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!
Does anyone know if this would work for tile floors as well??
Yep, I use this in my tile floors in the kitchen and bathrooms!
I saw a pin on pinterest that recommends soaking orange peels in your white vinegar to help the smell of vinegar clear up and adds some of the power of orange to the cleaning mix, maybe that would help for those of us who dont get around to the health food store for essential oils. Just a thought.
I just had a couple of questions before I try this for the first time on my vinyl floors, which I am excited to do! It seems like most websites have recipes for vinegar and water floor cleaners and most assume mopping with a gallon or so bucket. So the recipe is usually 1 cup vinegar and 1 gallon of water. So is 1 cup vinegar too strong with just 1 cup of water or does it not make a difference? I like the idea of using a spray bottle to spot clean and mop and not having to make a big bucket of it everytime I mop, but wanted to make sure it wasn’t too much vinegar. Also, everyone seems to be using it on laminate floors, is it safe for vinyl floors as well? Thanks!
Hey Renee, sorry for the late reply! The reason other recipes have a lower dilution is because when you’re mopping with a bucket, you’re really saturating the floors with the cleaner. But since this recipe is meant to be used much less liberally, the vinegar ratio is just fine. You could experiment of course and find a lower dilution that works for you. Also, I’ve used this on laminate, tile, an vinyl floors, all without any problems, but if you’re worried, I’d spot test in a small area just in case. Good luck!
Thanks Sarah for the reply, that makes sense. I can’t wait to try it out!!
You have to be careful with the products you put on your hardwood flooring. This looks awesome! Really brings out the finish of the hardwood flooring. I would recommend to all of my clients. Thanks for sharing.
Wayne@ Palatine Hardwood Flooring
Thank you thank you!! Your cleaner recipe worked like a charm for me. Love the smell too!
I tried this homemade recipe for my wood composite floor and I absolutely hated it. The vinegar is just too overpowering no matter how much essence oil is used. To make matters worse the longer it sits in the container the smell gets even worse. I can’t imagine anyone getting used to stinking up the whole house every time a mopping is needed. I tried the same formula minus the vinegar and it was a better but I’m still not happy with the result. I will have to keep looking and experimenting to find something that gives a good result with this floor.
MLO, did you use regular white distilled vinegar? I’ve been using this recipe for months and while I can smell a vinegar odor a little while I’m mopping, it disappears almost instantly as the floor dries. I still smile each time I mix a new batch. Whatever I don’t use on the floor, I go around spraying on other surfaces to clean them.
Hi,
Thank you for sharing this with the rest of us who are looking for all natural cleaning solutions! I did read somewhere else that soap and vinegar do not work together because one is an acid and the other one is a base, and therefore, once you mix them you basically cancel each other out, have you heard this? How accurate is this? Because I think then there is no purpose to add either vinegar or soap, right?
I would like to know your input on this.
Thank you!!!
Hi Karla, thanks for your comment! Yes, I actually have heard this – I think it was actually on the Dr. Bronner’s site maybe. I think it relates more if you’re using a large quantity of both vinegar and soap. Since we’re only using a few drops of soap in this recipe, it may (or may not) still apply. But who knows? But if you want to try, I would take out the dish soap and see how it works for you. 🙂
Ok…I came across this site this morning and since I had the oils to add for the odor from the vinegar I had to try it. Well, let me just tell you that all 10 windows in my first floor are now clean, along with my glass-topped dining room table!!! I love it!! I cannot say whether it truly works on the floors, but it is a nice change from the alcohol and windex routine for the windows!! Thank you so much for the recipe! Happy cleaning! 😉
Please note that you shouldn’t use vinegar on hard-wood floors. A hard wood floor contractor told us that a lot of the new sealants that are used are broken down by vinegar. Good to know since until he told me this I had been using vinegar!
Can you use rubbing alcohol or do you have to get just the basic stuff? Also, should you use just plain white vinegar or is distilled okay?
just installed laminate floors and now researching internet how to clean.. manufacturing web site says to avoid cleaning products that contains vinegar… and all DIY floor cleaner contains vinegar…
***THERE’S A “RECIPE” OF HOW TO REFILL THOSE SWIFFER CONTAINERS ON PINTEREST** Then there would be no need for a spray bottle. I definately will try this!
Does it make the floor slippery?
Hi Kelly,
Nope, not at all. Just makes them clean! 🙂
Do you know if this would work on stained concrete?
