April 26, 2013
DIY Homemade Cleaners {Hardwood Floor Cleaner}
Making your own cleaners can be fun and economical. This series is all about must-have ingredients, recipes {free printable}, labels {free printable}, and how to make homemade cleaners.
My favorite way to wash my hardwood floors is with warm water, vinegar, and essential oils. (You can see how I use this method in more detail with a bucket and microfiber cloths in this post.) The cleaning power comes from the water and vinegar, but I add a couple drops of essential oils to keep the house smelling a little less pickle-y. I’ve done a lot of research on this method and it is what is most recommended by hardwood floor installers and refinishers. However, vinegar is acidic, so it’s super important to make sure that the ratio of water to vinegar is correct because too much vinegar can dull the finish of your floors. It’s also very important to use a barely damp cloth when washing your hardwood floors because too much water can damage your floors too.
Here are the simple ingredients:
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1 gallon of warm water
- 2-3 drops essential oils (I love lemon or lemon and clove for my hardwood floors)
I mix this up using the same ratio in my floor cleaner:
- 3 teaspoons white vinegar
- 16 ounces of warm water
- 1-2 drops essential oils (I love lemon or lemon and clove for my hardwood floors)
Pop on a label and you’re all set!
Come see this updated post with my favorite 3 ways to clean hardwood floors with vinegar:
Follow my Pinterest board for lots of cleaning tips and more DIY recipes!
Click here to see all the posts in this series.
There’s a whole section of recipes for cleaning your floors naturally in my book, The Organically Clean Home!
Looking for more DIY Inspiration?
Get Access to Clean Mama's Free DIY Recipes Printable
You'll also get access to the entire free printable library!
Marcia K Says
Not sure if my last question posted properly. I’m wondering if essential oils are the same as the scented oils you would find in the candle aisle in a store like Walmart?
Becky - Clean Mama Says
Scented oils typically use fragrance and essential oils are the actual product (lemons) distilled down into the oil. I only recommend using food-grade essential oils, but you can try the others and see what you think!
xo, Becky
John Chrapkowski Says
I agree that you should only use essential oils. The scented oils may have other ingredients that harm your wood floor
Crista Says
Beckie, I love home made cleaners too. However vinegar’s pH level is acidic and will eventually damage wood floors. Wood floor cleaner must be pH neutral.
Crista Says
link to using vinegar: http://www.ehow.com/info_8008807_vinegar-harm-hardwood-floors.html
Becky - Clean Mama Says
Crista-
Yes, the jury is out on the best way to wash hardwood floors, but with a little care and the proper ratio of water to vinegar, my research has shown that a vinegar/water solution is the best way to wash hardwood floors.
xo, Becky
Bailey Says
Our HW installer recommended vinegar OR ammonia (diluted in warm water). We always got comments on how clean & shiny our woods were and used that method for 7+ years with no issues. Just get the ratio right & don’t leave puddles of water. Happy Cleaning!!
Kayla wright Says
Vinegar is acidic but water is alkaline so as long as the ratio is right they meet in the middle to be neutral while still actually cleaning!
Sarah R Says
I’m looking forward to trying out this and the other homemade cleaning solutions! Where do you find your essential oils?
Becky Says
Post authorHi Sarah!
My favorite brands are DoTERRA and Beeyoutiful.
xo, Becky
Shi Says
I am looking forward to trying this out. I love your homemade all purpose cleaner it’s excellent. So without a doubt I know this will be just as fantastic!
I am kind of bummed I am going to miss your e-book sale oh well your two books is all I need :p
Shi Says
By the way thanks for recommendation of the mop I am going to give it a go.
patsy Says
I’m reviewing some of your recipes and am confused why two different ones are listed for your hardwood floor cleaner? Is this for a large batch job (gal of water) and a separate one for small spot cleaning (16 oz of water)? I’m confused. Thanks for your help.
