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!
You can absolutely clean real hard wood floors with Vinegar, essential oil and water. That’s what the manufacturers and installers want you to use instead of harsh chemicals. I don’t know about the alcohol.
I’m just running across this blog today (looking for a natural floor cleaner) and noticed you have nice shiny laminate flooring like mine and wondered if your floors still look nice and shiny after using this natural floor cleaning solution 2 years later. I’m new to using more natural cleaning solutions and would love to hear about the long lasting effects of use.
Thank you!
Hi Lori, The laminate in the photos is in a low-traffic area, so it’s got less wear and tear, so to speak. But for the high-traffic areas, they look as good as did when we first moved in. That being said, I don’t use this solution on the floors everyday, so I don’t know how they’d be affected with more frequent use.
Best of luck!
Wow! That really works like magic. Nicely done. I like the outcome. Your floor looks shiny and clean, not to mention the kitchen and bathroom tiles. I am amazed at how well it works with different types of floors. That’s awesome.
I have been using the vinegar, alcohol, water, and Dawn dish detergent method on my hard woods for a while now and I don’t think I will ever use anything else. I make a big batch of it in a bucket using hot water and a mop that I wring out very well. A friend of my husband stopped by one evening and as he started into the house, he stopped and asked if he should take his shoes off before walking on my beautiful floors! It also works on laminate and vinyl flooring. I also keep a spray bottle with the solution in it for doing quick cleanups around the kitchen and bathroom. Spray some on a paper towel and use it to clean the screens on everything electronic. I would not put anything but water in a Shark Steamer. My sister ruined hers by using a disinfecting cleaner in hers.
Awesome, thanks for the review, Carole! 🙂
I have an O Cedar Mop with a 2 cup capacity. How would I modify this recipe? I’d rather not have to use a seperate spray bottle when there is already a place to put the solution. Thank you! 🙂
I would probably just cut the recipe in half, which would leave you with about 1 and 1/2 cups of solution.
I would like to try this mixture on my parquet floors, my question is. which alcohol must I use? Is there a special alcohol? Thank you
Liz
I just use regular 70% alcohol from the drug store. As with all new products, I would do a spot test first to see how it does with your specific floors.
Floor maintenance and cleaning used to be a hassle, but thanks to this post I know what to do now.
I also see that the mixture is put into a Swiffer Wet Jet. Please, don’t use a Swiffer Wet Jet on your Laminate, hardwood, cork, or bamboo floors. The spray can actually go between the seams of the planks an cause a lot of damage, especially to laminate floors. And please don’t use steam mops on these surfaces as well, they can do the same kind of damage as a “Water Broom” because even though it is steam, it can put moisture into the seams. Manufacturers will not warrant the floor due to moisture damage. Please be careful with these types of cleaning tools and cleaners.
Just a side note. Most manufacturers of any laminate, wood, cork, or bamboo floors do not suggest using vinegar to clean the floors with. Vinegar is an acid and is caustic. It will eventually eat away and ruin the finish..
Just an FYI: essential oils are NOT toxic to nor harmful to cats when used properly I.e. one wouldn’t dump a bottle of in their mouth or use undiluted (clearly this is a dilute solution). As an individual who uses holistic healthcare for my own babies as well as our rescue organization for many years, I can tell you with complete confidence essential oils are, in fact, commonly used for cats and extremely beneficial. Please do and post reliable information. Great recipe otherwise.
Thanks for the info, Lisa. I’ve been meaning to edit that section for a long time, so you’ve reminded me to do so. Thanks again! 🙂
Both me and my son tried this on our laminate floors and they turned out horrible, worst than it was. Big mistake.
What kind of vinegar is best to use? There are several types: White, salad, malt….
Just regular old white vinegar.
My Pergo floors (laminate)very specifically suggest never using alcohol on the surface. It will eventually take the finish off the laminate. Vinegar is the only recommended cleaner. Vinegar is recommended for hardwoods also.
NEVER use aessential oils since they also have hidden ingredients toxic to humans and animals. It is just like perfume. They are allowed to put in hidden ingredients and not list them. Alcohol is another item I try to stay away from. It is a toxic product. My floors are nomal cleaned with just a small amount of white vinegar and water and if I feel they need a little extra than I add a drop or two of fragrance free dish soap. People need to start thiking about these toxins to safe our health and stop so many cancers and keep our water supply safe. To bad that even the vet now says make sure you use filtered water for the dog. That has to tell you something………………..
I am not suppose to use an oil base floor cleaner on my floor because it will void my warranty. Can this be used without the water?
I’m not sure I understand the question. The only oil-based ingredient in the recipe is the Castile soap – is that what you mean to leave out? If so, yes you can leave it out, although I doubt a few drops will cause any damage. But leaving it out won’t keep the cleaner from cleaning your floors ether.
May I suggest that if a person doesn’t have a swifter or steam mop and wants to use a regular mop that they can take a microfiber cloth and wrap it around a dry clean sponge mop replacement and then attach the sponge to the mop or if your brand of mop doesn’t attach in a manner which would allow wrapping the microfiber around it then you can try wrapping it around the sponge already attached to the mop and wrapping a wide rubber-band over each end. The rubber-bands may cause a little extra work, but it’s worth a try.
