How Windex Is Your Secret Weapon To Cleaning Your Kitchen Floor

Everyone dreams of having spotless kitchen floors that are clean enough to eat from. The reality, especially for busy families and people with fur babies, is that floors get dirty very quickly. Dust, dirt, pet dander and hair get everywhere, and everyday cooking leaves crumbs and splatters. Even clean bare feet can leave oily footprints behind. While there are all kinds of mopping tips to help keep your floors looking like new, some days, there just isn't enough time to give floors the proper cleaning they deserve.

A super quick solution is probably already hiding in the household cleaning arsenal. Windex is widely used as a glass cleaner, but it can easily be used to mop the kitchen in a pinch. The original formula of Windex contains ammonia, which is abrasive enough to clean stains from glass without harming it. It also has ethylene, which kills germs, and isopropanol, which is a solvent that dissolves stains. These cleaning agents leave windows and mirrors with a streak-free shine, but they can also wipe paw prints and smudges off of certain types of flooring. A quick spritz of Windex on laminate or ceramic tile flooring will have floors clean and shiny in no time. Once they're gleaming again, keep your floors clean for longer by avoiding shoes in the house and keeping food relegated to the kitchen.

To clean laminate flooring or tile with Windex, first sweep or vacuum any loose crumbs or debris. Wipe or gently scrub any stains or spills. Then, spray the floor with Windex and mop with a dry mop pad. Let it air dry, and that's it. This is just one of the surprising ways you can use Windex around the house. Windex is best suited for tile or laminate flooring. It is not recommended for cleaning delicate flooring materials like porcelain — even the small amount of ammonia in the original formula Windex could harm these surfaces. A solution of 1/4 cup or 1/2 cup of white vinegar to a gallon of warm water is a better option for these surfaces. 

Hardwood flooring is also very sensitive to moisture and chemicals, and cleaners like Windex can easily damage them. The ammonia in the window cleaner can strip the hardwood's protective layer and leave it vulnerable to scratching and staining. To clean hardwood, it's best to use a cleaner that is formulated specifically for hardwood floors. In a pinch, though, an ammonia-free Windex product can be used on hardwood. Use it sparingly and scrub gently, if needed. To clean hardwood floors with ammonia-free Windex, dilute 1 cup of the cleaner in 3 cups of water. Dampen a lint-free cloth with the mixture and mop. Test a hidden area first, though, to ensure it won't damage the flooring.