Hi Jennifer,
Honestly, I have no idea, but I’m going to guess probably not since it’s not nearly strong enough to tackle something like an outdoor, porous surface like concrete. Good luck on finding something that does, though!
HI, wondering if I can use this cleaner with a mop and bucket?
If, so how much cleaner would I put in the bucket?
Hi Jo,
Someone else recently asked the same question, so I’ll copy my response from there:
Just checked some sources, and for a gallon of water, you could try 1/2 cup of vinegar, and 1/3 cup of alcohol, plus a few drops of dish soap. Hope that helps and let us know if it works and any adjustments you made!
if i were to use the combo in a mop bucket what would you suggest the variation to be? by the way i just tried this on my floor but i used by cleaning combo of lemon and vinegar not lavender and works just as well i think!
Hey Amber,
Just checked some sources, and for a gallon of water, you could try 1/2 cup of vinegar, and 1/3 cup of alcohol, plus a few drops of dish soap. Hope that helps and let us know if it works and any adjustments you made!
okay thank you!! i will give it a try and if i do make adjustments ill be sure to post it up!
I am sorry
It didnt work for me.
it still dull and have streak
WOW!!! In a house of 5 people, 3 dogs and 2 cats I never thought my house would look this clean!!!! Thanks for posting this, my floors are like sparkly new!
Just an FYI, Be cautious if using essential oils around pets as essential oils can be exremely toxic to pets. Cats esspecially. If they walk across the floor and pick up any residue and lick it off of their paws they can go into renal failure. Sometimes the effect is not noticed immiediatly but will build up over time.
Hello, I was so excited to find something without chemicals to clean our new floors! One, I wanted to make sure that vinegar was safe for floors as it’s not with granite. I am a little nervous about trying it but it looks like you have been doing it for a few months. Our contractors and the warrenty says NOT to use a steam mop!!! Which I love for our tile! So I use a store bought spray ( gag!) cleaner and the steamer ( not turned on) I posted a question on FB asking who uses a steam mop and many said they did but a few said they did and after some time it ruined their laminate floors. EKKK! So I was just looking for a little insite on how vinegar is safe. Thanks,
I tried this and it left a horrible film. The minute I stepped it left a footprint 🙁 then I tried 1:1& 1/2 water to alcohol. Better result but still leaves footprint. I’m exhausted and just want them to be film free!!! HELP!!!
Hi Tricia,
I was going to answer your question, and then I noticed that another commenter posted the exact thing I was going to say to you. 🙂 My question is if you (or previous owners/tenants) have ever used other commercial cleaners on your floors before? If so, please have a read here:
“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.”
If not, please let me know!
Just got laminate floors and had no idea how to clean them. I have been researching different methods for a while. Tried this for the first time…it’s a keeper! Thanks! Works great!!
Yay! Glad it worked for you! 🙂
The only dishsoap I currently have is Dawn (with Olay, the pink one). I was wondering if I could use that in place of the natural soap? Do you think it would yield the same results – or has anyone else tried it using Dawn dish soap?
Thanks!
Yep! You can use any dish soap. 🙂
Hey Brittany, yeah you can use any dish soap you have. 🙂
can i use dawn soap? (the pink one, i think it is grapefruit)
I have read that essential oils are dangerous for cats. I have a cat and a dog. Any recommendations for smell??
Hi Ashley, yes after a little research, essential oils are definitely not safe for pets (especially cats!) so thanks of bringing this up! I wish I had a suggestion for the smell, but can’t think of anything that is still natural. If I had pets, I would just skip the oils completely and play with the water:alcohol/vinegar ratio until I got it to a smell level that I could stand without being too annoyed. Wish I had more for you, but I don’t want to risk the health and wellbeing of our furry friends 😉 But thanks so much for your comment because I’m going to edit the post now with this info!
I found this regarding essential oils and dogs… http://www.natural-dog-health-remedies.com/essential-oils-for-dogs.html
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I have a Bissell Steam Mop that I just tried this with and it is AMAZING. I put the mixture right into the mop reservoir and mopped like normal. This left the floors nice and shiny (Both tile and laminate) and brought up so much dirt! I also like that it went through the machine, disinfecting it as I mopped. I will likely never use just vinegar and water again, especially with my baby girl now that she’s mobile! Great for cold and flu season too! Thanks!
