Guest guest Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 I've heard that the pine oil in pine soap is a natural antifungal. However, I am sure that pine soap does not inactivate mycotoxins and my own experience using it to clean wood floors one time was not positive. OTOH, pine soap is often recommended for cleaning wood floors. With hardwood floors, what you do to clean them deends on the finish.. Varnish or plastic.. Some hardwood floors are basically coated with plastic, and they have special cleaners for them. On 11/23/06, barb1283 <barb1283@...> wrote: > > Does anyone have any advice. I am moving into a small apartment with > wood floors. In the bedroom there was a window air conditioning unit, > that they have taken out of window for winter but I'm sure it probably > sprayed bedroom with mold spores over the summer. Walls have been > painted but any advice on good way to clean wood floors. I don't want > to damage them. I have carpet at home so I have no experience with > right way to clean wood floors. I'm thinking of dry sweeping them > with a swiffer very good and then lightly mist them afterwards with > ammonia? This is what I am thinking but not sure ammonia can go on > wood floors??? Does anyone know if I can safely mist wood floors with > ammonia? I can see for first time why ceramic tile might be good > flooring all over, as it could take almost any kind of cleaning I > would imagine. > > I can't believe I'm about to sign a lease for an apartment while still > having a home...can't see how I am going to afford this but landlord > has agreed to month to month lease since I am putting in new toilet > for him (one there is moldy). > > _ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2006 Report Share Posted November 24, 2006 These are old fashioned hardwood floors, not the shiny new ones with the protective coating on them, so I guess the term would be stained/varnished. -- In , LiveSimply <quackadillian@...> wrote: > > I've heard that the pine oil in pine soap is a natural antifungal. > However, I am sure that pine soap does not inactivate mycotoxins and > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2006 Report Share Posted November 24, 2006 ammonia will dull or harm floor- use a mild solution of simple green --- In , " barb1283 " <barb1283@...> wrote: > > Does anyone have any advice. I am moving into a small apartment with > wood floors. In the bedroom there was a window air conditioning unit, > that they have taken out of window for winter but I'm sure it probably > sprayed bedroom with mold spores over the summer. Walls have been > painted but any advice on good way to clean wood floors. I don't want > to damage them. I have carpet at home so I have no experience with > right way to clean wood floors. I'm thinking of dry sweeping them > with a swiffer very good and then lightly mist them afterwards with > ammonia? This is what I am thinking but not sure ammonia can go on > wood floors??? Does anyone know if I can safely mist wood floors with > ammonia? I can see for first time why ceramic tile might be good > flooring all over, as it could take almost any kind of cleaning I > would imagine. > > I can't believe I'm about to sign a lease for an apartment while still > having a home...can't see how I am going to afford this but landlord > has agreed to month to month lease since I am putting in new toilet > for him (one there is moldy). > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 25, 2006 Report Share Posted November 25, 2006 As a moldie, I would be leery of wood floors altogether. I would go with a cement slab and tile. One that is on very high ground and known to be very dry in wet seasons. If the apt. has a crawlspace under it and no cement foundation I would avoid it. If the wood is over cement I would be a little less worried about it. On Thu, 23 Nov 2006 17:49:16 -0000, you wrote: >Does anyone have any advice. I am moving into a small apartment with >wood floors. In the bedroom there was a window air conditioning unit, >that they have taken out of window for winter but I'm sure it probably >sprayed bedroom with mold spores over the summer. Walls have been >painted but any advice on good way to clean wood floors. I don't want >to damage them. I have carpet at home so I have no experience with >right way to clean wood floors. I'm thinking of dry sweeping them >with a swiffer very good and then lightly mist them afterwards with >ammonia? This is what I am thinking but not sure ammonia can go on >wood floors??? Does anyone know if I can safely mist wood floors with >ammonia? I can see for first time why ceramic tile might be good >flooring all over, as it could take almost any kind of cleaning I >would imagine. > >I can't believe I'm about to sign a lease for an apartment while still >having a home...can't see how I am going to afford this but landlord >has agreed to month to month lease since I am putting in new toilet >for him (one there is moldy). > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 25, 2006 Report Share Posted November 25, 2006 , Thanks for your ideas but had VERY hard time finding this place. After