Why Make Your Own Floor Cleaner?
Cleaning your floors regularly is important to removing dirt, grime, and germs. However, many conventional floor cleaners contain harsh chemicals like ammonia, bleach, and synthetic fragrances. These chemicals can be irritating to your eyes, skin, and respiratory system.
Making your own natural floor cleaner is a great way to clean effectively while avoiding these harsh chemicals. Natural cleaners are also often cheaper, simpler to make, and better for the environment.
Below I’ll go through some of the main benefits of making your own natural floor cleaner, as well as simple recipes you can follow.
Benefits of Natural Floor Cleaners
- Avoid irritation from harsh fumes and chemicals
- Reduce indoor air pollution from volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Prevent chemical residues from building up on your floors
- Safer for kids and pets who spend time playing on floors
- Better for the environment with biodegradable ingredients
- Cost effective compared to buying conventional cleaners
Simple Natural Floor Cleaner Recipes
Here are a few easy homemade floor cleaner recipes to get you started:
Vinegar and Water Cleaner
Vinegar is a natural disinfectant and degreaser, making it an excellent multi-purpose cleaner. Distilled white vinegar works best.
Ingredients:
– 1 cup distilled white vinegar
– 1 gallon warm water
Instructions:
1. Fill a bucket with 1 gallon of warm water.
2. Pour in 1 cup of distilled white vinegar and stir to combine.
3. Mop floors as usual with the vinegar solution.
4. Allow to air dry.
Essential Oil Cleaner
Essential oils like lemon, lavender, and tea tree oil naturally clean, disinfect, and leave a pleasant aroma.
Ingredients:
– 5-10 drops essential oil(s) of your choice
– 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol or vodka
– 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap
– 1 gallon warm water
Instructions:
1. Fill a bucket with 1 gallon warm water.
2. Add the essential oil(s), alcohol, and liquid soap.
3. Stir thoroughly to combine.
4. Mop floors as normal with the essential oil solution.
5. Let air dry.
Lemon oil is great for its fresh scent and cleaning power. Lavender is calming and antimicrobial. Tea tree oil naturally disinfects.
Baking Soda Scrubber
For a deeper clean, try this baking soda scrub on tile, vinyl, and sealed hardwood floors. Baking soda is a mild abrasive that disinfects and deodorizes as it scours.
Ingredients:
– 1/2 cup baking soda
– 1/4 cup liquid soap
– 1 gallon warm water
Instructions:
1. In a bucket, stir together the baking soda and liquid soap with 1 gallon warm water until dissolved.
2. Scrub floors with a stiff bristle brush or broom using the baking soda solution.
3. Rinse thoroughly and allow to completely dry.
4. Forongoing cleaning, use a milder natural solution.
Tips for Cleaning Floors Naturally
- Always test cleaners in a small inconspicuous area first to check for any damage or discoloration.
- Sweep or vacuum floors first to remove debris before mopping.
- Change mop heads frequently to prevent spreading dirt around.
- Use microfiber mops and cloths which attract and hold more dust and grime.
- Open windows or use fans while cleaning to allow fresh air circulation.
Making your own natural floor cleaner is simple, affordable, and effective. Ditch the harsh chemicals and try these easy homemade recipes for clean, green floors!
