My favorite way to wash my hardwood floors is with warm water, vinegar, and essential oils. … The cleaning power comes from the water and vinegar, but I add a couple drops of essential oils to keep the house smelling a little less pickle-y.

What essential oils are good for cleaning hardwood floors?

We already know essential oils are powerful cleaning agents. Lemon, pine, tea tree, and even eucalyptus have been used in commercial cleaning products for years. Why not go directly to the source and use pure essential oils instead? My favorite combination to use on my wood floors is Orange and Cedarwood.

How do you clean floors with essential oils?

1. 1/4 cup baking soda.
2. 1/4 cup lemon juice.
3. 3 tbsp salt.
4. 3 tbsp Castile soap.
5. 1/2 cup white vinegar.
6. 30 drops Lavender essential oil.
7. 30 drops Tea Tree essential oil.

Can I mop my floors with essential oils?

Add 3-5 drops of essential oil on the microfiber mop head before you start mopping. I like using lemon or lavender – put the drops in a line down the middle of the mop head. I use vinegar or castile soap for washing floors – the essential oil just gives the room a little extra scent conveys that just cleaned feeling.

What is the best cleaner for real hardwood floors?

• Best Overall: Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner at Amazon. …
• Best Budget: Murphy Oil Soap at Amazon. …
• Best Green: Better Life Floor Cleaner at Amazon. …
• Best Splurge: Bissell SpinWave at Amazon. …
• Best Natural: Method Wood Floor Cleaner at Amazon. …
• Best Heavy-Duty: …
• Best Wax:

Can essential oils be used for cleaning?

Essential oils are a natural, safe, non-toxic way to clean your home. They’re inexpensive and versatile, and they also work well for personal care and aromatherapy. … This solution dilutes the oil so you can use the spray as an air freshener mister or surface cleaner.

Can you use essential oils on wood?

The most popular essential oils for cleaning wood include lavender, tea tree, lemon, orange, grapefruit, rosemary, and tangerine. Aromatherapy can be used to clean wood in your home, including wood, cabinets, and furniture. For thousands of years, people have used essential oils for their beneficial healing properties.

Can you clean floors with tea tree oil?

For anything that need disinfecting and cleaning anywhere in the house, a few sprays of tea tree oil gets the job done. Add 10 drops of tea tree oil to 250 mls of white vinegar and 250 mls water in a spray bottle. Spray on any surface such as kitchen countertops or floor, and then wipe up. Simple!

Can you use eucalyptus oil on hardwood floors?

Eucalyptus oil makes a great wood floor cleaner. It disinfects, helps extract ground-in dirt, and leaves a pleasant scent behind. It can help remove years worth of dirt and grime with little effort, and is safer for the environment than many commercial cleaners.

Can you use tea tree oil on hardwood floors?

Equal parts of water, vinegar and rubbing alcohol make for a stronger cleaner that can handle tougher hardwood floor cleaning jobs. Including a few drops of tea tree oil or lemon essential oil in the cleaning recipe further works to disinfect the floors.

Article first time published on

Is Murphy's oil soap bad for hardwood floors?

As always, limit the amount of water on the floor as you clean it, as moisture left behind on floors can cause damage. … Whether you’re cleaning one area or all of your flooring, Murphy® Oil Soap is safe to use on hardwood floors.

Is vinegar bad for hardwood floors?

Using vinegar and water as a homemade hardwood floor cleaning solution can have a negative effect on your hardwood floor. … Since vinegar is an acid, it will actually break down the finish on the surface of your floor, and over time it will reduce the shine and leave a dull appearance.

Is lavender oil good for wood?

Lavender contains compounds that will help clean wood furniture and add natural luster to the surface. Use lavender essential oil in your homemade wood dusting spray to give furniture a nice shine.

Is peppermint oil bad for wood?

Avoid spraying peppermint oil onto fabric because it can leave oil spots. Avoid direct contact with wood for the same reason. Also, peppermint oil can burn if enough of it comes into contact with skin.

How do you infuse wood with essential oils?

Scented wood blocks The easiest way to put this together is to purchase some wooden blocks and spray them or paint them with essential oils. Simplify it by putting the blocks in a container with extra oil and shake it until they’re fully coated. When they need to be coated again, just follow the same steps!

Can you clean with lavender oil?

