Anne and Gary's
Mid-Century Modern Home

About That Floor.

Floor Tile
We have been amazed at the number of comments and questions we’ve gotten about our floor.

Interestingly, Anne really didn’t like the floor when we first bought our home. It’s quite a contrast from hardwood floors!

But then we found our dishes!!!

As previously reported, we spotted our dishes in an antique shop in Portland soon after we bought our home.

Anne said, “They match our floor,” and we bought them.

That purchase turned the tide. We began decorating around the black, and Anne now loves the floor.

Gary always did.

Floor Tile

Assumably, our floor is Armstrong vinyl composition tile, the kind they’ve been making forever.

You can see a picture of our dining/living room flooring to the left. Compare our close-up picture with this Armstrong product.

We first thought the floor was original. However, the previous owners of our home told us they had the floor installed to replace worn out wall- to- wall carpeting which was also not original.

As a side note, we may love the floor but we have not been pleased with the heavy chemical smell of the Armstrong floor care products which came with the house.

A lucky accident with Murphy’ s Oil Soap is giving us hope that this product touted for use on wood may actually work as both a cleaner and a polisher for our floor when used in higher concentrations.

Does anyone have ideas for “green” cleaning products that might be even better for this type of floor?



7 Responses to “About That Floor.”

  1. Stacey Derbinshire Says:

    I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.

    Stacey Derbinshire

  2. Kay Says:

    I have the Armstrong congoleum floors and have had very good luck just cold mopping them with Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap.

    I use the Armstrong wax, but I am sensitive to their Clean and Brite cleaner. So far Dr. Bronner’s has worked very well for me with out dulling.

  3. eichler Says:

    I second the recommmendation for Dr. Bronner’s.

    p.s. great MCM crib!

  4. Anne & Gary Says:

    Kay & Eichler,

    Thanks for the Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap recommendation.

    We’ll give it a try.

    Anne & Gary

  5. eichler Says:

    Excellent. curious to find out how it works for you (although the floors look great as is!)

  6. Anne & Gary Says:

    Kay and eichler,

    When we checked out Dr. Bonner’s Soap (http://www.drbronner.com/index.html) on the web what we found appeared to be soap for the body.

    Is this the same stuff you recommended for our floors, or is there another Dr. Bonner’s product you were refering to?

    Thanks

    Anne & Gary

  7. Tania Says:

    I have a Method “O” Mop with washable microfiber head and I use their lemon ginger floor cleaner which is completely biodegradeable. I have ceramic tile floors and the Armstrong tiles which you have and it works great on both. It smells wonderful and removes even the gross food my two little boys inevitably spill everywhere. :) It requires no dillution and no rinsing- perfect for my hectic life…Good Luck!

    PS they carry it at Target.

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