I have 100+ year old real wood floors. I tried this thinking it would be great since my home over 3600 sq. ft. is all wood floors. It caused the finish in my kitchen to bubble (the finish was re-done 1 year ago). Then in the laundry room it started to change the finish of the floor (no recent re-finishing there). All I can say is this sounds like a great process but be careful AND MAKE SURE you do SPOT testing. I’m glad it has worked for many of you – jealous even, as for me I’m back to my Pledge, oil & tender loving care.
Frances, my house is 155 years old with pine plank floors. I had the surface of the keeping room floor sanded very lightly (didn’t want to lose all that character). Then I simply use RAW linseed oil. It adds moisture to the wood, protects & looks beautiful. I scrub & renew once/year (well, that’s what I told myself I’d do, but it’s actually more like every second year); simply sweep or vacuum the rest of the time.
Thank you soooo much. We installed laminate wood floors a year ago and I’ve been struglling ever since to find something that didn’t kill the shine, but got rid of the dirt and footprints. I made this mixture without any of the oils – just the water, vinegar, alcohol and dish soap. I couldn’t believe how well it worked. I just kept looking from the front door, and then from the kitchen (other end of my straight through small house) and to see that shine come back just made my day. The fact that it’s natural and easy and inexpensive is a super bonus. I can’t thank you enough.
I have been using the “shine products” and would like to start using your cleaner, do you know how to remove the shine cleaner from the laminate? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you, Helen
Tried this yesterday. Don’t know if I had too much soap in the mix or what, but ended up with dull floors. So I then mixed 1 part water to 1 1/2 parts alcohol and it was PERFECT! Then for fun, I added Rosemary (5 drops), Orange (5 drops) and Lavender (3 drops) essential oils for a clean smell (and Rosemary is supposed to help in disinfecting).
Thanks for getting me going on this! I’m so very happy to finally have something that cleans my floors without leaving a sticky residue that shows every footprint and dog print.
Great, Tonya! Glad you found a mix that worked for you 🙂
I tried this today on my kitchen linoleum and found a shortcut. I had no essential oils, but at the grocery store I found isopropyl alcohol with a wintergreen fragrance. I used it in the formula and it did help mask the odor of the vinegar. It works well; it took the scuff marks off the floor without much effort!
Thank you! I’ve been searching for something that won’t leave my floors streaked like everything else I’ve tried. Will definitely be giving this a go. 🙂
I just mopped my kitchen floor and I have the libman mop. It didn’t leave streaks (which I was glad) but it didn’t put a shine on the floor. Am I doing something wrong?? Thanks for sharing.
Hi Patti, no you didn’t do anything wrong! The cleaner doesn’t claim to put a shine on the floor; just gets it squeaky-clean and streak-free. Glad it worked for you! 🙂
I was wondering if I could use castile soap instead of the dish soap? I have the Dr. Bronner!s almond scented kind. Thanks!
Hey Stephanie, yes of course! Castile soap is the only soap I use, and Bronner’s is my fav!
Nifty tutorial, I’ll be giving it a try! I wanted to let you know that there is a way to get the caps off of the empty swiffer bottles. It involves using boiling water to help loosen the cap so you can refill it with your own solution of choice. I can’t remember how exactly to do it, but thank God for Pintrest, you can find the directions on there! That way you won’t have to use a separate squirt bottle.
Thanks Hannah! Yeah, I tried reusing my swiffer bottle before, and although it was pretty nifty, it did end up leaking eventually 🙁 I’m thinking of investing in a Libman or Vileda mop with the reusable bottle and pads though!
On another note, have ever you tried using Thyme Essential Oil as an antibacterial benefit? I wouldn’t think it would mess up the harmony of your recipe.
Thanks for the tip, Hannah! I love thyme, but never tried the essential oil yet. Will def give it a try in my next batch 🙂
I USE THE STEAM MOP I HAVE AND THE FLOOR LOOKS VERY DULL. BUT WILL TRY AND DO A SOME AREA WITH JUST THE CLOTH AND SEE IF IT WORKS BT IS DULL LOOKING
I love my laminate floors again! I have tried several products but ended up with floors that were streaky, gummy, or still dirty, including the Shark steamer. I did have to open a window and also let the cats out from the smell. Shopping for oils later today!
Today I realized that I am not a bad housekeeper, it’s just that I have been discouraged for so long with products that don’t do what they are supposed to. You have no idea how much better I feel. Can’t wait to keep cleaning till I drop.
