Wood Safe Mopping Solution

I've only had wood floors once- and boy did they need love. I had to patch, scrub and baby those planks to get it to look like it wasn't the bottom of an old barn. So many cleaners will either streak wood up or pull away the oils and wax that you need to keep the wood 'healthy'. This mopping solution is safe fr wood floors and will help you preserve the needed healthy oils without you breaking your neck on a slippery floor.

Ingredients:
20 oz. spray bottle
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
1 tsp. vegetable glycerin
20 drops lemon essential oil
Water

Spray, mop as usual, and quickly buff dry to protect your floors. They will be glossy and clean with a lovely lemon scent!

Tropical Carpet Powder

Personally I don't keep carpets. They are allergen magnets. Icky stuff gets trapped in the fibers. Brackish water collects under it. And sometimes they stink- oh lord! Some of my past rental places, however, wouldn't let me tear out the carpets, so I had to improvise.The powder below is full of deodorizers that won't kill your sinus allergies.

Ingredients:
1 cup of baking soda
10 drops of lemongrass essential oil  per cup
10 drops of mandarin essential oil  per cup
10 drops of ginger essential oil  per cup

Mix together and sprinkle the aromatic blend onto your carpet, let sit for 30 minutes, and vacuum as normal. Wonderful mattress deodorizer, too!

Sick House Mopping Solution

For a light mopping I use a mix of vinegar and hot water only. That kills most germs just as well as lysol without putting poisons on the paws of your animals and the mouths of your children. If I really need a good anti-microbial sick house cleanse, I use the following solution:

Ingredients:
1/4 cup liquid castille soap
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
20 drops of tea tree essential oil
20 drops of sweet orange essential oil
2 gallons of hot water

This is the perfect liquid cleaner for tile floors, vinyl, or linoleum. It cuts through grease and urine very well.

Really Dirty Floor Solution

I reserve this recipe for after Thanksgiving cooking has been done, kid parties and cleaning up after 'doggie explodey' moments. Or when moving into a new place. Or cleaning the kennels. You get the idea.

Ingredients: 
1/8 cup liquid dish detergent
1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup Borax
2 to 3 gallons very hot water

Mix all the ingredients together in a mop bucket, then mop the floors, wringing frequently. Once you're done getting the goop up, allow to dry and then wet mop once more with only hot water.