Trade Your Traditional Floor Cleaners For A Natural, Fresh-Smelling Alternative

Cleaning products like floor cleaners typically smell great, tricking you into thinking the house is clean because it smells clean. According to a 2021 study, many manufactured fragrances are toxic. Fake lemon, lavender, mint, and pine smells used by most cleaning products can contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which are airborne chemicals that cause minor irritations to the eyes, nose, and throat. They can also lead to chronic diseases and respiratory issues with prolonged exposure.

To solve this issue, you might turn to products that claim to be "natural" or "plant-based." However, these are vague marketing terms that may not accurately reflect a product's ingredients. Instead, look for products with an EWG (Environmental Working Group) seal of approval, which means they are free of harmful chemicals and upfront about ingredients. When it comes to floor cleaner, only two brands received an EWG certification: Attitude and AspenClean. Others, such as Aunt Fannie's vinegar wash and OdoBan, missed the seal, but received an "A" rating, indicating "Low Concern." 

Sadly, the most toxic floor cleaners ("F" rating indicating "High Concern") were from popular brands like Pledge, Clorox, and Mop and Go. An even better (and cheaper) option is to make homemade wood cleaner, which adds essential oils to get that "just cleaned" smell. Essential oils aren't harsh on surfaces, and are better for the health of your household than toxic chemicals. And they don't just smell great — many essential oils really can clean!

Dust and vacuum floors before mopping them with your DIY floor cleaner. You can make a homemade vinegar cleaning solution by adding a half a cup of white vinegar to a gallon of water. Use this multi-purpose cleaner on floors or all over the house — even the bathroom. Vinegar cuts through dirt and grime, leaves a streak-free shine on floors and windows, and kills mildew and bacteria. While vinegar is a great cleaner, it smells pretty bad, which is where the essential oils come in. Add your favorite essential oil to the solution and enjoy the aroma. Lavender is a great-smelling option to cover up that vinegar scent, and using pine oil will create homemade Pine-Sol. 

Vinegar can dull certain finishes, so always test a small spot of your floor first, and research the do's and don'ts for cleaning your particular flooring. You can also skip the vinegar altogether and simply use essential oils and warm water to clean your floors. There are a handful of essential oils, like tea tree, eucalyptus, and lemongrass, that have antimicrobial properties and can help kill bacteria without any added ingredients.

Remember, water can damage hardwood floors, so thoroughly wring out your mop head before use, and remove any standing water when you are done. This O-Cedar EasyWring microfiber spin mop has a microfiber head for dusting and an easy hands-free wringing system.

Which essential oil should you choose? Lavender oil, lemongrass oil, and tea tree oil have antimicrobial qualities and can help kill both bacteria and fungus. Eucalyptus oil is an antibacterial and the key ingredient found in many EWG-certified cleaning products — it can even kill E.coli. Eucalyptus oil is a key ingredient in Vicks VapoRub, and will clear your sinuses as well as cleaning your home.

Certain essential oils such as chamomile, ylang ylang, sweet orange, and lavender, may reduce stress or have a calming effect. Others, such as peppermint and rosemary, could promote alertness and improve focus. Before cleaning with essential oils, consider which smells would benefit you over the next few hours, and enjoy some aromatherapy along with your clean floors.

Please note, some oils can be toxic to pets, so do your research before using in your home. Also, while essential oils have fewer chemicals than most store-bought cleaners, they can still contain VOCs. Like with floor cleaners, not all essential oil brands are considered equal. Plant Therapy is a reputable essential oil company that has banned 180 harmful ingredients and passes the purity tests for essential oils, likely making it a safe choice. However, if someone in your home has asthma or respiratory issues, try using fresh lavender, lemons, or pine needles in your floor cleaner instead of oils, which are highly concentrated.