Skip the toxic chemicals. This natural homemade floor cleaner uses just 3 ingredients and works on tile, laminate, and vinyl.
Generally safe for kids and pets, but the essential oils may be a concern for pets, especially cats! Please consult with your veterinarian or a licensed aromatherapist.
Quick Recipe (full recipe below!)
Mix 1 cup water + ½ cup white vinegar + ½ cup rubbing alcohol + 2-3 drops dish soap + 25-30 drops essential oils in a spray bottle. Spray and mop.
How this homemade floor cleaner recipe was born
We’re going back to the basics and using simple, trusted, time-tested ingredients.
Vinegar is probably as old as civilization itself (seriously – it’s even been found in Ancient Egyptian pots and referenced in Babylonian scrolls!), and people have been cleaning their homes with water and vinegar for years.
But when I tried a simple 50/50 solution as a simple homemade floor cleaner, I was left wanting more.
More grime-fighting power. More “streak-free shine.” And let’s face it, more nice scent (vinegar can be quite strong and overpowering, although the scent does dissipate once it dries).
In my search for something stronger, I found a recipe which mixes equal parts water, vinegar, and alcohol, with a few drops of dish soap. After testing out a small area, I was getting much closer to what I was looking for, but the vinegar smell was still a problem.
Back to the lab I went to change the ratios a bit and add some essential oils…I’m now very happy with this all-natural homemade floor cleaner!
How to Make This Natural Homemade Floor Cleaner
Natural Homemade Floor Cleaner
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup distilled water distilled is best, but filtered tap water is fine for short term storage
- ½ cup distilled vinegar white distilled vinegar
- ½ cup isopropyl alcohol aka rubbing alcohol or surgical spirits
- 2-3 drops dish soap
- 25-30 drops essential oil my recipe uses 7 drops lavender, 7 drops orange or lemon, 10 drops tea tree oil, and 5 drops peppermint
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to spray bottle and shake to combine.
- Sweep/vacuum the floor, or remove stray crumbs from your surface.
- Spray the cleaner on the floor (or other surface).
- Wipe up with a microfibre cloth or microfibre mop.
Notes
- Visit the full FAQ section for tips, tricks, and most asked questions about this recipe.
- Do not use this on granite, marble, or other natural stone surface as the acid in the vinegar can etch the surface! Use this natural granite cleaner instead.
- You can use a microfibre mop like this one, which comes with a refillable compartment for your own homemade cleaner, and washable pads. Make sure to get some extra pads, because you’ll need them!
- Lots of readers have also tried this cleaner in their Shark steam mop with great results!
- For quick daily cleanups between mopping, keep a jar of homemade cleaning wipes on the counter.
How Each Ingredient Works
Update: Want ONE bottle that handles every counter, table, and tile? Try my all-purpose cleaner recipe!
Why Ditch Commercial Floor Cleaners?
Back in the day, our go-to floor cleaner was that popular, overpowering pine-scented concoction. If you grew up in North America, I bet that scent just flooded your memory!
But times have changed, and we’re more mindful of what enters our homes now. We crave transparency—wanting to know every ingredient’s impact on our health and the environment. And what kind of longterm effects we can expect down the road.
So what exactly is in Pine-Sol®?
Surprisingly, Clorox (the brand behind Pine-Sol®) has stepped up their game with a full ingredient list on their website—a nod to customer demands for transparency. Yet, some ingredients like ethoxylated alcohol and the vague “fragrance” still ring alarm bells due to potential health risks.
Ethoxylated alcohol
Can be contaminated with the hidden ingredients, ethylene oxide and/or 1,4 dioxane, during the manufacturing process. Both of these have been classified as “carcinogenic to humans” (can cause cancer) by the EPA. Read more about the ethoxylation process here.
Fragrance
This term is very ambiguous; manufacturers can put it on a label to describe any number of the more than 3,000 chemicals that are known to be used in fragrance compounds. Artificial fragrances are well known now for being linked to a long list of health issues like allergies, chemical sensitivities, and reproductive and developmental issues (source), so I try to avoid them whenever possible.
Which Floors Can You Use This Cleaner On?
| Floor Type | Safe to Use? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tile (ceramic, porcelain) | ✅ Yes | Great — cuts grease and grime |
| Laminate | ✅ Yes | Don’t oversaturate — spray and wipe |
| Vinyl / Linoleum | ✅ Yes | Works well, quick dry |
| Hardwood (sealed) | ⚠️ Use sparingly | Test a small area first — some sealants react to vinegar over time |
| Hardwood (unsealed) | ❌ No | Vinegar can damage raw wood |
| Granite / Marble / Stone | ❌ No | Vinegar etches stone — use this granite cleaner instead |
Tips, Tricks, and FAQs
I’ve created a new page with all of the most frequently asked questions about this homemade floor cleaner, as well as some extra tips and tricks to help you get the most out of it! Check it out here: Homemade Floor Cleaner – Tips, Tricks and FAQs
Questions like:
- “Can I use this in a Shark steam mop?” → Yes, many readers have.
- “Will the vinegar smell linger?” → No, it dissipates as it dries. Add essential oils for a fresh scent.
- “Can I use tap water instead of distilled?” → Yes for short-term use, but distilled is better for long-term storage (prevents mineral buildup).
