Homemade Floor Cleaner Recipe
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This DIY mopping solution removes grime and kills germs while leaving your floor streak-free.
No matter what type of floor cleaner you use, if you want to mop a floor well, it’s important to vacuum or sweep before mopping. Taking the time to do so removes dust and loose dirt so they don’t turn into muddy streaks once you clean.
Homemade Floor Cleaner Recipe
Combine the following in a spray bottle and shake well.
- 2 cups warm water
- 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
- 1/4 cup isopropyl (70%) rubbing alcohol
- 1/8 tsp mild liquid dish detergent (not dish soap, see below)
- 5-10 drops essential oils – optional
To use, shake the bottle thoroughly, spray a 3-foot area, and then mop. You do not need to rinse the floor. Change or rinse and wring out your mop head as needed so you are not spreading grime. Store any unused mixture in a cool dark spot and shake well before use. It stays good for several months, since the same ingredients that help it kill germs on your floor also prevent bacteria and mold in the bottle.
Usage Tips
Your Old Cleaner May Leave a Residue
The first time you use this, it may seem like your mop gets dirty faster than usual, especially if you’ve been cleaning with Swiffers. That’s because they don’t get up all the dirt and may leave a residue that attracted more grime. If you notice this, try mopping your floors once with plain water, adding a pinch of baking soda. Then, after your floor has dried, you’re ready to use this homemade mopping recipe.
Rinse Your Mop As Needed
A “no-rinse” floor cleaner means you don’t have to rinse the floor after mopping. You may have to rinse your mop head, though, especially if it’s been a while since you cleaned the floor. Using a dirty mop will leave streaks, so check it now and then.
Dish Detergent vs. Dish Soap
Although people often use the terms interchangeably, soaps and detergents are not the same things. Soaps are made using natural, fatty ingredients like plant oils or acidic ingredients derived from animal fats (like lye). Detergents use synthetic ingredients. Vinegar, which is an acid, will neutralize soaps but not detergents. Since soaps contain oils, they will also leave streaks on your floor. For this homemade cleaner recipe, use a degreasing dishwashing detergent like Dawn Original or Ajax (the yellow version). The UK equivalents are Sunlight and Fairy.
FAQS
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about this recipe. If you have a question that’s not covered below, please leave it in the comments. I update posts regularly to answer common questions, so you’ll be helping others, too.
Is this safe for all hard floors?
Yes, when used in the measurements provided. The water in this recipe sufficiently dilutes the vinegar and rubbing alcohol so they do not etch or dry out flooring materials.
✓ It works on laminate floors.
✓ It works on hardwood floors.
✓ It works on vinyl, linoleum, and tile.
✓ Yes, you can use it on marble or granite.
✓ It even works on cement.
Does this work with mopping robots?
I’ve written before about my search to find floor cleaning robots for my home that work with my homemade floor cleaner. After spending that kind of money on a robot, I didn’t want to be stuck buying a particular floor cleaning solution or wet mopping pads. I’ve been using it in my mopping robot for almost nine years, and I’m always thrilled with the results.
Can I Use this If I Have Pets?
Yes, but just like any floor cleaning product, put your pets in another room while using this and allow it to dry fully before letting them out. Also, if you have pets, use pet-safe essential oils or skip them altogether.
Can I Use a Stronger Version of Rubbing Alcohol?
If you have a stronger form of isopropyl alcohol on hand—like 90%—you can use it, but your results will change. At that concentration, the rubbing alcohol will evaporate so quickly that it may leave streaks. Before mixing up the full recipe, try making a small batch of homemade floor cleaner to see how it does on your floors. If you need to, add more water to dilute the rubbing alcohol until it cleans but doesn’t leave streaks after it dries.
Do I Dilute this Before Use?
This DIY floor cleaner isn’t a concentrated mix. It’s used at the exact strength described in the recipe unless you’re substituting a stronger rubbing alcohol. If you want to make a larger quantity, you need to multiply the ingredients, not add additional water.