Kitchen/Bathroom Cleaner Lavender oil makes a great kitchen and bathroom cleaner for any household. Place 6 drops of lavender oil in a spray bottle filled with white vinegar, and you’re ready to go. This is particularly good for cleaning benchtops and bathroom & kitchen basins due to its disinfectant properties.

How do I make my own cleaning products with essential oils?

1. 1 cup of vinegar.
2. 1 tablespoon of baking soda.
3. 2 cups of water.
4. 5 drops or more of essential oils of choice (optional)
5. Reusable spray bottle or bowl with mixing spoon.
6. Measuring cups.

Can you use peppermint oil for cleaning?

Mix 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup vinegar, a drop of dish soap and 10-15 drops of peppermint oil. Use this cleaner on hard surfaces around the house. Allow it to sit for a few minutes then wipe away with a clean cloth.

Can I mop with eucalyptus oil?

With its natural disinfectant properties, eucalyptus oil works well as an eco-friendly floor cleaner. Simply add about 20 drops to a bucket of hot water, or straight into the water section of your spray mop, and mop the floors as normal.

Does eucalyptus oil disinfect?

EUCALYPTUS ESSENTIAL OIL AS A NATURAL DISINFECTANT/ ANTIBACTERIAL CLEANER. Studies have found that eucalyptus oil and its primary compound, 1,8-cineole, is a potent antimicrobial. That means it’s an all-rounder – it not only kills bacteria and protozoans, but also viruses and fungi, such as mold and mildew.

Can I mix vinegar and eucalyptus oil?

Mix in enough vinegar to make a paste. Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil. Wipe mixture onto surfaces to be cleaned and wipe off with a soft cloth. You can make a milder version of this paste without the borax.

Does tea tree oil really disinfect?

Tea tree oil can be used to treat and disinfect minor cuts and abrasions by killing S. aureus and other bacteria that can cause infection in open wounds ( 1 ).

Can you mix vinegar and tea tree oil?

Add 10 drops of tea tree oil to two cups of hot water and a half cup of vinegar to make a multipurpose cleaner. Be careful of using vinegar on marble or granite, as it can eat away at the stone.

What oils can I mix with tea tree oil?

Likewise, people with sensitive skin may experience irritation when using undiluted tea tree oil. If your skin is sensitive, it’s best to mix tea tree oil with an equal or greater amount of olive oil, coconut oil or almond oil.

How do I clean my floor without vinegar?

1. 1 cup Distilled Water.
2. 1/4 cup Rubbing Alcohol (70% Isopropyl)
3. Small Squirt of Dish Soap (I used Dawn)

How do you clean natural floors at home?

Combine ¼ cup white vinegar, ¼ cup baking soda, 1 tablespoon dish detergent, and 2 gallons hot water. Apply it either with a damp cloth or a wrung-out mop. After, go over it with fresh water, then allow to dry.

Can I use borax to mop floors?

Borax is an all-purpose cleaner that your grandmother may have used. Because it’s economical, disinfecting, and more natural than big-name cleaners, it’s still a good choice today. … Floors: Mix 2 tablespoons of borax with a gallon of warm water for mopping tile or vinyl flooring.

How can I get my hardwood floors to shine without wax?

1. Mix about a quarter cup (60ml) of distilled vinegar in every one gallon (3.8 L) warm water and mix well for effective action. …
2. Add a few drops of essential oil to the solution. …
3. Dampen the mop and wring properly to avoid excess solution from spilling on the floor.

Can you use Swiffer on hardwood?

You can safely use Swiffer products on hardwood floors. For a quick clean, try Swiffer WetJet Wood Starter Kit. With just the right amount of solution, it breaks up tough, sticky messes, brings out the natural beauty of your floors and won’t damage them. Go with the grain to ensure the best clean possible.

How do you clean hardwood floors naturally?

You can also make your own cleaner by mixing one part vinegar to 10 parts warm water. Add a few drops of liquid Castile soap. Whatever cleaner you choose, the process for how to clean wood floors and how to clean engineered hardwood floors is the same. Saturate a rag or sponge mop in your cleaning solution.

Can you use Pine Sol on wood floors?

We like using Pine-Sol® Original Pine Multi-Surface Cleaner on hardwood floors. … You can also use Pine-Sol® Original Squirt ‘N Mop®. It’s safe for wood and hard, nonporous surfaces. You can apply it to the floor directly from the bottle.