5 Earth-Friendly Ways to Clean Your Hardwood Floors
Floor cleaners sold by major retailers are often filled with toxins. Not only are these toxins harmful to your body, but they are also very harmful to the environment. The solution to this problem is to use either homemade hardwood floor cleaners or cleaners made by eco-friendly companies.
It's important to remember that not all cleaners are safe for wood floors, but these five have proven to be effective in making your hardwood floors glisten while leaving them protected.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is likely the most easily available environmentally friendly cleaner that you can use on hardwood floors. There's a good chance that you've already got a bottle or two stowed away in the bathroom cabinets. If hydrogen peroxide will effectively clean a wound, then it would stand to argue that it can also be highly effective in making your floors glisten.
In addition to being a powerful cleaner, hydrogen peroxide also has antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Do you have stubborn stains that you can't manage to get out? Hydrogen peroxide can easily lift stains from hardwood floors while drying them. To clean your floors with hydrogen peroxide all you need to do is fill a spray bottle with three percent hydrogen peroxide and spray it directly onto your floor. After allowing it to sit for a few minutes use a microfiber cloth to wipe it clean.
Citrus Cleaner
Citrus floor cleaners are an excellent option for many reasons. Natural citrus cleaners, made from oranges, grapefruits, and lemons, are eco-friendly and free from harmful toxins. You won't have to worry about the kids absorbing the products when they walk across the floor, or if the dog will get sick after licking up a spill.
The acid in citrus floor cleaners effortlessly cleans up grease splatters and is also effective in eliminating pathogens that can get you or your loved ones sick.
As if all of that isn't enough, consider that citrus floor cleaners will protect the surface of your floor and leave a beautiful shiny finish. Let's not forget the pleasant aroma that will fill your home after using a floor cleaner made from the juices of lemons, oranges, or grapefruits.
Thieves Cleaner
The wonderful thing about Thieves Cleaner is that it can be used to clean just about anything. Sticky kitchen counters, food splattered stove top, and dirty hardwood floors – Thieves Cleaner can take care of it all.
Thieves Cleaner is made by Young Living and has an essential oil base. It's environmentally friendly and much safer to use than alternative products.
Here are two different Thieves Cleaner recipes that you can safely use on your hardwood floors. Young Living recommends combining the following ingredients:
● One capful Thieves Household Cleaner
● One cup of olive oil
● Ten drops of pine essential oil
One avid Thieves Cleaner user has made her own concoction that several people have found to leave the floors looking even better than the previous recipe. For this cleaner, you will need:
● One capful of Thieves Cleaner
● One teaspoon of distilled white vinegar
● Four cups of water
● Two-three drops of lemon or pine essential oil
Attitude Floor Cleaner
Attitude makes their products with the safest and purest products around. This floor cleaner is made of plant-based and mineral-based ingredients and is free of toxic cancer-causing chemicals. As is the case with most natural and eco-friendly floor cleaners, you do not have to rinse the floor after using it with this product. You simply need to mix a quarter cup of Attitude floor cleaner with four liters of water.
Enjoy the fresh citrus scent while using a safe product that is sure to leave your floors with a streak-free shine.
The Three-in-One Power Cleaner
This simple miracle power of three-in-one cleaner will leave your floors looking as good as new! For this floor cleaner, you will begin by combining 1/4 cup of olive oil and 1/3 cup of white vinegar. Then you will add in five cups of hot water. Top it off by mixing in 12 drops of your favorite lemon essential oil to give a pleasant scent and grease penetrating quality to your homemade floor cleaner.
Here’s What You Need to Avoid
When cleaning your hardwood floors, you should use extra care. Don't ever use a steam mop on your hardwood floor, as it can break down the protective layer of your floor over time. In fact, you should use as little water as possible when cleaning your floors with any product. You also want to avoid pouring any cleaning product directly onto the floor because it can cause swelling and cracking. The types of cleaners that you want to avoid using on your hardwood floor at any cost are:
● Pledge
● Endust
● Ammonia
● Dishwashing detergent
● Wax or silicone-based products
● Powdered all-purpose cleaner
As you can see, many floor cleaners that you can find at large retail stores are not ideal to use on your hardwood floors, as it can compromise the quality. Not only will using an earth-friendly floor cleaner be safer for the environment and your family, but it will also lead to a longer, more beautiful life for your hardwood floors.
What natural ways have you used to clean your hardwood floors that you swear by? Let me know in the comments below!