Caution should be used around an open flame with that alcohol in it.
Wonderful recipe thanks a million so easy to make and dose the job.
Tried this recipe (was hopeful), but it left streaks. Still on the hunt for one that doesn’t. I have real Bellawood cherry colored flooring.
Do NOT use Tea Tree oil in your solution if you have cats. It is toxic, even in small amounts.
If you have pets, please be aware the essential oils are TOXIC to dogs and cats! If they walked on the floor after using this, it could make them very ill (or even worse)…
Yep, that’s why I made sure to include that info towards the end of the post. 🙂
I use the mop and bucket version of this but without the dish liquid and a “twist and shout” type mop that is virtually dry for my laminate flooring. It works wonderfully. I found that spraying either bona or any other sprayer type cleaner tends to just push the dirt around since the mop head get dirty so quickly. Being able to dunk the mop in a pail of this solution then spin it “dry” really helps get the dirt up and leaves the floor shining. Thanks for the recipe.
Awesome, thanks for sharing!
Thank you ! When I moved in to a no carpet place, my best purchase was a roomba. Keeps the floors swept and now this will keep the floors shiny .
I would love to use environmentally products because it is free from chemicals. I normally agree on this type of cleaning. I’d love to try this and share to my friends.
I see you mentioned castile soap. I found Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap 18 in 1 hemp lavender pure castile soap and I wanted to know could I use this instead of plain castile and the drops of lavender essential oil.
I also used this to clean my computer screen. Works perfectly. 🙂 I spray a little of it on a paper towel and wipe the screen. (This may have already been mentioned in another comment. There are lots, didn’t have time to read them all to check.)
Did not work for me…I scrubbed it twice and it looks worse now than it did before I scrubbed it! How disappointing and frustrating!!
My sincere thanks to you for posting this recipe for floor cleaner!! It works AWESOME on our laminate wood floor. I’ve been trying to find something to replace our regular chemical floor cleaner, and your homemade cleaner certainly delivered. I don’t have any essential oils at the moment, so I just mixed up equal parts of the vinegar, alcohol,and water with a few drops of natural dish soap. It worked absolutely wonderful. Both my husband and I are very happy! Thank you!
My niece is allergic to isopropyls. Any suggestions for a good alternative?
I’m really not sure, I’m sorry. Maybe another kind of alcohol? If you keep it out, it should still work find, but the alcohol helps it dry quicker without any streaks.
Vinegar and water (1 cup vinegar to 1 gallon water) is the hands-down best choice for laminate floors. Detergents, polishes and other cleaners will actually leave a film and make your footprint problem appear worse.
Well, I’m sorry you feel that I’m deceiving you with “fake pictures”, but I can assure you that there is nothing photoshopped about any of the photos I use on my blog. This is the most popular post on my blog, with nearly 1 million Pins and almost 500 comments. Before making unfounded comments about the legitimacy of my photos, maybe you would like to actually try the recipe on your floors, and then you can make a meaningful comment on the post about whether or not it worked for you. Thank you. 🙂
Which vinegar, white or apple cider? All my other cleaning recipes say organic apple cider. So I was curious.
Just plain, white vinegar.
One last thing, at times, I do not mist the floor, I mist the microfiber cloth, and then clean. And I am misting, not soaking the floor. Since I am still being careful with my brand new stranded bamboo floors, I go ever so light on wetting them, but the alcohol seems to dry it so quickly!!! And I put the blues on my swiffer. Tuck the fab in the little gripper holes, and away I go. I am sure if I was soaking my floors, this could harm the polyurethane, finish, and whatever else, but since I literally mist it on,…….. sometimes I might try to go back to dry it, thinking it’s too wet, and it’s already dry to a sparkle shine.
And much to my dismay, one elder cat is using a corner to tinkle in, and those boards will now have to be replaced……. But you sure can see the damage cat urine does when it sits. I don’t mean for it to sit, but if I don’t see it/smell it for a day, the damage is already done. Poor girl, her days are numbered…… We put a small box there recently, and hopefully will solve her elderly issue.
Thank you so much! I am using this on my STRANDED BAMBOO Wood floors, and it is working great. I did not ask anyone from the bamboo world if I could, but what I notice is that the alcohol dries it so quickly, it doesn’t have time to sit and possibly damage the finish, if that makes sense. I cannot believe the difference from using the Bona stuff. My floors sparkle! With 2 dogs and 3 cats, it’s really awesome! Also, just because, I change the cloth often. I put the microfiber cloths from the dollar store (blue, come in a 2 pack I think?) and use at least 4 during my cleaning. I then wash them in the machine with just vinegar, no soap, etc., and they are ready to go. Hubs knows, not to use my “blues” for anything else.
Thanks for a great suggestion!
The first step of cleaning laminate flooring is to start with an overall, general clean. You should do this on a daily basis to prevent the material from getting ruined. Sweep up the dirt and debris and run a mop across it. Not only will you protect your flooring, you will also make it easier to do a deep clean when you need to in the long run. You can get the debris from between the tiles by sweeping the way you laid them; you can also use a vacuum cleaner.
