Homemade Non-Toxic Floor Cleaners and Polishes

Easy Home Cleaner Recipes are Safe and Effective for Green Living

Dec 14, 2008

Keeping floors clean, shined and polished requires many chemical products. These simple make-at-home recipes save money, protect the environment, and get the job done.

Chemicals used in the home pose a health risk and contaminate the air. According to Dr. George Grant, toxicologist and founder of the International Academy of Wellness, “An EPA survey concluded that indoor air was 3 to 70 times more polluted than outdoor air.” One way to combat this problem is to make your own cleaning solutions that are safer and often non-toxic.

Some ingredients recommended here are safer, but not non-toxic. They have been identified with an asterisk(*). Never mix home chemicals together without a recipe. These recipes come from Michigan State University Extension, Readers Digest Practical Problem Solver (1991), and grandmothers everywhere.

Floor Cleaners and Floor Polishes

A few drops of Vinegar in the cleaning water will help remove grease spots. Dull, greasy film on no-wax linoleum can be washed away with 1/2 cup white vinegar mixed into 1/2 gallon water. Your floor will look sparkling clean.

For Linoleum Floors: Dampen mop using a mild detergent and water for day to day cleaning. Keep water away from seams and edges to prevent loosening the tiles. To preserve the linoleum floor you may wish to add a capful of baby oil to the mop water. Polishing you floor with club soda will make it sparkle.

For Wood Floors: Mix a 1 to 1 ratio of vegetable oil and vinegar into a solution and rub in a thin coat. Or use oil soap according to package directions/

For Painted Wooden Floors: Mix 1 teaspoon washing soda* into 1 gallon hot water and wash the floor with a mop, sponge, or soft bristled brush. This recipe also works as a mildew remover.

For Rubber Tiles: Wash with clear water, a mild detergent, and a clean mop. Avoid oils, solvents, and strong alkalis as they will harm the surface.

For Brick and Stone Floors: Mix 1 cup white vinegar into 1 gallon water. Scrub the floor with a brush and the vinegar solution. Rinse with clean water.

For Ceramic Tile: Mix 1/4 cup white vinegar (more if very dirty) into 1 gallon water. This recipe removes most dirt without scrubbing and doesn't leave a film. Washing ceramic tiles with soap does not work very well in hard water areas as it leaves an insoluble film.

Wax Remover

For Vinyl and Asbestos Tiles: To remove wax buildup, pour a small amount of club soda on a section. Scrub it in well, let it soak in a few minutes, and wipe clean.

For Linoleum Flooring: To remove old wax by mopping, mix a solution of 3 parts water to 1 part Isopropyl* rubbing alcohol. Scrub this in well and rinse thoroughly. Be sure the area is well-ventilated and wear gloves.

Note: Using these formulas and substitutions help minimize the use of toxic substances in the home, and reduce the environmental harm caused by the manufacture, use and disposal of toxics. Results may vary and cannot be guaranteed to be 100% safe and effective. Before applying any of these recipes, test in small hidden areas. Make sure to keep all homemade formulas well-labeled and out of the reach of children.

The copyright of the article Homemade Non-Toxic Floor Cleaners and Polishes in Green/Simple Living is owned by Christopher T. Reilly. Permission to republish Homemade Non-Toxic Floor Cleaners and Polishes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.