two and a half months of looking at apartments this is all I can come up with, too far from work or home to be convenient, unhappy with move but to hold out for another place at $40 a day at temporary spot to find tile on concrete, I'd be here with carpet and moldy a/c forever. I have *very* large porch on house which is outside of air envelope of house that has concrete floor and is about 5 feet off of ground with cement area underneath used as shed which has no mold or other problem. I thought of putting solid windows and walls on it but I would be coming and going from house constantly for kitchen and bath, etc. Have you tried looking for such a place. I saw nothing at all with TILE all over. You'd almost have to arrange to have that built I would think. What's wrong with hardwood anyway...poroused? It's an older building that looks in good condition, basement is clean. I didn't ask to see attic. I would if I were buying it but renting it, landlord has agreed to a month to month lease. My mold plate test grew no mold at all, but grew something that may be a small amount of yeast or bacteria. I know there could be dead mold there or mold behind the walls producing mycotoxins but it smelled clean. I can't ask him to open up the walls for me. > > As a moldie, I would be leery of wood floors altogether. I would go > with a cement slab and tile. One that is on very high ground and known > to be very dry in wet seasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 25, 2006 Report Share Posted November 25, 2006 , I agree with everything you said and the would like to modify the last one - wood over cement IF the cement floor is below grade. Cement is not impermeable to water. Moisture can and does penetrate it. Over time moisture can accumulate under and in the wood causing rot. Also, because wood floors are more expensive than carpet, for example, people are more reluctant to replace them if there is a problem. This takes years, is better than most other flooring methods, the molds causing rot are different than the airborne molds we are more familiar with, and is not a reason in itself to reject such a floor. But we all should be aware that cement floors do not always stop water and they are more expensive to fix. Carl Grimes Healthy Habitats LLC ----- > As a moldie, I would be leery of wood floors altogether. I would go > with a cement slab and tile. One that is on very high ground and known > to be very dry in wet seasons. If the apt. has a crawlspace under it > and no cement foundation I would avoid it. If the wood is over cement > I would be a little less worried about it. > > > > On Thu, 23 Nov 2006 17:49:16 -0000, you wrote: > > >Does anyone have any advice. I am moving into a small apartment with > >wood floors. In the bedroom there was a window air conditioning unit, > >that they have taken out of window for winter but I'm sure it probably > >sprayed bedroom with mold spores over the summer. Walls have been > >painted but any advice on good way to clean wood floors. I don't want > >to damage them. I have carpet at home so I have no experience with > >right way to clean wood floors. I'm thinking of dry sweeping them > >with a swiffer very good and then lightly mist them afterwards with > >ammonia? This is what I am thinking but not sure ammonia can go on > >wood floors??? Does anyone know if I can safely mist wood floors with > >ammonia? I can see for first time why ceramic tile might be good > >flooring all over, as it could take almost any kind of cleaning I > >would imagine. > > > >I can't believe I'm about to sign a lease for an apartment while still > >having a home...can't see how I am going to afford this but landlord > >has agreed to month to month lease since I am putting in new toilet > >for him (one there is moldy). > > > > > > > FAIR USE NOTICE: > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 25, 2006 Report Share Posted November 25, 2006 Re: wood floors/wood rot, etc This is an old building but not ancient, maybe 1960 I would guess. Floors are not new but wood looks in good condition. It is second floor apartment. I would imagine wood supports under floor. I'm sure not concrete. There is basement in building which is clean and appears in good condition, painted walls and floor and no dust. I don't know how I could find such a combo as you describe, concrete with tile. All homes here have basements. I have never seen a crawlspace in my life. I have never seen a concrete floor anywhere but in basements and on porches. Maybe they are under flooring of newer homes. I had a new home in California and it had no basement so I am sure it was on a slab but no crawlspace. If there was one there, we never saw it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 25, 2006 Report Share Posted November 25, 2006 I have lived in Levittowns almost my entire life and they all have a concrete slab. No basements. I have never lived in a house with a basement. We recently got rid of most carpets and are pautting down ceramic tiles over the cocnrete slab. It is great. Just clean with white vinegar. Esposure was not at home though. Theresa > > Re: wood