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Best Cheap Pressure Washer?

So I am in the market for a cheap pressure washer, apparently. My girl says she wants one and since I mentioned that I wouldn't mind one for washing dirt bikes off at home, it is now my birthday present. Hers too though so it isn't a huge loss. Anyway. I was originally thinking that one of those cheap electric washers (under $100) but I have yet to find one that doesn't have 20 reviews saying how it didn't last a year before dying. This isn't acceptable.

So I am setting a soft limit of $400 dollars and want to know who makes the best washer in the low price category. I have researched Campbell H, Karcher, and some others with very little success. What say the group mind??

https://getcleaningdone.com/best-pressure-washer-under-100/

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Suggest a power washer in the 2000 psi range? Undecided on electric or gas.

I have this pathway that gets pretty mossy/slippery in the wet months.

I feel like a pressure washer would make quick work of this, and from this list, I'm looking at around the 2000 psi range? Can anyone suggest a model they have had good experience with?

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Apart from getting on your clothes, cars, stairs and seemingly everywhere in your home, pet hair can cause or aggravate allergies in children and adults alike. To enjoy life to the fullest with your furry friends, one of the best things you can get yourself is a vacuum cleaner that sucks up pet hair easily on hardwood or carpet, title…

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I bought a Sebo D4 with the deluxe parquet attachment and absolutely love it. Best vacuum for hardwood and rugs I've ever used.

I looked at the Miele vacuum cleaners first, but liked the Sebo better. It just felt better to me and I liked the design better.

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The Ecovacs Deebot N79 is a hands-free, budget-friendly robot vacuum built to tackle a variety of messes. Included with this vacuum is a wireless remote and built-in wifi, giving you the ability to vacuum your floor without even going near the vacuum cleaner. Although this unit is not built for high pile carpets, hard floor types and low pile carpet are able to benefit from the suction offered by this Ecovacs Deebot vacuum.

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The first time I walked on carpet was in my mom’s house in California.

I would spend hours playing on it but little did I would about the work needed to keep it clean.

Well I was young and naïve but now having a family of my own, I appreciate what technology brings to the table.

Having a new carpet in your house is like coming home to a 5-star hotel every day. Neglecting basic tasks like vacuuming can have negative health consequences to your whole family.

A dirty carpet can be a source of allergies that will affect the whole family.

This is where a robot comes in to play. Yes, these machines can be expensive but you have to view it as an investment to your family’s health.

It won’t be as thorough as an upright but when you use it enough, robot vacuums prevent dirt from piling up under strands of carpet.

Imagine having a helper that won’t complain no matter how many times you ask it to clean. Did I convince you?

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For carpets and hardwood floors, you need to find a vacuum that can clean both hard and delicate surfaces. If you have no idea on which one it should be, keep on reading the rest of this post and allow us to help you pick the right product. Be a wise buyer and take the time to go through the possibilities before you make a decision on what to choose.

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How to clean hardwood floors naturally?

The company that installed our wood floor recommend us to use Bona Laminate Floor Cleaner. As others have said, it is an easy system to use and works amazingly well. Be sure to buy an extra pad, so that you can switch pads if you're doing a big, dirty area. My floors are maple and quite light. Can't speak to the comment that another person made about Bona on dark floors.

The other best tool I bought for my wood floors is the Hoover Linx cordless vacuum cleaner. I love it because it is lightweight and very maneuverable and is great for picking up dog hair off of hardwood. I bought a second battery for it so that I can do a large area without having to recharge the battery. Cons: relatively expensive and not real good on carpeting.

when it comes to cleaning wooden flooring you need to make sure that your mop is never wet just damp. Excess water will damage these floorboards. Of course, the best is to go with a wood floor maintenance kit. This has all the sprays and other equipment you may need. You can clean these floors safely with manufacturer recommended products. Properly maintained wooden floors will remain beautiful for a lifetime.

How often you need clean hardwood floors?

That depends on a few things! If you have small children, particularly babies who crawl,  you will want to keep the floors cleaner for the sake of the kiddos.  Add a dog that sheds to the mix and you are going to be hauling out the vac, broom or Swiffer way more often.  Also, if you let your kids walk around with food and you don't want them finding week-old pretzels or crackers (that might or might not have been stepped on in shoes that walked around outside)  and eating them, you will clean more often!