Prefer to buy instead of DIY?
For those times you’re not in the mood for homemade, I’ve just discovered a pretty neat alternative that’s not only safe and non-toxic, but low-waste and eco-friendly as well!
Truly Free Refillable Floor Cleaner
TrulyFree makes refillable cleaning products that are safe and sustainable. They work on a subscription model, but unlike other subscriptions you may have tried, there are no commitments and you can always change your products or delivery date.
Your first order automatically includes a reusable bottle or jug along with the cleaning solution, and you’ll only need to order the refills after that. And they have probably the widest selection of natural cleaning products I’ve ever seen from one company.
I’m so impressed by TrulyFree and what they stand for, and excited to share that you can use the code: NURTURE30 and get 30% off your entire order!
Keep on writing because this is the kind of stuff we all need..
I used this product today, and was super paranoid to use it because I’m so protective of my floors, so I was making little test spots that would be hidden and then sprayed and wiped then just crawled all over the floor investigating the different spots. My dog was super confused, but I was so happy to see it worked, I cut the vinegar to 3/4 cup and barely noticed a smell to it, bonus it got up all the dog drool and the smell doesn’t seem to bother my dog, who usually runs to the back door when Pinesol bottle comes out!
THIS STUFF IS AAAAMMMMMAAAZING! I’M JUST LOOKING FOR STUFF TO CLEAN! LOL…. ive been buying ” green cleaners” and even the window cleaners always leave streaks! this… NOOOO STREAKS! and i JUST washed my floors by hand( my steam mop(s) just broke- yes two of them …very heard water- and i couldnt stand the feeling of them and then i just sprayed this on them and now they feel and look AMAZING! unless i can get a good deal on another steam mop , ill just stick this this!…. man im still amazed at how clean my sliding door is!! WOW!
Woohoo! I’m happy that you’re happy 🙂
I saw a recipe on Pinterest for household cleaner with vinegar that has you soak orange peels in the vinegar for 2 weeks to help with the smell…. Haven’t tried it yet, but seems like a good idea. Maybe using orange soaked vinegar with this recipe would work 🙂
Hey Denise, yeah I saw that too! And another commenter brought it up as well. I haven’t tried it, but will edit the post and add that info if I do. If you try it in this recipe, and it works, let me know!
I am bummed, this didn’t work for me! It left a white film. I did try it on my stainless steel appliances and it worked well…I’ll keep the batch for that 🙂
Oh no! Bummer 🙁 You could probably try playing around with the recipe in the future. Maybe decrease the alcohol or the soap – remember, just a couple drops of soap is all you need – or you could just eliminate the soap completely. But glad at least you have a new stainless steel cleaner! 🙂
I got the white film on my linoleum kitchen floors, too. 🙁 did you find a better solution that works??
We had the same problem with white cloudy areas appearing when we first used the vinegar solution. The issue was that someone had used an acrylic spray cleaner on it in the past. The acrylic builds up as a film on the laminate flooring. When water hits this it gets cloudy. We used methyl hydrate on a cloth with gloves and good ventilation and it lightly scrubs away. Methyl hydrate is used by painters to remove acrylic paint from spots and I know it well because that was my husband’s trade for years. You can buy it in paint stores and also hardware stores. If it is a factory finished floor like laminate, you can try it in an inconspicuous site. If it is a water based urethane finish on wood, it will actually go cloudy and ruin the wood finish so you need to test it first! We used it on the laminate and it was restored perfectly.
I love this idea! We have laminate wood floors all throughout our apartment and they are such a pain to keep clean (even though they are beautiful!) Does the alcohol cause any damage to the floors or discolor the flooring at all? Just want to double check since I don’t want to accidentally lose our deposit 🙂
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I haven’t found that it causes any damage or discoloration. I’ve only been using it for a couple months though, and I definitely don’t use it everyday…more like once a week at the most.
I am worried that the alcohol could be damaging to the laminate finish over time. Has anyone had experience with this good or bad?
I have bought and used an all natural cleaner for my laminate floors, I just spray lightly on the floor and go over it with a soft cloth. It has alcohol in the cleaner, so it does not harm your floor. Helps it dry faster. I am going to make this and see if it is as good.
We have had dark, glossy laminate floors for 9 months and have streaks from day one. I have tried 1 cup “warm” water and 1 cup vinegar and had streaks. With your recipe does it have to be “warm” water? Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Hi Cindy! No, this recipe does not require warm water. I just make a big batch in the spray bottle and use that over and over, without a problem. I hope it works for you!
Sarah my question about the alcohol being 2%, under the second pic where in blue it says “this recipe” I clicked on and it says this..1 part Water
1 part White Vinegar
1 part 2% Isopropyl Alcohol
Few drops of liquid dish detergent
Mix all ingredients together and pour into a fine mist spray bottle.
Ahh, yes. Totally forgot about that, I ran into the same thing when I saw the recipe and saw that my bottle was 95%. So I tried it anyways and it still worked 😉
thanks! we are doing 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water with lavender oil now. it works great on the hard wood but is streaky on the laminate. love simple solutions with items i already have around the house 🙂 We have the reveal mop. it has microfiber pads and an attached spray bottles that you can fill with just about anything and love, love, love it. we still steam mop to really sanitize, but it is a pain to steam mop everyday (and with a crawling baby and four pets we are mopping our family room everyday if not more than everyday) our swiffer vac died and we replaced it with a bissell floor sweeper (the kind that doesn’t use any power) which actually works better than the swiffer vac did and was cheaper, plus no electricity.
we also cloth diaper. we use borax, then rinse with nothing but water. they are very absorbent and the borax helps brighten them. we set them out in the sun to get the stains periodically.
