• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Hello Nest

The Art of Making a Home

  • Green Cleaning
    • Air Fresheners
    • Bathroom
    • Bedroom
    • Kitchen
    • Laundry
  • Natural Living
    • Homemade Recipes
    • Essential Oils
    • Plants & Flowers
    • Zero Waste
    • Organizing & Simplifying
  • DIY & Decor
    • Candle Projects
    • Holiday Projects
    • Sewing Projects
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

How To Safely Clean Hardwood Floors With a DIY Floor Cleaner

102 · Oct 13, 2022 · Stephanie Gerber · 3 Comments

For a long time I was hesitant to make a DIY hardwood floor cleaner. Mainly because there’s plenty of controversy about using vinegar. However, I finally made the leap because 1) Bona is expensive and 2) I researched the finish on my floors.

The best way to clean hardwood floors is often based on the type of finish, rather than the type of wood. Not sure how your floors are finished? It’s worth doing a little research with your contractor or manufacturer to see what cleaning methods and products are recommended.

For example, most hardwood floors are coated with polyurethane, which is unlikely to be damaged by acids like vinegar, if diluted. However, a broader range of floor finishes are being used now. Some factory finishes are extremely durable, but water-based finishes may be more vulnerable to acids and bases.

DIY Hardwood Floor CleanerWhy is vinegar controversial?

As we’ve talked about, vinegar is acidic. The green cleaning ingredient attacks dirt and leaves a streak-free shine, but if strong enough, that acid can harm the finish on hardwood floors. In other words, you should definitely not pour straight vinegar onto your floors! (Similarly, don’t pool cleaning solution on floors period.)

Vinegar can be diluted to reduce its acidity levels, so I use just 1/2 cup with a gallon of water. I still recommended testing any homemade cleaner on an inconspicuous spot before using. If you don’t like the results you can stick with a commercial product like Bona or this Babyganics concentrate.

DIY Hardwood Floor Cleaner

How to clean hardwood floors

Old School Bucket and Rag

I’m old school and typically clean with a rag, but that’s also because my kids get food everywhere that requires a bit of elbow grease to pry loose.

Refillable Spray Mop

Spray mops are the bomb. My husband bought a Bona spray mop, and lo and behold, it’s refillable. You can buy more of the Bona solution or replace it with a homemade version. Scale down the vinegar dilution to 1 tablespoon for every 16 ounces of water.

Microfiber Mop

If you have a microfiber floor cleaner, you can still ‘wet mop.’ Dip a wet mop pad in the cleaning solution, wring it out and put it back on the mop or spritz the floors with a spray bottle before wiping up.

Print Recipe

DIY Hardwood Floor Cleaner

Ingredients

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 black tea bag
  • 1 gallon warm water
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 cup vinegar
  • For refillable mops use 1 tablespoon vinegar for every 16 ounces of liquid.

Instructions

  • Bring 1 cup of water to boil and steep the black tea bag, allowing it to cool to room temperature.
  • Fill a bucket with 1 gallon of warm water.
  • Add the black tea, olive oil and vinegar.
  • Use with a mop to clean floors.
  • Dry mop after cleaning if floors are too slippery.
  • Don't use this on waxed or untreated hardwood. The best way to clean those floors is with a wet cloth.

Photos by Ana Stanciu

102

Floors + Carpet

More Posts from Floors + Carpet

  • DIY floor cleaner

    DIY Citrus All-Natural Floor Cleaner

  • DIY Lemon Lavender Rug Freshening Powder

  • 3-Ingredient Laminate Floor Cleaner

  • How to Make Your Own Swiffer Pads and Solution

  • How to clean carpet floors

    1-Ingredient Natural Carpet Stain Remover

  • Floor Cleaner Recipe

    From Hardwood to Vinyl: How to Clean Every Type of Floor


Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Mohammed Hashi says

    March 25, 2024 at 9:15 am

    Her article is a fantastic resource for those looking to maintain our hardwood floors without resorting to harsh chemicals. Her emphasis on the type of finish and the careful selection of ingredients reassures us that we can keep our floors clean and more natural. I’ve found that some research and a gentle approach can go a long way in preserving the life and look of hardwood floors. This DIY cleaner seems like a great addition to any green cleaning routine.

    Reply
  2. Michael says

    April 5, 2020 at 1:15 pm

    Thanks for the step by step instructions I’ve been skeptical about using vinegar as well since I was worried about it’s acidity and the effect it would have on my floors. So thanks again I’ll give it a try soon.

    Reply
  3. Carol Cook says

    October 19, 2019 at 11:16 am

    Thanks for this recipe. A couple of questions: Why use a tea bag? Won’t the olive oil separate from the rest of the cleaner.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Featured DIY

How to clean Birks

How to Clean Birkenstocks (Because They Deserve Better)

The Best essential oils for dryer balls

The Best Essential Oils for Dryer Balls

DIY Before-You-Go Spray

How to Clean an Air Fryer

DIY refrigerator tabs

DIY Refrigerator Deodorizer Tabs Made with Essential Oils

More

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Hello Glow
  • Hello Veggie

Copyright © 2025 · Hello Nest