There were a some streaks so I just buffed for a few minutes with a clean cloth. That worked great but next time I will just pull on some old socks and buff as I clean – to some old Motown music!
FYI when I was mixing my solution, I found that alcohol took the adhesive right off my reused spray bottle that I had soaked in water unsuccessfully.
I tried this on my laminate floors and it works really well and leaves no streaks as long as the microfiber is DRY. When it gets too damp is when it leaves streaks. I used orange Castile soap because I didn’t have any essential oils. But I can still smell the vinegar or combination of vinegar/ alcohol smell even after its dry. I wanted to find a natural cleaner that not only cleaned but left a nice clean smell. Vinegar isnt a clean smell . I might try the orange peel soaked in vinegar, but that could become a pain in the butt too. I need something easy to throw together and clean with. Is essential oils strong enough to completely over power the vinegar/alcohol smell does anyone know?
Yes, the cloth should stay dry, but honestly, I’ve cleaned my whole house in one go without ever changing the cloth and it worked fine, without getting too damp. So make sure you’re only misting the floor lightly! Also, I’ve finally found a winning combination of essential oils to help mask the vinegar smell, as well as add some beneficial properties to the cleaner! Check out the updated recipe in the post. 🙂
Tried this on my laminate floors this morning before everyone got up and moving. I actually love it! Had a brand new microfiber towel to use but next time I will use a different one. The one I had on hand has a pattern on it. So I did get some streaking. I can see where buying a good quality (mine came from Dollar Tree) microfiber towel would help. The streaking went away with a round of the Swifer Dry Cleaning Cloths. Smell not too bad. Opened some windows, ceiling fans on and a couple of box fans. The fans were not needed but they were within arms reach so I cranked them up plus the sound is soothing to me! This solution immediately removed (without effort) pet drool which is my number one problem. 2 cats and 2 dogs. The dogs have allergies and sneeze a lot (yuck) and one dog is a rescue and is missing most of her teeth (bless her heart) so her tongue hangs out and drips all the time! Yeppers! Welcome to my world! Anyway, I highly recommend. I did not add any essential oils but was thinking about putting some on a piece cloth, putting the cloth into a large container with a lid and adding my microfiber towels in there. Not just the ones for the floors but the ones I use for dusting and such. just a thought. Happy cleaning and have a blessed day!
Glad it worked well for you, Tami! Thanks for the great review! 🙂
So, I woke up a 5am when everyone would be sleeping. I didn’t want them tracking through my freshly cleaned floors. I was so excited to find this because I had been searching for a miracle cleaner. My floors are the exact same dark color and tone. They are gorgeous, but they are tracked with foot prints and dirt. I use my swiffer, it doesn’t work. I use my Libna, it doesn’t work. I’ve used micro fiber cloths and they do not remove foot prints only dust. I made this cleaner to the letter. It DOES NOT WORK! I could just cry…. I need these floors clean! There are water spots that will not come up from where my swiffer originally streaked the floors. Now that I used this, there is a white haze in the spot I tested it. I am going bonkers! I have no idea how to remedy this.
Hi Trenika, I’m so sorry you’re having trouble with your floors 🙁 It seems like nothing you’ve tried has worked. Are you spraying it lightly across the floor and then wiping it up with a dry microfiber cloth (either by hand or by wrapping it around a swiffer/libman)? Are the floors originally yours or were there tenants who lived in your house before you? I ask because sometimes there can be leftover build up from previous tenants’ cleaning products, and now you’re stuck with the aftermath…
I have one of those Rubbermaid Reveal mops. What is great for them, is that you can buy separate bottles (containers) where you put your own cleaner so therefore if you use different cleaners on different floors, you can keep them separate. Now if anyone can tell me a secret to keeping doghair off my floor for more that 10 minutes would love it. Have a black lab.
This floor cleaner is AMAZING on my white vinyl kitchen floor! I loved it from the first swipe! Thank you for posting this!
I am using this recipe for our recently refinished original hardwood floors and it is leaving streaks – HELP! Am I using too much spray? Not using a dry enough microfiber?
Hi Jenn,
Oh no! I’m sorry you’re getting streaks. It could very well be that you may be spraying too much.. I just sort of mist it across the floor, working in small sections. Then, with my microfiber cloth wrapped around my Swiffer sweeper, I go “mop” it up until it’s dry (which shouldn’t take too long). Also, you mention a “dry enough microfiber” – yes, the cloth should be completely dry. Even after you’re mopped up previous sections of the floor, it should not be soaked at all. It will be barely damp to the touch.