That’s great, Jess! And thanks for the tips on the mop and sweeper. Will look into those!
We just started cloth diapering a couple weeks ago and I’m still trying to find my way around the laundry aspect of it. When you say you use borax, do you mean only borax? If you don’t mind, can you break down your diaper laundry routine for me? Your detergent recipe and your wash cycles, etc? Thanks 🙂
Are your floors real wood or laminate? You called them both in the post, and the picture looks like real wood. We have real wood in our house, and I want to try this, but want to make sure it’s safe for real wood. Thank you!
Hi Kathy, my floors are laminate – sorry for the confusion! I’ll go fix that in the post 😉 For hardwood floors, TipNut has a great list of hardwood cleaners you can tryout. Hope that helps!
I just tried this on my floor and I am in love! My floors look brand new and I love it! I will never ever buy commercial floor cleaners again. Thanks for the great recipe!
Lavender makes me sneeze, I think I’ll try some Thieve’s Oil in mine.
You don’t have to rinse, with the dish soap in there?
Hey Jema, yeah whatever oil you prefer (and doesn’t make you sneeze 😉 ) would work fine! And no, no need to rinse because it’s such a small amount of soap, just a couple of small drops…you could probably even skip the soap if you want, and see how you like it. It’s only in there to help cut through stuck-on dirt. Let us know how it works, good luck!
Wow! Amazing job. I used strong brewed tea instead of water. I read the tannins in tea are good for hardwood floors. Best job ever, I threw out my commercial floor cleaners!
Awesome! Yes, I’ve heard that about tea as well! Glad to see it actually works! 🙂
Adding essential oils to homemade cleaners is wonderful! But if you’d like something more than a wonderful scent, why not try one that has both antiviral and antibicrobial properties? On Guard has a wonderful cinnamon, citrus smell and has been proven by independant labs to kill both the flu virus and MRSA ~ I’d be happy to send you a sample to try 🙂
Adding essential oils to homemade cleaners is wonderful! But if you’d like something more than a wonderful scent, why not try one that has both antiviral and antibicrobial properties, such as On Guard or Purify by doTerra? On Guard has a wonderful cinnamon, citrus smell and has been proven by independant labs to kill both the flu virus and MRSA ~ I’d be happy to send you a sample to try 🙂
I couldnt wait to do this, just as I clicked on the recipe for the cleaner I noticed it said 2% alcohol, my bottle says 91%, I guess I better get a differnt kind
Hi Rhonda, any kind of isopropyl alcohol should work! So no need to get a different kind. I’m not sure exactly where you spotted the 2% in the recipe. From what I see, it just says isopropyl alcohol – can you let me know exactly where you see it so I can fix it? Thanks 🙂
The 2% was in the link to the recipe. I was confused about this also. Glad to know that I can use any kind!
This is a great idea, but I was wondering can I still use this on laminated wood floors?
Yes, Amanda! My laminate wood floors are what inspired this homemade cleaner! The pictures in the post are from the laminate floors in my living room 🙂
Tried this today on both my kitchen vinyl floor and my laminate floors. Worked well on both however, I had trouble using the microfiber cloth with my Swiffer. The cloth would “stick” and wouldn’t glide very easily so the Swiffer would flip around. I tried both my Swiffer Vac and my regular Swiffer. Any suggestions? Was my cloth too thick? Should I try a dry mop?
I really think the cloth may have been too thick. I sometimes switch back and forth between my thick and thin ones (depending on what’s in the wash), and found the thinner ones (that you get from the dollar store) do tend to glide more easily. Hope that helps!
Thanks for the suggestion. I was so excited to try out this cleaning solution, I actually looked forward to cleaning my floors yesterday!
Instead of using alcohol, do you think vodka would work? My cats go crazy over the smell of rubbing alcohol!
I really can’t say…I have seen floor cleaner recipes that say you can use alcohol or vodka but they weren’t specific to laminate floors so I’m not sure. Sorry! :-/
I just mixed up a batch this morning nd am trying it out with my Mint + Automatic Floor Cleaner. Will let you know how it works.
Great, Wendy! I’ve never heard of the Mint + but just looked it up now. Just make sure if you’re using it on laminate wood, that it doesn’t spray too much and that it’s wiped up right away. Looking forward to hearing if it worked. Good luck!
It works like a charm! I love this stuff. No streaks at all, cheap to make and I already had all of the ingredients on hand. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
We tried water and vinegar on the laminate floors in our new house and it ended up with white streaks. So I used your solution tonight and I love it. No streaks, but I noticed if I didn’t run over an area several times with the microfiber mop it left faint water marks. Any solution to fix this?
