Cleaning & Organizing Cleaning Products & Appliances

How to Make Mopping Solutions With Household Ingredients

By
Sarah Aguirre
Sarah Aguirre
Sarah Aguirre is a housekeeping expert with over 20 years of experience cleaning residentially and commercially. Over that time, she has been writing about tips and tricks for housekeeping and organizing a home for national publications.
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Updated on 10/01/24
Reviewed by
Rhea Mehta
Dr. Rhea Mehta, PhD
Reviewed by Rhea Mehta
Rhea Mehta, PhD, is an award-winning toxicologist who has worked to empower people to lead healthier lives, starting in their homes, for over a decade. Rhea holds a PhD in Toxicology, with over 15 scientific publications, and a certificate in integrative health coaching. 
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Fact checked by
Sarah Scott
SS
Fact checked by Sarah Scott
Sarah Scott is a fact-checker and researcher who has worked in the custom home building industry in sales, marketing, and design.
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mop and cleaners

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska 

Project Overview
  • Total Time: 5 mins
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $1 to $5

If you love the look of a freshly mopped floor but don't like the chemicals or residue found in commercial cleaners, make a quick, easy mopping detergent with common household ingredients. Mop high-traffic kitchen and bathroom floors with these DIY solutions at least once a week and other floors every other week. Here are mopping solution mixes using simple ingredients that clean your dirtiest floors without heavy chemicals.

Warning

While most floors tolerate light damp mopping, never saturate wood and laminate flooring with water. Natural wood floors without a good coat of polyurethane varnish or another sealer can be easily stained by water. Some laminate flooring manufacturers caution that water could seep through seams.

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What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Bucket
  • Mop

Materials

  • White vinegar
  • Mild dish soap
  • Scented essential oil or lemon juice (optional)
  • Window cleaner
  • Rubbing alcohol

Instructions

  1. Use Vinegar as a Mopping Solution for Tile and Linoleum

    Try these three different mopping solutions using white vinegar to clean your dirty floors. This solution could work best for tiled and linoleum floors but confirm the grout is sealed.

    Cut the recipe in half if you have a small area to mop. The vinegar scent fades rapidly as the solution dries.

    • Mix 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar and 1 gallon of warm water.
    • Mix 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar, 1 gallon of warm water, and 2 tablespoons of mild dish soap.
    • Mix 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar, 1 gallon of warm water, and several drops of scented essential oils or lemon juice.

    Warning

    Do not use vinegar on unsealed or waxed floors, unsealed grout, or stone floors. Use it sparingly on hardwood floors or the vinegar could make the finish cloudy.

    bucket with vinegar and lemon
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska 

  2. Use Window Cleaner as a Mopping Solution for Vinyl, Tile, and Laminate

    Use window or glass cleaner as a mopping solution or a spot remover for your sealed floors. This cleaner may work best on vinyl, tile, and laminate floors, leaving a streak-free shine.

    Spray directly from the bottle and use a wet mop to wipe and remove dirt and sticky spots. Or, make these cleaners if you need more mopping solution:

    • Mix 1 part window cleaner with 1 part warm water to clean vinyl and tile floors.
    • For laminate floors, less window cleaner is necessary when mopping: try 1/4 cup of window cleaner for every 1/2 gallon of water.
    bucket with window cleaner
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska  

  3. Use Dish Soap as a Mopping Solution for Most Floors

    Use mild dish soap as a mopping solution for most floor types without leaving a residue. Don't overuse it, though—too much will create a slightly sticky film.

    Here are two solutions to try using dish soap:

    • Mix 1/4 cup mild dish soap and 3 cups warm water.
    • Mix 1/4 cup dish soap, 2 cups white vinegar, 2 cups warm water, and 1/2 cup lemon juice.
    dish soap floor cleaner ingredients
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska 

  4. Use Rubbing Alcohol as a Mopping Solution for Laminate

    Add rubbing alcohol to water to make an effective cleaner for laminate and tile flooring. The rubbing alcohol adds a little extra cleaning power to the water. Rubbing alcohol evaporates quickly, preventing it from leaving streaks and lines while drying. 

    Here are two ways to create a rubbing alcohol cleaning solution:

    • Mix 1 cup of rubbing alcohol and 1 gallon of warm water.
    • Mix 1 part vinegar, 1 part rubbing alcohol, and 1 part warm water.
    mop with a bucket and rubbing alcohol
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska  
FAQ
  • Can I use vinegar and Dawn to clean hardwood floors?

    The debate continues about using white vinegar as a cleaner on hardwood floors. If you are concerned about dulling or damaged wood, use a diluted vinegar-based cleaner on an infrequent basis. Or, mix a couple of drops of a gentle dish detergent, like Dawn, in a bucket of water, barely dampen a mop with the solution, then dry mop the floor to buff.

  • Should you use two buckets when mopping?

    The two-bucket system uses one bucket for the cleaning solution and the other bucket as a rinse bucket. This helps to keep the cleanser from getting dirty.

  • Should you let your mopped floors air dry or wipe them down?

    Wiping your freshly mopped floor with a dry mop or towel keeps it from streaking and leaving water spots.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Caring for a Hardwood Floor in your Home. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.