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I need to buy a new vacuum cleaner, I prefer a cyclinder but don't care whether it is bagless or bagged. I have a cat and stairn carpet so one that picks up pet hair is best, and nothing too heavy.

Can anyone recommend a good one? Ideally I'd prefer not to spend too much but am prepared to invest in a good one if it will last.

So, which one works for you? or which would you not buy again?

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Questions about Vacuum Cleaners for Hardwood Floors?

1.  How often should I vacuum my hardwood floors?

Generally you should vacuum twice a week in high traffic areas and once a week in moderate to light traffic areas. Best Cordless Vacuum for Hardwood Floors.

2.  How many vacuum strokes should I do?

For a through clean, 6-7 vacuum strokes is idea for heavy traffic areas (e.g. entryway, family room, kitchen, etc.).  For lower traffic areas, 3-4 strokes should suffice.

3. What is a HEPA vacuum?

HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air, and these vacuums differ from conventional vacuums in that they contain filters that are can trap extremely small, micron-sized particles. It traps bacteria, pollen, dust and other allergens.

4. Should you use a steam vacuum or steam mop on hardwood floors?

No.  I would never recommend using a steam vacuum on hardwood floors.  The moisture (as well as the heat) can damage the hardwood floors and finish.  These can also result in boards separating.  And, you should know that if you use one, it will invalidate the warranty on most hardwood floors.  You are much safer with a microfiber mop and vacuum specifically designed for hardwood.

5. How do I clean hardwood floors naturally?

I moved into a house where I have real hardwood floors. My old house had laminate and I've tried everything a steam mop, a steam vacuum mop, the regular mop by hand method, and I always had streaky laminate floors. With the new house and hardwood, which is about 11 years old, I was determined to find a way to have streak free floors. I have tried many combinations of natural solutions different mops and always end up non-streak free but today I realize there's only one solution to the problem no matter what cleaning products you want to use.

The first step is to vacuum or sweep. Then fill a bucket 1/4 full, with;

warm water 1 cup white vinegar 3 drops "drops" of dish soap, drop the soap into still water to avoid suds

Next, using a mop start with a small section. Here's the trick, immediately throw an absorbent clean towel down and using the mop wipe the floor dry. Continue in sections. Remember you may have to get extra towels as they get too damp. The problem that we're having with the streaks is the water is drying in place and leaving a watermark, so if you wipe the excess water immediately ya got a beautiful shine.

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What is the best thing to use to clean wood floors?

First of all, the proper way to clean a wood floor depends on the finish. If you have a newly installed or refinished floor, follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

My dining room, entry hall and stairway all still have their original shellac finish. Any spots which can't be removed with a damp cloth are cleaned with a solvent type cleaner. The other wood floors in my house are oil base poly and spots on those are cleaned with a hardwood flooring cleaner - typically I use the one from Bona.

I'm a real fan of the two part Swedish finishes. They cost more than the basic oil based poly products but they're quite durable. Plus, being a water based product, they dry faster than oil...just follow the instructions and leave plenty of time for curing before putting down any rugs.

If you are environmentally conscious, the best way to clean your wood floors is by vacuuming and then very lightly damp mop with water. We use a Libby mop pad system, with a rubbermaid reveal pad (bigger than the Libby pad). 

The pads are washable and wring able. You can fill your Libby mop system with whatever your preference…vinegar and water, detergent or cleaner. We used to use Bono, until the website data showed it was not a good non toxic cleaner. Once in a while, a little vinegar and/or dish soap is mixed in with the water. Right now, on the East Coast, we have salt being tracked in on our hardwood floors at the office. This is the perfect time to add something other than water to be rid of the white salt stains.

This handy little Meile vacuum is my favorite tool for keeping the floors dust free and clean. The wider attachment is used on the brick floors and the narrower attachment on the wood floors. Occasionally I also use a dry Swiffer on the wood floors, but at least once a year I wipe them down with Bona and a damp cloth. They look good as new after seven years. Another suggestion...."please take your shoes off at the door"!

Besides cleaning, here are some tips from Getcleaningdone to keeping your wood floors looking beautiful:

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO PRESERVE THE LIFE OF YOUR FLOOR:

• Sweep or vacuum regularly to keep your floor free of dust and eliminate abrasives that can scratch the finish. Beater bars and dirty wheels on your vacuum can mar your floor.

• Quickly wipe up any spills from the floor to protect wood from excess liquids.

