Household chores can seem a daunting task, not to mention if a while has passed since the floor was last cleaned. The floor of any room often bears most of the brunt from foot traffic and miscellaneous things that have been dropped and long forgotten. Before you whip out your caddy filled with toxic chemicals and bottles promising all kinds of super scrubbing bubble action, consider a safer alternative with Green Clean’s recommended products. Both the environment and your home will thank you for it.

You will need the hydrogen peroxide based cleaning solution, a recycled and reusable cleaning cloth, scouring powder, a scrubbing pad, a metal scraper, a corner brush, and a microfiber cloth. Prior to saturating any part of the bathroom in the green cleaning solution, sweep the floor of excess dirt and debris. The hydrogen peroxide base has eco-friendly properties that are safe for both the skin (this is the same hydrogen peroxide used for cuts and abrasions) as well as the waterways. It is a biodegradable chemical that is also antiviral and anti-fungal.

Remove any rugs and towels for washing before you begin. Sweep the floor completely. A small portable vacuum will also work well and might even be more efficient at removing dirt from the floor. Even the slightest bit of dust can create streaking, and this diminishes the cleansing effects of the green cleaning products. You can wear a pair of latex-free or biodegradable cleaning gloves to protect your hands while doing this job. Take the cleaning solution and spray it thoroughly all over the floor’s surface. If you are cleaning the entire bathroom, this solution also works great for the other hard tile surfaces as well. The hydrogen base works to help soften up the areas that you will be scrubbing. This also allows the cleaners to work for you at the same time that you are working.

After the solution has sat for several minutes (you may leave it to sit for up to an hour if the floor is heavily stained), take the scrubbing pad and briskly wipe the surface completely. Find a corner of the scrubbing pad and run it firmly along with the caulking of the tiles (if applicable) and where the floor meets the base of the wall. The metal scraper will help to detach stubborn grime and grout caked on the floor; the corner brush can also get into those areas that are hard to reach. Use these tools if the scrubbing pad is not strong enough.

If there is an excess of film or stains that are not coming off easily, pour a bit of the scouring powder onto the scrubbing pad and then take it around the floor another time. Rinse out the pad and wipe away any of the remnants. Use the reusable cloth to sop up the lingering water. Rinse it out. Wipe it over the surface again if necessary, and finish off by using the microfiber cloth to polish the floor.

Tips:

It may help to attach the reusable cloth to the end of a Swiffer mop without the pad. Go through the previous steps of blotting the excess water and ringing out the cloth whenever needed. Using the mop helps to ease the strain on your back, arms, and knees.

Start cleaning from the end of the floor that is furthest away from the bathroom entrance and work your way towards it as you scrub and dry the tiles. This prevents you from tracking dirt back over the surface, which will turn muddy and be even more noticeable if the floor is clean.

If you have ceramic tiled floors, you may not need to use additional green cleaning products. The cleaning solution along with some warm water should suffice. Also, avoid using sponges because they are actually counterproductive since they only push the dirt right back into the porous ceramic surface.

Certain hardwood and bamboo floors may need special care. Steep two teabags (Earl Grey, black tea) in boiling water and pour it into a bucket once it has cooled off a bit. Wet the reusable cloth in the water and clean the floor as normal, following the previous instructions above.

Note:

Green cleaning method can also be applied in the garage where it can be the place that needs more cleaning attention. While cleaning you may discover certain damage on the garage door panels, you may check this article on what to do about them.