Hey Quentin,
Great! I’m glad it’s working for you! Sometimes, it’s the quality of the microfiber cloth that can make or break it. For some people, a thicker cloth works better, for others it’s a thinner cloth. From what you’ve explained, it seems like your cloths may not be absorbing the water as efficiently as they should be; so I’d probably try a thicker cloth. And make sure NOT to use any fabric softeners or dryer sheets in the wash, as they can really affect the cloth’s absorbability power.
Hope that helps! 🙂
Vinegar will dull the finish over time — on laminate or hardwoods, vinegar will cause etching, or chemical scratching over time. It is never recommended to use on floor — steam mop works well.
Hi Sara, I’ve actually researched this online quite a bit and everything I came across said that vinegar was in fact safe to use on laminate floors. Is there something specific that you read that you can maybe share with us? Thanks 🙂
Vinegar is the only thing my laminate floor says to use to clean and my steam mop says not to use on laminate. So frustrating how many contradicting things there are out there. How do we know which to believe? I’m ready to try this because as you said my floors are dull. Where do you get the natural dish soap?
I know what you mean – in doing my research for this post, I kept running into so many contradictions! My decision to go with this recipe really is after hours of research because I didn’t want to risk not only ruining my own floors, but also the readers of this site! Of course, if you feel uncomfortable with any of the ingredients, you can leave them out and see how it works for you.
The dish soap I used is just Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap because that’s what I usually have on hand, but any dish soap would work really. Dr. Bronner’s can be found at any health food store, but some Walmarts and Walgreens have been known to sell it. As well as online at Amazon 🙂 Hope that helps!
I haven’t been using any soap but I haven’t been 100% happy with how just the vinegar/alcohol/water was doing. I have 5 dogs and the places where they like to lay always look dirty and dingy no matter what. So today I added a few drops of plain Dawn. It’s much better. I’m thinking maybe there is a build up of oil where they lay and hopefully by adding the Dawn I can begin to get that clean. Just wanted to let you know! Thanks again for posting this!
Thanks so much for sharing, Valerie! Yes, I think the dish soap is integral for that extra bit of grease/oil fighting power. Thanks again for coming back to comment 🙂
I read the same thing as Sara D, that over time vinegar will eventually eat at the laminate top layer- The top layer is thin after all and vinegar is strong.
I won’t kill myself finding the exact article. I found more negatives than positives for vinegar on laminate immediately. Our installers also said no way. 🙁 I’m an avid vinegar user too so was naturally bummed.
For the price of these dang floors, I’m going to err on the side of caution and used what’s recommended. (which for us was no steam either)
I’m sure everyone’s floors are looking GREAT now. It would be nice to see long term use with a modern laminate.
I was told to absolutely never use a steam mop on my laminate floors because it would damage them.
I was reading my manufacturer instructions for my laminate floor and it also says not to use a steam mop.
Haven’t tried this yet, but will tomorrow.
You actually wouldn’t be able to use this with a swiffer wet jet. Any cleaning substance you put in there needs to have a bit of thickness to it or it will leak out…. go on, ask me how I know… lol. =)
Ahh, good to know. Thanks, Abby! …and I’m sure you’re not speaking from personal experience or anything like that..lol 😉
If the smell of vinegar is too strong you might want to try making your own citrus scented vinegar, Just fill a bottle with citrus peels, add vinegar to top. cap tightly, let sit for 2 weeks, shaking once in awhile. Strain to remove peels and small bits that will clog spray bottle. Use as you would for any green cleaning, laundry softener ect.
Thanks, granny! 😉
Great post and I really love the fact that you added the print function!!!! Thank-you!
I use a Clorox Ready mop. Instead of buying the mop pads, I’ve taken old towels and cut them the shape of the pads you buy and sewn the edges to prevent fraying. That way, I can just wash them after each use. I think it would work great with microfiber. It would probably glide more easily along the wet floors too. The towels tend to stick a little, but not so much that I’ve given them up.
Also, I use my homemade window cleaner recipe in the mop. It’s very similar to yours: In a gallon container, pour 1 tsp. dish soap, 1 Tbsp. ammonia, 1 bottle isopropyl alchohol. Add water to fill to the top. I add a few drops of blue food coloring so it looks like Windex and kids know not to drink it. (I also keep it out of reach.) I’ve used it on both laminate wood and laminate tile with great results.
Such great tips, Doris! Thanks for sharing!
I found a pin that eliminates the vinegar smell – fill a jar with orange peels and then pour in vinegar to the top and let soak for two weeks. Vinegar then smells like oranges instead.
I think I’ve seen that pin, Chantel! Thanks for posting it here 🙂
I’ve been searching for a good cleaner for my laminate floors, can’t wait to try it tomorrow!!!! Can you use any dish soap??!
Hi Emily, yeah any dish soap will do. Just make sure you’re only using 2-3 drops!
Do you have a recipe for a natural dish soap? I do dishes by hand…no dishwasher 🙁 and mostly I find dishwasher detergent recipes.
Hi Kimberly, this is the ONE thing I’m having trouble finding 🙁 There was a recipe from Frugally Sustainable that I wanted to try but never got around to it. If you go to http://frugallysustainable.com and search for “dish soap” you should find it without a problem.
Good luck and if try it and like it, I’d love to hear about it!
Do you use a DRY microfiber? I used one wet with just water and my floor ended up streaky…maybe I got it too wet???
