me. Couldn't find any in a quick Google, but you may run across some if you research on the net. Google "steam vapor cleaner".

Oh, and I really like mine for cleaning the bathroom too. It does the best job on toilets of anything I have ever used. Also use it in the kitchen. Does a great job on chrome. For chrome, I just steam and wipe. (Does not get rid of calcium stains, but is wonderful for mold, etc. Steam can get in all those tiny crevices around faucets, plus the faucets shine up very easily.)

[Basketmaker Amy]

I am interested also...but where is the link? :)

Thanks!

[Bev in B'ville]

In our last house, we had a hard finish on our hardwood floors so I could use a steam cleaner. However, in our current house, we have hardwoods with a wax finish. A steam cleaner would take the wax right off.

[Basketmaker Amy]

Another question...how is it on hard water stains? soap scum?

[KristineIN]

My dh installs hardwood flooring and always recommends Bona products to his customers, he would never advise his customers to use a steam cleaner on their wood floor, even if the cleaner said it was safe. Water and hardwood floors do not go together.

Kristine

[Claire]

Oh, sorry. Forgot the link. :( Here is the link (http://www.cleangrout.com/vs_3000_steam_vapor_cleaner.htm).

[Claire]

Another question...how is it on hard water stains? soap scum?

It works great on soap scum. It won't do much for hard water stains.

Hard water stains are a completely separate problem, IMO. Hard water can permanently etch many materials (such as shower doors) so it's really important to have soft water in your house (except in the kitchen -- soft water not good for drinking and cooking). Our window washer mentioned that the water droplets dh left on our exterior windows from using a power washer on the deck could have etched the windows in less than a year if left on there. (The window washer wipes off the water when he cleans.) That's because exterior faucet water is not softened.