Recipe

Castile Soap Floor Wash

Hardwood, tile, and laminate, all from one bottle of plant-based soap and a bucket of warm water.

Active Time2 min

Yield1 gallon

Cost~$1

Why this recipe

Castile soap is made from plant oils (olive, coconut, hemp, depending on the brand). It cleans by lifting dirt from a surface and suspending it in water, which is exactly what a floor wash needs to do. It is gentle enough for sealed hardwood and laminate, and strong enough for ceramic tile. Diluted in warm water at the right ratio, it leaves no soap residue and no streaks.

What you will need

Liquid castile soap (Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile is the easy one to find)
Warm water
Optional: 5 to 10 drops of essential oil per gallon (lavender, lemon, or tea tree)
A bucket
A microfiber mop or flat mop with washable pads

How to make it

Fill a bucket with one gallon of warm water. Hot water cuts grease better, but anything past warm tap is hard on the hands.
Add 1/4 cup of liquid castile soap. That is the right ratio. More soap does not clean better; it leaves residue.
Optional: add 5 to 10 drops of essential oil. Lavender for the bedrooms, lemon for the kitchen, tea tree for bathrooms.
Stir gently with the mop handle. Do not whip it into bubbles.
Dip the mop, wring it out so it is damp not dripping, and mop in long strokes following the grain of the wood or the joints of the tile.
Empty and refill the bucket halfway through if the water turns brown. Mopping with dirty water is just spreading dirt around.

How to use it on different floors

Sealed hardwood

Wring the mop dry. Hardwood hates standing water. If you can leave a wet trail behind the mop, the mop is too wet. Damp mop only.

Laminate

Same rule. Damp, not wet. Laminate seams swell if water sits in them.

Ceramic tile

You can be more generous with the water. Tile and grout do not mind a wetter mop.

Linoleum and vinyl

Works well at the standard dilution. No special handling.

Safety first

Never combine castile soap with vinegar. The acid breaks down the soap and you end up with a curdled mess that does not clean.
Pet-safe essential oils only if you have pets. Avoid tea tree oil if you have cats (toxic to them). Pennyroyal, wintergreen, and citrus oils can also be problematic. Lavender and lemon used at low dilution are generally safe.
Test on an inconspicuous spot before doing a whole floor, especially with older sealed wood.
Do not use on unsealed wood, oiled wood, or waxed wood. Soap and water on unsealed surfaces can cause staining and warping.
Floors will be slippery while wet. Block off the room or warn anyone in the house.

Where it works

Sealed hardwood, engineered hardwood, laminate, ceramic and porcelain tile, vinyl, linoleum.

Where it does not work

Unsealed wood, oiled or waxed wood, marble or other natural stone (use a stone-specific cleaner).

One-time mix or batch?

Mix per use. The diluted soap does not keep well. Keep the concentrate (the bottle from the store) on the shelf and mix a fresh bucket each time you mop.

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