Healthy Floor Cleaning

Do you have allergies? Eye irritation, dizziness, loss of concentration, fatigue, wheezing, coughing, asthma attacks, respiratory infections, and hypersensitivity…? Do you have pets constantly licking their paws? If you use conventional cleaning products on your floor, think of it as swishing and swashing potentially toxic chemicals across the largest surface area of your home. Who doesn’t love clean, sparkling tile floors, or wood floors that gleam after a good mopping? But if you have small children, you may not want them crawling around on a floor that’s just been wiped down with nasty toxic chemicals? Happily, this doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to less-than-immaculate floors, nor does it complicate matters much. Here are recipes for homemade, natural floor cleaners that you can make yourself – most likely from ingredients right from your very own pantry.

These mixtures I use almost every day:

Most floor surfaces can be easily cleaned using a solution of vinegar and water. For damp-mopping wood floors: mix equal amounts of white distilled vinegar and water. Add 15 drops of pure peppermint oil; shake to mix.

WOOD FLOOR

• 1 gallon of hot water
• 3/4 cup of olive oil
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 10 drops of your favorite essential oil

TILE FLOOR

• 1 gallon of hot water
• ¼ cup of baking soda
• 1/2 cup white vinegar

BATHROOM MOLD

Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray bottle and spray on areas with mold. Wait at least one hour before rinsing or using shower.

CARPETS

Mix 1/4 cup of salt, 1/4 cup of borax. Spread on the carpet and leave for a few hours. Vacuum.

VINYL AND LINOLEUM

Mix 1 cup vinegar and a few drops of baby oil in 1 gallon warm water. For tough jobs, add 1/4 cup borax.