• Use mats outside and inside entrances so sand and other rough particles cannot build up on the floor. Avoid mats with rubber or other dense backings that will block airflow beneath rugs or might retain abrasives and humidity.

• Use mats near sinks, dishwasher and workstations to protect your floor from cooking tools, water, soaps, oils, and other kitchen mishaps.

• Stick felt pads under all furniture or chair legs so they can easily slide and to avoid scratches. Always keep such pads clean. Check often for signs of wear, in which case replace promptly.

• Large soft polyurethane or rubber casters are much better than narrow hard plastic casters.

• Protect your floor when moving heavy furniture. One idea: Turn a mat over and then place a piece of plywood on it. Put furniture on this so it can slide smoothly over your floor. Make sure the mat’s surface is clean and free of sand, rocks, or other abrasive objects.

• Pointed objects such as spiked heels or sport shoes, can easily damage the finish of your floor especially if worn or damaged. Water and sand are the worst enemies of hardwood floors. Next are spiked heeled shoes. This is true for all floor surfaces, even concrete flooring.

• Keep the relative humidity level between 35-55% for your health as well as for your wood floors and wood furnishings. Wood is a natural material that absorbs and releases moisture depending on the relative humidity. With high humidity, wood absorbs the excess humidity and expands, which can cause buckling in the flooring. 

Keep the humidity level down by using a dehumidifier or dehumidifying air conditioning system or with a heating system and good ventilation. During dry periods (periods of low relative humidity), wood releases moisture and will contract and shrink which can cause gaps between strips and even cupping.

• If the relative humidity is low, use a humidifier to reduce shrinking of the wood. Engineered flooring is not as prone to movement as traditional solid wood flooring, but it is still subject to the physical laws of nature and can shrink or expand in very dry or extremely humid environments.

• Pet claws should be trimmed regularly to avoid scratching floors.

• Your floor should be protected from sunlight and intense artificial lighting to reduce discoloration. Wood naturally changes color over time and with exposure to light. This is a natural phenomenon with all wood surfaces. Different kinds of wood will change color to varying degrees. 

You can minimize this color change by moving around furniture and carpets and reducing strong light sources. If you follow the above preventive maintenance suggestions, you shall enjoy the beauty of your floor for a very long time.

Best Cordless Vacuum for Hardwood Floors

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I got my mother the roomba 690 for christmas and it's the greatest gift i could've given her. She loves it and as she approaches 70 this year i see her struggle with vacuum cleaners so this was a solution to that and it has worked wonderfully. She constantly tells me that it may be the best gift anyone's ever given her and honestly the little thing just works. I have no brand loyalty here so whatever works for you is great and if you've been wavering on whether to finally buy one or not i can only encourage you to do so. These little guys have made life so much easier especially since you can activate them via your phone and app so if you're leaving work to drive home then you can start it as you leave and by the time you get home it's done and you have clean floors

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I personally love Dyson, this vacuum is perfect for tile and wood flooring and area rugs. I use this for my bathroom and kitchen and I love it. It picks up the dirt with ease and I love the hanging charge station. I was skeptical due to lots of reviews saying the battery doesn’t last long enough but I have never run into that issue. I wouldn’t recommend for rugs except for small ones my Dyson ball works better on thick carpet but when I do my son’s area rug the v6 seems to work better leaves the rug in place. I definitely recommend buying this but having a Dyson ball vacuum as well.

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How to clean hardwood floors laminate?

Best Rug Pad for Safe Hardwood FloorsWhen we first moved into our home fifteen years ago I loved our hardwood floors.  Honestly though, I had no idea how to care for them and my floors kind of paid the price.  I mean we really need to get them refinished.  Anyways, today I thought that I would share what I’ve learned over the years about how to care for hardwood floors – and how not to! Hopefully these tips and tricks will help you keep your wood and laminate flooring looking better than mine!

KNOW WHAT TYPE OF FLOORING YOU’RE DEALING WITH How to care for your wood floors will vary to a certain extent depending on the type and especially the finish of the wood.  Be sure to ask about the care instructions when purchasing new flooring and choose an option that works well for your lifestyle.  If you’re “inheriting” wood floors through the purchase of a new home, have your realtor confirm the type of flooring or have a professional help you identify it.

