Hardwood Floor Cleaner: Home Recipe
March 26, 2010 by Tania
Filed under Clean House, Simple Solutions
Mixing up new cleaning formulas has become a recent hobby. I love not spending hundreds of dollars on cleaning products and knowing exactly what I’m using in my home.
2 tbs Oil
2 tbs lemon juice
2 tbs alchohol
24 oz Water
or
2 tbs Oil
2 tbs Castille soap – I like the almond for wood floors.
2 tbs Alchohol
24 oz Water
Front bottle contains the Hardwood Floor cleaner.
If you like a little more fragrance add an essential oil of your choosing. PND likes almond and citrus for cleaning products.
Mix in Method Spray Cleaner Bottle – Spray on floor using a damp cloth over a mop to wipe. Because these cleaners contain oil – you do need to make sure you shake the bottle, to keep the liquids mixed while cleaning.
I’ve also used Method Hardwood Floor Cleaner, using about 1/2 cup and putting it in a spray bottle, fill with water. Spray directly on the floor and mop with a damp cloth.
Also try:
PND All Purpose Cleaner Recipe
PND Foaming Handsoap Recipe
Great tips. I usually just use vinegar and water since soap usually leaves scum on the floors. I may try your recipe though since you use very little soap.
Yep, I use only vinegar and water, too. The lemons add a nice smell.
I’m going to try the one with Castille soap since I have so much of it. Do you have any hard wood floor polisher ideas? Would something like almond oil work?
How do you remove your labels from the Method bottles. I’m super frustrated cause they are all sticky now! I don’t want to use something toxic on the outside of the bottle like gew b gone.
Ha! I’m with you… I can’t stand keeping the labels on! My removal technique involves a lot of soaking… some straight up Castille Soap, Oil (on occasion) and a LOT of patience.
Sometimes they will soak next to my sink for longer than I care to admit!
What’s the “oil” in the recipe?
I use olive or grapeseed oil. Any oil that won’t spoil too quickly would work.
Why do you add oil t all? I just had my floors refinished and am looking or a great mild cleaner that wont destroy the finish. I see that there is alcohol and commercial brands use ethnol so that’s the same, but why oil? And why soap?
The oil is to condition the wood… if your wood requires it – omit if it does not… not all will. The soap is to break down dirt.
I hope that helps!
What kind of alcohol? Rubbing or drinking?
Either will work! : ) Sometimes I use vodka, just cause it seems more fun!
I used this on the floors in the house we are moving into, they were a mess. The next day we went to look at them and they are beautiful. I am so pleased with this I will never buy another floor cleaner/polisher. Thank you
Glad it worked out for you. So Simple. We’ve been using a steam cleaner on ours recently… and I LOVE that option too. Steam works for floors that have a good seal/finish.
Hi! I just made this cleaner! got my floors nice & clean! any tips on how to get shine? i used to use Mop & glow & love the shine my floors had,i seem to have lost that with this recipe , did i mix something wrong or is there something i could add?
I should add i am using a steam mop, i spray the solution & then run my steam mop of it, would that be why i am losing the shine?
Can a person use this recipe on “Laminated” wood floors??
I would omit the oil. With laminate floors you are concerned with getting them clean… rather than conditioning them in anyway.
If you are using a steam mop… I would use it on it’s own. I find the steam mop does a good job. The sheen is typically derived from the finish on your floor – unless you are using a chemical product to give you shine – and that typically results in undesirable build up.