I've had a really crappy mop for my house with laminate wood floors. Naturally, anytime I mopped it'd leave a lot of water on the floor and any mopping solution I put in it would dry up with the water. So I'm betting there's a lot of buildup of residues on my floor.
Also, since my mop really went to the crapper, it's been like f.o.r.e.v.e.r since I've mopped, so there's a nice layer of dirt on my floors as well that doesn't come up with the broom.
I'm hopefully getting a better mop tomorrow. And someday, someday, get a steamer.
I've heard of people using vinegar to clean floors. Would vinegar help the residue problem? And would it be sufficient in cleaning my floors as well? What proportions of water to vinegar would I have to use?
Re: mopping with vinegar?
If it's been a while since the floors have been clean then, I hate to say it, but hot water and vinegar plus hands and knees scrubbing may be the way to go.
I vacuum my hard floors regularly, swiffer them with reusable microfiber cloths often, and steam mop weekly.
If you have serious cleaning to do, you may need to really scrub. Either way, I'd vacuum first to get the loose stuff cleaned up.
If they're as scummy as they sound...
Vacuum first (just go slow if your vacuum doesn't have rubber wheels) to get any loose stuff off the floor.
Make a solution of hot water and dishsoap or 1 part white vinegar to 5 parts hot water. Get on your hands and knees and scrub. Obviously don't use anything abraisive to scrub, just use a washcloth or rag of some sort.
Don't let the water sit or pool on the floor. Clean a small section and then buff the floor dry with a clean towel. You should never let water sit on a wood or laminate floor. It'll eventually warp the floors.
You should be good to go after this. I have hardwood floors through my house and I just use a vinegar water solution in a spray bottle and a microfiber mop. I spray a small part of the floor and mop it up, spray more, mop, etc. Microfiber holds a ton of water, so the floor is almost bone dry just by mopping it.
http://pandce.proboards.com/index.cgi#general
Buuuummmmmeeerrrrr! Hands and knees. I need some knee pads. And I need a darn steamer!
I just bought a vacuum online yesterday so it should be here soon. I'm confident that it'll do a much better job picking up dirt and pet hair than my sweeping does.
That was the mop I was hoping to buy this weekend because I saw it at my store last time I was there, but alas, the world works against me sometimes (or really, against my floors). They didn't have any so instead of buying another crappy mop I'm gonna hold out another week (live too far away from town to go more than once a week!).
I ordered mine online from Target and LOVE it.
Good luck!
{Blog: Adventures of AlaskanAlison}