The feeling of a mopped and clean floor cannot be denied. People use several commercial products that help cleans their floor efficiently. However, that leaves residue all over, making the floor lose its shine.
This problem can be solved with the help of DIY floor cleaners. There are many simple and easy ways to make an effective DIY floor cleaner. This guide will teach you all about homemade floor cleaners that can clean your tile, vinyl, and wooden floors.
What are Some of the Homemade Floor Cleaner Agents?
If you look at your kitchen shelf, you will find many items you can use to clean your floor. However, before mixing and using the ingredients, you must know what items to use as a cleaning agent.
Water
Water is the best cleaning agent as it dissolves harsh stains and dirt. Some even use distilled water to clean things efficiently.
Vinegar
Due to its acidic properties, it can deep clean any stain. However, if you have natural stone flooring, you must avoid vinegar as it can cause discoloration to the floor.
Borax
This alkali cleaning agent can cut through grease and oil on the floor. Though borax faded from the cleaning market, it is now making a comeback and is used to make cleaning sprays, scrubs, and pastes.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a mild alkali used to dissolve grease and oil in water. Also, it acts as an abrasive that can remove stubborn dirt. Also, it is the best deodorizer.
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is considered the best disinfectant. Hence, it can sanitize the floor in addition to cleaning it. It also speeds up evaporation, which reduces the damage caused by standing water.
Ammonia
Ammonia is one of the most potent ingredients. It can clean your floor effectively and eliminate grime, grease, and dirt that are hard to clean. Always ensure to wear a glove while cleaning the floor with ammonia.
Lemon Juice
Lemon is acidic in nature and, thus, cleans stubborn stains and directs easily and effectively. Also, it is a natural deodorant that keeps your floor smelling fresh and limy. This is best for porcelain and ceramic tile.
Dish Soap
Dish soap is pH neutral and can clean rubber or tiles. Also, ensure to pick a dish soap without bleach, which can adversely affect the surface it is used.
DIY Floor Cleaners
Below are a few DIY cleaning agent recipe for you –
DIY Floor Cleaner – All Purpose
An all-purpose floor cleaner is best if you have similar flooring in all your house. This also saves you time. Below is an all-purpose cleaner that will help you clean your floor efficiently.
- 2 cups warm water
- 1/2 cup vinegar
- 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
- 1/8 tablespoon dish soap (bleach and oil-free)
- 5-10 drops of essential oil
Pro Tips: You can adjust this recipe as per your requirements. Pour it into a bottle, and use it to clean your floor and mats.
Hardwood DIY Floor Cleaner
Wooden floors do not come cheap. You need to take care of and clean them effectively. This means you need an effective, gentle cleaning solution that won’t damage your floor. Here’s a recipe for a cleaning solution for you –
- 1 gallon of warm water
- 1/4 cup of white vinegar
- 5-10 drops of lemon juice or essential oil to remove odor
Pro Tip: Keep a mop and bucket handy while spraying this solution because if you let it sit down for too long, it might damage the floor. A mop is available online and is always useful in cleaning the floor.
Laminate DIY Floor Cleaner
A laminated floor is easy to maintain. Ensure that you do not use soap or detergent, as it might create bubbles in the flooring. To clean your laminate flooring, use the recipe given below –
- 2 cups of warm water
- 2 cups of white vinegar
- 5-10 drops of lemon juice or essential oil
Pro Tip: Ensure not to use abrasive steel scrubs. Instead, you can use soft cloths to clean the residue.
Vinyl DIY Floor Cleaner
A luxury vinyl floor must be clean with mild and non-abrasive cleaners. For effective results, use the following recipe –
- 2 gallons of warm water
- 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol
- 1/2 white vinegar
- 1/8 tablespoon of mild dishwashing agent
Pro Tip: Ensure to mop the floor dry. Though vinyl floorings dry on their own, it is important to take necessary precautions.
Tile DIY Floor Cleaner
Porcelain and ceramic tile floors are easy to clean as they are waterproof and do not stain easily. All the tile floors should be cleaned with all-purpose and low VOC cleaner. For effective cleaning, check the recipe given below –
- 2 gallons of warm water
- 1/4 cup of white vinegar
- 1/4 cup of baking soda
- 1 tablespoon of mild dishwasher
For a strong solution, check this recipe –
- 1 gallon of warm water
- 3/4 cup of white vinegar
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1 cup of ammonia
Pro Tip: These cleaners are only for ceramic and porcelain tiles. Always wash a portion of the tile first to check they do not cause discoloration.
Stone DIY Floor Cleaner
- Natural stones are porous and can show signs of discolorations. Hence it is advisable to use a pH-neutral cleaning solution (non-acidic and no bleach). Here’s how you can make 1½ cups of warm water
- 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
- 1/2 cup dishwasher detergent
- 5-10 drops of essential oil
Pro Tip: Ensure to use the solution on a small portion to ensure there is no discoloration.
Rubber DIY Floor Cleaner
Rubber floors are usually used in gyms and cars. Cleaning the rubber flooring will also help you get rid of the smells. Here’s the recipe for the cleaning solution to clean your floor effectively.
- 1 gallon of warm water
- 1 cup of dish soap
- 5-10 drops of essential oil
Carpet DIY Floor Cleaner
The best way to keep your carpet clean is to vacuum it. However, in case of heavy stains and dirt, you might need some strong cleaning agents. Here is a recipe for you to prepare a cleaning solution –
- 1 cup of warm water
- 1/8 tbsp of dish soap
- 1 tbsp of white vinegar
- 1 tbsp of baking soda
Pro Tip: Spray the solution on the stain and scrub it with a wet towel. Dab up the remaining moisture with a second towel.
Conclusion
The above-mentioned cleaners are helpful for almost every floor type. You do not have to spend a fortune on it as the ingredients used to make the cleaning solution. Let us know which one works best for you.