Hi Jennifer, yeah I used the microfiber cloth completely dry! I just sprayed the cleaner on the floor and wiped it up with the dry cloth. Guess I should clarify that in the post 😉
Does this work on laminate floors?
Yep! Laminate floors are what inspired this post! I’ve used it on my laminate and tile 🙂
Does this work on vinyl and linoleum floors too. Also, you put vinegar in the fabric softener compartment in place of fabric softener? How much do you use?
Yep, I’ve used it on linoleum floors before, and it worked beautifully.
And I just fill my fabric softener compartment with vinegar – it’s probably no more than 1/4 or 1/2 cup.
Hmmm…I’d like to try this, but am a little scared of the alcohol. I just installed black laminate flooring in my bedroom. It is gorgeous but shows dirt and streaks sooo badly, even footprints from bare feet. Would the alcohol harm the black coloring?
Hmmm, I’m really not sure about the black coloring (didn’t even know they made them in black – must be gorgeous!)! If it were me, I would try a test spot in an inconspicuous area first (maybe a closet?) and see what happens. Sorry I couldn’t offer more advice!
I used this on my floors and it made them streaky…so I tried again without the dish soap…voila…perfect! For some reason the soap made it dry streaky. The rubbing alcohol is for helping the floor dry faster and once the floor dries the vinegar smell goes away 🙂
Hey Mandy, great! Glad you got it to work after altering it! You may have put too much soap; I use just a couple of drops, but if it worked even without, that’s great! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I love your idea, I have an issue I can’t seem to solve. I have scuff marks where I have moved furniture , will this recipe get rid of those or do you know of anything that might.
Thank you
Hi Sharon, you mean actual scuff marks and not scratches, right? For the scuff marks, I found this link that has a few different things you can try; everything from a pencil eraser to alcohol…even toothpaste! Check it out and let me know if any of them work for you:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5692262_remove-scuffs-laminate-wood-flooring.html
Hope that helps and good luck!
baking soda made into a paste with a tad bit of water will take up scuff marks.
Thanks for sharing that tip, Bree!
I have Pergo floors and am so paranoid about getting them wet.. You know how moisture can make the edges kind of warp… How do you clean them and how do they dry fast enough for the warping not to happen? Thanks – Julie
Hi Julie, I’m using this cleaner on my laminate and it works perfectly without warping the edges. The key is to use the spray bottle on a fine mist and only spray enough to just cover the surface. Working a small section at a time, I spray, then right after, I go over it with my microfiber cloth (the cloth is wrapped around an old Swiffer sweeper). The floor never really gets “wet” and gets wiped (and dried) right away. I’ve been using it for a couple months and haven’t had any warping issues. Hope that helps!
I have been using this formula on my Laminate floors for three years now and I think it is the best. I have done the same as all of you..searched for something to get rid of the streaks including purchasing steamers too.
I do one step you have not talked about…I put my spray bottle ( sprayer nozzle removed of course) in to the microwave for 1 min….. it gets the solution very hot..I spray in little sections, clean with the microfiber cloths and it looks great. the alcohol dries quick as is…but the added benefit of the heat dries even faster…. Try it and see if you agree.
Look for Libman’s Wonder Mop. It’s like a swiffer wet jet, but has reusable microfiber pads and a tank meant to be filled with your favorite floor cleaner!
I remember seeing a commercial for this about a year ago and wanting to get it, but never got around to it lol :-/ but I’m glad to see a positive review!
I was just going to post about the Libman’s too. I have one and love it. I have one cloth just for it and the rest of the time I use microfiber or rags. I like it because it goes between my hardwoods and nasty old linoleum (sp?) very well. Highly recommend!
Yay, another positive review! I’m seriously considering getting that Libman mop now 🙂
Definitely get the Libman – we tried it after years of using traditional mops or Swiffer mops. Not very expensive to start with, and you can just wash the pad and use your own cleaners instead of buying expensive refills all the time.
Great To Know This:) Thank you!
the product you are talking about is the libman freedon spray mop. the wonder mop is the classic mop. i looked it up cause i want one. thought id share.
freedom*
Can this be used on manufactured hardwood floors? Because not much can and I hate the way mine look!
I’m not sure because I haven’t used it on hardwood, only laminate. I don’t think at this dilution, it wood be a good idea. There is a great list of DIY hardwood cleaners at this link from TipNut: http://tipnut.com/wood-floors/
Hope that helps! And let us know what worked for you!
can you use this on sealed wood floors?
I’m not sure because I haven’t used it on hardwood, only laminate. I don’t think at this dilution, it wood be a good idea. There is a great list of DIY hardwood cleaners at this link from TipNut: http://tipnut.com/wood-floors/
Hope that helps! And come back and let us know what worked for you!
Being in the cleaning business for almost 30 yrs., I use vinegar on many, many things. I love it! I think it works great on laminate…however, I would be hesitant about using it on wood floors. Vinegar is an acid, and although it may look great the first several times on wood…over time, the ‘acid’ in the vinegar will break down your ‘protective shine’ on wood floors. @Mimi… had your laminate floor ever had a ‘shine’ product applied? If so, the vinegar may have broke down the product, leaving the residue. Many times I have ran across this problem in homes where they have applied a ‘shine’ product to make their floors shinier, which should never be done. It then, becomes a big project to remove it. Same with wood floors. Just to be safe, avoid any laminate/wood floor products that say ‘shine’ on it. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the helpful tips, Patty! Much appreciated 🙂
I have the same problem!!! The streaks drive me bonkers!! As soon as the cleaner out of my wet jet is gone I am trying this!!
