For today’s Daily Dose of Thrifty, we wanted to share three different recipes for how to make your own natural Pergo floor cleaner. This would probably work on any laminate surface, but it is safe for Pergo.*
Before we share, we wanted to mention that we have been trying to find alternatives to harsh cleaning chemicals. We have been researching this topic for years and have found that often the best cleaners can be toxic to both us and our pets. As such, you will see us share other alternatives in the near future for all your cleaning needs – with the goal of safer, definitely cheaper, and more natural products with all the same cleaning affects.
We have Pergo flooring on our main level and we have been using name brand cleaners because we knew laminate required very strict cleaning instructions as to not destroy the floor. So we had to come up with a different cleaning option. We shared with you an idea on how to clean laminate flooring using mouthwash, but Pergo is a different kind of laminate and one that we were not comfortable using anything but a specified Pergo floor cleaner!
We went to Walmart and found this WOW all natural cleaner.
It is $5.98 a bottle at Walmart and we have never seen a coupon for it, but we didn’t know what to use at this point so we purchased this bottle. It worked just fine, but at nearly $6 a bottle, our budget was not going to be fine, because if you own Pergo and have kids you know your floors need constant cleaning!
We did research on creating our own all-natural cleaner for Pergo flooring and in the course of three experimental batches discovered our favorite!
We are going to share the three recipes we tried and maybe you will find a favorite too!
First Recipe – We researched and found this recipe on a number of websites, including HubPages.com:
Mix together in a spray bottle:
- 1 part Water
- 1 part White Vinegar
- 1 part 2% Isopropyl Alcohol
- Few drops of liquid dish detergent
Mix all ingredients together and pour into a fine mist spray bottle.
Our findings: First, we used 1/3 of each of the three parts to make a test batch of this cleaner. We were NOT impressed with this cleaner from the very beginning. The smell between the vinegar and the alcohol was not appealing and was extremely overbearing. Plus, it really seemed to dry out our floors faster than necessary, leaving a very streaky look due to the (in our opinion) excessive amount of alcohol.
BUT this recipe is the most popular on the internet – so maybe it is just our take on it and the rest of the world thinks it is fantastic!
Second Recipe – this is one we created on our own as a modification to the overbearing alcohol in the first.
Mix together in a spray bottle:
- 1 cup Water
- 2/3 White Vinegar
- 2 tablespoons 2% Isopropyl Alcohol
- Few drops of liquid dish detergent
- Few drops of lemon juice
Mix all ingredients together and pour into a fine mist spray bottle.
Our findings: This one was a little better, but we still experienced problems. First, the alcohol smell still was bothersome and we just didn’t like it! Second, we thought using lemon juice would help off-set the smell (which it did a little), but it made it made the floor little sticky, even with just a few drops! Lastly, as the recipe requires using real lemon juice we’re not sure if it has different storage requirements than just the cleaning closet.
So after two disappointing attempts on this project, we decided to try a third before throwing in the towel and coughing up $6 for each new bottle.
Third Recipe – again this is a modification of the first two.
Mix together in a spray bottle (this recipe fills the bottle pretty well):
- 1.5 cups Water
- 1.5 cups White Vinegar (equal water to equal vinegar no matter the measurements)
- Few drops of liquid dish detergent (we used lemon scent :))
- Several drops of lavender essential oils
Mix all ingredients together and pour into a fine mist spray bottle.
Our thoughts on this recipe: This is the winner! We decided to take out the alcohol completely! The purpose of the alcohol is to dry it faster, but if you are using a fine mist and mopping with a towel immediately, then we did not see the necessity for this ingredient! In addition, the lavender essential oil is the ticket to a non-streaky, decent smelling floor! It really, really helps mask the smell of the vinegar. You could probably add more water if the vinegar smell is too strong for you.
To clean your Pergo floors:
- You will need a dry mop such as a commercial like one where you can add your own towel. You can even use your old Swiffer mop and just stick a rag on the bottom (wrap it around the top where you press it into the holes for the rags). We used our Swiffer mop this way until it bit the dust! Then we purchased a professional one from Lowe’s on sale many, many months ago!
- Sweep the area you want to mop.
- Then spray a fine layer of your homemade cleaner on the area and immediately run your mop over it to clean and leave dry!
Also, we have found that if everyone wears their socks right when they get up, it keeps the floors cleaner longer as the oils on our feet attract dirt to the Pergo!
Instead of socks, I wear these hand/dandy slippers! They are around $5.97 at Walmart and found on the cleaning aisle and called Slipper Genie.
They are worth the initial investment and you can take the bottoms off to wash them in the washer and I walk around, if I see a spot, quickly spray and then do a little dance and it is clean and the kids are entertained for a few minutes watching me be crazy!
I have used the same $6 pair for over a year, they last a long time!!
The conclusion, invest in the right tools (i.e. dry mop for a rag or old Swiffer and possibly mop slippers :)) and then make your own cleaner for pennies! It is thrifty AND all natural and safe for all living in the home!
The essential oils are HIGHLY recommended. We have been using a 6 piece sampler set for cleaning, home pedicures/baths and more and we have had them for many years. They go a long way. Amazon has quite a few at a decent price right now.
We will be sharing more all natural and organic solutions in the home that are safer and pennies on the dollar to the chemical counterpart! Stay tuned…..
Catch up on past Daily Dose of Thrifty here.
* As always, please ensure to consult a professional prior to using any homemade cleaners. In addition, always test first on a small hidden portion of floor to ensure cleaner does not ruin your floor. Lastly, any cleaning method should be consulted by your flooring professional.