COVER HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS An area rug over high traffic areas and entry ways will go a long way in saving your flooring – especially if you have pets!  Rugs can help you tie your room together and define your space. They also allow you to change up the look of your home without making a major investment!  Be sure to always use a rug pad underneath your area rug.  Not only do they prevent the rug from slipping {which can cause scratches as well as injuries!}, but they also prevent the rug from staining the floor underneath.  Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way and little bits from the rubber of the rug under our kitchen table actually transferred to the flooring. Best Rug Pad for Safe Hardwood Floors

LEAVE YOUR SHOES AT THE DOOR Create a spot to store your shoes at all of your main entryways and get in the habit of taking your shoes off {and putting them away!} as soon as you walk in the door.  This can take a little while to do with kids {and husbands!} but if you stay consistent, they’ll soon learn.  Shoes can leave scuff marks and sport cleats and high heels can create dents in the floor.  Leaving your shoes at the door will also cut down on dirt and debris being spread around the rest of the house.

WATCH OUT FOR THE PETS If you have dogs {especially really excitable ones that love to come charging to the door to greet you!}, be sure to keep their nails trimmed.  If they’re really doing damage, you can purchase pet “booties” that can be worn inside the house, but basic training to work on calming them down might be more agreeable to them.  Also get in the habit of wiping down your pets’ paws before they come into the house if they are wet or muddy.  We have a dog bin with a few cleaning supplies always stashed at our back door. If our dog sees a towel, he knows to sit and wait at the door until he’s all cleaned up.

DO A LITTLE DAILY MAINTENANCE Spending 5 or 10 minutes at the end of the day sweeping up around entry ways and other high traffic areas can prevent the dirt, hairs, and grime from being transferred and dragged around the rest of the house.  The Swiffer Sweep and Vac, sucks up all of the larger particles while trapping all of the finer dust and debris with the Swiffer cloths.  It’s light weight and easily portable to get around quickly to all of those trouble spots.

MOP LESS FREQUENTLY It’s not very often that you’re told to clean less, but the less frequently you need to mop your floor, the better!  Water is pretty much wood’s worst enemy, so use as little water/cleaning solution as possible.  I like using the Swiffer Wet Jet because you can easily control how much cleaning product you’re using and the super absorbent pads soak up nearly all of the product leaving your floor dry in minutes.  Swiffer products are safe to use on sealed wood flooring and laminate, but should NOT be used on unsealed, waxed, or oiled wood. For best results, sweep first using the Swiffer sweeper or Sweep and Vac to eliminate any loose debris and then clean in the direction of the grain.  Just “spot clean” your floor with a microfiber cloth and some soapy water if the whole floor does not require washing.

No matter how careful you are with your floors, they’re bound to get at least a few knicks and scratch marks.  Your home is meant to be lived in, so don’t fret about a little wear and tear.  When things are starting to show a little too much wear or you begin to see some UV fading, add a few top coats to your floor to protect the surface and keep it from looking dull.  Depending on how hard you are on your floors, this should be done about every 3 -5 years.  A complete sanding and refinishing will likely not be required for 20-30 years if you follow through with the basic maintenance and no signficant flooring accidents occur.

If you have any other fabulous wood floor cleaning tips for me, I’d love to hear them!  We’ll hopefully be getting our floors refinished in the next year or two and I’ll definitely be taking better care of them this next time around! Best Steam Mop for Hardwood Floors

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How to Clean Linoleum, Tile, and Stone Non-Toxic Cleaners?

Linoleum and tile floors can also be cleaned with vinegar and water. The ratios vary according to preference from 1/4 cup of vinegar to a one-to-one ratio of vinegar to water.  For a really dirty floor, try the following recipe:

1/4 cup white vinegar

1/4 cup baking soda

1 tablespoon liquid dish soap (remember to choose a natural soap)

2 gallons hot water

Add a few drops of essential oil, if desired

Rinsing is not required, but if streaking occurs, rinse.

Do not use lemon juice, vinegar or other acids on marble, limestone, or travertine. To wash these floors, use a squirt of liquid soap (such as castile soap or dish soap, not detergent) in your bucket of water and wet mop. Rinse. Too much soap will cause streaking.

These floors may be the best candidates for a steam mop, but first check with the manufacturer to be sure steam mopping does not void your warranty.

All floors of all types are scratched and scarred by dirt. Mats outside and inside each entrance can help limit the amount of dirt on your floors. A shoeless house can make a tremendous difference. Remember, how often you sweep or vacuum and what you use to mop your floors will determine the longevity of your floor’s finish as well as the level of pollution in your home.