Can I Substitute Something for the Rubbing Alcohol?
If you can’t find rubbing alcohol at the grocery store, pharmacy, or chemist, you can substitute a “neutral spirit” or “rectified spirit” for it as long as it’s 120-proof, clear, and unflavored. Everclear is one brand that’s available in most states.
Can I Substitute Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)?
Apple Cider Vinegar is not always a suitable substitute for white vinegar. Do not substitute it in this recipe since it contains pectin, a naturally occurring starch that will leave a film or streaks on your floor. Worse yet, it will attract household pests.
Why Make Your Own Mopping Solution?
Commercial cleaning products contribute significantly to indoor air pollution. For people with allergies or asthma, it’s crucial to keep indoor air free of irritants. But since companies don’t have to disclose what’s in their products, there’s no way to tell at a glance whether a product contains ingredients that could trigger allergies or asthma. Some even include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with cancer.
Easier on Your Budget
The cost of commercial floor cleaners is crazy. Using a Swiffer mop, for instance, runs about $0.32 per wet pad — and you are supposed to use two or three of them per room. Even bottles of commercial mopping products run anywhere from $4 to $15, depending on the brand. Over time, those expenses add up. Cleaning shouldn’t cost a fortune, and it doesn’t when you use my homemade floor cleaner recipe.
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Well, I’ll be darned!
I was reading your latest post and thought, okay, the furniture polish, air freshener and vinegar tips have been amazing, but alcohol and vinegar (mixed together) on my floors…well, let’s say I was skeptical.
Mixed up a trusty spray bottle of this concoction, and lo and behold, it is fantastic! You are right, it dries to a beautiful shine and the kitchen smells delightful. If it works this well on my hardwoods I will be ecstatic.
Thanks for another huge money saver, especially one which honestly does what is advertised.
I hope you and your family are having a wonderful summer.
I’m so glad you gave it a try, Sue! I love the way it cleans my white ceramic tile floors. Those things are the bane of my existence! How’d it work on your hardwood?
Hi Katie, the reviews for this floor cleaner are exciting, as it is so discouraging to try a new product, homemade or commercial, and get poor results. My question is, is this a no-rinse recipe? I really don’t like the idea of mopping twice, once to clean and then again to rinse. The use of dishsoap is what makes me question this. Please let me know. thanks for your tips.
Yep, it’s a no-rinse solution IF you only use the small amount of soap called for. Too much soap will actually attract dirt if you don’t rinse it off, but this recipe involves very little. Just enough to help lift dirt.
I am curious why you can’t use Castille soap?
Castile soap is a base, and so it shouldn’t be used with an acid like vinegar (or lemon juice) because they’ll cancel each other out. The vinegar will just turn the castile soap into its original oils, and those will leave streaks on your floor.
Great advice! I am just wondering if this works well on vinyl wood planks. Over time my floor has built up a film that I hate. The shine is gone. I feel it never looks clean even though I just mopped it. Any suggestions? Thanks
It should definitely clean them, but whether it removes that film or haze depends on its cause. Sometimes that film is the result of detergent buildup, and this formula would definitely remove that. You could even skip the liquid dish soap for the first mopping or two if you’re concerned.
I just gathered up 4 (yes 4) “steam cleaners” to throw away. They all worked great for a couple months and then would clog even though I used distilled water. I would put them in the garage and buy another. Now I am trying to be frugal as well as green. I bought an O Cedar mop with spinning basket and am going to try this floor cleaner. Steam cleaners are a waste of money.
I just tried this on my ceramic tile floors and it’s great! I also did the peppermint & orange essential oils…which smelled nice! My floors look very clean, clean, clean! Thanks for this non-toxic cleaner.
Great recipe! I like using essential oils my home cleaning products and I’m trying this recipe right next weekend. Thank you for sharing it!
Is Tea Tree Oil ok to use with this?
Tea tree oil is fine is you don’t have pets.
can i make this for future uses?
i’m starting a house cleaning Business and I would like to make several batches at a time. is that at all possible?