Becky Says
Post authorThe floor cleaner that’s pictured only holds 16 ounces so that is the smaller ratio. If I mix up a bucket with the cleaner I use the other recipe. Hope that helps! xo, Becky
Karatemom Says
My hardwood floors got dull and cloudy when I used this cleaner. 🙁
C Says
Not all hard wood floors can be cleaned easily with this solution. It sounds like you have a wax finish or a polyurethane finish that needs to be removed and replaced. The first time I used vinegar on my floor I had the same problem it turned out I left the vinegar on too long too strong and it started to lift the finish.
Laura Says
What did you do to fix it?
Stephanie Depuy Says
Just a word of caution if you have cats. I have read that citrus essential oils can be dangerous to use around cats. I love do terra essential oils and I want to try this recipe. I am going to use non citrus essential oil, just to be on the safe side. Thanks!
C Says
Citrus oil is not dangerous, they just don’t like it. There are a lot of essential oils out there that are not appropriate for a household with cats. I suggest before deciding on a scent you do you research and look into not only which ones are safe for all residents of your home but how they can affect your mood, appetite, immune system, sleep patterns and overall health. Keep in mind that not everyone reacts the same to each scent and what may be soothing to you could be aggravating to someone else.
Bonnie Says
Do the oils leave a slick residue or anything on the floor? I have someone in my home that walks with a cane. Just wondering if the oils would make it difficult for her.
Becky Says
Post authorI would never use essential oils in a steam mop – only in a spray mop (that’s pictured) 🙂
xo, Becky
Kelly Says
Nope. Use essential oils diluted with sweet almomd oil and water to clean all surfaces. Electronics, even GLASS!
Rkindschi Says
Be VERY careful using any amount of essential oils in a floor cleaner. I used to put ONE drop of lemon essential oil in my mix for cleaning my wood floors and fate one year my Haan steam mop was ruined.
Amira Says
Can you just make some and store it or does it have to be warm when you use it?
Becky Says
Post authorAbsolutely – it doesn’t have to be warm 🙂
xo, Becky
Amira Says
Thank you!!!
Felicia Says
Thank you for the easy floor cleaning recipe!! I LOVE lemon & clove, use that in distiilled water for a room spray, so when I saw your floor cleaner I thought it was meant to be 🙂 Thanks!!
Stu Says
I have a question, when our floors dry after cleaning with vinegar and water, they seem dull or there is a haze.
I have a traditional (old style solid wood) brazilian cherry floors. While work to keep clean with 3 teenage daughters they are beautiful when clean and not dull or hazy.
Help!
Stu- a dad that does the floors!
Tanya Says
Thanks! I used this, and used lavender essential oil cause that’s all that I had in the house, and it cleaned well and smelled so nice! Not buying hardwood floor cleaner anymore!
LoveApple Says
I wonder whether this DIY Homemade Cleaners safe to use with Steam Mop or not?
I agree with you when using vinegar and a little oil will be very good for hardwood floors, but when I use the steam mop fear will ruin it
Becky Says
Post authorWater is the only liquid you should put in your steam mop.
xo, Becky
Sharon Says
I have always had carpeting, vinyl, and tile. I just had wood look laminate put in and cannot find a cleaner for it! Does this work on laminate as well or does anybody have a cleaner for it?
Becky Says
Post authorI prefer mixing up equal parts white vinegar, vodka, and water.
xo, Becky
Rita Says
NEVER EVER use anything but straight WATER in a steam mop!!!
Dominique Says
I have heard that lemon essential oil can degrade plastic. Have you had any issues with your refillable mop in this regard?
Becky Says
Post authorNo, I haven’t – but it’s a small ratio of EO to water, that’s why I think it works!
Michelle Says
Heinz vinegar contains GMO’s. You can use 365 organic vinegar instead. I would cough continuously once I sprayed Heinz into the air. Suprisingly when I switched to organic vinegar I didn’t cough while breathing it in. I used it for years believeing that is was safe and that it did not contain pesticides. I was wrong
valerie Says
can you please tell me which mop to buy (the one pictured) for hard wood floors? i take it you put the vinegar solution in this mop? love the idea and set up and i want to replicate.
Becky Says
Post authorThis is a Casabella Spray Mop 🙂
xo, Becky
Angela Murphy Says
Looking for something to add To my wood floor cleaner any suggesting to bring bacK the shine.
