Dirty floors are a breeding ground for all sorts of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This can be injurious to our health, but it also has the propensity to make our homes look and smell bad. A regular cleaning regimen is of paramount importance, but the same chemicals used to clean floors come with a host of harsh effects as well. For those of you, like myself, who prefer natural alternatives, this article is for you. So, with that being said, how can I disinfect my floors naturally?
There are several options available to help you clean your floors naturally. Here’s a quick look at these natural disinfectants:
- Vinegar
- Tea tree oil
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Lemon juice
- Baking soda
- Rubbing alcohol
- Castile soap
- Steam cleaner and pressure cleaner
Allow me to explain why each of these natural solutions is effective at cleaning and disinfecting floors, so that you can select the best option for your home.
1. Vinegar
There are about 15 types of vinegar on the market, but for the sake of cleaning, we can stick with the most common, which are white vinegar and apple cider vinegar.
Due to it’s acidic nature, vinegar has the ability to breakdown and dissolve dirt, debris, grime, bacteria, and stains quite effectively.
However, the main drawback of vinegar is that it can be damaging to certain surfaces. This is one of the main reasons why you should always dilute cleaners with water before use.
2. Tea tree oil
Essential oils are popularly known for offering a host of benefits, but one particular benefit worth mentioning is their antibacterial and antifungal properties.
By applying a few drops of tea tree oil to a bucket of warm water or to your natural soap, you can create a solution that offers elite disinfecting properties with a strong and refreshing odor.
In some cases, spot treat a stain or largely infected area with a tea tree oil solution and let it sit for a few minutes before washing and cleaning. Repeat this step frequently until the area is completely clean and disinfected.
3. Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is sometimes described as bleach without the harmful effects. It is an oxidizing agent with the propensity to breakdown compounds like organic stains as well as bacteria and odor-causing molecules.
It’s relatively cheap and safe to work with, as long as you dilute it with water.
A high concentration of peroxide can strip away the top coat of your floors, but this can be mitigated with the use of a diluent.
4. Lemon juice
Much like vinegar, lemon juice has an acidic profile that can be used to clean and whiten surfaces.
It’s a popular natural ingredient used in many skincare products due to it’s cleaning and brightening properties.
Lemon juice may not be as effective as some of the other items on this list, but it can work to remove light layers of dirt or spills.
The trick is to use freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice rather than store bought bottles of preserved lemon juice.
5. Baking soda
Unlike many of the items on this list, baking soda is actually a strong alkaline solution with the ability to oxidize and produce gases that can breakdown and remove stains from floors.
From carpets to wood floors, baking soda can be an effective solution to disinfect your floors naturally.
Generally speaking, you can sprinkle baking soda on a stain, let it sit, and then wash it away. Alternatively, you can create a mixture of baking soda and water that can be applied and brushed into certain areas of the floor.
6. Rubbing alcohol
As we all know, alcohol is a powerful disinfectant that kills bacteria. Many cases of bad odors and discoloration on floors can be traced back to bacteria or fungi.
Rubbing alcohol is incredibly easy to find, affordable, and safe for application.
7. Castile soap
Castile soap is a natural based solution made from olive oil and coconut oil. It is expensive, but it is a gentle and effective cleaner popularly used as an alternative to chemical laden soap.
Normally, castile soap is geared toward skincare, but it’s actually an effective solution for floors.
It’s gentle enough to not damage your floors and can be odorized using essential oils. I would mix castille soap with tea tree oil and peppermint for a refreshing and disinfecting soapy solution for your floors.
8. Steam cleaner and pressure cleaner
If you’re all out of products but want to clean your floors with water alone, you need a steamer or pressure cleaner.
Steam produced by heat can break down stubborn stains. Pressure cleaners generate force to break down stubborn debris and dirt.
Using these two items together can produce a satisfactory result.
But, when it comes to killing bacteria and fungi, you probably need to use one of the natural disinfectants discussed above in conjunction with these machine cleaners.
Final Thoughts
Before employing any of the natural disinfectant solutions above, it is pivotal to spot test to avoid any damage or discoloration.
Some of these natural alternatives are strong and potent. They have the ability to strip down and disintegrate some of the materials used to make floors.
It’s always a good idea to check if the specific item you want to use is compatible with the type of flooring in your home. More importantly, always opt for a diluted mixture before applying anything to the floor.
With that being said, I hope you enjoyed this article on how to disinfect your floors naturally. Please feel free to check out some of our other helpful articles that are linked below.
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