Yes, you can. Store batches in glass containers away from heat and sunlight.
I made a concentrated version of this and it works beautifully.
Basically, I tripled the recipe, excluding the water and using mandarine essential oil, and wherever I need it I just dilute it in a bucket of warm water and mop away.
Also, I used my homemade citrus vinegar ..just because 🙂
Thanks for this great tip /recipe that does wonders.
I’m so glad you liked it, Aly! Mandarine is one of my favorite scents. I bet your home smells amazing now. 🙂
Hey Aly,
I just quadrupled the recipe to make it easier measurement wise..my brain, let’s just say doesn’t fully fire all the time. Anyway, lol…just curious, do you measure the amount of your concentrate to your bucket? Basically I’m just wondering if you get just as good of results by eyeballing if you don’t measure. I guess I’m just trying to use less solution to water and wondering how that does on the cleaning end…
If my brain is firing correctly this time, that means if the recipe is quadrupled, omitting the water, to make a concentrate then I’d need about 3/4c of the undiluted “concentrate” to 2 cups of water. Kinda just being lazy here and maybe a little stingy with my ingredients I guess!!
Also, what do you think Katy??
Any advice would be appreciated!! Thanks, to all who respond in advance!!
Just as eyeballing a cooking recipe changes the results, so does eyeballing the ingredients in a homemade cleaner recipe. Using too much vinegar, for instance, could damage your floors.
*Thanks in advance, to all who respond! ?♀️
Can you use this in a steam floor cleaner?
No, you should never use anything but plain water in a steam floor cleaner or you risk damaging the machine. Also, since rubbing alcohol is flammable it’s not a good idea to heat it like that.
Could This be used on engineered hardwood floors? Apparently there is a difference in what types of things you can use on them vs real hardwood floors.
Thank you for the reply, and thank you so much for the recipe. 🙂
Yes, this is safe for wood floors. Just be sure that you use a dish soap that doesn’t contain moisturizing or oxygenating ingredients, or it will leave streaks.
You did not mention grade of rubbing alcohol. 50%, 70% or 99%
While there are different strengths, you’ll most commonly find 70% grade at grocery stores and pharmacies. That’s what I use.
I found this today!! I have tile floors and grout and the tiles have places that pool…so hard to clean but I made this and put it in a spray bottle…I did put some peppermint oil in it…I love how it looks and isn’t sticky and doesn’t smell pepperminty at all. Thanks for posting this!!
I’m glad you like it, Carol! I use it on my tile floors all of the time and, like you, love the shine it gives them. 🙂
Can you use fresh lemon juice instead of oil?
No. The lemon oil is just there for fragrance. It doesn’t change acidity, which fresh lemon juice would do — and not for the better.
Can you put this cleaning solution in the steam floor cleaners??
Definitely not. Rubbing alcohol is flammable.
Does this have to be rinsed?
Nope! 🙂
I just found this today and my floors were awful. They were awful when I moved in. But after mixing this up and going over the kitchen floor and greasy splash wall behind my stove? It’s amazing!
I’m glad you like it! This is the only way I clean my floors now.
Can you use thus on laminate wood floors
Yes, though as with all cleaning methods for laminate floors you don’t want to get them soaking wet.
Thanks for the recipe! I had all of the “ingredients” on hand. So much easier than navigating the maze of cleaning products & no harsh chemicals. I doubled the batch to mop my kitchen floor. It worked great!
I’ll be making more to keep in a spray bottle for all-around clean-ups.
I’m glad you liked it!
I was wondering if I could use this as an all purpose cleaner for other surfaces like countertops, sinks, and toilets as well.
For those surfaces, you need a disinfectant not an all-purpose cleaner.
I too would like to know what type of mop you recommend. We have tile floors, and a flat sponge mop doesn’t get into the grout lines. There are so many different types of mops that whenever I go shopping for one, I just stand there staring at them, wondering which one to get…..
What fragrance free dish soap could I substitute?
