The largest surface area in your entire home is your wood floor. If you intend using commercial products made up of chemicals to clean it, you’d be adding to your home’s pollution level. Though there are reports that prove that chemical levels are rising in homes, yet there’s good news too. And it is this: That there are natural wooden floor cleaners that aren’t just freely available for us but also contribute to a healthier home and surrounding environment. So if you are looking for the best natural wood floor cleaner that is readily available, read on…
Natural wood floor cleaners
If you want to know how to clean a hardwood floor, here are five top natural wood floor cleaners that you can successfully use to clean your wooden flooring:
#1: Lemons:
The antibacterial and antiseptic properties of lemons make them powerful enough to fight all kinds of household bacteria. For use on your wooden flooring, add half a cup of lemon juice into your mopping water and mop it damp so that your floor gleams and is germ-free.
To add shine to your floor, try this recipe:
3.8 liters (1 gallon) of hot water
3/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup lemon juice
While the hot water and lemon do the job of cleaning the floor, the olive oil gives your flooring a natural and nice-looking sheen. Dip your mop into this solution, wring it out and mop the floor, allowing it to dry naturally. And see how shiny but not slippery your flooring looks.
#2: White vinegar:
Vinegar has inherent properties of a natural cleanser. Add 1/4 cup of white vinegar in your mopping water to remove any malodors and mildew, grease and wax. It also removes stains successfully. If you’re worried that vinegar will leave a strong smell in the air, don’t worry because once your wooden flooring dries, the smell will go away. You could also open a window to let the strong vinegar smell out.
Vinegar cleaning solution: Here’s a basic vinegar cleaning solution that can be used to clean your wooden floor:
1/2 cup white vinegar
3.8 liters (1 gallon) warm water
Lemon or orange essential oil
Pour some vinegar into a bucket of warm water. Make it a scented solution by adding a few drops of orange or lemon essential to the vinegar and water solution. Dip a sponge mop into this solution and squeeze out the excess water from it. Now, use it to wipe your floor, taking care to rinse the mop as often as you can. Wipe away all the extra dampness on the floor with a clean and dry cloth.
#3: Olive Oil:
One of the best-known natural products for cleaning wooden flooring is olive oil. It can be used to condition untreated wood. Add a few drops of olive oil in your mopping water in a thin layer to condition your flooring and bring back its original shine.
#4: Tea:
Now, your delicious afternoon cuppa can take you just a little longer. It can actually help clean your wooden flooring. It also has a couple of advantages for you:
- Not only does it not strip your finish but it will definitely remove any dirt on your floor to such an extent that you won’t have to refinish your flooring for years together.
- The natural color of tea is dark enough to deepen and improve the natural wood color of your floor. This is particularly beneficial for flooring that is highly used or those where your pets use. So, if they scratch your flooring, the tea helps to disguise this wood color.
How to clean a wood floor with tea: Brew 10 tea bags in 2 liters (1/2 gallon) of hot water. let the bags steep in the hot water until it cools so that it becomes a strong solution. The acids present in this solution, when applied to your flooring, give it a unique luster.
#5: Baking soda:
If you’re looking for a natural wood floor cleaner using a home product, try baking soda. To use it, sprinkle some amount of baking soda on a sponge and rub away any marks on your floor.
