How to make natural floor cleaner at home

To avoid dirt building up on your floors, all you'll need are a few ingredients to make your own cleaner and keep your home shining.

• Avoid using ammonia products and abrasive cleaners on linoleum and vinyl as they'll dull the surface. Instead, mop with water and a little detergent and rinse.
• It's best to avoid cleaning linoleum with strong alkaline products, but if you do, rinse the floor well to avoid cracking, shrinking and/or discolouration.
• Remove scuff marks with a pencil eraser, or try rubbing with neat dishwashing liquid. Finish by wiping clean with a damp cloth.
• Blot or scoop spillages as soon as possible to reduce the chance of a permanent mark. If you're not quick enough, try removing stains with a fine nylon pad and neat detergent, a pencil eraser or an all-purpose cleaner.
• Use a pencil eraser or eucalyptus oil to remove scuff marks on hard floors, such as timber and linoleum.
• Rub half a lemon sprinkled generously with salt into rust stains on linoleum or vinyl and then rinse with water.

This cleaner contains washing soda, which can be damaging on the skin, so wear protective gloves when using it. Do not use on timber floors.

• 1 tbsp liquid soap
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup washing soda
• 4 cup hot water

Mix all the ingredients in a bucket. Rinse with clean water after use.

• Sweep or vacuum over sealed ceramic, terrazzo or marble tiles and sponge-mop with a bucket of warm water and two cups of vinegar.
• Use a little bicarbonate of soda to remove marks on glazed tiles.
• For marks on unglazed tiles, rub gently with fine steel wool, again using bicarb if more abrasion is needed.
• Use a borax solution by dissolving 1/2 cup borax in a bucket of hot water to thoroughly clean and disinfect tiled surfaces.

• For unsealed timber, sweep then polish with a cloth impregnated with linseed oil.
• For sealed timber, sweep then sponge-mop with just water or water and a little detergent.
• Wash an oil-finished timber or polyurethane floor with one part methylated spirits to 10 parts hot water. Then buff with a dry cloth.
• Sprinkle sticky patches on an oil-finished floor with flour and wipe over with a damp cloth.

You can keep your floors looking shiny and new all the time with these easy, do-it-yourself cleaners.