Floor Cleaner

A bucket of hot water and a little Castile soap is all most hard floors need day to day. This is also suitable for stone floors.

You'll need

• 4 L hot water
• 40 ml Castile Soap – Unscented
• Up to 10 drops lemon or sweet orange essential oil (optional)
• Bucket and mop

Method

1. Sweep or vacuum the floor first.
2. Fill the bucket with hot water, then add the castile soap and swirl gently. Stirring hard makes extra suds.
3. Add the essential oil, if using.
4. Dip the mop and wring it out well. On timber and laminate, the floor should dry within a minute or two, with no puddles.
5. Mop as usual. There's no need to rinse. If your water is hard and leaves a haze, buff dry with a microfibre cloth.

Why it works

Castile soap loosens grease and dirt so the mop can lift them away. The recipe leaves out vinegar because acids can etch marble and limestone, and because vinegar and castile soap cancel each other out and leave an oily film.

Storage

Mix fresh each time and pour any leftover down the sink.

Where to use it

• Suitable for: tiles, vinyl, laminate, sealed timber and sealed stone
• Check first: waxed, oiled or unsealed timber, and unsealed stone. Follow the flooring maker's care advice.

Safety

• Label any container you store cleaners in with the contents and date. Use a dedicated container, never one used for food or drink, and keep it out of reach of children and pets.
• Don't mix this cleaner with other cleaning products, including vinegar.
• Test on a small, hidden area of floor first.
• Essential oils are optional. Keep the bottle out of reach of children, and leave oils out if you have cats.
• Keep children and pets off the floor until it's dry.
• If any cleaner is swallowed or gets in the eyes, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 (24 hours, Australia-wide).