floors/wood rot, etc > This is an old building but not ancient, maybe > 1960 I would guess. Floors are not new but wood > looks in good condition. It is second floor > apartment. I would imagine wood supports under > floor. I'm sure not concrete. There is basement > in building which is clean and appears in good > condition, painted walls and floor and no dust. > I don't know how I could find such a combo as you > describe, concrete with tile. All homes here > have basements. I have never seen a crawlspace > in my life. I have never seen a concrete floor > anywhere but in basements and on porches. Maybe > they are under flooring of newer homes. > I had a new home in California and it had no > basement so I am sure it was on a slab but no > crawlspace. If there was one there, we never saw > it. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 25, 2006 Report Share Posted November 25, 2006 I believe one is supposed to have a vapor shield when doing this. Why we opted for ceramic tile instead of wood over concrete slab. Theresa > > > > >Does anyone have any advice. I am moving into a small apartment with > > >wood floors. In the bedroom there was a window air conditioning unit, > > >that they have taken out of window for winter but I'm sure it probably > > >sprayed bedroom with mold spores over the summer. Walls have been > > >painted but any advice on good way to clean wood floors. I don't want > > >to damage them. I have carpet at home so I have no experience with > > >right way to clean wood floors. I'm thinking of dry sweeping them > > >with a swiffer very good and then lightly mist them afterwards with > > >ammonia? This is what I am thinking but not sure ammonia can go on > > >wood floors??? Does anyone know if I can safely mist wood floors with > > >ammonia? I can see for first time why ceramic tile might be good > > >flooring all over, as it could take almost any kind of cleaning I > > >would imagine. > > > > > >I can't believe I'm about to sign a lease for an apartment while still > > >having a home...can't see how I am going to afford this but landlord > > >has agreed to month to month lease since I am putting in new toilet > > >for him (one there is moldy). > > > > > > > > > > > > FAIR USE NOTICE: > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 25, 2006 Report Share Posted November 25, 2006 I wonder why. Is guess so tornadoes there? > > I have lived in Levittowns almost my entire life and they all have a > concrete slab. No basements. I have never lived in a house with a > basement. We recently got rid of most carpets and are pautting down > ceramic tiles over the cocnrete slab. It is great. Just clean with > white vinegar. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 26, 2006 Report Share Posted November 26, 2006 , I just reread your post and yes, everything in SW Ohio where I am at is over cement because all houses are built over cement basements. Some are built over ccncrete cinder blocks. My house is over concrete cinder blocks and cinder blocks if they get a crack can hold water and that is what happened to my basement in two corners (fixed now) but this house has solid concrete basement that is in good condition and I am on second floor, so if you count basement as one floor, I'm on third floor but here we usually do not count basement as a floor. However building has a flat roof but it is best I can find. Here at hotel I am in a small room shared with a large moldy a/c unit (I have wrapped) and carpet and toilet with mold on lid (I have that wrapped also), moving to hardwood floors and better everything except toilet there is also moldy, and I have looked at ALOT of places! I'm not happy with place but I can't look any longer. Landlord is allowing me month to month lease (since it is hard for him to find tenant in the winter/holiday seaason, otherwise he normally does not allow short leases), so I'm only tied to a 30 day notice. > > >Does anyone have any advice. I am moving into a small apartment with > >wood floors. In the bedroom there was a window air conditioning unit, > >that they have taken out of window for winter but I'm sure it probably > >sprayed bedroom with mold spores over the summer. Walls have been > >painted but any advice on good way to clean wood floors. I don't want > >to damage them. I have carpet at home so I have no experience with > >right way to clean wood floors. I'm thinking of dry sweeping them > >with a swiffer very good and then lightly mist them afterwards with > >ammonia? This is what I am thinking but not sure ammonia can go on > >wood floors??? Does anyone know if I can safely mist wood floors with > >ammonia? I can see for first time why ceramic tile might be good > >flooring all over, as it could take almost any kind of cleaning I > >would imagine. > > > >I can't believe I'm about to sign a lease for an apartment while still > >having a home...can't see how I am going to afford this but landlord > >has agreed to month to month lease since I am putting in new toilet > >for him (one there is moldy). > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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