I tried this and it left my floors very dull and streaky. Maybe its only for certain laminate flooring?? Anyway, I had to go back and mop them with my regular floor cleaner. While I won’t use it for floors, it did make a great cleaner for appliances and mirrors. They are shining pretty with just a simple spray and wipe.
Oh no 🙁 I wonder what happened… Did you use a microfiber cloth to wipe it clean? Did you spray too much maybe? I’m sorry it didn’t work for you, maybe you’re right about it working for certain type of laminate – but I can’t imagine why :-/ Glad you found it useful for other areas though!
Just wanted to pop back in because I tried something else. I used a citrus enzyme mix (just put your orange peels in a jar, cover with vinegar and shake for 2 weeks) in place of just the vinegar. Not sure why but it worked MUCH better!! Still doesn’t look like yours but they aren’t dull and streaky. Maybe that is because of the oil in the oranges?? The best part is, it smells good lol One added bonus is that I was told this mix will help deter ants and I discovered a few ants tonight grrrr We will see how this works with that.
Thanks for checking back in, Mimi! I’m so glad to hear the orange peels helped! I think you’re right, the natural oils from the oranges probably helped a great deal. Yay! I’m excited to try this now 🙂
I do this with lemon peels! I love the smell, plus because it is just lemons and vinegar if I need a quick salad dressing I just add it to some olive oil. 🙂
Mimi, I had the same problem cleaning laminate floors in a rental. I was using a good eco-friendly base cleaner, but the previous tenant had used a wax/shine product on the floor. My first mopping left the whole floor a gummy mess. My second mopping was only slightly less sticky and streaky. I finally busted out my Shark steamer and got to the bottom of the slimy build-up. From that point on, I haven’t used anything but steam to clean that floor and it never streaks or feels tacky.
Maybe your recent products haven’t gotten you to the bottom of your build-up yet?
I was reading these posts after doing my floors. Found that my floors were also dull after it dried. I was wondering if the essence oils would help instead of the orange peel idea.
i just sat down from trying this and im sad to say that my floors do not shine like yours either. bummer. however they are cleaner than i have been able to get them since i moved in. they are pretty beat up with scratches in what i believe to be the sealant. anyone know if the floors need to be sealed from time to time?
i will continue to use your formula for sure, just wish my floors would gleam.
WARNING DON’T DO THIS! I agree, I felt so duped! I though this might have ruined my laminate floors. I followed the recipe to a “T” and it was horrible! I had to re-mop and then go over it with Pledge Multi-Surface for laminate to bring back some shine but I am still worried because my floors look dull and feel like they are stripped a bit!
Absolutely agree! Tried 3 times and followed everything to a ‘T.’ Just leaves a dull gray film, worse than everything I’ve tried. Back to the drawing board!
ok so I did some research and white spots are from the calcium and misnerals in hard water if you have hard water, so if ever have white spots show up the best thing for it is to soak a hand towel in white vinegar and wipe it down and immediately dry it! oh by the way they also say not to clean your laminate floors too much because it can leave a residue on them but if it does have a residue on it the best thing for it? you guessed it vinegar!!
Jesse
I haven’t had the white spots issue, but good to know! Thanks for the research and tips 🙂 Vinegar is truly a miracle cleaner, isn’t it?
do have trouble with white stuff showing up on your laminate floors? after even just plain water gets on my wood laminate flooring this white stuff shows up on it its almost like its cloudy…
jesse
You probably have hard water and when it dries it is leaving behind the minerals. Try making the cleaner with distilled water and see if that solves the problem. All homemade cleaners work much better with distilled or super purified water.
Do you know if the alcohol is ok to use on real hardwoods with no seal?
Hi Koral, I can only vouch for this cleaner on laminate wood floors. I would be weary of using it on finished hardwoods (I’d just leave out the alcohol) but would definitely NOT use it on unfinished hardwood, since it’s very sensitive to excess moisture. Here’s a link explaining how to clean unfinished floors – I would replace the Murphy’s soap with castile soap. http://www.ehow.com/how_2335771_clean-unfinished-hardwood-floors.html
Hope that helps!
Hi there, after having my baby I am wanting to go green as well as save some money on cleaning supplies. When using vinegar for the rinse, do they come out smelling like it? Also with the floor cleaner im sure you could add a few drops of tyme, lemon, or pine essential oil to mask the vinegar
Hi Desirae, are you talking about vinegar in the rinse for the washing machine? If so, no, they don’t come out smelling like vinegar at all 🙂
I have been using vinegar in my laundry for over a year and they do NOT smell like vinegar at all!!! I was very leary because I’m quite particular about my laundry and how it smells!! 🙂 It is a great money saver and alternative!!
Curious as to why you would replace Murphy’s with castille. Is something wrong with Murphy’s?
Okay, I’m TOTALLY bustin’ this out to try tomorrow. We also have hardwoods throughout, so I’m pretty darned excited to see if they shine like yours! Thanks for sharing – I pinned it.
