A Few House Cleaning Tips

Here's a small collection of house cleaning tips that you may not have heard before. We start with wooden floors (hey, not every floor is carpeted).

Wooden Floors

Some treated wooden floors require very specific cleaning methods, so you might want to check with a flooring specialist before you try any of the following. Otherwise, proceed at you own risk - and test a small spot in case your efforts do cause a bit of damage.

Here's a general wood-floor cleaner you can make yourself. Mix about a half-cup of apple cider vinegar in a gallon of warm water. Dunk a soft cloth in it (cotton is good) and squeeze out most of the moisture. Wipe down the floor without allowing any pooling of the liquid - it should be drying as you clean it. You can then buff it with a soft dry cloth to make it shine a bit more.

Vinyl Floors

Add a squirt of dishwashing detergent to a gallon of water, and use this to clean vinyl flooring. Sweep first and then damp mop using your solution. You can scrub with a nylon-backed sponge to loosen stubborn dirt. You'll probably have to get down on your hands and knees to clean it right. If you clean the abrasive dirt and other things off the floor regularly, you can extend the life and decent appearance of vinyl. Also keep in mind that even no-wax floors can benefit from an occasional waxing.

How To Clean Rusty Tile

Rust stains can be removed from tile using kerosene. Apply it first to a cloth (throw away the cloth afterwards) and rub the stain gently with this. Rinse with water when finished.

How To Clean Ceramic Tile

In the shower run hot water first, to loosen the dirt. Spread a paste of scouring powder and water over tough areas and let this sit for several minutes. Then scrub the area with a nylon scrubbing pad, rinse it well and let it dry.

You can clean dirty grout between tiles with a solution of a tablespoon of chlorine bleach in a quart of water. After drying thoroughly, you can apply an acrylic sealer to lengthen it usable life.

Mildew can be removed with a sponge and a solution of ammonia and water.

How To Clean Plastic Tile

Plastic tile can be cleaned with a solution of vinegar and water, and buffed afterwards with a clean towel or other cotton cloth.

How To Clean Porcelain

Dark, stubborn stains can often be removed from porcelain sinks and bathtubs using lighter fluid. Apply it first to a cloth and then rub gently rub the stains with the dampened cloth.

For more house cleaning tips be sure to see all the pages on how to remove carpet stains. You can find those listed on the home page (use the link below).

How To Remove Carpet Stains | A Few House Cleaning Tips