Ok, so we did have disgusting builder grade el cheapo carpet. And, we still do in the bedrooms. But, it was terribly disgusting, especially in our high traffic, living room area. Even though our house was brand spanking new when we moved in, the carpet quickly proved how poor it was. So, after we had enough and the stains were staring at me daily and laughing at me, we threw in the towel and hallelujah got hardwoods. They are from lumber liquidator. And, they are the new laminate floating floor hardwoods. I love them. This was our choice because our home is built on a concrete slab.
Dream Home - St. James 12mm Burnet Road Russet Laminate
image via lumber liquidators
We LOVE them. It was so nice not scrubbing spit up into my carpet anymore with the nice lingering spit up smell. You know what I'm talking about! With acid reflux babies, it was constant and yucky. And, with Fulton being the drooly baby he is, wiping baby drool off the floor is oh so nice. But, I must admit, there are some yucky dried drool spots all around my floor right now. Mmmm.
And they do show every sticky fingerprint, hair, fuzz, dust, everything. But, I still wouldn't trade that any day for nasty-never clean-there's not telling what's growing in it-carpet. It's so nice to just wipe it up and KNOW IT IS CLEAN!
So, back to the cleaner...
The installer told us I needed to find a cleaner that is ph neutral. Wasn't quite sure what all that meant because my high school chemistry teacher failed to teach me anything other than how to sit on the bleachers while they worked on the football field.
So, I spent some time in Walmart reading all the hardwood/laminate floor cleaners to find one that was ph neutral. None to be found.
So, I then checked out Lowes and found some called Bona floor care.
So, I bought it and paid a pretty penny.
I liked it. It had a sweet simple clean smell. But, geez. It was really expensive. And, I knew there had to be another option.
So..... since I was on my homemade laundry kick....and no surprise to anyone
I MADE SOME HOMEMADE LAMINATE HARDWOOD FLOOR CLEANER!
YAY!
Ok, so, I found a great recipe here on Nature's Nurture blog
Her original recipe calls for:
1 cup of water
1 cup of vinegar
1 cup of rubbing alcohol (eliminates streaks!)
few drops of dish washing liquid
image via Natures Nurture blog
It worked GRRRREAT!
But, my husband was watching a little football while I was using it and we quickly agreed that it smelled like I had been dying Easter eggs all day. So, I read on in her post and she changes the recipe to this:
1 cup of water
3/4 cup of vinegar
1 cup of rubbing alcohol
few drops of dish washing liquid
10-15 drops of essential oils
I agreed on the vinegar changes. Maybe less is more in this scenario. So, I altered my recipe and poured it into my spray bottle. So, now, I have my swiffer mop, a microfiber washable pad (be sure when you wash it and dry it, you do not use dryer sheets because it will lose its absorbing power) and my spray bottle. I just spray and then scrub!
I recently ordered these essential oils
here at amazon.com
I love all the uses for these oils and they smell AMAZING!
So, I'm going to start with something citrus to add to my cleaner and I know my house will smell much better! And, I will still have the great cleaning effects as well!
Hope you try it too! Let me know what you think!
Beach post coming soon!
15 comments:
Ok you are on a roll.
Now bring on the dishwasher detergent because I'm ALL IN. Seriously.
I really do love the laundry detergent. I have done more laundry this week than I have in any week of my life, and I think it's because I'm so pumped about the detergent. :)
I will definitely try this too. My floors, as I've made everyone full aware, are horrendous and disease ridden. So thank you in advance for this recipe.
Well I'm super impressed. We actually just did the exact same laminate floors in our house...from same place and all. Kinda funny. One question...I got the Bona stuff too...but I remember them telling me don't use vinegar on them? Curious if you have had any problems.
Haley, ha! I haven't thought about the dishwasher soap! If you find one, let me know! So glad you love the laundry detergent. I really do too. It's amazing! Ha! Love your floor comments. When the sun shines on mine in the mornings I just cringe. Fulton really does leave dried drool spots... everywhere! It's like a trail.
Iris, interesting. Well, that's so strange since vinegar is such a gentle but yet effective cleaner. I've had no problems at all so far. Did they mention why no vinegar??
Ready!! Need this stuff asap! I HATE the smell of vinegar though so please tell me if it smells like that after the oils. :)
Thanks for posting! I can't wait to try it!! Oh and I love the part about our chemistry teacher!! We do know how to line a field though! HAHA
This is amazng! Commercially-bought cleaners are really expensive nowadays, so good for ya for developing a formula for a homemade floor cleaner. That amount of vinegar might leave some faint acrid odors around the house, so probably that's where the essential oils come in. From what I can see, this is for manual application, right? Do you think this formula would work when used with a machine? Deidre Schaefer @ MinuteManIntl.com
This is amazng! Commercially-bought cleaners are really expensive nowadays, so good for ya for developing a formula for a homemade floor cleaner. That amount of vinegar might leave some faint acrid odors around the house, so probably that's where the essential oils come in. From what I can see, this is for manual application, right? Do you think this formula would work when used with a machine? Deidre Schaefer @ MinuteManIntl.com
Hi All So now it is 2014 and we have just did the laminate floor remodel - from the horrible old carpets. Has anyone else made the floor cleaner mix and had good results. I am in vinegar and water hell. LOL Please respond as I am going to head out to get some essential oil to use in the homemade floor cleaner - Thank you
What a relief! The best part of that is you can look at it and utilize that kind of cleaning strategy for future cases. At least you've figured out the best ways and means to go around dirty wooden floors. Those floors pose a challenge all their own, starting with potential degradations, so you should always be on the look out for the technologies for them. Thanks for sharing that!
Nathan Riley @ Stanley Steemer of Atlanta
This seems like a great floor cleaner, but how can it be pH neutral if vinegar is an acid? I'd like to make this to test it. I wonder if I can test it like this? http://www.doscience.com/act_archive/home_activities/cabbage_juice/cabbage_juice2.html
Thanks for the post! Do you know what are the best cleaning equipment that can complement vinegar?
The people are very lucky to have this blog because it has better knowledge.The Carpet Cleaner Liverpool
Very informative, good job guys and thanks for sharing such a awesome blog. Wooden floor maintenance in Canyon TX
Carpet Cleaning in Canyon TX
Deciding upon the best cleaner, therefore, is dependent on the current equipment. To get more detailed info on Dyson Articulating Hard Floor Tool, visit on hyperlinked site.
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