How to Go Green With Homemade Floor Cleaners
Natural cleaning products do not pollute the environment, are cheap if homemade and are less toxic to people. Homemade natural cleaning ingredients are often nontoxic, even if swallowed (with the exception of borax and essential oils), making them a safer alternative in homes with small children. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- White vinegar
- Eco-friendly dish soap or liquid castile soap
- Baking soda
- 2-gallon buckets
- Mop
- Rags
- Towel
- Vacuum cleaner or carpet sweeper
- Broom
- Dustpan
- Water
- Liquid measuring cup
Instructions
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Six Steps to a Naturally Clean Floor
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1
Evaluate the types of flooring in the house. Is there carpet, tile, linoleum, vinyl, wood or concrete flooring? The type of floor will determine the cleaning method.
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2
Prepare noncarpeted floor for cleaning by removing large debris. Sweep or vacuum the floor. Vacuuming noncarpeted floor will be noisy, but little dirt particles won't be left behind.
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3
Tackle tough marks and dirt on noncarpeted floor with baking soda. Rub baking soda on the floor and douse with white vinegar; the fizzing will help dissolve dirt.
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4
Mop (or scrub with a rag) tile, linoleum, vinyl and concrete flooring with a mixture of soap (one or two squirts dish soap or two or three squirts castile soap) and one gallon of water. "A Back-to-Basics Approach to Cleaning Your Home" recommends rinsing the floor with a second bucket filled with one cup of white vinegar diluted in one gallon of water; this will remove any soap residue and prevent a buildup of film.
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5
Wash wood floors with the soap and water solution made in Step 4 and follow with the white vinegar rinse. For wood floors, wring out the mop or rag until it is only slightly damp before washing the floor. Dry the floor with a towel when done to prevent damage to the wood. "A Back-to-Basics Approach to Cleaning Your Home" suggests polishing wood floors by rubbing a ½-cup vinegar and ½-cup vegetable oil mix on the floor and buffing clean with a dry rag.
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6
Remove large debris from the carpet. Deodorize it by sprinkling on baking soda and letting it set for several minutes before vacuuming or using a carpet sweeper. Make a rug cleaner by combining ¼ teaspoon of dish soap and 1½ cups of lukewarm warm water in a spray bottle. This can be sprayed over the whole carpet or used to treat spots that aren't grease stains.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Add pure essential oil to the mop water for a customized fragrance.
Essential oil can be mixed with baking soda for a scented carpet cleaner.
Do not leave cleaners where pets and small children can find and ingest them.
Be careful not to splash vinegar or soap in your eyes. It will sting. If it does get in your eyes, flush with water.
