Natural Floor Cleaners?

I use white vinegar. I am glad to say that I have gotten rid of all my chemical cleaners. I use baking soda, and vinegar all over the house. Things are clean and vinegar is also a disinfectant. My house still smells clean and fresh!

yep I agree...vinegar is what I use. White or apple cider. you can clean a lot with vinegar and you can't beat the price compared to those "green" cleaners at the store!

hi- just want to add, vinegar is the best, inexpensive and works great. i agree with the other posts and wanted to give it another "go for vinegar" plug. good luck. C..

We use Murphy's Oil Soap and water... what we use in our home, we also use Murphy's in a spraybottle with water (3parts water 1 part Murphy's) as a general purpose cleaner. When we clean the sinks and tub, we sprinkle baking soda and use the murphy's spray and scrub.

Mrs. Meyers and Method might call themselves "natural", but they do contain artifical fragrance which has pthalates, a hormone disruptor.

Pine Sol has been brought up recently as a concern for athsma and other respiratory problems. There was a documentary produced, and I wish I could remember the name of it, that basically said Americans use cleaning products because of marketing that tell them they need them--not because they are better than the tried and true methods (like vinegar)... The manufacturers have responded by creating sythetic everything, that has NO regulation or oversight as to how healthy or unhealthy it is for people's health. (I totally sound like a conspiracy theorist or something, but it's what made me look for alternatives to Pine Sol, Febreze, fabric softener, etc. and when I did, I was glad to switch)

Good luck!

I agree with those listing white vinegar. I use a spray bottle with half water and half vinegar. It does leave the room smelling like vinegar for about an hour afterward but it fades and you get used to the smell after a while. It will take off mineral build-up with some elbow grease. It also kills the germs. Likewise I add a cup or two of vinegar to my mop water. Sometimes when I mop the floors I add a few drops of lemon essential oil to the mop water to add a lemon smell. The lemon also kills germs. Maybe since you like the pine smell you could get some pine essential oil to add to the mop water.

I've done alot of research as well, and I have found that white vinegar with water, and a drop of dish soap to cut the smell works very well. Also, I have been using Hydrogen peroxide mixed with water, is a disinfectant and isn't harmful to clean with. Its so cheap that if they sold it as a cleaner, the other cleaners wouldn't be able to compeat with it! Hope that helps.

Hi there,

I personally just spot clean with water, since I really dislike housecleaning. (Unlike you, it does not add to my personal happiness...but my sis is just the opposite, so I understand where you are coming from.) Anyway, just a thought, but you might want to reconsider "slick" floors. You are a balanced, practiced adult and have been walking for years; however, your daughter might find a too-slick floor too much for when she's wearing socks or slippers. We have hardwoods that aren't slick at all, and my 2 yr old son regularly slips on them in his stocking feet, to the point that he has to be barefoot or in rough-bottomed slippers. Like I said, just a thought....:)

white vinegar.. especially well on the "fake wood floors" we have the pergo brand fake wood.. and it says on the directions when you install the floor to use white vinegar mixed with water :)
Lenc

Try a mixture of vinegar ( nice, cheap big bottle of cider or white vinegar) and water - about half and half. You will be amazed ( maybe - I like it- and it surely cant hurt.) This mixture is the BEST for cleaning old wood furniture that was finished- and likely waxed and polished but is now tired and worn. It acts on the wax and makes sad, tired surfaces look shiney and brighter --- it can't hurt- and you might love it.

Good luck-
J.
Old Mom

I use vinegar/water/baking soda. I use it everywhere, including laundry. I would not use on your wood floors though. Also the vinegar take the soapy build up off of your linoleum and bathroom.

I love to use Muphy's Oil Soap. A little goes a long way. I just put 1/4 cup in a large spray bottle with water and it cleans everything! Linoleum floors, wood furniture, countertops, walls, trim, appliances... And you don't have to rinse! Just squirt, wipe, and dry. It has just the lightest soapy smell and leaves everything clean and smooth.

For glass, I like to use vinegar and water. It cuts the grease easily and leaves the glass shiny and clear.

Good luck!
-B. M.-

I use 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water.

We have a Shark Steam Mop that works great! It only uses water to clean, but does a fantastic job on our floors even with a dog, 2 cats, and a toddler. I got ours at Costco for about $60 I think, but have also seen them at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and Target. I highly recommend it!

I love the Method line of products, Target carries most of them, they also have baby care products that smell great.

http://www.methodhome.com/

Also, if it's not too cold outside, try to clean with a window open.

I like my steam mop. For really heavy jobs the steam mop can't handle, I still use the old-fashioned string mop, and I use a little drop of dish soap in the pail for the floors. It's non-toxic and removes dirt really well.

I have heard that vinegar works good. However, I have changed all of my cleaning products because I also don't want those toxins and chemicals around my kids. Email if you would like to know more about that.

I have one of the Shark steam mops and it works great on my floors. I still spot-clean by hand if I get a really sticky spot, but for day to day cleaning it does great. No chemicals and a re-useable mop head (mine came with 2).

yes, 1/4 cup Vinager & 2 qts hot water ( even cold works) mix in mop bucket & mop. Vinager is a natural germ killer & also smells homey, for tough sticky messes sprinkle backing soda on it & watch the foam eat your sticky mess. this mixture can be used for the entire house & both ingredients can be purchased with foodstamps ( if your on them). I use 1/2 cup vinager for the bathroom & kitchen just for the extra tough germs. if you want a premixed bottled product "Bio-Kleen" is awsome & smells great, you can find it in the health food section of stores like Fred Meyers. The Bio-Kleen has a very nice line of products that's earth / animal & of course Child friendly .yes it is smelled with a k (Kleen). I have a 3 yr old & pets & both these ideas work great for us.

I love method - I bought the cleaner that came with the omop and it smells good and my floor is really shiny!

I love, love, love Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day All Purpose Cleaner and use it religously to clean my floors. I've used it on tile, linoleum, and hardwood and have been so happy with the results and the lack of toxins. I highly recommend!

Vinegar and water, or if you insist on a ready made product, Citrisolv

I carry a environmentally friendly general purpose cleaner on my web portal if you are interested. We have two different cleaning brands. The Snap products and Global Care. Snap carries a all purpose cleaner. If you go to my web portal, www.cprnetmarketing.com and on the left go to HOME & GARDEN, cleaning supplies you will see a link for environmentally friendly cleaners, go check it out.

I know of a GREAT product that not only will keep your floors shiny and bright but is kid safe and for the WHOLE house. Cost effective also because it is really concentrated. You can even call the Poison Control center and they don't have it listed as a poison whereas most other cleaners are. In other words it is safe for you, your kids and your pets.

Go to shaklee.net/a_leading_edge/getclean and see the awesome cleaners. Also, I would be happy to send you a DVD on the cleaners with no strings attached. If you are interested you call me - I don't call you.

Shaklee is a company that is over 50 years and was green before "green" was in. Like 50 years ago. I love these cleaners, hardly ever have to buy them and they clean up so nice and your house is smelling clean and fresh.

N.
wife, mom, grandma, wellness coach

i have heard adding a bit of lavendar oil or lemon or other 'soft' fragance can cut the vinegar smell way down.