We live in Georgia, and I like to say that our state bird is the mosquito. We also have spiders, gnats, snakes, stink bugs, giant cockroaches that fly (seriously!), and moths. Some of these critters are so large that they could have their own zip code! While my Homemade Floor Cleaner With Essential Oils has not stopped me from turning on the light before entering a room, it has helped keep bugs under control.
The best part is, there are no toxic ingredients involved! Everyone can use a good floor cleaner, and if you live somewhere with a lot of bugs like I do, you’ll appreciate a cleaner that keeps bugs at bay!
Table of Contents:
Toxins in Conventional Floor Cleaners
If you head down your local cleaning aisle, you’re sure to find an array of floor cleaners. They may get the job done, but they wreak havoc on your health! I could go on for days about all the chemicals in conventional cleaners, but here are the three you’ll find in most cleaners.
Ammonium Hydroxide
Ammonium hydroxide is a form of ammonia. This cleaning agent is known for its ability to tackle the most challenging jobs, but it’s horrible for your health. If you’ve ever used a product with ammonia, you know just how badly this chemical can sting your nostrils.
Inhaling ammonia can cause the lungs to tighten up, and ingesting this toxin can be deadly! (1) I ditched products that contain ammonia and still enjoy clean floors. I don’t miss the toxins one bit!
Chlorine
Chlorine, or bleach, is a common ingredient in floor cleaners and pest repellents. The scent of bleach is enough to disgust most people, and it’s one of the most dangerous chemicals to keep in your home.
When you mix chlorine with certain chemicals, you get a poisonous gas. (2) That’s the last thing you want wafting through your freshly cleaned home! Toxic gasses aside, bleach is highly poisonous when ingested and can leave chemical burns on the skin.
Phthalates
Most cleaners contain fragrance elements, and with artificial fragrances comes phthalates. These toxins are responsible for lowered sperm count and other reproductive issues. (3) They’re so strong that they can affect a pregnant mother and her baby as well.
If you’re beginning your natural health journey, I encourage you to ditch all products that contain synthetic fragrances. Lotion, shampoo, body wash, cleaners, candles, and air fresheners contain artificial components that will wreak havoc on your endocrine system.
Essential Oils for Bug Control
My Homemade Floor Cleaner doubles as a “No Trespassing” sign! This is where essential oils come in! Many people live chemical-free in most areas of their lives but accept toxins for pest control. This doesn’t have to be the case! It’s important to make your home seem as unattractive as possible to bugs while still keeping it a toxin-free haven for friends and family.
Many essential oils help repel bugs, but certain ones are mentioned repeatedly such as citronella essential oil. For example, anything with a menthol effect like peppermint is always at the top of the list.
I have a theory about why that is. When I go outside to water my garden, I like rubbing peppermint EO on my body (with a carrier oil, of course!) because it cools my skin. If you use too much or put it near your eyes, you can hardly see, and everything suddenly gets hot! Imagine being as small as a bug. The power of peppermint would make something that small disintegrate!
Peppermint is my favorite option, but here are a few others that work just as great.
- Citronella
- Eucalyptus
- Tea tree
- Lemon myrtle
- Rosemary
- Lavender
- Lemon eucalyptus
You’ll see in this recipe that I mixed peppermint essential oil with other EOs that don’t smell as strong. This creates a more complex scent that makes your home feel fresh!
Tips for Squeaky Clean Floors
Clean floors make the whole home feel brighter! Over the years, I’ve collected tips that make this job go a little smoother. It’s my honor to share them with you today.
- Before mopping, make sure your floor is clear of all debris. No one wants to wash their floor with dust bunnies! I sometimes use a vacuum to make this job go faster.
- Make sure to wring your mop out, so you don’t have too much water on the rag. You want the mop to be dry enough that it doesn’t slide all over. You want to be able to scrub tough spots when needed!
- You can rinse your floor by mopping it with a mixture of organic white distilled vinegar and water. I recommend doing this on linoleum and other non-wood floors.
- And of course, the age-old tip of removing shoes before entering a home makes a world of difference!
How to Make Homemade Floor Cleaner
Homemade Floor Cleaner With Essential Oils for Bugs
Supplies
Ingredients
- ¼ cup organic unscented liquid castile soap
- 1 gallon purified OR distilled hot water
- 4 drops pine OR fir needle essential oil
- 4 drops peppermint essential oil
- 4 drops lavender essential oil
- 4 drops orange essential oil
- 2 drops cedarwood essential oil
- 2 drops lemongrass essential oil
- 2 drops tea tree essential oil
Instructions
- Mix the soap and oils in a large bucket.
- Slowly pour in hot water.
- Gently stir and use with a mop.
Step One: Combine Soaps and Oils
Mix the soaps and oils together in a large bucket. I prefer using a large mop bucket.
Step Two: Add Hot Water
Slowly pour in hot water. If you pour too fast, your bucket will overflow with suds.
Step Three: Mop Your Floors
Time to mop! Gently stir your soap, water, and essential oil mixture. You can use this cleaner with a mop or hand wash your floors.
Let air dry when done, or gently dry with a towel.
- https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ershdb/emergencyresponsecard_29750013.html
- https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/chlorine/basics/facts.asp
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16466537/