I’m not too familiar with different liquid dish soaps, but if you want to use one that’s fragrance-free just be sure it doesn’t also contain oils, moisturizers, antibacterial ingredients, or “oxygen bleach” since those ingredients will leave streaks.
Hi! I just loved using your recipe! Clean, fresh and good smelling, without all the harmful ingredients I’m used to. I mixed more than I needed. How long will this stay fresh before I need to dump and mix a new batch? Thank you!
I’m glad you liked it, Jessica! If you store it in an air-tight container, away from heat and light, it will stay good for at least two months. That’s the longest I’ve kept it, so I can’t speak to any longer than that.
9/3/2018
I said to my self You Never know.. Plus I always Try to use/find NonToxic methodology.
Yes i was Pleasantly Surprised
Thank you!
I’m glad to hear it!
Thank you so much. Worked amazing on laminate floor and best of all no streaks.
Glad to hear you liked it!
Very happy with this recipe, love that I can just mix it up whenever I need it with household staples. Left out the essential oils due to cats. Hardwood and tile floors look great.
Is this safe in a household with a small dog? I’ve been reading about essential oils harming dogs.
I have a French Bulldog and two cats, and they’re fine with it. It’s true that some essential oils can be harmful to animals, so you should research any you plan to use.
Hope this is still an active blog!
I just purchased a Braava 380t, love it, and am experimenting with a few strategies. Also have an older Romba. At night, I’m alternating one on one side of the house and one on the other. Doing bathrooms and small den during the day.
None of the ingredients in your homemade mix will do any damage to the wheels? I’m thinking that even if it damaged the mophead, it would be inexpensive to replace that. I have run it in dry mop mode with the (manufacture’s wet) cloth soaked in hydrogen peroxide and I found that it goes too fast to remove some spots and left streaks. May try rubbing alcohol in dry mop mode for quick, targeted areas.
Do you have more than one cube? I have a very open floorplan with some angles to it and I’m thinking that I should get a second cube.
Thank you so much for your help.
I use this in my Braava 380t without a problem. From what I can tell, the mop head has to be replaced every few months regardless of what solution you use. I don’t store the mop with any cleaner remaining in the head having learned about the design flaw early on.
If you put it into mopping mode, the Braava goes slower and in a Y-shape, so it also scrubs the floor while it mops. The rubbing alcohol in my floor cleaner helps it to dry faster, so it doesn’t streak. Also be sure to change your pad every 15 minutes or so — a dirty pad will leave streaks, which is true of any mop.
TBH, I don’t even bother with the cube anymore. My bedroom and kitchen open off of the great room, so I usually block the Braava from doing the kitchen one day, then use it in the kitchen but block off the other two rooms the next.
I’ve read that your not supposed to use vinegar on granite. What am I missing?
Carolyn B
Straight vinegar, no, nor even a 50:50 mix. The amount of vinegar in this recipe is diluted so greatly, however, that it does not cause etching. If you’re very concerned, you could try using my DIY granite cleaner but I have not tried using that on floors.
Have tried a number of DIY floor cleaner recipes, THIS one is the best! Was also pleasantly surprised that this quantity was enough to clean my whole (very dirty) big kitchen floor ! Thank you! I’ll be checking out everything else on your site!
I’m so glad you liked it. It’s my favorite, too!
I have ethyl rubbing alcohol, will that work the same?
No.
UnbelIevable! This formula cleaned my grout!! And floors are nice and shiny! Thank you!
You’re welcome!
Hi Joanna,
This isn’t a concentrated mix — it’s used at the exact strength described in the recipe. So, if you want to make a larger quantity, you need to multiply the ingredients, not add additional water. 🙂
I was under the impression you could not use water on wood laminate floors. Is it truly safe?
Hi Vicki,
Most modern laminate is water-resistant, which means you can use a damp mop to clean it — like with the spray bottle method I’ve described. You don’t want to slosh water everywhere, obviously, just as you wouldn’t with a hardwood floor or even vinyl.
I just bought a Vorfruende spray mop with a refillable bottle.