Hope that helps!
You may have answered this already but there’s too many comments to read them all. Does this stuff work on linoleum?
Hey Sharon, I personally haven’t tried it on linoleum, but I see no reason why it wouldn’t work. I only have laminate and tile in the house, but I imagine it would work even better on linoleum, so I’d definitely give it a try! If you try it, please let us know how it works out, since I don’t think anyone has commented yet with their experience with linoleum 🙂 Thanks and good luck!
I CAN,T WAIT TO TRY THIS! EVERYTHING ELSE I TRIED LEFT STREAKS.
These are great tips, and I am sure they work quite well. But, I must admit, I am quite surprised that a blog about NATURAL tips advocates laminate flooring. Eight months ago, I had laminate flooring installed in my home. (Incidentally, the color and style looks identical to your, Sarah. It’s such a gorgeous style and design, and I LOVE how it looks in my home. And, like you, I HATE, HATE, HATE carpeting!) The problem is, after installation, I developed eczema, constant nose bleeds, headaches and a nasty cough and chest congestion that–eight months later–still has not subsided.
After many months, my doctor finally asked if I had had any remodeling done to my home when my symptoms began. I informed him about the laminate flooring, and he suggested I test my home for formaldehyde emissions levels. So, I bought kit and, sure enough, the levels were higher than what the EPA says is safe. I was baffled because shortly after installing the floor, my mom visited for two weeks. She had no ill effects. When I mentioned this to my doc, he said that ALL people will EVENTUALLY show symptoms of they are exposed to the formaldehyde long enough–even at low levels–and that formaldehyde is a proven human carcinogen after long-term exposure at low levels. He said the reason I showed symptoms so quickly after installation was probably because I had a high-dose exposure because I was present during installation. But he assured me that even if I had not been present during installation, that I eventually would have had the same ill health effects I have now.
After extensive research (which included speaking with an expert on chemical toxins at Johns Hopkins, multiple conversations with people at the EPA, visits with industrial hygienists who specialize in formaldehyde emissions in newly-remodeled workplaces and homes), I learned that laminate flooring typically off-gasses for AT LEAST ten years after installation, and that levels are higher in warmer climates or in winter when the furnace is running.
So, I am either going to rip out all the laminate flooring (I had it put in my entire house–upstairs and downstairs, except for the kitchen and the three bathrooms) and replace it with real wood flooring–or sell the house. I really don’t want to move, so I likely will be installing wood soon.
In my research I have also spoken with more than three dozen people who have had the same ill health effects after installing laminate flooring. Just be careful if you have laminates. I’m not saying you need to rip them out, but have your homes tested for formaldehyde emissions. The kits are only $39, and you will get a report that explains the results in layman’s terms. (An industrial hygienist who works for FEMA recommended the kit that I used, it was not some commercial scam or ploy.) There are several places you can get the kits; just do a Google search and choose the one you think is best for you.
Again, I LOVE the look and durability of the laminates that I have, and I am just sick that I have to rip them out. But you can’t put a price on health.
Wow, Vicki – this is the first I’ve ever heard of this! We didn’t have the floors installed; we’re renting our house and they were here when we got here, but I will definitely look more into this issue. Thanks for the heads up and for sharing your story with us – I’m so sorry you went through all that. Hope you’re starting to feel better!
I can’t wait to try!! I just moved into a house for the first time with O carpet and laminate, was so excited, but again I’m getting streaking and it just doesn’t look clean in general.
I have a Rubbermaid Reveal mop which is AWESOME and worth the price, its a refillable bottle, you put in the cleaner of your choice, so no buying cleaners, and it has a washable cloth and the trigger doesn’t use batteries.
I’ve been looking for a recipe exactly like this!!
THANK YOU~
Oh you’re very welcome, Kim 🙂 Congrats on the new house, hope the cleaner works out for you! I think I need to get me one of those Reveal mops!
Tried it — LOVE IT =)
thank you!!
Was excited to try this and it ruined my steam mop :/ It will no longer hold any liquid. So please everyone be careful!
tried this recipe, was a streaky mess. oh well
Does it matter what percent alcohol to use???
No, I’m using 70% and it’s working fine.