How to Clean Floors Effectively

Detergents, especially aggressive ones that promise "perfect cleanliness," aren't essential for cleaning your floors properly. There are also effective natural remedies based on baking soda and hot water, white vinegar, flaxseed oilAs for the cloths to use, recycled cotton clothes and T-shirts are fine, although microfibre cloths are best for floors.

Index of topics

Baking soda and water

Those with delicate floors are always worried about damaging them. This is the case with parquet , as mentioned above, but also with marble surfaces, for example, which should be cleaned with microfiber cloths and natural detergents. It's best to make the latter with effective DIY solutions. A very effective detergent is one made with baking soda and water , sprayed directly on the floor. To apply the detergent to marble floors, you can use an old wool sweater, which is soft and won't scratch.

DIY detergent with baking soda

Baking soda, a staple of our grandmothers' practice, is highly effective against scratches, grease stains , and urine . Simply dissolve a tablespoon in five liters of hot water. Sprinkle the baking soda over the stains and let it soak in, then wipe with a damp cloth. For urine stains, dab the area first with an old towel and then let the baking soda soak overnight. In the morning, wash the floor thoroughly with water. You can also add eucalyptus essential oil to the baking soda mixture; the room will benefit from this in terms of scent.

White vinegar

White vinegar is an extraordinary natural product for cleaning your home, starting with floors. Mix it with water and rub it over the floor: it sanitizes and doesn't release odors. However, you shouldn't use it on tiles, natural stone, or ceramics, as these materials are sensitive to acids and can be damaged by the grout.

DIY floor cleaner with vinegar

A great detergent (Do not use on marble, granite, or parquet) You can make a white vinegar-based degreaser. Just add a cup of white vinegar to 3 liters of hot water. To clean, you'll need a scrubbing brush or cloth, preferably microfiber, and rinse with more hot water. If you're bothered by the smell of vinegar, you can dilute your homemade degreaser with lemon juice. Lemon;And the smell of vinegar will disappear. Also remember that vinegar is an excellent natural remedy against all types of mold.

Linseed oil

For delicate floors, such as wood, linseed oil is an excellent solution. Apply sparingly, in a thin layer, and let it sit for about ten minutes. Then, remove with a dry cloth.

Old shirts

Before cleaning any type of floor, it's a good idea to remove excess dust, making washing much easier. To remove dust, you can use microfiber cloths found in large retailers or recycle old shirts , as mentioned above, or rags, which must be thoroughly cleaned first.

Microfiber cloths

If you have parquet flooring in your home, which is usually delicate and tends to swell over time when soaked in water, it's best to clean it with microfiber cloths that wring out easily and won't scratch. In general, microfiber cloths are very suitable for natural floor cleaning: they trap dirt and bacteria even without the use of soaps and detergents.

The serpentine method

Regardless of the tool used, the most effective technique for cleaning every corner of the floor is the serpentine mop. Start at the back of the room and scrub the floor in a serpentine motion: this way, no space will be overlooked.

Mop

If the floors you're cleaning have many corners, you can use a mop with very long fringes that can reach hard-to-reach spots. The mop captures dirt easily. And with the mop, you can easily reach under furniture, where dust and dirt usually accumulate.

How to clean floors without using detergents