This homemade floor cleaner also works as an all-purpose cleaner and disinfectant! Clean nearly every surface in your home with just 5 simple ingredients.

Back in the day, our go-to floor cleaner was that popular, overpowering pine-scented concoction. If you grew up in North America, I bet that scent just flooded your memory!

But times have changed, and we’re more mindful of what enters our homes now. We crave transparency—wanting to know every ingredient’s impact on our health and the environment. And what kind of longterm effects we can expect down the road.

So what exactly is in Pine-Sol®?

Surprisingly, Clorox (the brand behind Pine-Sol®) has stepped up their game with a full ingredient list on their website—a nod to customer demands for transparency. Yet, some ingredients like ethoxylated alcohol and the vague “fragrance” still ring alarm bells due to potential health risks.

Ethoxylated alcohol

Can be contaminated with the hidden ingredients, ethylene oxide and/or 1,4 dioxane, during the manufacturing process. Both of these have been classified as “carcinogenic to humans” (can cause cancer) by the EPA. Read more about the ethoxylation process here.

Fragrance

This term is very ambiguous; manufacturers can put it on a label to describe any number of the more than 3,000 chemicals that are known to be used in fragrance compounds. Artificial fragrances are well known now for being linked to a long list of health issues like allergies, chemical sensitivities, and reproductive and developmental issues (source), so I try to avoid them whenever possible.

So how can we make a homemade floor cleaner with safer ingredients?

By going back to the basics and using simple, trusted, time-tested ingredients.

Vinegar is probably as old as civilization itself (seriously – it’s even been found in Ancient Egyptian pots and referenced in Babylonian scrolls!), and people have been cleaning their homes with water and vinegar for years.

But when I tried a simple 50/50 solution as a simple homemade floor cleaner, I was left wanting more.

More grime-fighting power. More “streak-free shine.” And let’s face it, more nice scent (vinegar can be quite strong and overpowering, although the scent does dissipate once it dries).

In my search for something stronger, I found a recipe which mixes equal parts water, vinegar, and alcohol, with a few drops of dish soap. After testing out a small area, I was getting much closer to what I was looking for, but the vinegar smell was still a problem.

Back to the lab I went to change the ratios a bit and add some essential oils…I’m now very happy with this all-natural homemade floor cleaner!

How to Make This Natural Homemade Floor Cleaner

Effectiveness of the homemade floor cleaner ingredients

Vinegar

With a very low pH level of 2 and a high acid content, vinegar is a potent antimicrobial. A 2014 study found that acetic acid (the active component in vinegar) is “an effective mycobactericidal disinfectant that should also be active against most other bacteria;” however it will not kill dangerous bacteria like staphylococcus. (source)

Vinegar is also a great degreaser and buildup fighter. It cuts through mildew and soap scum, and can kill mold in the bathroom.

Alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol (sometimes called surgical spirits or rubbing alcohol) is a wonderful disinfectant, which is why it’s our first line of defence in cleaning wounds and preventing infection. Alcohol is also a solvent, so it’s great at dissolving dirt and oils. It’s also very volatile and will evaporate quickly, leaving your surfaces with no residue or streaks left behind.

I use 70% alcohol, but you can also find 91% (although the higher concentration will have a stronger smell). It will look something like this.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are amazing little powerhouses of therapeutic and antimicrobial properties. Their use in this recipe is not just for the nice scent; I specifically chose these oils for their germ-fighting capabilities.

Where to buy essential oils 

You can find essential oils at any health food store that sells natural and organic products. My favourite and recommended brands are Plant Therapy and NOW.

Have more questions, but don’t feel like reading through the comments?

I’ve created a new page with all of the most frequently asked questions about this homemade floor cleaner, as well as some extra tips and tricks to help you get the most out of it! Check it out here:

Trusted alternative to a homemade floor cleaner

For those times you’re not in the mood for homemade, I’ve just discovered a pretty neat alternative that’s not only safe and non-toxic, but low-waste and eco-friendly as well!

TrulyFree makes refillable cleaning products that are safe and sustainable. They work on a subscription model, but unlike other subscriptions you may have tried, there are no commitments and you can always change your products or delivery date.

Your first order automatically includes a reusable bottle or jug along with the cleaning solution, and you’ll only need to order the refills after that. TrulyFree seems to have really figured out the right balance between safety sustainability. And they have probably the widest selection of natural cleaning products I’ve ever seen from one company.

I’m so impressed by TrulyFree and what they stand for, and excited to share that you can use the code: NURTURE30 and get 30% off your entire order!