Go Green With Your Floor Cleaning

Go Green in 2014: Week 11

By now, you are probably aware of the dangers of using chemical-laden store-bought cleaning products in your home, from the environmental toxicity to personal health hazards. So today, we will go over some ways you can go green with your floor cleaning, from the carpets to the tile and hardwood. I will give you a cheap, easy recipe for making your own carpet deodorizer, a no-rinse recipe for cleaning your hard flooring, and some ideas for DIY Swiffer replacement pads.

Green cleaning for carpeted floors & rugs

It doesn't get any easier than this: Sprinkle baking soda on your carpeting, let sit for fifteen minutes, and vacuum it up. If you would like to add a fresh scent to the deodorizer, mix 20-25 drops of your favorite essential oil with one cup of baking soda. You can adjust these quantities depending on your needs and how strong you would like the scent. I have a plastic container with holes in the cover, which makes it easy to sprinkle the powder on my carpeting. But if you don't have something like this, you can either use a spoon or keep your deodorizer in a mason jar with holes poked in the top.

Green stain remover

Got stains? It's best if you can take care of them right away... Using a clean cloth, blot as much of the moisture from the carpet as you can.

Mix together one part baking soda and one part Borax. Sprinkle it on the stain and use a clean, damp cloth to gently agitate it, then blot. Repeat as needed. For tough stains, add a little water to the mixture to form a paste, then let it sit for ten minutes before gently wiping clean.

Tip: Test the carpet deodorizer and stain remover in an inconspicuous area (like a corner), if possible, to make sure it won't make the situation worse.

Green cleaning for hard floor surfaces

This recipe can be used as a light-duty cleaner for hardwood, laminate, tile, and any other hard flooring in your home. There is no need to rinse.

No-rinse green floor cleaner

Ingredients:

• 1/8 cup distilled white vinegar
• 5-10 drops lavender essential oil
• 5 drops each eucalyptus, rosemary oil (optional)

Directions:

1. Mix ingredients in a bucket with one gallon warm water. 
2. Clean your floors and either let air dry or wipe with a clean, dry cloth.

Optionally, you can mix up a big batch of floor cleaner and keep it in an empty container for convenience. I keep mine in a vinegar bottle (I think I may have added some water to help dilute it and fill up the bottle). Do whatever works for you!

There may be times when you need a heavier duty cleaner; see the link below for more green floor cleaning ideas.

Green cleaning: Healthier alternatives to floor cleaners

DIY Swiffer replacement pad ideas

Fun tidbit: Just as I was about to start writing this section, an advertisement for Swiffer sweepers interrupted my music on Pandora radio. :)

Do you have a Swiffer sweeper/mop? I bought one a while back, thinking it would be a great way to clean my floors in a hurry. Well, to be honest, neither their sweeping pads nor their mopping pads hold a whole lot of dirt, and they aren't exactly cheap to replace.

Now, I'm not really into the chemicals in the replacement pads, anyway, so I decided to try making my own green, thrifty alternatives. I saved a ton of money using items I already owned. Maybe you will, too.

You know those old, stretchy chenille socks sitting at the bottom of your sock drawer? They work perfectly as Swiffer replacement pads! Simply dampen them in the DIY floor cleaner above and stretch them over the head of the mop. Clean your floor as usual, replacing with the other sock when needed.

The best part is that you can wash the socks with the rest of your laundry and reuse over and over again.

You could even use the dry socks to sweep the floor, although I prefer to use a regular broom for sweeping.

For more DIY Swiffer replacement pad ideas, visit the link below.

How to make DIY reusable Swiffer mop pads

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Your challenge: This week, consider cleaning your floors with non-toxic ingredients that you already have in the house, such as baking soda and vinegar.

Check out this awesome Pinterest board for ideas: Make your own green cleaning products

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**This post is part of a weekly challenge {Go Green in 2014}, during which the author has challenged herself - and you - to find 52 ways to lead a greener life in 2014. You can follow the weekly posts on this page.**