Whether you’ve run out of your favorite mopping solution or are simply looking for a more eco-friendly option, you have a lot of choices when it comes to homemade floor cleaner.
Key Takeaways:
Need a great homemade mopping solution, quick? Try one of these solutions:
- ½ cup of white distilled vinegar with one gallon of water
- ½ cup of vinegar with one gallon of water and a tablespoon of dish soap
- ¼ cup of rubbing alcohol with ¼ cup of white distilled vinegar, and one gallon of water (ideally for vinyl and laminate floors)
- ¼ cup of rubbing alcohol with ¼ white distilled vinegar, a gallon of water, one tablespoon of dish soap, and 10-15 drops of essential oil
- ⅛ cup vinegar with ⅛ cup baking soda, ½ tablespoon dish soap, and one gallon of water (ideally for ceramic and porcelain tile floors)
- Equal parts vinegar and vegetable oil (ideally for wooden floors)
- ¾ cup olive oil with ½ cup lemon juice and water (for wooden floors, too)
What is the Best Homemade Mopping Solution?
The best homemade all-purpose mopping solution is a mixture of vinegar and water. This solution is safe for all hard flooring surfaces except natural stone. If you don’t like the smell of vinegar, you can add essential oils to your solution.
Pro Tip: Always remember, when creating homemade mopping solutions, the key is to pick ingredients that are gentle yet effective. Avoid using ingredients that might be too harsh for your flooring. For instance, while vinegar works exceptionally well on most flooring types, it isn’t suitable for natural stone floors like marble and limestone, as its acidity can cause damage over time.
7 Best Homemade Mopping Solutions
Diluted White Distilled Vinegar (All-Purpose)
White distilled vinegar is an excellent mopping solution because it’s composed of acetic acid. Acetic acid is powerful enough to break down grease, grime, and dirt without damaging most surfaces. Vinegar also has some disinfectant qualities.
(However, it is not considered a complete disinfectant, nor is it approved as a disinfectant by the EPA. If you need to disinfect, use an appropriate product.)
Here’s the proper vinegar and water dilution ratio:
- ½ Cup of Vinegar
- 1 Gallon Water
This cleaner should be safe to use on any hard floor surface except natural stone.
Vinegar + Water + Dish Soap (All-Purpose)
Here’s what to mix:
- ½ Cup of Vinegar
- 1 Gallon Water
- 1 Tablespoon of Dish Soap
Rubbing Alcohol + Vinegar + Water (Vinyl & Laminate)
If you’re cleaning vinyl or laminate flooring, you can add rubbing alcohol to your homemade floor cleaner. Rubbing alcohol aids in cleaning and also helps the floor to dry quickly.
Here’s how to make a mopping solution with rubbing alcohol:
- ¼ Cup of Rubbing Alcohol
- ¼ Cup of White Distilled Vinegar
- 1 Gallon Water
Rubbing Alcohol + Vinegar + Water + Dish Soap (All-Purpose)
Make this all-purpose mopping solution by combining the following:
- ¼ Cup of Rubbing Alcohol
- ¼ White Distilled Vinegar
- 1 Gallon of Water
- 1 Tablespoon of Dish Soap
- 10-15 Drops Essential Oil
Pro Tip: When using an essential oil in your mopping solution, make sure to choose an oil that not only smells great but also has antibacterial properties. Essential oils like lavender, lemon, tea tree, and peppermint are fantastic choices that can leave your floors looking clean and smelling fresh. But remember, less is more – only a few drops are needed!
Vinegar + Water + Baking Soda + Dish Soap (Ceramic & Porcelain Tile)
You will want to avoid using this on natural stone, though – it may be too harsh.
Here’s the best homemade mopping solution for ceramic and porcelain tile:
- ⅛ Cup Vinegar
- ⅛ Cup Baking Soda
- ½ TBS Dish Soap
- 1 Gallon of Water
Vinegar + Vegetable Oil (Wood Floors)
If you’re looking for a homemade mop solution to make your wood floors shine, this is the one. This recipe only requires two ingredients: vinegar and vegetable oil.
To use this method, take the following steps:
- Mix equal parts vinegar and vegetable oil in a spray bottle.
- Spray the floor with the solution and mop.
- Run a dry mop back over the floor to buff and shine.
Pro Tip: If you decide to use the mopping solution featuring vegetable oil on your wooden floors, be careful with the amount you use. Too much oil can leave your floors feeling slippery. A good practice is to apply a small amount and then buff it in to give your floors a wonderful shine without the slip. This method can help protect your wooden floors while giving them a lustrous shine.
Olive oil + Lemon Juice + Water (Wood Floors)
Another good wood floor combo is olive oil, lemon juice, and water. The lemon juice and water clean while the olive oil conditions and gives the wood floors a shine.
Here’s what you’ll need of this recipe:
- ¾ Cup Olive Oil
- ½ Cup Lemon Juice
- Water
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make homemade floor disinfectant?
One of the best homemade disinfecting cleaners is a water and vinegar solution. Vinegar has natural disinfecting qualities but does not disinfect against all bacteria and viruses.
What’s the best homemade mopping solution for natural stone tile?
One of the best homemade cleaners for natural stone is simply water. Because natural stone is delicate and can become easily damaged by common household cleaners, we recommend using water or purchasing a cleaner formulated for the type of natural stone floors you have.
Is Apple Cider Vinegar good for cleaning your floors?
Apple Cider Vinegar and White Distilled Vinegar have about the same acidity levels, so either will work in cleaning solutions.
The main reason white distilled vinegar is often suggested for cleaning is that it has some antimicrobial qualities. However, if all you have in your cupboards is apple cider vinegar, it’s OK to use in your cleaning recipes.
Conclusion
If you’ve run out of cleaner, whip up one of these recipes and give it a try. You might be pleasantly surprised at how cheap and effective these homemade mopping solutions can be.
And if you’re ever unsure whether a recipe will be suitable for your floor, it’s always a good idea to perform a spot test before cleaning the entire surface.