This is fantastic- you have so many great ideas. I was just saying to myself the other day that when my current bottle of Pinesol runs out I am not going to buy another one but look for a more natural version to clean my laminate floors. I am totally going to try this, thanks so much!
You’re welcome, Nicole 🙂 Glad to see you’re giving Pinesol the boot!
We have a plain old steam mop that works wonders (even on the baby drool!) but my stainless appliances are in serious need of some love, and your right – vinegar just doesn’t cut it. I’ll give this a shot!
Do you cloth nappy? Cause I’m seriously amazed at how using vinegar in their final rinse increases their absorbency. I reckon it would double it, easily. I think it just removes all the soap scum?
xo
Try using your dust cloth, after dusting when it’s good and covered with polish or oil, on your stainless. It’s amazing -streaks even less afterwards.
You know what’s funny? We JUST made the switch to cloth, like literally 3 days ago. I’m going to do my first laundry load tonight – wish me luck lol 😉 I’ll be blogging about switching to cloth once I’m a little more comfortable with it. I kinda feel like a fish out of water right now, but I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it soon enough 😉 But I’ve been using vinegar in the rinse cycle for our regular laundry for a while now instead of commercial fabric softener – works great! Glad to see it really helps with the cloth diapers too!
I had my first of nine children back in 1977. I used cloth diapers for many years and just loved hanging them outdoors to dry in the sun, weather permitting. I had a plastic diaper pail that I added a few drops of bleach and vinegar and a couple cups of water, after a couple days of collecting soiled diapers, they got washed. Alot of times I would do a load of diapers late at night, get up early to put them on the line before my busy day started. The other day I unexpectedly found an old diaper pin on an old baby blanket my daughter used on her doll, now that I have grandchildren, I am bringing out stored away toys, and it sure brought back nice memories!
Awww, what a sweet memory, Peggy! And thanks for the tips on cloth diapering – I’m getting more and more confident with them each day 🙂
I’m so glad cloth diapering is gaining popularity. I decided to do it before my first monkey was born, and haven’t looked back. They’re SO much cuter than disposables, and it makes me feel like I’m doing what I can to keep garbage out of the landfills.
I’m going to try using a bit of vinegar with the next wash and see if it helps with absorbancy. My guy is 6 months old, and the diapers still look great, but the inserts are looking a little ‘used.’ Thanks for the tips!
In addition to the antibacterial properties in vinegar it does soften the laundry and by the time the laundry has rinsed well the smell has dissipated.
Vinegar works great for nappies – if you don’t have hard water. I have always done the vinegar rinse – until I moved into this house with hard well water – now I can’t let vinegar touch the diapers as it causes a horrible stench in the diapers. Same diapers, same wash method as the previous 7yrs of cloth diapering. Once I took out the vinegar the smell was gone. I have saved so much money along with landfill space by cloth diapering 5 kids!
We just moved to a new house that has hard well water as well. I have been using vinegar in my laundry for over a year. Did you find it made your other clothes smell or just the diapers?? Thanks!! 🙂
Well done to everyone using cloth nappies (diapers). Just be careful using vinegar on cloth diapers. It will damage the elastics and the PUL lining.
If you’re experiencing smelly nappies do a strip wash – put clean nappies into a hot wash with 1/4 teaspooon or bit less of dishwashing detergent, nothing else, and keep putting through a complete wash cycle until no bubbles are visible in the rinse water.. for me with a top loading machine this is about 3 wash cycles. And sun, sun, sun as much as possible. Also make sure that when you do your usual wash you only use about 1/4 recommended amount of an eco-style laundry powder, and make sure there is no softener or enzymes added. Wash on cold for added environmental oomph 🙂
To clean stainless steal appliances, try baby oil. It has saved my life 😀 just pour it directly onto a cloth and wipe it down, it seriously works wonders!!
Does the baby oil leave the surface greasy?
Awesome idea! My wood floors look very similar to yours and the streaks drive me nuts too. Can’t wait to try this out. Thanks!
what a great way to save money. thanks for sharing the idea/
Love it
I’ll definitely have to try this since I have the same problem! Instead of putting it in a spray bottle, I may try and put it in the solution container that goes on a Wet Jet.
Oooh, great idea, Jessica! Let us know how it works!
I found a tutorial way back on Pinterest on how to succesfully refill the wetjet bottle.
I’m sorry I took so long to write back. Nursing school world took over and I’ve been so busy! I did make the cleaning cocktail in my Swiffer Wet Jet, using the modified 1 cup and 3/4 cups. It worked like a DREAM! No nagging streaks left on the floor!
Also those who decide to use your WetJet, I strongly suggest using a microfiber like she said. I tried it with a pad first and it left some streaks. 🙁
Thank you so much for easing my cleaning troubles!
Thanks so much for updating us! Glad it worked for you! 🙂
So, now I’m curious…how do you refill the WetJet bottle?
Boil a small pot of water, and once it’s boiling, put the bottle in upside down for a minute and a half. The cap should twist off with some effort… after that, there little prongs on the inside of the bottle top. You can clip those off with fingernail clippers. That’s it!
Jessica, I soak orange peels in a jar of vinegar for 2 weeks to use in cleaners..you might want to try that.