I used your recipe, (cut it in half), and added a few drops of Lemon Essential Oil.
Just mopped the kitchen floor, and WOW!
It worked fantastic. My how how mopping has changed!
So glad to hear it, Bobby!
I bought a floor mopping robot. How much of the cleaner would I use in this.
Hi JodiAnnie,
There’s no need to dilute it, so just fill the robot’s tank. Mine takes about a cup for a full tank, and I save the rest for the next mopping session.
The manufacturer of my new laminate floor says not to use vinegar on them….any thoughts. I have always used vinegar to clean, but I am not sure at this point. Thanks for your thoughts!
Hi Dd,
If it’s against the manufacturer’s advice, then I’d try something else. Sam’s Club makes a fantastic, affordable laminate floor cleaner. It’s the pink one.
Hi, can you use different percentages of rubbing alcohol? Or does it need to be the 70%? So in other words would a 91% work?
Hi Julie,
I recommend using 70% rubbing alcohol because it’s what’s most commonly available in stores. It’s also more affordable. If you have 91% on hand, you can certainly try it — but I’d recommend mixing up a small amount of the homemade floor cleaner to test whether the higher percentage causes such rapid evaporation that it’s too difficult to clean with.
If you have stronger alcohol (90% instead of 70%), it’s easy enough to use slightly less alcohol and slightly more water. I haven’t done the math on paper to confirm it, but I’d guestimate that using 7 ounces 90% alcohol and 1 ounce water should be about the same as one cup of 70% alcohol.
What type of dish soap do you recommend? I have seventh generation will this be okay?
I haven’t tried Seventh Generation dish soap in this since I use Dawn Original. I looked it up and saw that Seventh Generation is fragranced with citrus oils, so if you have pets you should consider using a different soap to avoid health risks. It also contains glycerin (as a foam stabilizer) and that might leave streaks.
How do I use this cleaner with my Braava Jet Mop? Do I use it straight up or just a couple of cap fulls of the solution?
Also I couldn’t find distilled vinegar so I sutstituted a equal amount of fresh squeezed lemon juice.
Lemon juice is not an acceptable substitute. It’s citric acid while vinegar is acetic acid. Citric acid can damage some types of flooring, and will probably damage your Braava. It will also leave streaks and may attract pests.
When you are able to find distilled vinegar — which is just white vinegar that’s available in grocery stores — you can fill the Braava reservoir with the mixture undiluted. After your robot mop has run, drain the reservoir instead of leaving the mixture in there.
If this can be used on laminate and wood floors, could I make a spray bottle to wipe down my kitchen cabinets?
Hi Holly, you could use it for that. But, since it contains rubbing alcohol, it’s dangerous to use around flames. I’d recommend my homemade all-purpose cleaner instead.
recipe works well , however I found it a little slippery when walking on tiled surface while just wearing socks.. I added half cup more water to the mixture and this worked well and was no longer slippery…
thank you for the recipe
Thank you for the feedback, Denise!
Do I have to worry about using the isopropyl alcohol if I have any open flames in the house? I.e., we have a gas stove and gas furnace. Also, in the winter, we use a gas fireplace to help heat our home. It’s a small house so the kitchen floor isn’t very far away from any of these things.
You should always exercise caution using any form of alcohol around open flames. Presumably, your pilot lights for the furnace and stove aren’t sitting out in the open, since most people’s aren’t. So, don’t pour this directly onto them. And if you did, chances are the water and white vinegar used in the recipe — which greatly dilute the isopropyl — would put out the flame, anyway, though I wouldn’t test that theory.
I mean, you don’t avoid using hairspray or first aid remedies just because you have a gas stove, furnace or fireplace do you? Exercise the same caution when using this.
Would it be acceptable to use apple cider vinegar in place of white vinegar for this floor cleaner?
Unfortunately, no. Apple Cider Vinegar contains pectin, which is a naturally occurring starch. This would likely leave a film or streaks on your floor. Worse yet, it will attract household pests.
Makes sense. Thank you!