Thanks so much for this post on cleaning floors. Recently My Uncle & myself inherited my late Grandmothers Cape Cod cottage, which ofcourse as most Senior citizens homes go…….It’s totally hardwood. Personally I must disagree with your opinion on carpet vs hardwood. I prefer carpet completely, if it’s stain resistant that is 🙂 . Hardwood floors (for me anyway) are a much greater challenge to keep clean due to lack of time to constantly be dust mopping, sweeping or polishing and absolutely everything is visible on the pretty , glossy, shiny floors. May be great for a stay @ home Mom/home maker carpet is deff easier to clean for the full time employed college student with barely enough time between studying, racing to & from school & work and careing for a elderly person all @ the same time (hard wood floors are especially dangerous for seniors who walk with canes due to slipping and babies whom ltl paws slip out from under them and they end up busting their chin/face on the hard floor. Another tremendous challenge to hard wood vs carpet is the dirt and trash my late Grandmothers 8 indoor kitties leave behind them all day, everyday. What would normally require many hours of sweeping, dust mopping, pouring up water into the mop bucket and dumping out and al that extra work I can sum up in no time with the carpet , and amazingly still have ‘SOME” time to get a ltl bit of sleep before starting it all over again. Once again , I love your post and will be using some of your stuff on my kitchen & bathroom floors but as for the rest I think I’ll just go with the softer, easier to clean/maintain, insulating carpet, In the future, I beg you , please post stuff on how to get rid of kitty odors in the kitty box closet and how to remove kitty urine (spray) from furniture. Thanks so much & we all hope you & everyone else here has a very Happy (& clean lol) Holidays :).
Roger, your comment literally put a big ol’ smile on my face, so thank you for that! Have a blessed holiday 🙂
my husband has been doing real wood floors for over a decade and we use vinegar and water to clean our real wood floors, but the vinegar has to be really diluted, like 1/8 of vinegar at the very most with water. he told me that it is the only thing you can use safely on your wood floors. you shouldnt use chemicals or cleaners, just vinegar with mostly water. i put just a bit of white vinegar in the bottom of my spray bottle and then fill the rest up with water and it works just fine for me! no problems! just fyi for those with real wood floors!
I clean houses & use water, vinegar, denatured alcohol & only few drops of Shaklee Basic H (been around 4ever) could use sal suds or castile soap I suppose… I LOVE my all purpose. Thx for scented oil tips. I can tell you denatured alcohol is FINE for stone, granite, marble, & other porous sufaces, BUT VINEGAR is NOT bc the ph…….just water & small amount denatured alcohol works for other surfaces 🙂
My only concern is how drying is the alcohol?
I have both apple cider and white vinegar. Which is best to use for wood floors?
The apple cider vinegar might leave a sticky residue if using too much, so I’d stick with the white vinegar. Though I should mention (as I’ve stated in the post) that I’ve only used this on my laminate floors – NOT hardwood! Depending on the type of finish your floors have, the acidity in the vinegar may affect the finish.
Just whipped up a batch of this – WOW it works so well! It must be the rubbing alcohol, because I’ve made this same thing before without rubbing alcohol with only minimal effects. Thanks for this recipe!
i’m just trying it now. Please work!!!!!
Are essential oils really needed or are they just to make it smell better?
You could totally leave them out if you want. I add them for fragrance, but also for some extra disinfecting properties as well. But the alcohol and vinegar do a pretty good job of that on their own.
These are great tips for cleaning floors. Sometimes I am unable to find the time or energy to keep with cleaning the floors in my home. I entire house is hardwood flooring! I recommend using a cleaning service. I use R&M cleaning service in Ventura County. Check out their website!
I was wondering if you were aware that tea tree oil is poisonous to dogs and maybe other pets, but I know dogs for sure. If you have a dog like mine that is cleaning the floor when you don’t get to it in a while you could have a sick puppy on your hands. Just thought I would let you know.
Yes Lindsay, also essential oils in general shouldn’t be used around cats either. I thought I had added this info to the post when a previous commenter mentioned it, but I guess not. Thanks for bringing it up again so I can go back and add it in! 🙂
Uh. Didn’t mean to hit send. But anyway, I was so disappointed because 1) it doesn’t clean that great, 2) you have to constantly buy cleaner and pads, & 3) it’s not worth it to me. Lol so now, I’m looking for a way to still get use of it, but use my own cleaning solution (yours) & own pads. Help! thank you,
Katie
Hi Katie,
The swiffer I used in the photo was actually my old Swiffer Vac (not a WetJet), so I just pushed the cloth into the little holes in the four corners and then tied the extra fabric around the base. I think the WetJet just has some velcro on the bottom so I’m not sure how I would make it stay on there unless I was able to try it. You might try pulling up the extra fabric on each side and tying them together with a rubber band perhaps? What I mean is I would lay the swiffer right in the center of the cloth. Then on one side, pull up the extra fabric from the 2 corners and tie them together with a rubber band, then do the same on the other side.
Hope that helps!