Instructions:
- Prepare the Water: Fill a bucket with one gallon of warm water.
- Add Vinegar: Stir in 1 cup of white vinegar. Vinegar helps to dissolve grime and has natural disinfectant properties, making it perfect for cleaning.
- Add Baking Soda: Slowly add 1/2 cup of baking soda. Be careful when adding this, as it will fizz up! This is what makes it so great at lifting dirt and grime.
- Dish Soap: Stir in 1 tablespoon of dish soap. This will help break down grease and leave your floors with a spotless finish.
- Essential Oil (Optional): Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to give the cleaner a pleasant fragrance. Plus, oils like tea tree and lavender have additional antibacterial properties.
- Mix Well: Stir everything thoroughly until all the ingredients are combined.
- Mop the Floor: Use a mop or cloth to apply the cleaner to your floors, working in sections. Be sure to wring out the mop or cloth well so that the floors aren’t overly saturated.
- Let It Sit: For any particularly dirty spots, allow the cleaner to sit for a few minutes to lift the grime.
- Rinse: After mopping, rinse the floor with clean water to remove any leftover cleaner residue.
Additional Tips:
- Test a Small Area First: Before using this cleaner on the entire floor, test it on a small, inconspicuous area to make sure it’s safe for your particular flooring (especially if you have wood or laminate floors).
- Natural Fragrance Options: For an extra boost of freshness, try lemon or eucalyptus essential oil for their bright, clean scents and added antibacterial benefits.
- Avoid Over-Saturating Wood Floors: When using this cleaner on wood floors, make sure not to use too much water, as excessive moisture can damage wood. Wring your mop out thoroughly before applying it.
Why This Cleaner Works:
- Vinegar and baking soda are both natural cleaning powerhouses. They break down grease, lift stains, and neutralize odors.
- Dish soap helps to break down grease and works well on floors that get dirty from food, sticky spills, or pet messes.
- Essential oils not only add a pleasant fragrance but also offer additional cleaning and disinfectant properties depending on the oil used (like tea tree oil or lemon).
Nana’s floor cleaner recipe is practical, affordable, and effective. With this recipe, your floors will sparkle just like hers, and you’ll have the added satisfaction of knowing exactly what’s going into your cleaning routine!
