Tackle dirt, grease and grime on your floors with this DIY citrus floor cleaner. This solution features citrus fruit, vinegar and castile soap — three ingredients that make an excellent trio for cleaning vinyl, laminate and tile flooring. Learn how to make this basic floor cleaner product below.
Paw prints. Mud. Wood chips. Leaves. Crumbs. Grease.
The floors of a homestead can get a lot of traffic. And a lot of wear and tear.
Our entryway is covered in an off white tile flooring. As pretty as it is, it reveals every bit of dirt and grime known to man. When we first moved into our small town country home, I covered the entryway with a line of rugs that led from the door to the kitchen. My homemade “aisle runner” helped to keep all dogs paws and footprints to one area. My floors looked much cleaner, however, the room was unappealing with my line of mismatched rugs positioned from one end to the other.
A change was needed.
Instead of being concerned about everyone stepping on the designated areas, I removed the aisle runner and opted for one thin mat at the door and made more of an effort to keep the floors clean with a spray mop.
With high traffic in our home and two furry pups, I routinely clean our floors. The flooring in our 1930s home consists of hardwood, tile, vinyl and one room of carpet (in the living area). For most of the rooms, a quick vacuum and spritz with the spray mop does the trick. But in some areas such as the kitchen and laundry room where lots of activity happens, the floors need a deep and thorough cleaning.
My vinegar floor cleaner infused with citrus is my go-to deep cleaning solution. It tackles dirt, grease and grime (especially around the oven), stains and buildup. Not only is it an effective floor cleaner, I love that is uses simple, natural ingredients and no harsh chemicals. If you’re looking for an all-natural DIY floor cleaner, you’ve come to the right place. This solution will leave your floors sparkling!
Why Clean Floors With Vinegar?
Vinegar is a powerhouse cleaning agent for your entire home. The acidic nature of white vinegar works wonders to help remove grease and stains from your flooring as well as help keep them shiny and remove foul odors.
What Are the Best Ingredients to Use to Mop Floors?
- Distilled white vinegar
- Castile soap
- Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons and limes
- Hot water
- Essential oils
- Dried herbs
How to Make a Floor Cleaner With Vinegar
A quick and convenient floor cleaner recipe can be made with just a half cup of white vinegar and a gallon of hot water. I like to infuse citrus into the vinegar for extra cleaning power and a pleasant fresh orange scent. Essential oils, castile soap and dried herbs infused into the vinegar make a nice addition to DIY floor cleaners.
Tips for Cleaning Floors
- Dust, sweep and/or vacuum your floors often to reduce dirt and wear and tear to your flooring.
- To clean your floor, use a bucket, large sponge, mop or scrub brush.
- When mopping your floors, wring out the mop as much as possible. Excess water can damage flooring and can extend drying time. An extra towel on hand may be of use to soak up any excess water.
- For tough, sticky spots, use a scrub brush.
Free Spring Cleaning Checklist
Tackle household cleaning with this comprehensive free printable spring cleaning checklist. Tidy up room by room including the kitchen, dining and living spaces. Each step will help you stay organized and on task. Click on the image above or on this link right here to instantly download and print the spring cleaning list.
Homemade Floor Cleaner Recipe
Ingredients
2 cups vinegar
Fresh orange pieces, peelings or scraps from two oranges
1 tablespoon castile soap
Quart size mason jar and lid
How to Make a Simple Homemade Floor Cleaner
In a quart size glass jar, add the orange pieces. Pour the vinegar over top, completely covering the citrus. Place a plastic cap onto the jar and store in a cool, dark spot for one week. Strain out the oranges and pour the citrus infused vinegar into a sealed container.
To use, fill a gallon bucket with hot water. Add 1/2 cup citrus infused vinegar and 1 tablespoon castile soap. Mop floors immediately. This all-natural floor cleaner works best on laminate, vinyl or ceramic tile flooring.
Avoid using on hardwood floors. Due to acid in the vinegar and citrus, there is a possibility the acidic combination can destroy the finish on hardwood flooring over time.
More DIY Cleaning Recipes
Citrus Dishwasher Detergent Powder
DIY Citrus Floor Cleaner
Tackle dirt, grease and grime on your floors with this DIY citrus floor cleaner. This solution features citrus fruit, vinegar and castile soap — three ingredients that make an excellent trio for cleaning vinyl, laminate and tile flooring. Learn how to make this basic floor cleaner product below.
Materials
- 2 cups vinegar
- Fresh orange pieces, peelings or scraps from two oranges
- 1 tablespoon castile soap
- Quart size mason jar and lid
Instructions
- In a quart size glass jar, add the orange pieces. Pour the vinegar over top, completely covering the citrus. Place a plastic cap onto the jar and store in a cool, dark spot for one week. Strain out the oranges and pour the citrus infused vinegar into a sealed container.
- To use, fill a gallon bucket with hot water. Add 1/2 cup citrus infused vinegar and 1 tablespoon castile soap. Mop floors immediately. This all-natural floor cleaner works best on laminate, vinyl or ceramic tile flooring.
Notes
Avoid using on hardwood floors. Due to acid in the vinegar and citrus, there is a possibility the acidic combination can destroy the finish on hardwood flooring over time.
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