You’re welcome! 🙂
Question. Could this be used as an all purpose cleaning spray or should it just be used for the floors?
Due to the rubbing alcohol (and optional essential oils), it’s not suitable for food preparation surfaces. It’s also not safe to spray around pilot lights. Plus, the ingredients are a bit overkill for most household surfaces, which is why I suggest just plain soap and water, or my homemade all-purpose spray, on things that don’t require disinfection.
Hi, could you use this to make DIY wet mops (putting some rags in a container soaking in the solution until you need them)? TIA!
I suppose you could, although the liquid dish soap (and essential oils if you use them) might separate from the other ingredients if stored for long. For quick touch-ups, I use homemade cleaning and disinfecting wipes instead.
I tried this on my floor, which had dried Mop n Glo on it. It worked better than anything else but still left waxy patches. Can you recommend anything that will remove dried wax? Thanks.
It really depends on the type of floor. If it’s not wood, natural stone, or anything else that could get damaged by vinegar, I’d use a 50-50 mixture of hot water and hot vinegar and go over it several times. For the final time I’d use plain water — no vinegar.
Can we eliminate the rubbing alcohol? If not can you suggest alternates. Thank you.
I have covered this in the article already.
can I also use denatured alcohol? the sopropyl (70%) rubbing alcohol or 120-proof clear liquor is difficult to come by here.
While denatured alcohol does a great job of removing grease, it can also strip the shine from wood floors. On other hard floors, it may leave behind a residue that causes streaks.
Question, so I was skeptical about essential oils; does this formula give the floors a smooth clean feeling? I’ve used big chain products like mr clean, Bona, and Lysol. All leave a grimey filmy type feel to my floor. Sadly only windex gives my floor the smooth clean feel but I’m tired of using windex because of the smell. Thanks ahead!!
I understand your skepticism. The oils in this recipe are primarily to add fragrance and offset the smell of the other ingredients. That’s why they’re optional. I have never had a problem with them leaving a grimy feeling when measured properly. So, skip the oils if you like but be sure to actually measure the other ingredients, including the water, so you get the right combination.
Thank you so much Katie Berry!
You’re welcome!
is this solution safe to use on high gloss tile floors? Also, we use a steam mop, am i able to spray the solution on the floor with a spray bottle and then use a steam mop to go over the surfaces? Will the high temperature ruin the high gloss coating with this solution?
I haven’t used it with a steam mop and wouldn’t recommend it, since high temperatures and rubbing alcohol aren’t a good combination. If you use a steam mop, there’s really no point in using an additional floor cleaner, anyway: the steam cleans and disinfects.
This floor cleaning solution is as close to perfection that I have seen! Preferring to use products with as little chemicals as possible, this is unique and so inexpensive. And, yet…better than any on-the-shelf product of I have paid way too much. Thank you!
I’m so glad you like it, Mari!
Is this solution safe for unsealed hardwood floors? Moved into my house 8 years ago and the dining room has unsealed hardwood floors. I don’t have the means to seal the floor and have been using my steam mop to clean it. But I would love if this solution worked, please let me know!
No, it’s not. Unfortunately, any liquid –including steam–can damage unsealed wood floors.
I figured but thanks!
can this be used on bathroom tiled walls i recently brought a house with tiled walls in the bathroom and kitchen and never had tiles before would love to know whats the best to use to clean them thank you
Yes, you could use it on tiled walls. I’d recommend using a spray bottle for that but remember not to spray it near open flames.
What a lucky Google hit this is! My laminate floor was so dirty, it was sticky in spots! Took me 5 minutes to mix up this cleaner and after only one application with minimal elbow grease, my kitchen floor is crazy clean. My bathroom floor has never looked cleaner! No rinse!! I’m sold!
I seen someone else had questioned about substitutions for the rubbing alcohol, You only said that you covered it in the article, yes you mentioned the 1 sub.. is there anything else? Could you use Peroxide?
Anything else other then rubbing alcohol or 120 proof? I’m sure not everyone has 120 proof just kicking around the house!
