# Best way to clean hard flooring **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 25, 2007, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-clean-hard-flooring/427709 "2007-11-25T17:00:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2007, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-clean-hard-flooring/427709/1 "2007-11-25T17:00:10Z")
I have decided to let go my cleaning lady. I will hire someone to come once (or twice at most) a week, but in the meantime our (fairly large) apartment will need touch ups and some cleaning on my own. I am considering the hard-floor version of roomba, but mostly I am inclined to buy something bigger and stronger. Something capable of cleaning between the tiles, a small version of those things I see in the supermarkets. Any ideas? My budget is something under US$500.00. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2007, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-clean-hard-flooring/427709/2 "2007-11-26T03:25:25Z")
You have tile? I suggest a damp mop or one moistened with a hot water/vinegar solution (same for hardwood). A swiffer will also get the job done nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2007, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-clean-hard-flooring/427709/3 "2007-11-26T05:16:44Z")
Tile with white grout. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2007, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-clean-hard-flooring/427709/4 "2007-11-26T14:49:31Z")
I wonder if you could keep a thin coat of wax on it, to keep the grout looking nice and white (after one good cleaning). I use a wax on my concrete floor, and it helps greatly with cleaning. It’s the same kind of wax used on Mexican tile. [curious]What thing in the supermarket? [/curious] ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2007, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-clean-hard-flooring/427709/5 "2007-11-26T21:49:29Z")
[QUOTE=NinetyWt] [curious]What thing in the supermarket? [/curious] [/QUOTE] Something like [these](http://www.jet-wash-direct.co.uk/floorscrubbers/index.html) . ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-clean-hard-flooring/427709/6 "2007-11-27T01:19:04Z")
i love my scooba. the solution is made by clorox and is fantastic. you can use vinegar as well. it is lovely to be elsewhere while your floor is scrubbed. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-clean-hard-flooring/427709/7 "2007-11-27T01:52:01Z")
Ooohhhhh, like [this](http://www.statevacuum.com/floormate_spin_800_scrub.asp)! Says it has “\> Grout brushes with bilevel brushes to clean rooms with tile floors”. How about [this](http://www.amazon.com/Ride-On-Automatic-Floor-Scrubber/dp/B000QCK2KA/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1196127969&sr=1-10) one? Maybe Santa will bring me one. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2007, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-clean-hard-flooring/427709/8 "2007-11-27T01:55:44Z")
[QUOTE=rocking chair] i love my scooba. the solution is made by clorox and is fantastic. you can use vinegar as well. it is lovely to be elsewhere while your floor is scrubbed. [/QUOTE] Just the person I was looking for, I had some questions about the Scooba if you would be so kind to answer. Does it also vacuum? If it does not, can you run a Roomba and Scooba in some sort of pattern to vacuum and wash? How does the Scooba do on wood floors? What does the cleaning solution cost per tank? What gotchas should I know about? What model do you have? Thank you, Jim ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-clean-hard-flooring/427709/9 "2007-11-28T05:09:05Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] You have tile? I suggest a damp mop or one moistened with a hot water/vinegar solution (same for hardwood). A swiffer will also get the job done nicely. [/QUOTE] i’ve always used a 2 to 1 solution of warm water and WHITE vinegar. works like a charm on hardwood and tile both. i don’t use swiffers because of the cats. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-clean-hard-flooring/427709/10 "2007-11-28T06:35:27Z")
[QUOTE=Scubaqueen] i don’t use swiffers because of the cats. [/QUOTE] Please explain why. I have cats and I use Swiffers. ---
**Author:** ![lightingtool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@lightingtool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lightingtool)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-clean-hard-flooring/427709/11 "2007-11-28T18:54:08Z")
I don’t want to put words in **Scubaqueen** ’s mouth, but she may be referring to [this](http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/swiffer.asp) urban legend. Or maybe her cats don’t like Swiffers. Or maybe her cats like Swiffers too much. Beats me.