Wood floor cleaners are easier to make than you think! You most likely have all of the ingredients on hand, and you do not have to waste money on those expensive chemical-laden ones at the store.

First vacuum or sweep your floor to remove as much dust and loose dirt as possible, so you don’t get a muddy mess.

There are a few solutions that you can create depending on what you have on hand, but all will need to start with 1 gallon of warm water.

Add one of these mixtures:

• ¼ cup vinegar and 1 tablespoon castile soap
• 1 cup vinegar and 6-10 drops essential oil of your choice
• 1/8 cup liquid dish soap (non-bleach) and ½ cup vinegar

Once you have created your wood floor cleaner, you can either dip a clean cloth into the solution or use a mop. Wipe your floor clean. Unless there is a puddle of solution on the floor, you will not need to dry the floor.

Sometimes wood floors will get scuffmarks from shoes or furniture. There is a homemade wood floor cleaner that you can keep in a spray bottle to use if the occasion calls for it. Fill your spray bottle with one cup white vinegar and one cup water. You can add a few drops of essential oil to this if you are worried about your home smelling like pickles, but the vinegar smell will dissipate after it has dried. When you come upon a scuffmark on your hardwood, sprinkle baking soda onto it and then spray the baking soda with your water/vinegar solution. Scrub the marks away and dry with a soft cloth.