You only need 3 household ingredients to make your own Homemade Wood Floor Polish. This solution is a safe and effective way to clean and restore shine to dull and aging wood floors.
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Cleaning wood floors must be done with a little extra care than cleaning tile and linoleum. Cleaners with harsh chemicals can strip wood floors, leaving them dry and brittle. Cleaning wood floors with water can be done, but you must take great care in making sure that no water is left behind on your floors, or they could warp. The same can be said for wood laminate floors as well. Harsh chemical cleaners can cause laminate to discolor and can even wear away the top layer of the laminate. Water can cause warping and buckling in laminate floors too. You can easily and inexpensively make your own wood floor cleaner/polish using a few items from your kitchen pantry, and get those floors looking like new again!
How to Make Wood Floor Cleaner Video
If you'd like to see how I make and use my homemade wood floor cleaner, I created a quick video showing just how easy it is!
What's in Homemade Wood Floor Polish?
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil ( Purchase HERE )
- 1 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar ( Purchase HERE )
- 15 drops of lemongrass essential oil ( optional for fragrance ) ( Purchase HERE )
- 2 cups of warm water
How Do You Make Your Own Wood Floor Cleaner?
Step 1 - Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a clean squirt bottle. I used an old floor cleaner bottle that I washed thoroughly.
Step 2 - Add 1 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar.
Step 3 - Add 15 drops of lemongrass essential oil. This step is completely optional. I like to add the lemongrass oil for fragrance. You could alternatively use lemon or orange essential oil or completely skip this step.
Step 4 - Finish it off by adding 2 cups of warm water.
Step 5 - Shake well before each use. Because there are no harsh chemical binders in this floor cleaner/polish, the ingredients will separate between uses. Just give it a good shake before each use and it will work perfectly.
How to Polish Wood Floors
Start by making this amazing homemade floor polish / cleaner.
Attach a microfiber cloth to mop head. I like to use one of my old Swiffer mops. I simply tuck the microfiber cloth into the indentions that are typically used for the Swiffer dusters. You could also attach the microfiber cloth with an elastic band on each side.
You can purchase Microfiber Cloths HERE if you like. They are amazing for cleaning so many things in your home and won't scratch wood or laminate flooring.
Simply squirt or spray the polish on your floors in small sections.
And use the microfiber cloth mop to work the polish into the floors. No need to rinse! The vinegar and water help to clean the floors while the olive oil helps to polish and restore shine.
Your floors will look amazing and smell great too! This polishing / cleaning solution is safe for wood and laminate floors.
Be sure to pin this cleaning recipe to your favorite Pinterest board below, and check out all of my cleaning tips and tricks too!
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Karin says
I really like your natural cleaning tips
Clarisse says
I am using a natural/organic cleaning product because I have a baby crawling everywhere. That is why I'll always try to avoid over the counter cleaning products. Thanks for sharing this article. I will try to do this.
Steffi says
First of all - your blog is awesome! Keep it up :-)
I have new, high gloss laminate floors and was wondering if the wooden cleaner also works for that shiny finish (unfortunately I think it was a bad decision to go for glossy....)? Or does the olive oil make it streaky?
Thanks a lot for your feedback! Maybe you have a hint how to clean shiny laminate?
Jessica says
Hi, Steffi! Thanks for the kind words. I'm not sure how it would work for the shiny floors. I do know that Bona works great for them though. It leaves no streaks and cleans really well. I have used it, and find that the all in one mop with sprayer that they sell is really great. Hope this helps!
Steffi says
Thank you so much for the swift reply, dear Jessica. Very much appreciated and I will give the Bona a try as per your suggestion.
Again - amazing blog and a big thank you!
Synthia says
Hi. Does using olive oil on the floor attract mice or bugs?
Jessica says
No, I've never had an issue with either.
Stephanie says
I was curious as to how long or how many times I may have to use this in order to get my older hardwood floors to come back to life? Lol
When I bought my house 4yrs ago, there was carpet over these beautiful hardwood floors so I got rid of the carpet but, my poor floors are so dull 😞
Randy says
HI First time visiting your site. Great info for me. I plan on using the homemade polish you wrote about. My concern is using olive oil on wood floor. Will that make it slippery? Mother uses a walker is the reason I ask. Thanks
Jessica says
It leaves no residue behind, but I would wait for the floors to dry before having her walk on them. Hope this helps!
RE stager says
Unfortunately this does not work well for floors to keep the high gloss
Irene Rojas says
Can only olive oil be used? I have grapeseed oil on hand and would like to try to polish my floors.
Renee says
Just uncovering old hardwood floor that were under our carpet. I have no idea if its wax or some other finish on it. Would this wood floor polish be ok it if was any type of wood floor?
Nancy Martindale says
I want to use a floor polish on a linoleum kitchen floor. I am concerned about safety for my 8 month old baby who lies on the floor. We are trying to teach him how to crawl. We think it will be easier for him to crawl on a floor rather then on carpet.
Is the homemade floor polish safe for a baby to crawl upon?
Thanks in advance for your reply!
Anonymous says
You child will be safe!
Reg Armstrong says
I just ran out of the wash and shine, the wife bought for our laminate flooring. So, on the computer I went, and found your recipe. I use essential oil the wife got a party, mixed up, used it, and floors look as good or better than the retail mop and shine, or whatever it's called. Used their empty jug, too. I'm sure they won't mind. Thinks for the recipe.
gergi tavan says
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Hannah Lawrence says
Thank you for sharing this blog. Very helpful and informative.floor refinishing
Jackie says
These are such great cleaning hacks! I am wanting to deep clean our floors before putting our Christmas decorations up. We are doing some professional carpet cleaning this week but I will have to use these tips for the rest of the wood floors. Thanks for sharing!
Lynn says
Your floor cleaner is the best, no kidding. My kitchen and bathroom floors are linoleum and laminate everywhere else (I am a renter while our house is under construction, so no choice there) and were dull. Commercial products did nothing. They look new, shiny and are not slippery. Best tip ever. Thank you.
Marlene says
I was wondering if it would be slippery. Thank you for that information!
Teresa says
Just curious. Are you saying this work great on linoleum as well? Hoping answer is yes.
Jessica says
It should work for you, but I'd test a spot and make sure it isn't too slick first just to be sure. Hope this helps!