Best Green Cleaning Supplies For Floors

Your floors receive more abuse than most other areas of the home. People and pets track dirt and grime in on their feet, and floors are a constant catch-all for spills. Your floors also represent the largest single area in your home to make a green-cleaning change. With a couple of basic supplies, you can toss away those harsh, smelly chemicals and opt for a green footpath.

Steam Mop

One of the most useful cleaning supplies for green floor-cleaning is a steam mop. A steam mop holds regular or distilled water in a reservoir, heats the water when plugged in, and releases steam from the cloth pad at the bottom when pushed across the floor. Steam mops completely eliminate the need for using soap to mop, which also eliminates the need to rinse the floors. Because the mop emits such a light layer of steam, the floor dries within minutes and without streaking. When you're done, simply remove the Velcro-attached cleaning pad, wash it with your laundry, and reuse it next time. Steam mops are good for use on tile, linoleum, vinyl, marble, stone, laminate and even hardwood floors that you would normally damp mop.

White Vinegar

White vinegar is one of the most versatile cleaning supplies for your home. Mix one part white vinegar with one part water and you have a stain remover and odor eliminator good for any flooring surface in your home, including carpet. Even pet urine can be treated with a vinegar solution to help eliminate the odor. Keep a mixture of vinegar and water in a spray bottle for handy use.

Baking Soda

If someone spills liquid or drops something greasy on your carpet, blot the spill with a clean cloth, then sprinkle baking soda directly onto the spill. The baking soda will absorb the remaining liquid in your carpet. To eliminate odors in your carpet, sprinkle baking soda onto the carpet and allow it to sit for 15 minutes before you vacuum it away for a cleaner-smelling room.
If you have a marble entry that's grown dull, mix 3 tbsp. of baking soda with one qt. of water and apply the solution to the floor. Let the solution sit for 30 minutes, then rinse the floor with clean water and dry it with a clean towel. Sit back and enjoy the shine. The same solution can also be used to scour rust spots from all hard flooring.