Thank you SO much for this recipe!! It works AWESOME! I’ve tried several homemade and commercial cleaning products on my laminate wood floor they all left either a film or sticky residue or both YUCK! We have 4 kids under 4 so I do a lot of wipe ups and mopping. This is a quick recipe to make and it actually works! Woot woot! 🙂 I have made a lot of homemade house and body products for my family over the last year and also with Aromatherapy. How fun to combine to two, less chemicals in my home and more money in my pocket. Thanks so much! My favorite eo combo for cleaning products is equal parts lemon, lemongrass and tea tree. It smells devine and we can all benefit from the natural cleansing powers of each of the essential oils as well. 🙂 Thanks again!
Glad to hear it, Cheri! 🙂
You modified it with 1 cup of what and 3/4 cups of what? I’m assuming water and vinegar?
The modification was 1 cup water, 3/4 cup vinegar, and 3/4 cup alcohol.
I use the water, vinegar on my Brazilian Cherry Hardwood floors and it works awesome. It is dark as pictured above.. it worked great and didn’t leave a mark or take off the finish.
Now if someone can come up with how to keep the floors looking like that.. because we have two cats (short haired) and it seems like a few hours later, dust shows and some car hair.. I wanted to use pledge but the floors are like a ice skating rink.. and not cool for the family.. I have a 6 year old and I have back problems so it is an issue.. anyone have any ideas for that.. We live in a 4K sq ft house…moping them daily is impossible
A few drops of olive oil in your damp-mopping water will help condition your bare-wood floors. Adding olive oil to white vinegar and applying a thin coat to your wood floor will restore its shine. A minimal amount of olive oil rubbed into your wood floor is all that is needed to maintain the luster of your wood floor. I did this to the cedar floor in our 3 season room and it came out wonderful.
Just wondering what you consider a natural dish soap?
Hi Jaime, castile soap is my natural soap of choice – I like to use Dr. Bronner’s castile soap (which can be found at any health food store).
You can also find it online. I see you’re in Canada (like me!), so if you’d rather buy it online, you can find it at Well.ca. Full disclosure, that’s my affiliate link, but feel free to not use it, if you wish 🙂
Wholefoods will also have the large bottle of Dr. Brommer’s on sale occasionally for $10 (TEN dollars!!).
Hi is alcohol rubbing alcohol? Sorry, not sure what they mean? This sounds amazing but want to make sure I use the correct products. Thanks Nellie
Hey Nellie, I just pick up the regular isopropyl alcohol from the drug store 🙂
In some countries it is called: surgical spirit. Hope that helps!
Be careful – In my attempt to figure out how the Wet Jet works so I could refill it I was fussing with the machine and it bit me! The bottle is pierced with two very large-gauge needles (one to fetch the cleaner and one to let in air, I suppose). My poor finger found out the hard way. When I told my Mom she mentioned that if you hold the empty Wet Jet bottle upside down so the tip is in very hot water you can pry it off – I’ll have to give this a try.
I held mine under hot water until it let air in (you could hear it! I was told boiling water, but my really hot tap water worked!) then I twisted it off with a towel. It holds liquid with no leaks, no problems!!
I have a steam mop do you think I can use this either in the mop or just spray as I mop with it
Hmm, I’m not sure since I don’t have a steam mop. I do know that using the microfiber cloth to wipe it up plays a huge role in the drying factor. If you do try it, let us know how it works out!
I just used it in my Shark Steam Mop and it worked wonderfully! It got the floor cleaner than using just water. I poured it directly into the water container in the mop. Didn’t hurt it at all. Hope that helps!
YAY! I was just going to ask if anyone knew if we could use our Shark Steamers with this… that has been my only complaint with my steamer is that everything streaks.
thank you for that post I was wondering if I could do that with my shark steam mop.
Has anyone tried this solution in the shark?
I have a shark steam mop, too, and was wondering the same thing. I’ve added some vinegar to the water in the shark and it worked ok (very stinky though). I will have to try this solution- it doesn’t sound like it would ruin the shark.
I put the solution on the floor then mop up with my shark. Works fine.
I was wondering if you could add amonia for a disenfectant?
Hi Stacy, I never work with ammonia so I can’t say for sure. I would start by checking to see if the ammonia would react in any way with the other ingredients (alcohol or vinegar) and go from there. However, the alcohol, vinegar, and essential oils are enough of a disinfectant for me.
Hi vinegar is a natural disinfectant
i just tried this mixture on my hardwood floor, using a cotton cloth on my swiffer, but it left a film on the floor. Why? can this be prevented?
If you have used commercial cleaners on your hardwood prior to using a cleaner containing vinegar the vinegar may react to ingredients (waxes, oils etc.) from the commercial cleaner causing steaks. The good news is, after a few uses of the vinegar cleaner, the film usually disappears. It takes a few uses for the vinegar to cut through whatever has built up on the floor from the commercial cleaner. Using a microfibre cloth also seems to work better than a cotton cloth to further prevent streaking.
Thanks, Linda! I’ve just shared your comment with another commenter who was having issues with streaking. Hopefully this helps her! 🙂
I did the same thing when we moved into our house and the vinegar does eventually get rid of the film.. NEVER EVER use Mop and Glow Orange!
Can a person use this in the Shark floor steamer ?
I didn’t have orange EO so I used Grapefruit EO…it worked nice! thanks!