Home Cleaning - Making 'clean' floors *feel* clean?

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Making 'clean' floors *feel* clean?

xkatx

2006-11-16, 3:25 am

I'm wondering...
I swept and vacuumed the floors earlier today - it's just basic, boring
lino. I then mopped the floors. After the floors dried, they still felt
kind of funny. They looked and smelled clean, but didn't feel clean.
Almost felt like the floor had a fine something on it - like some flour
sprinkled ever so lightly all over. Not just in one place, but all over all
the floors.
Any idea on why this is happening? I have been using cheaper no-name all
purpose lemon cleaner for the floors - same stuff I've always used, but last
time I went shopping for cleaning supplies, I was running short on cash and
got the el-cheapo stuff. I have done this in the past with no problems. I
filled the mop bucket up as much as I always do, and used the same amount of
cleaner I always have used - not sure off hand, but again, nothing changed
as I've always used the same amount all along.
The floors just feel kinda icky. Any ideas? Could it be the cheap
cleaners? The mop? The floors themselves? It's just kind of annoying, as
I know for a fact that I swept and vacuumed well, then mopped it up as I
have time and time again.
Might sound weird, but hoping someone has some ideas!

Michael A. Ball

2006-11-16, 9:25 am

On Thu, 16 Nov 2006 06:09:42 GMT, "xkatx"
<katmagicate@remove@footbag.org> wrote:

>...Might sound weird, but hoping someone has some ideas!

Without special equipment/procedures, you can only remove so much; and
even then, there are limitations, technically.

Once your floor dries, run your index finger tip over a few inches. If
it picks up anything, that shows how much cleaner your floor could be.
In most cases, it is detergent residue, from overkill.

Detergent manufacturers write the directions so the consumer will use
as much product as possible. In most cases, that amount is far greater
than what is actually needed to do the job.

That problem is almost always compounded by the fact that people use too
little water in their mop bucket. So, dirt that is picked up gets
re-suspended and put back on the floor more evenly. A gallon of mop
water will only hold so much dirt, regardless of how much detergent is
used or how expensive the detergent is.

What about rinsing? With a few exceptions, healthcare facilities use
no-rinse products. Some dilute as much as 1:512 (product:water)

So, do the finger tip test, and if you find more than you can stand, use
more water and/or less detergent--until you get the results you're
looking for.

________________________
Whatever it takes.

FreebieQueen

2006-11-17, 9:25 am

"xkatx" <katmagicate@remove@footbag.org> wrote in message
news:GgT6h.6389$b07.1159@clgrps13...
> I'm wondering...
> I swept and vacuumed the floors earlier today - it's just basic, boring
> lino. I then mopped the floors. After the floors dried, they still felt
> kind of funny. <<

I usually mix 2 c. white vinegar with 1 tsp dawn dish detergent in a full
mop bucket of hot water and mop my floors with that. (I have Pergo Laminate
Flooring, and some tile). Then I dry the floors with a towel to make sure
they don't streak. It works really well, is dirt cheap to make and doesn't
leave a nasty residue.

Best Wishes!

Dottie

2006-11-19, 5:25 pm

We have a water softener so I can only use a fraction of the
recommended amount of detergent when I wash clothes or dishes or mop
floors. I have been using those disposable floor wipes sold at Dollar
Tree for quick cleanups and they do clean the floor but leave a residue
.... don't know what it is. Anyway, I mop with water and white vinegar
to remove the residue. My husband won a Scooba - the robot that mops
floors. It does a good job but you have to take out all the chairs and
stuff ... and it takes at least 45 min. to do my eatin kitchen....
anyway, the cleaner that came with it costs too much to buy (in my
opinion) and I use vinegar and water in the Scooba and it cleans very
well. I use it about once a week to really clean the floor. The floor
wipes are for quickies...

FreebieQueen wrote:
> "xkatx" <katmagicate@remove@footbag.org> wrote in message
> news:GgT6h.6389$b07.1159@clgrps13...
>
> I usually mix 2 c. white vinegar with 1 tsp dawn dish detergent in a full
> mop bucket of hot water and mop my floors with that. (I have Pergo Laminate
> Flooring, and some tile). Then I dry the floors with a towel to make sure
> they don't streak. It works really well, is dirt cheap to make and doesn't
> leave a nasty residue.
>
> Best Wishes!

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