"When I bought this house, it was was filthy, smelled horrible from outside even, was rodent and roach-infested. Counters, floors were wet and rotting. Everything had to be torn out and rebuilt. Now my home is beautiful. The bathrooms are lovely. There were no short-cuts or rush jobs, or anything left unfinished. I’ve had neighbors and friends who are in building and construction admire and compliment the high quality of the work done on my home. Most people who come in comment on the beautiful flooring, or the cleanliness of the walls and ceilings. I live in a quiet, gated community and there was never a complaint about a mess outside or noise. Very clean."
If your floor is still sticky after mopping, chances are you used too much or too little of the cleaning solution. Using too little won’t get all of the grime off, but using too much can leave its own residue. Refer to the cleaning solution’s instructions and dilute it as directed.
You can use dish soap mixed with warm water to clean just about any type of flooring, and while vinegar is a great addition to some floor cleaners, it’s not a good idea to use it on wood flooring or engineered wood flooring. Vinegar is very acidic, and it can gradually eat away at the protective finish on wood floors. If you’re cleaning laminate, tile, concrete, or vinyl floors, feel free to use vinegar and water in a 1-to-1 ratio with a few drops of dish soap. For wood floors, substitute the vinegar for olive oil.
Regular cleaning, avoiding harsh chemicals, and periodic resealing extend its lifespan.
If you have waxed floors or floors with a penetrating stain or oil, you can shine them up with some more wax and a cloth or floor buffer. After cleaning the floor thoroughly, apply wax to the floor in small sections and use a clean, dry cloth or towel to buff it until it shines. You can also use an electric polisher, which is especially handy for large floors.
Yes, a magic eraser can remove candle wax. You can use it to remove all the candle wax from start to finish. Another option is to remove all large clumps with a dull knife and then pull out your magic eraser to finish the job. However, while the results can be impressive, a magic eraser shouldn’t be used on all surfaces since it can potentially damage them. If you try this method, test a small, hidden spot first and proceed cautiously.
The Crowell, TX homeowners’ guide to floor polishing services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Polished concrete floor costs depend on the size of the area you’re targeting and the style of concrete floor. Our guide breaks down all the cost factors.
It’s impossible to keep floors damage-free over the years. Thankfully, the cost to refinish hardwood floors is far less than the price tag to replace them altogether.
