Tile & Vinyl Floor Cleaner

A powerful cleaner for tile, vinyl, and linoleum floors. Cuts through dirt and grime while leaving floors sparkling.

Prep Time 3 minutes
Yield 1 gallon
Difficulty Easy
Cost $0.75

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup White vinegar
  • 1/2 cup Rubbing alcohol (Helps with quick drying)
  • 1 gallon Water (Warm)
  • 1 teaspoon Dish soap (Dawn or similar)
  • 10 drops Essential oil (Optional, for scent)
Safe for: ceramic tile, porcelain tile, vinyl, linoleum, sealed concrete
Avoid on: marble, natural stone, unsealed grout

Why This Recipe Works

Vinegar cuts through grime and removes buildup while the rubbing alcohol helps the floor dry quickly to prevent streaking. A tiny amount of dish soap boosts cleaning power for greasy kitchen floors. The result is clean, shiny floors without residue.

Instructions

  1. Sweep or vacuum first: Remove loose dirt and debris before mopping.

  2. Mix solution: In a bucket, combine warm water, vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and dish soap. Add essential oil if using.

  3. Mop floors: Dip mop and wring well. Mop in sections, working from the back of the room toward the door.

  4. No rinsing needed: This solution is dilute enough that rinsing isn’t necessary. Floors will dry quickly thanks to the alcohol.

Tips & Variations

  • For extra dirty floors: Double the dish soap for heavy grease or grime.
  • Grout cleaning: For grout, apply a paste of baking soda and water, let sit, then mop with this solution.
  • Steam mop: This solution can be used in some steam mops - check your manual.
  • Quick spot cleaning: Keep some solution in a spray bottle for quick cleanups.

Safety Notes

  • Avoid on natural stone: Vinegar will etch marble, limestone, and travertine.
  • Ventilate: The alcohol and vinegar combination can be strong smelling initially.
  • Don’t use on waxed floors: Will strip the wax finish.
  • Unsealed grout caution: Very dilute, but test first on unsealed grout.

Storage

Mix fresh for each use, or store in a labeled container for up to 2 weeks. Shake before using if stored.