DIY Network

Floors Floors From "Talking Dirty With the Queen of Clean" episode DQOC-126

Floors get dirty fast and often; they are most likely the dirtiest part of your home. Today we are taking the guesswork out of cleaning hardwood, tile and vinyl. Plus, we'll talk to a man who takes a novel approach to housecleaning: he turns the backbreaking work of cleaning floors into a bodybuilding experience.

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	Linda Cobb, the Queen of Clean™, wants to help anyone who's ever been "floored" by a cleaning problem!
	Figure A

Even when they look clean, floors can often use a good scrubbing. You can keep mats at your doors and always wipe your shoes on them, but every time you enter your home, you track in dirt and debris. And then there is the damage done by things that are dropped, spilled and dragged across your flooring. Today we'll show you how to clean and maintain flooring with natural products you may already have in your home. But first, a few questions:

Q: How do you remove scuffmarks from floors?

A: Dryer sheets, erasers and dry steel-wool cleanser pads can remove scuffs on vinyl floors, as can baby oil. Rub a drop of baby oil over the mark, let it set for a few minutes and wipe away with a soft cloth. For hardwood floors (figure A), apply mineral spirits to a cloth and rub over the mark until it disappears.

Q: How do you remove rubber-backed-rug stains from vinyl floors?

A: Unfortunately, these stains are permanent; they are the result of a chemical reaction between the vinyl and the rug backing that cannot be removed. Continue to cover the spot with a rug the same size as the stain.
Cleaning Tile

When you clean your floors, the type of mop you use is just as important as the type of cleaning product.

• Sponge mops pull dirty water and dirt into grout lines and are not recommended for cleaning floors.

• Rag mops push the dirt around and don't contain water or dirt efficiently.

• Microfiber mops are the most effective for cleaning floors. The cleaning heads do not scratch surfaces and are removable, allowing them to be washed in hot soapy water for fast cleanup. The handles are adjustable; the mops should be used with the handle adjusted to shoulder level for easiest cleaning.

• Sweep floor surfaces to loosen dirt before mopping.

• Clean tile floors with a solution of a tablespoon borax and a tablespoon ammonia mixed with a gallon of water.

Tip: Do not use a vacuum with a beater bar to dust wooden floors. The bar can scratch the floor.