Peroxide isn’t the same thing as rubbing alcohol and won’t have the same effect. If mixed with vinegar, it can damage your flooring. I’ve listed ingredients and substitutions that will work to still produce a streak-free floor. If you don’t have the ingredients on hand, they’re easy to find at any store.
Are you using this in the Braava M6?
I use it all the time in my Braava 380t and have for years, but have only used it a couple of times with the M6. Either way, I don’t leave it in the reservoir after use.
I damp mop my seal wood floor every day, would this be ok to use every day? I have tried like 100 different wood cleaner and eventually they leave a flim ☹️Hopefully this will not leave a film .Next question is can’t find 1/8 measuring spoon
I’ve used it daily without a problem.
Continue from previous questions, cans this be left in a spray and mop floor cleaner or would you have to make a new batch every day?
The formula can stay in your spray mop until it’s used up.
I have a Bissel cross wave cleaner, could this be used in it? Would the solution harm a rug?
You’ll need to check the manual. If you can use commercial floor cleaners in it, or a vinegar solution, then it’s okay to use this one. If you can only use a specific cleaner, then I wouldn’t use this in place of it. And this is specifically for hard floors.
How many rooms or approximate square footage does this usually cover? My whole house is either tile or hardwood and I usually change my mopping solution after every room. Just wondering if I should continue with that practice.
There’s no way for me to answer that question, because everyone uses a different amount when they mop and a different type of mop. Some people use spray bottles to dampen the floor then mop. Some people use buckets and dunk their mop in. Sponge mops soak up solution, so someone using one will need more mix than someone using a spray mop with a microfiber pad. So, the best approach would be trying it with your mop and mopping style, then multiplying as needed. As a rule of thumb, though, you’ll need the same amount of this mopping solution as you’d ordinarily use. The recipe indicates it makes 22 fluid ounces, so multiply as needed.
Hey Katie! I recently got a bissel crosswave and was wondering if this solution would work in it? Thank you in advance! I’m looking forward to trying it!
Hi Karina,
You’ll need to check the manual. If you can use commercial floor cleaners in it, or a vinegar solution, then it’s okay to use this one. If you can only use a specific cleaner, then I wouldn’t use this in place of it.
i used EXACTLY as directed on a new mop, which i pre rinsed in case of residue. This was not streak free, my laminate floor looks just as bad as before i decided to look into youe recipe, very disappointed
I’m sorry it didn’t work as well for you as it has for others, Marlene. There are many reasons that could be, such as if it’s been a while since your floors were vacuumed or thoroughly mopped or the fact that rinsing a mop right before use adds additional water to the formula which affects its results. Hopefully, you’ll find one you like.
I’m using the distilled water and alcohol, drop of dawn liquid. It’s working fine! When should I change out the mop water? I have a puppy.
All mop solutions should be changed out when they start looking grimy, or you’ll wind up with streaks and smears since you’ll be redepositing dirt on the floor.
Can I use white vinegar that is not distilled white vinegar? I don’t know where to get distilled white vinegar but I have 3 bottles of white vinegar at home (and the bottle does not say “distilled).
Substituting undistilled white vinegar for distilled white vinegar in a cleaning recipe can cause damage. Most white vinegar sold in the U.S. is distilled white vinegar and says as much. If yours does not, then it’s acetic acid content.
My entire apartment is laminate flooring and we have new puppy. I’ve been using natures miracle and urine gone to clean up accidents immediately and to clean the crate tray. I want to do an overall deep clean and have a Shark steam mop. Should I spray the solution then use the mop or just the steam?
Most laminate manufacturers advise not to use steam mops.
Is there a recipe that could be premade by the gallon and has a shelf life to use in a spray/mop type tool?
You can multiply the recipe as needed to make a gallon. The ingredients don’t expire, so there’s no shelf-life time limit.
Hi – can I use Dawn Ultra or do you recommend just Dawn Original?
