Environmentally Friendly Cleaning: Floors

Natural cleaners are safer, usually cheaper, equally effective as harsh chemicals, and best of all, you know exactly what you have used. Home made green cleaners usually use only the main cleaning agents and perhaps a natural fragrance, while commercial cleaners often also contain additives such as fragrances and bulking agents, and who knows what else!

If you, or family members, are allergy sufferers- both those with skin sensitivities and breathing/asthma difficulties- you are much less likely to have adverse reactions to environmentally friendly cleaners. However, with any of the stronger natural products, it is still advisable to wear gloves. If you are hyper sensitive, you might also consider wearing eye and breathing protection.

Natural environmental cleaners are more quickly, and fully, biodegradable, are lower in toxicity, and therefore much less harmful to our waterways and wildlife. "Grey water" containing green cleaners is also suitable for re-use on gardens, as a water saving measure, and can even be stored and treated in special tanks for use in toilets or even washing machines.

If you don't have time, or the wish, to make your own cleaners, then try to look out for Environmental Choice logos when choosing commercial products.

Below are some earth-wise floor cleaning ideas:

CARPETS

• Always clean as soon after the spill as possible. Blot, scoop and scrape up what you can.

• Proceed with caution, if at all concerned about colour fastness. An out of the way spot of carpet can be used for testing first, if desired. It may pay to test in advance before a spill occurs, so that you can be ready with the right, safe removing medium right away.
  
  
• Soda water can be used to remove odours and mess, such as little pet accidents, spills or vomit. The bubbles help the stain to rise and makes it easier to remove.
  
  
• Bicarbonate of soda, either on a damp rag, or sprinkled on and left for 30 minutes before vacuuming, will help absorb odours.
  
  
• Bicarbonate of soda or cornflour (for heavy grease stains) used as above will help remove greasy stains.
  
  
• To remove wax, scrape off as much as you can.
  Then cover with a paper towel or blotting paper. Hold a hot iron above the paper, while pressing the paper down to blot the wax. You may need to repeat this several times.
  
  
• For red wine stain, act quickly. Mop up liquid with cloth. Saturate the spill with white wine. Leave to soak for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water on a clean cloth.

Carpet Cleaning Foam
2 cups pure soap flakes
1/2 cup methylated spirits
25ml eucalyptus oil
1/4 cup washing soda
Combine ingredients and whisk or shake in a jar until dissolved and mixed.
This mixture should be quite thick, but if it becomes to hard to shake to mix completely, you can add a little hot water. Keep in a sealed container.
When needed, mix 3 tablespoons of the mixture with 1 litre of very hot water

and whisk until foamy.
Rub onto the stain and leave to soak for 10-15 minutes.
After the soak, using a sponge dipped in white vinegar, wipe area well.

This neutralises the alkalinity of the foam.

Blot up moisture with a clean absorbent rag.

HARD FLOORS

• To remove scuffs use a pencil eraser or eucalyptus oil.

• For rust stains on lino, rub with half a lemon sprinkled with salt.

• Wash an oil finished wood floor with 1 part methylated spirits to 10 parts hot water.
  Buff with dry cloth.
  To remove sticky spills, sprinkle with flour and wipe with a damp cloth.

• Add 2 cups of vinegar to a bucket of warm water to mop tiled floors.

Bicarb Scouring Paste
8 tablespoons bicarb
2 tablespoon water
Mix into a stiff paste.
Use for scrubbing marks on tiled floors etc.
Rinse or buff off after scrubbing.

Floor Cleaner
**Do not use on wood floors**
6 litres of hot water
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup washing soda
2 tablespoons liquid soap
Combine well in a bucket and mop floor.
Then mop with clean plain water.