cleaning hard floors

[mlleoiseau]

We just bought a new house with all hard floors. Hardwood in the living room, dining room and bedrooms. Ceramic tile in the foyer, kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room and Florida room.

I generally mop with straight vinegar or vinegar and water. I generally sweep with a broom or a dustmop. We don't currently have a vacuum cleaner, but I've vacuumed over hard floors in the past. Is there a good vacuum cleaner for hard floors?

Also, what type of mop is best? I've tried the clorox mop and the swiffer wetjet. I don't like the clorox one, but the swiffer one is okay on the hard floors. I don't feel like they get the tile floors very clean. I also have a microfiber one, but I haven't liked it much in the past. It seems to get stuck on the floor. I just read the other day that you have to mop in a figure 8, so I'll try that next time. I'm thinking of buying a sponge mop to try on the tile. Would a steam cleaner would work well on tile?

The Florida room used to be screened in but later got walled in as an addition. The tile on it is kid of terracotta--definitely an outside type of tile. Would sealing the tile floors would make them easier to clean?

We are loving having all hard floors. Just need to figure out the best way to clean them.

[lovemyfamily6]

We have some ceramic tile. Our kitchen, all the bathrooms, laundry room and entry way and hall. I just use hot water to mop. I have a Dutch Rubber Broom and use bar mop towels.

We have a Dyson and it works great on the tile. We also have a swivel sweeper and I'm really happy with it too. I use the Dyson when I'm doing all the floors, including carpeting. I use the swivel sweeper every night in the kitchen.

[Peony]

Our first house had all tile and brick, the second was all hardwood. Our Dyson has always worked very well for all the surfaces. I liked a sponge mop for the tile, but the hardwood and I went round and round (it always streaked). Is the tile a saltillo tile? http://www.saltillotilecompany.com/floor.html If so then it should be sealed, it will make cleaning it much easier and keep stains off it it, mexican tile is very porous. It should be resealed every year or so.

[cuttiebearmom]

We don't have a vacuum and all hardwood here. I just sweep quickly most days and then I mop w/ vinegar & water as needed (about every 3-4 weeks). I got this (http://www.gaiam.com/product/eco-hom...+cloths+kit.do) about 5 years ago and it still is like new, including the reuseable cleaning cloths, which I also use to clean a lot of other surfaces. It was a bit more initially but it's not made-in-china and it's still like new after 5 years so I can't complain. Even my DDs use it.

[elisent]

I use vinegar with water in a hoover floormate.

[Crunchie]

Originally Posted by elisent

I use vinegar with water in a hoover floormate.

I have one of these types of hard floor machines--half vacuum, half wet floor cleaner...shoot, I can't remember which one (it's a Bissell, not the Hoover). I am so disapointed in it. I was so excited to get it, and I can't use it at all. The vacuum part only blows dirt around, and the wet part just leaves dirty streaks everywhere.

So, I vacuum and mop. The vacuum I have is this one: http://www.amazon.com/Remanufactured.../dp/B000WSCOKE

I love this thing. I use the brush attachment on all of my hard floors (hardwood, slate, and ceramic tile) so no worries about scratching. It has a hepa-filter (we have dogs and a very dusty house) and it's bagless--you just dump out the canister. It's super powerful. Best part though is a bought it remanufactured, so I only paid $30 bucks!! I think it's regularly around $100. And I got free shipping from Amazon. The remanufactured ones have the same guarantee/warranty as the new ones. In the picture it was blue, but I got a red one. But who cares! This thing is totally awesome. I use it everyday, I think it's my best friend...

Oh, if you have area rugs, it will clean short rugs pretty well, too.

For my slate & tile I mop with hot water and a shot of simple green, usually. My dirty little secret though is an occasional splash of bleach in the water. I don't know why but I can't break my bleach habit!! For my wood floors I use warm water and a bit of murphy's oil soap.