Tammy Says
Hi! Would this solution be acceptable for laminate wood flooring? I’m a big fan of using vinegar on floors.
Becky Says
Post authorYes, but you can also do a equal parts of these ingredients for laminate:
rubbing alcohol
vinegar
water
10-20 drops essential oil (if you’d like)
Anna Says
Am I understanding correctly that this solution has to be rinsed back off once it is dry? Thanks!
Becky Says
Post authorNo rinsing necessary!
Kelly Says
Are there any essential oils that should NOT use with babies crawling around on the floors?
Also, I’ve heard that adding rubbing alcohol will help with drying and streaking. Is this true? Thanks!
Becky Says
Post authorThe ratio of liquid to essential oil is so small that you should be good BUT do your research first 🙂 I use rubbing alcohol in a handful of DIY recipes to help with the drying time – it works great!
Janelle Says
So I tried this with a microfiber pad mop. Unfortunately, it left water mark streaks all over the floor on my dark hardwood. Is the microfiber a no go, as it might not get the floors dry enough? Or is it the dark wood that shows the water marks?
Becky Says
Post authorDark wood is notorious for showing water marks – try rinsing the mop pad thoroughly a couple times while you’re washing the floors. Work in small sections and dry as you go – hope this helps!
Lyndsay Says
So my question is…what mop is that? I am looking for a cleaning mop that I can put my own cleaner in it. Thanks
Becky Says
Post authorIt’s a spray mop from Casabella 🙂
Dione Says
I’m wondering where you got that mop with sprayer from?
Becky Says
Post authorIt’s a Casabella:
http://amzn.to/2kYFek0
Linden Says
I found this Casabella mop at a TJMaxx, and was so excited! Too bad it is so flimsy that it broke when my husband pushed hard on it to scrub a spot on the floor. I like the idea of being able to use both sides of the mop head, but because it is designed that way, all the pressure from the handle is on a very weak point on the mop head. I recently replaced it with the OXO spray mop, and am super happy with it! It is sturdy, and the mop head detaches to reveal a small spot scrubber! After going through Swiffers (wasteful), the Rubbermaid Reveal mop (sprayer broke in less than 6 months), and the Casabella mop (flimsy), I think I have found my spray mop. (I know this sounds like an ad, but no, I don’t work for anyone and am not sponsored).
Michele Taylor Says
Does this vinegar solution work on Bamboo flooring???
b r Says
Post authorI would try this solution for bamboo:
https://www.cleanmama.net/2016/09/clean-hardwood-floors-without-vinegar.html
Phyllis Gootee Says
We removed carpet and found hardwood floors!! The wood does not have a polyurethane coating. What do you recommend for cleaning?
b r Says
Post authorTry this one:
https://www.cleanmama.net/2016/09/clean-hardwood-floors-without-vinegar.html
Pingback: Spring Cleaning: 16 Natural DIY Household Cleaners – what great grandma ate
Pingback: Cleaning Hardwood Floors Naturally Vinegar | Our Meeting Rooms
nicki Says
Hi Becky! I have used the vinegar method many times (learned about it from you!) but this month had a problem.
I purchased the vinegar online from Amazon because I have problems carrying things right now, and I got this product:
Heinz Cleaning Vinegar, 128 oz, Poly Bagged & Boxed.
I mixed it up as usual and started cleaning the floor and noticed a problem: the floor was getting bleached and the finish was going dull.
It seems like the acidity was much higher than usual, and now my floors are pretty dull. Of course, I won’t use this vinegar again on the floors.
Do you have any ideas of how I can restore the shine with a natural product? These floors are old wood slates, beautiful really, with a polyurethane finish.
By using the not shoes method and the vinegar & water cleaner I have been able to keep them looking beautiful for 14 years. But I may have just wrecked them with this different vinegar.
Help! (If you can)
Thanks for your great site!
Nicki
Clean Mama Says
Post authorCleaning vinegar is a one-two percent higher acid than standard vinegar – that could be why you are seeing the dulling. I would try rinsing with just water and seeing if that does anything.