Hi Rosemarie,
I haven’t tried Dawn Ultra in this, but it’s my understanding that it is much more concentrated. If that’s true, then you may want to use much less to avoid a film or streaks.
Thanks so much!
I’ve tried this recipe a few times on my laminate floors and it always leaves them dull with a Matt film on them. It’s really hard to get it off! What am I doing wrong? I’m in the UK using washing up liquid (non dairy). Ingredients are:
15-30% Anionic Surfactants, Less than 5% Amphoteric Surfactants, Perfume, Also contains: Benzisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol
Is this the issue? Or would using too much essential oil cause this?
The only other cause I can think of is that I’m using white vinegar that isn’t distilled. Would this be a factor?
Would love some help or advice!
Thanks
Sounds like you’re using ASDA’s Zesty Lemon washing up liquid. In that case, yes, essential oils are redundant since there’s already fragrance, and the oils in addition to the surfactants would leave a soapy residue. 🙂
Hi Katie!
Do you use a specific brand of essential oil?
Thanks in advance!
Tracy
Hi Tracy! I’m not too particular about which brand. I just make sure they’re 100% essential oil, not a synthetic “fragrance oil”.
Can you use cleaning vinegar- stronger acidity (6%) than vinegar, (5%) in cleaning solution for floors? I use it in my homemade cleaning solutions with no problems noted.
I wouldn’t. Since this is a no-rinse floor mopping solution, using more acidic vinegar may damage some types of flooring over time.
I have a robot vacuum/mop which doesn’t allow me to use a solution in it, but spraying cleaner on the pad works well. I am using up the last of the wood floor cleaner I bought at the moment and then I think I’ll give this a try. I’m hoping that I can substitute the Aware detergent for the Dawn (we have allergy issues, but also animal testing concerns). Given the small quantity the recipe uses, I think that should be fine.
Hi there, would using distilled or purified water make a difference? Thank you in advance. I’m really excited to use this new concoction on my tile floors!
No, it doesn’t affect this homemade floor cleaner recipe for tile floors.
I really wanted to like this. It smells good. The floor doesn’t feel sticky or weird. But it did leave streaks. I’m sad. I used dawn dishwashing liquid, 70%alcohol. I think I used sweet orange oil and peppermint for the essential oils. The only thing might be the mop pad, so I switched to a new, totally clean one. And remopped the wood floors. Still streaky.
I’m sorry it didn’t work for you.
This works fantastically in my Libman spray mop. I was a little concerned the smell of the vinegar or alcohol would be pretty strong but it’s not. I didn’t add any essential oil the dish soap I use has a little lemongrass essential oil in it already. Floors look terrific!
That’s great to hear, Steve! I love lemongrass. I bet your home smells fantastic!
I have a Shark Steam mop that I can no longer get cleaning solution for. Is this suitable to use as a replacement?
I wouldn’t recommend using it in a steam mop. Those are designed to work well with plain water, but turning rubbing alcohol into steam is not a good idea.
I’m confused because you said use dish detergent (not dish soap), then you listed dish soaps to use (Dawn, etc). My liquid soaps I use for hand-washing dishes say “Dish Soap”, and the Dawn says “Dishwashing Liquid”. Dish DETERGENT, in my opinion, is automatic dishwasher detergent like Cascade. I just looked up what Seventh Generation has and on their site they split “Dishwasher Detergent” and “Dish Soap”. So, which do I use? None of the bottles I have for hand-washing dishes say “detergent” anywhere….
Dawn is a liquid dish detergent. They call it “dishwashing liquid” to differentiate it from dish soap. In the section “dish detergent vs. dish soap” I specifically recommend using Dawn.
Hi I’ve got these 1 litre spray bottles. Can I put a couple more cups of water into the solution? Will it still do a good job as a multi purpose cleaner or should i just make up more batches?
I’d recommend multiplying the ingredients to suit the size of container you want to use, just as you’d multiply ingredients in any recipe to change “serving sizes.”
Just made and used this. Very impressive!
I’m so glad you liked it! Enjoy your gorgeously clean floor. ❤️