How to Green Clean Your Wood Floors

Cleaning hardwood floors is an essential part of maintaining them.

Hardwood floors significantly add value to the beauty and value of any home. Cleaning them properly is an essential part of maintaining them and making them last a lifetime. Cleaning them in a nontoxic, eco-friendly way has the added benefit of protecting your family's health and the environment as well. Here's how to green clean your floors.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 cup vinegar
• Bucket
• Mop
• Vegetable oil
• Lemon juice
• Soft cloth
• 1 tsp. lemon oil
• 1 pint mineral oil
• Terry cloth

Instructions

1. Mop your floor with a solution of 1/2 cup white vinegar and 1/2 gallon water. No need to rinse this off, because vinegar does not leave any residue.

2. Mix 2 parts vegetable oil and 1 part lemon juice and wipe the floors with a soft cloth to give it a nice sheen.

3. For a quick shine, polish the floor with a mixture of 1 tsp. lemon oil and 1 pint mineral oil, and a terry cloth.

Tips & Warnings

• This homemade floor wax can be used on laminate wood floors as well.

• Wash off a blood stain using ammonia and warm water.

• Remove a water ring by rubbing it with a generous amount of mayonnaise. Leave this on for up to 15 to 20 minutes, and then wipe it off. Repeat if the stain does not come off. For older stains, leave the mayo on overnight.

• Do not use plain water to mop your wood floors.

References

• Michigan State University Extension; Homemade Cleaners; June 24, 2003