Having hardwood floors may be great. They are durable, stylish, cosy and overall a great addition to any interior design. Cleaning this type of floor however, may be tricky. Hardwood floors are gentle and usually require a pH neutral cleaner. Vinegar is an acid. However, when diluted with water it becomes a perfect method for cleaning hardwood. It will cut through dirt and grime, leaving a streak-free and naturally clean floor.

If you are hesitant, test in an inconspicuous spot. Keep in mind those recipes are only suitable for sealed or prefabricated hardwood floors. Do not use them on waxed or unfinished ones.

There are a lot of commercial cleaning solutions on the market – from natural, eco-friendly ones to strong chemical ones that will attack a certain type of stains or dirt. However, when treating wooden floors, you should be careful not to use the wrong cleaning product. Using the incorrect chemicals might cause permanent damage to your flooring. In this article we will show you a few recipes for cleaning solutions suitable for hardwood flooring of all kinds. All DIY solutions we will share with you are made of natural, safe and non-toxic ingredients. Some of them include vinegar but we will share one that does not involve that ingredient for those who prefer not to use it. We will also talk about laminate floors and how to clean them.

1. Cleaning Hardwood by Hand with a Bucket and Cloth
The old school way of getting close and personal with your floors. Do not use too often but only whenever your floors need a good cleaning. This solution is suitable for most baseboards. Mix the ingredients in a bucket, get a cloth and start scrubbing gently. Avoid harsh and abrasive cloths and letting too much water sit on your floors.

½ cup white vinegar
4l of warm water
2-3 drops of essential oils

2. Refillable Spray Mop
This is an extremely convenient method that works perfectly for daily touch-ups or more regular cleaning. Make sure your mop is frequently rinsed to prevent streaking. If you do not have a spray mop you can also use a simple spray bottle and a microfiber cloth. Spray the whole surface of your floor with this solution and let it sit for a minute. Use your damp microfiber cloth to wipe your floor. Let it dry.

3 tsp white vinegar
½ liter of warm water
1-2 drops of essential oils

Now, for those of you who do not want to use vinegar on your hardwood floors, we have another option which is going to clean your floors perfectly. You can use two different products for the no-vinegar cleaning solution. One of those would be a concentrated hard-surface all-purpose cleaner. The other option would be castile soap. Make sure you choose a biodegradable, natural, free of harsh chemicals product that will not harm your hardwood floors.

Another important thing to remember would be that you will only need to use 1-2 drops of soap/cleaning solution. You do not need more – you want to reduce the amount of foam and bubbles since you will not be rinsing your floors at the end.

2 cups warm water
1-2 drops of castile soap for cleaning concentrate
3-5 drops of essential oils of choice
microfiber mop-spraying mop

No matter which method you decide to use, your hardwood floor cleaning will be successful. However, do not forget to use the correct proportions, do not let water or liquids sit on your floors, do not overuse soap in the solution and never use any of those recipes on unsealed, waxed or unfinished floors.

3.DIY Cleaning Solution for Laminate Floors

In case you have laminate and not hardwood at home, the recipes above will not work. For laminate floors you will need a different approach. There are a number of commercial laminate cleaning solutions. However, a lot of people complain that they leave behind a sticky residue that later attracts dirt and dust. We will show you an easy DIY cleaning solution recipe that involves only products that are easily found around the house. Try it out and make yourself some efficient and economical cleaning solution perfect for laminate floors.

150ml white vinegar
150ml rubbing alcohol
150ml water ( use distilled or boiled water if you want to store the solution for longer)
3-5 drops of essential oils

This cleaning solution is very efficient and the reason for that is the combination of ingredients. The vinegar cleans and the rubbing alcohol helps with the drying process and also sanitises the floor. Since laminate and water do not work together too well, you want to use this solution in a spray bottle and never pour it on the floor. Spray on the floor and mop or use a refillable spray mop. You can do this weekly, or as often as you find necessary.