topic Re: Disinfecting Floors in Home

Disinfecting Floors

Twins Mom — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 17:04:53 GMT

As I contemplate flooring options, I am asking how individuals are cleaning their floors. Particularly wondering since infants might be crawling around. I made inquiry about my Mannington luxury vinyl and apparently nothing approved to disinfect it. What methods or products approved by manufacturers?

Re: Disinfecting Floors

Still Raining — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 17:08:26 GMT

Have always been a fan of floors that can be mopped and no one ever comes in with shoes.

That said, all my baby kids just took their chances.

One joy is how easy it is to clean up after them.

Re: Disinfecting Floors

Peaches McPhee — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 17:54:31 GMT

Maybe a steam cleaner?

Re: Disinfecting Floors

Carolm — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 18:09:32 GMT

I have luxury vinyl in my living room, dining room, and powder room and I use water and vinegar (1/2 cup to 1 gal of water) for cleaning purposes. Works well, and vinegar does act as a disinfectant, although perhaps not as strong as a commercial product, but its not like I have a herd of cattle in my house.

Re: Disinfecting Floors

Kachina624 — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 18:35:09 GMT

How about a little Clorox in a bucket of water?

Re: Disinfecting Floors

wildcat fan — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 18:40:24 GMT

I love my Shark steam mop.

Re: Disinfecting Floors

Bhvbum — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 19:24:23 GMT

Most General Purpose cleaners are also anti-bacterial. But general floor mopping shouldn't need bleach, over the years it might fade the floors. Best thing, don't bring the foreign germs in, take off shoes at the door and wash hands right after.

Bathrooms might need bleach, but also only if you have someone in family sick. What has always amazed me are folks who treat pets as germ-free. That dog is licking the baby's mouth and no one seems to care.

Re: Disinfecting Floors

ECBG — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 19:44:59 GMT

I'd put liquid Lysol in the water.

Re: Disinfecting Floors

Mz iMac — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 19:57:47 GMT

Interesting topic

I do not think there is such a thing as "disinfecting" floors in a home. Think about it.........

Once you start walking on it, it is no longer "disinfected."

Generations of "baby crawlers" have survived on floors cleaned w/just soap & water and sometimes when lye was used.

And if you have "pets" your floors are NEVER disinfected.

Just saying.......

FWIW My generatioin & my childrens generation survived just fine off of Spic & Span cleaned floors.

I have hard wood floors. A damp dust mop is all that is needed to clean. If I want a little shine, old school Murphy's Oil.

Re: Disinfecting Floors

GenXmuse — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 20:43:11 GMT

I just mop with pinesol, same as always.

Re: Disinfecting Floors

Boomernichols — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 20:51:08 GMT

@Twins Mom When I had new floors laid in my house the installer said to clean them with white cleaning vinegar and water. I do not know that they are necessarily disinfected but this was their recommendation. I also use a Bissell floor steam cleaner.

Re: Disinfecting Floors

Kachina624 — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 21:18:24 GMT

@Bhvbum wrote:
Most General Purpose cleaners are also anti-bacterial. But general floor mopping shouldn't need bleach, over the years it might fade the floors. Best thing, don't bring the foreign germs in, take off shoes at the door and wash hands right after.

Bathrooms might need bleach, but also only if you have someone in family sick. What has always amazed me are folks who treat pets as germ-free. That dog is licking the baby's mouth and no one seems to care.

@Bhvbum Nonsense. Clorine bleach is the cheapest most effective disinfectant. You don't use enough to bleach colors. Here is the recommendation by the CDC.

https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/bleach.html

Re: Disinfecting Floors

Caffeina — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 23:59:34 GMT

I also have a Mannington vinyl floor. I wouldn't use anything other than what they recommend, except for possibly a product comparable to their rinse-free cleaner. This is from their site:

Sweep your floor regularly (at least once per week).

Prevent stains by wiping up spills promptly.

Occasional mopping with Mannington Award Series® Rinse-Free Cleaner is recommended when dirt builds up and sweeping alone is not sufficient. Use a solution of 2 to 3 capfuls of Award Series® Cleaner (or clear, non-sudsy ammonia) in one gallon of warm water. Use of more than the recommended amount of cleaning solution may leave a dulling film. Do not use soap or detergent products as they will leave a dulling film. Rinsing is not required when using Mannington Award Series® Rinse-Free Cleaner, but if time permits, rinsing will provide the best care.

Re: Disinfecting Floors

ROMARY — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 00:44:16 GMT

I'm thinking that using a steam mop would be the least toxic to babies/toddlers crawling around and also pets.

Just a week or two ago, I mentioned somewhere here that I ran across 'natural disinfectants' info, and I found that Borax powder is a natural disinfectant, which I wasn't aware of.

I have two new boxes of Borax (for clothing/washer). And I'll try mopping my floor with a Borax and water solution.

EDITED: Just keep in mind that almost nothing is completely 'safe'. Make sure you rinse and dry well if toddlers/babies (and probably pets) are going to crawl around on the floor.

And, of course, don't inhale the powder. And avoid handling the powder by hand. Skin irritant. Eye irritant.

Re: Disinfecting Floors

gardenman — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 12:33:21 GMT

In my bathroom, I just use Chlorox Cleanup spray on the floor. It cleans, disinfects and my oldest cat just loves the smell and as soon as I'm done, she's in there rolling on the floor and is happy as can be. (I wait until its dry before letting her in.)

Re: Disinfecting Floors

goldensrbest — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 12:36:36 GMT

I like tiled floors, and one thing i use is i mop with odoban.

Re: Disinfecting Floors

panda1234 — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 12:36:42 GMT

@Boomernichols wrote:
@Twins Mom When I had new floors laid in my house the installer said to clean them with white cleaning vinegar and water. I do not know that they are necessarily disinfected but this was their recommendation. I also use a Bissell floor steam cleaner.

@Boomernichols You can not beat the white cleaning vinegar but hard to find sometimes. You don't have to rinse and they are squeaky clean when done.

Re: Disinfecting Floors

Fressa — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 13:38:08 GMT

I have multiple floor surfaces and use the Hahn floor steamer on all of them. Works great!

Re: Disinfecting Floors

FastDogWalker2 — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 16:21:06 GMT

Love my shark steam cleaner for tile and I just picked up a Bona Disinfecting Spray for the Wood.

Re: Disinfecting Floors

ROMARY — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 00:43:17 GMT

p.s. Regarding using Borax powder...........Just a reminder that even 'natural' cleaners have warnings.

Don't inhale the powder and it could be a skin irritant if handled by hand.

And an eye irritant, too.

Always read the warnings, no matter what.

Just thought I'd throw that into the mix.