Well, the kitchen/laundry room tile installation is complete and I couldn’t be happier! To say it’s an improvement over our old linoleum floor would be a VAST understatement. I have spent the last several days trying to get things back in order and finally, this afternoon, I was ready to give my new floor its first bath. I have already damp-mopped it a few times in an attempt to clean grout residue and dust, but today I decided to give it a good old-fashioned cleaning. With an old-fashioned mop and everything! :-)
And I had just the cleaner in mind. It’s something I found on Food.com. I know — crazy huh? :-) Turns out they have lots of great homemade cleaner-type “recipes”.
The thing that sold me on this cleaner was the grease-cutting factor. I hate a greasy floor and over the last few days I have been experimenting with a cool idea for cooking the perfect steak on the stovetop that seems to be really greasing up the place. So with the floor freshly swept and all chairs, stools, etc. up off the floor, I was ready for the inaugural mopping of the tile floor!
Related: Clean Your Hardwood Floors Easily in 3 Steps
DIY Grease-Cutting Floor Cleaner
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon liquid dish soap
- 1/4 cup washing soda
- 2 gallons very warm tap water
*Note: I do not recommend this recipe for waxed floors.
Directions:
Add vinegar, dish soap and washing soda to a bucket.
Add warm water from your tap and mix well.
Mop the area with the solution. When I first started mopping I was a bit concerned about the suds because typically I just steam my floors. But the more area I mopped and watched it dry, the less worried I was. The floor didn’t have any feel or look of soap residue at all. It just looked and felt clean! And grease-free!
How do you clean a greasy floor?
What is washing soda?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You can purchase this at your local grocery store or target where they sell laundry soap items. It says on the box. Household cleaner and laundry booster. Used for bathroom, kitchen,upholstery,silver, and outdoor furniture. Great for grout toilets microwaves stainless steel. It’s wonderful. Get a box. It’s inexpensive. I add a scoop to my laundry. It’s pure and natural too.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Kim
Also you can find it at pool supply stores.
I have used this mix for over a year now and it works wonders!!! I like a nice clean, smooth surface for bare feet and this does it in my kitchen and bathrooms. I am considering trying it on some wanna be wood floor as well. My expectations are high.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Don’t you think the recipe mentioned above by Randa might work on our wanna be wood floors (the pergo recipe)?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.BTW, I love the term “wanna be wood floor.” So apropo…
Try adding 3 tablespoons of Epson salts, you’ll be amazed.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Sounds great but what is the difference with Epsom salts? Thanks.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Haha, not a silly question! I think wood an linoleum can both be waxed.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.For anyone who wonders, washing soda and baking soda are different forms of sodium carbonate. If you have baking soda, you can use to to make washing soda. All you do is put it in the oven and heat (although I don’t know specific details-there are how-tos all over Pinterest!) baking soda is considerably cheaper! Hope this helps!!!!!!
Ps Jillee, I always read your awesome ideas and I’m gonna give this one a try!!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I second this one. I have had hardwood for 8 years. I have never used anything but Avon bubble bath.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Me too, since my mom was an Avon lady in the 60s! Any floor type as well. In Canada in the winter, you m ight not want to go out…
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I heard several years ago, from a cleaning company employee, that you should not use vinegar on floors that have a finish as this would strip the finish. Has anyone heart the same thing? This sounds like it would do a wonderful job, but I would hate to strip down the finish on my floors. I like to use murphys oil soap mixed with hot water.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks Ali!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hands and knees scrubbing with a nylon brush. Use cleaner of choice. Only thing that works for me and a 1yo, 3yo and 5 yo messes. I only do this when I notice it is really bad in the grout. Otherwise I steam mop. I want to try this jillee cleaner for greasy floor days
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Just used this in my laundry room where my 90 lb kab resides. Holy cow!! No more funky wet dog smell or sticky floor. YAY!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I just tried this on my floors and my water turned WAY more disgusting than usual, so I’d say it works! Thank you so much! :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Happy with the results on my tile floors, but can’t say the same for my prefinished hardwoods. Left water spots and a white film once it dried.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have those “faux wood” laminate floors (they also have a texture to them, like ridges), and I can NOT get the spots off them no matter which cleaner I use, which mop I use, and how hard I scrub with them. It is so frustrating. I am going to try your formula. If this works, I will be one happy woman!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.awwww….I felt so bad! lol! Didn’t seem to phase him though. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Carole Burnett mop! lol! Love it. :-) I do pull the ole Carole Burnett mop out on occasion. Mostly when I want to really “soak” the floor. And yes, I did wring it with my hands! Right after my manicure even! Which reminded me why I don’t often GET manicures! lol
Please log in or create a free account to comment.washing soda is a highly alkaline “laundry booster” product, sodium carbonate not sodium BIcarbonate so don’t confuse the two. ;) It’s often sold in the laundry aisle in a dishwasher detergent sized box.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It’s caustic. Keep away from mucous membranes n skin. I’d stick to baking soda.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It’s actually very similar to baking soda! In fact, you can make your own washing soda out of just baking soda. Check it out: https://jillee.co/2IUg3ed :-)
Thanks for this Jillee! I am about to clean my floors so I will try your recipe. Cheers!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Bill Nye the Science Guy!! Yessss!
Perfect timing this post as I was just contemplating a new way to clean the kitchen floor. Thanks!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I also use the washing soda as a laundry booster and for polishing silver. DID YOU NEED TO RINSE THE FLOORS?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.No rinsing necessary :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Your new floor is gorgeous! We have travertine floors in our kitchen and foyer. I always just spray it with some white vinegar than use my steam mop on it. It seems to work pretty well. But as we’re moving soon, I may try this recipe just to make sure the floor is really clean before we go. Thanks for sharing!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I believe that the soda neutralizes the vinegar, so it shouldn’t do any harm
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Oh your floor is just gorgeous! Isn’t it the best feeling to wake up and look at a pretty new floor every day?! Enjoy!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What is Washing Soda? I’ve never heard of it or seen it. Is this recipe okay for linoleum? With the humid summer days my floor is sticky even though it’s clean.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Also, I don’t have a mop (my kitchen floor is small, maybe 6 feet by 3 feet? Can I use a Swiffer mop??
Please log in or create a free account to comment.And yes, you can use a Swiffer :-) I would put this solution in a spray bottle and just squirt as you go with a microfiber cloth over the Swiffer.
For some reason, Target where I am doesn’t carry it, but my local grocery store (Publix) does. Wish my Costco would start carrying it in bulk!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You can find washing soda in the laundry aisle. And yes, this recipe is great for linoleum :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Love this and can’t wait to try it! Do you think it would get old wax from a floor also? My mom’s floor is so old and has the “residue” from all the waxing back in the day. We want it gone! lol
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Over a few moppings, the vinegar should eat away at the wax :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Looks great! I had to degrease my kitchen floor yesterday and just used white vinegar. Worked slick!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.