Salt performs an essential function on city streets and sidewalks during even the mildest of winters, melting ice and preventing harmful skids and slips, but it is another story in the house. When salty water evaporates on your floors, it leaves streaky white deposits that make it resemble the ice came indoors rather than melting outside. You can get rid of these deposits with vinegar, and a spray bottle full of vinegar can help prevent them.
Vinegar to the Rescue
Salt deposits aren’t like ordinary dirt; you can not emulsify them with soap and water and wash them away. You need to dissolve them with a weak acid, and the acetic acid in vinegar effectively does the job. This acid, unfortunately, can also etch and dull the finishes on hardwood and slate floors, however, so it isn’t wise to use it full strength. For most floors, a solution of 1/2-cup vinegar per gallon of warm water gets the work done, but you might want to double the vinegar amount for stubborn or stains that are extensive.
Cleaning Salt Deposits
Remember that when you see white streaks, they’re inclined to be salt crystals, which can scrape and scrape the ground when crushed beneath a shoe. Before fixing the streaks, wrap an old towel across a horizontal mop and use the mop to soak up any standing water left by freshly melted snow; then vacuum thoroughly. When mopping hardwood floors, it is better to dab on the water rather than push it around to stop it from seeping between the floorboards and causing harm to the timber. If your vacuum has a roller, then be sure it is disengaged to prevent scratching the finish.
Wiping the Streaks Away
If your flooring is constructed from tile, vinyl or another insulation stuff, use a string mop to propagate the vinegar solution liberally it over. The vinegar has to dissolve the salt, which might take a few minutes, so leave the ground wet for many minutes; then mop again with clear water. A more delicate process is appropriate for hardwood or slate floors. Mist the streaky areas using a spray bottle, and dab them wipe them gently with an absorbent towel after a few minutes. Insert an ounce of vegetable oil to the mixture to keep the ground shiny.
Preventing Streaky Floors
If white, streaky floors are an issue in your residence, you might need to enroll a shoes-off policy in the doorway, where a mat or a piece of cardboard should cover the ground to protect it. Keep a spray bottle of vinegar and water and a towel in the door. Invite guests and family to take care of water spots on uncovered parts of the ground by wiping off the water, spraying the affected region, and wiping off the spray. A ready supply of slippers in the door as an invitation for household member and guests to slip into upon entry might work as a motivator for keeping salt-laden outdoor shoes off your floors.