A natural, non-toxic homemade floor cleaner that cleans more than just floors! Just 4 simple ingredients is all it takes to clean almost any surface in your home.

1 cup water (distilled water is best, but boiled and cooled or filtered is ok)

1/2 cup distilled white vinegar (like this)

1/2 cup isopropyl alcohol (like this)

2-3 drops dish soap

25-30 drops essential oils - my recipe is about 7 drops lavender, 7 drops orange or lemon, 10 drops tea tree oil, and 5 drops peppermint (buy here or here)

Fine-mist spray bottle (at least 20 oz capacity)

Instructions:

Add all ingredients to spray bottle and shake to combine.

Sweep/vacuum for the floor, or remove stray crumbs from your surface.

Spray the cleaner on the floor (or other surface).

Wipe up with a microfibre cloth or microfibre mop.

Notes:

Do not use this on granite, marble, or other natural stone surface as the acid in the vinegar can etch the surface!

Maybe you like: Best Cordless Vacuum for Hardwood Floors 

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Laminate Floor Cleaning & Care Tips!

Best Vacuum for Laminate FloorsWe have about 75% hard floors. There is a mixture of slate and laminate throughout the house, upstairs and down. It sounded like an absolute dream, right? It’s been a NIGHTMARE.

I have 4 kids, 3 of which are boys – and well… yeah, our house is rarely clean. I know that this chapter in my life – it is to be okay that toys are all over the floor and that I find mystery substances in random places every day. All I ask for people is SANITARY.  Also, floors without prints would be fabulous. If you are like me – you just want somewhat clean laminate floors without prints – this post is for you. Keep reading!

The Best Way to Clean Laminate Floors:

I have tried cleaning laminate floors with vinegar, Bruce flooring spray, Murphy’s Oil, Spray and Mop, I could go on. My head hurts thinking about all of the chemicals I’ve tried to keep this floor clean without streaks. The laminate always looks blotchy, no matter what I used to clean it. I just want clean laminate floors without streaks, how hard can this be?

Homemade Laminate Floor Cleaner:

Here’s what I now use to clean laminate floors. This is my DIY laminate floor cleaner solution. I have played around with the amount of each ingredient and here is what I use as a laminate floor cleaner. The ingredients are super simple, you may even have them around the house!

Remember, this is what worked for me. Anything that you use in this post – try at your own risk, but this is what solution worked for me – and I hope it works for you, too.

Now, on to making the homemade laminate floor cleaner, here is what you will need.

Squirt Bottle 1/4 Cup Blue Dawn Dishwasher Soap 1/4 Cup Alcohol 1/2 Cup Vinegar Microfiber Mop

First, fill the squirt bottle with the blue dawn soap, alcohol, vinegar as measured above.

Next, fill the remainder of the bottle with warm water.

Last, Shake, squirt our homemade laminate floor cleaner on your floors and mop.

Buffing Laminate Flooring with a Towel

I have heard some people swear by buffing with a towel after as well. If you have that much time – have at it! This mom can barely get dinner on the table.

Again, this is the formula that I use. I know some people don’t like using alcohol but I think the minimal amount in this mixture works well.

All of that kid goo, you know the mysterious stuff you have no idea what it is, but either one of the tweens or toddlers or dog left it there, yep it this stuff leaves my floor the cleanest without the film I’ve seen other solutions leave.

Different Laminate Types

This is our third house with laminate. Remember, each laminate is different. Our last house had glossy laminate, this house has dull, matte laminate. We are about to put in hand scraped laminate. You need to find the best way to clean your flooring and each type has required a different method.

I hope this helps you have clean laminate floors without much fuss, nor sticky or filmy floors!

On both my ceramic tile flooring and laminate flooring. One cap full in a bucket of hot water applied with a microfiber mop head. Doesn’t leave residue and shines beautifully. My favorite is Lavender. The house smells terrific on cleaning day. “Floors shine like new money”, and is cost-effective. PS shines tubs and shower stalls also.

I use microfibre cleaning cloths (wet) to clean spots as I go thru my day. For bigger clean, I will use an eco friendly cleaner about 2-3 times/yr. Otherwise, I simply use water. Still shiny after 10 years.

Maybe you like: Best Vacuum for Laminate Floors