Crunchy (AKA “natural”) light-bulbs. They’re all the rage these days, and with good reason.
First, they’re eco-friendly! And with all the confusion over which light-bulb is actually the right one to use, a crunchy light-bulb is a breath of fresh air, a reason to rejoice. The appearance of a crunchy light-bulb means very good things are about to happen.
Second, they empower! When a crunchy light-bulb lights up, get ready to spend some time with vinegar, beeswax, or essential oils. Power to the max.
Crunchy light-bulbs may not be an actual physical light-bulb you purchase from the store and plug into your favorite paisley lamp (sorry). But, they exist!
A crunchy light-bulb shines bright the moment you get a stirring idea, that just won’t leave you alone, also known as an “AHA moment”. The moment you realize you no longer need a long skinny tube of antibacterial and healing gel in your medicine cabinet, you can make your own! When the last drop of commercial laundry soap is poured into the washer and suddenly a crunchy light-bulb shines bright: “I can make my own laundry soap!”. Now that’s empowering, friend.
That’s what a crunchy light-bulb is all about! Of course, all good crunchy light-bulb moments must be shared. So, today, I come to you with another light-bulb creation, one of my simplest, yet highly-effective natural remedies: DIY Natural Floor Cleaner Wipes.
DIY Natural Floor Cleaner Wipes are inspired by my simple DIY Cleaning Wipes. Stock a natural, simple-minded gal a handful of washcloths and a gallon of vinegar, and she just may try taking over the whole cleaning industry!
Both wipe recipes use washcloths making DIY cleaning wipes: reusable, easy to wash, and 100% natural. Simply attach a DIY Natural Floor Cleaner Wipe to a Swiffer base and clean the floor like its never been cleaned before. Your wallet, floor, and husband will thank you!
DIY Natural Floor Cleaner Wipes
Ingredients
- 2 cups distilled water
- 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
- 2 TB rubbing/isopropyl alcohol helps with drying
- 10 drops sweet orange essential oil You can also substitute lemon or lavender and create your own combo
- 5 drops peppermint essential oil
- 5 drops tea tree essential oil
Instructions
- Roll the washcloths and place in a jar.
- In a small bowl combine the water, vinegar, rubbing alcohol and essential oils.
- Pour the vinegar mixture over the washcloths, pressing the washcloths down into the liquid. The washcloths should be wet. Depending on the size of your washcloths, you may need to add more vinegar/water as needed.
- Close the lid on the jar.
- Remove the washcloths from the jar as needed and attach to a Swiffer base. Wash the dirty cloths in the washer, and repeat the process. When you introduce water into a product without a preservative you always run the risk of introducing bacteria, so use water-based products quickly.
Tools I Use:
Note: To attach the wipe to the Swiffer base, simply secure the ends of the cloth in the holes on top of the base. You can also reverse the wipes mid-way through cleaning so you use both sides.
Laminate Floors: Find a recipe with the exact same ingredients, just equal measurements specifically for laminate, on Nature’s Nurture Blog.
(Sealed) Wood Floors: According to Becky at Clean Mama, she uses a vinegar mop solution on her hardwood floors using a special hardwood cleaning technique. If you’re looking for something to use on exposed or waxed wood, I recommend talking to a wood specialist. These recipes don’t shine and the vinegar may dull some finishes, like wood sealers or waxes. If your hardwood floors are sealed, it’s important to know how they are sealed before using any liquid cleaner.
With any cleaner that’s applied to a special surface, always spot test. This applies to both store-bought cleaners and homemade solutions. There are many factors that can play into a floor cleaner working with or against your floor: 1/ the products used on your floors in the past, which can leave a film that’s brought out by other products 2/ your water (hard water can work against cleaning solutions). Since there are many variables that may play into cleaning a surface effectively, I recommend spot testing in a small, inconspicuous area or grabbing a floor sample from the home improvement store for testing.
Would Sal Suds work in place of the castile soap? (a few drops?)
Hi Carmen, yes! That’ll work.
Sorry, I meant Wanda
Responding to Amanda’s post about disliking the scent of tea tree oil. Try using Manuka oil. It is supposed to be as good and even better in some instances than tea tree and doesn’t stink. Google it and check it out to see what you think.
We installed Pergo Plus laminates upstairs. I contacted Pergo to see what should I wash the floors with and was surprised when they said only water and vinegar and to squeeze as much water as I could. Using anything else voids the warranty. I have to add that we’re non shoe wearing household. All our shoes we wear outside are taken off in the garage. Which means our floors mainly have dust on them instead of tiny rocks, dirt etc. and their solution cleans perfectly.
That’s great, Ana!
I did it was awesome! I used orange, lemon, lime and tea tree. The alcohol was a A great added touch. It dried so quickly.?
Awesome, Pam! So glad you’re enjoying it.
Can I use this solution directly in my swifter type mop? It comes with rewashable pads.
I’m not sure, Pam, as I don’t know the exact mop, but I would try it!
Hi Kristen, I love your blogs! Can you please share where you boought your washcloths? I bought some but didn’t fit my swiffer. Thank you!
Hey Larmie, I believe they came from Target–the bath section.
Do you have any ideas on how to modify this idea to be used for marble floors? Thanks!
Hey Ashely, Maybe water a few drops of castile soap?
Am I the only person that dislikes the scent of tea tree oil? It smells like some sort of mechanics lubrication or WD40 to me. Does anyone know if tea tree oil is essential to all these DIY home cleaning recipes. It seems like they all have it as an ingredient. Makes my house smell like an automotive shop!!
Hey Wanda, You could skip it in this recipe.
hello,
can these wipes be used on marble flooring… is vinegar safe ??
Hey Ankita, Vinegar isn’t safe for marble floors.
I know itś been a while since you posted this and hope you are still reading the comments. I have a question about the safety for pets… Up till now I just clean my floors with a steam mop. I was just wondering, how would the vinegar and essential oils affect my catś health? I wouldn’t want her to suffer for my cleaning aspirations…
Hey Gonny, I can’t speak to essential oils, as various essential oils aren’t recommended for cats. I don’t know what those are, but a Google search will probably provide the answer. Vinegar should be fine, as long as the cats are licking puddles of vinegar off the floor.
I don’t have essential oils. Could I do without?
Hey Allison, Yes, you can.
Hey Kristin! I love your site! I have a question for you. I’m considering buying that microfiber mop you have, (we have hardwoods), but I’m also wondering if I can just follow your homemade swiffer cloth recipe and use a microfiber cloth on my swiffer instead. Do you think that would get the floors just as clean as that mop would? Thanks!
Hey Hayley, Thank you! I think you could definitely just use the microfiber and a bit of water (although I’m not sure if a microfiber cloth will attach to this particular mop well), or you could make the wipes and fill the jar with water and use about 1 teaspoon of castile soap in the solution to help pick up the dirt.
Hi Kristin,
Can you use Vodka instead of rubbing alcohol for this cleaner? Thank you for your posts! I have learned a lot and enjoy making my own cleaners!
Hey Terri, Yes, you can :). I’m so glad you’re enjoying homemade cleaners!!
Great idea! I use vinegar for cleaning surfaces at home and make a natural all purpose cleaner, but never thought of making cleaning wipes. It’s a brilliant idea n and I thank you for sharing it!
Thank you, Carolin!