How to Make a Homemade Mop Solution Concentrate

Ditch store-bought floor cleaners and instead make this simple homemade mop solution concentrate that keeps all floor types clean and sanitized.

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Up until a few years ago, we lived in places that had mostly carpet and just a little bit of laminate flooring, so we were able to get away with using a spray mop to clean those non-carpeted areas in our home. However, when we moved into our current home, we no longer had carpet, and instead only had laminate wood floors and tile. So that meant I needed to figure out the best solution for keeping them clean. I started just by using a traditional spray mop where I had to buy the solution and pads, but that quickly became expensive and wasteful.

Then I graduated to this spray mop where I could re-use and wash the pad AND re-fill the mopping solution with my own. And while that definitely cut down on costs, it was honestly annoying to have to keep spraying the solution over and over to clean all my floors. I know that’s such issue, but I noticed it was significant enough where it was keeping me from wanting to clean the floors. And I felt that the spray mom just wasn’t getting the floors clean enough.

So I finally decided to go with a traditional mop and bucket.

And while I loved the deep clean the mop and bucket gave me, I found myself walking to different parts of my house to add the vinegar, then the alcohol, the essential oils and soap to the bucket. So to make floor cleaning a bit more efficient, I thought it would be super helpful to just make a homemade mop solution concentrate with all my favorite floor-cleaning ingredients that was already mixed and ready to go every time I needed to clean the floors. This recipe is super effective, only has four simple ingredients and lasts quite a while AND saves me time!

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FAQs

Does this homemade mop solution concentrate leave floors streak-free?

This homemade mopping concentrate leaves my floors 100% streak free and looking great afterwards! The secret ingredient I’ve found that not only helps to sanitize the floors, but leave them looking streak-free is the isopropyl alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol can damage certain types of floors if used alone, but when combined with the other ingredients and water, I’ve had no issues.

Can I use Castile soap in place of dish soap in this floor cleaning recipe?

You can absolutely use liquid Castile soap in place of dish soap in this recipe. Castile soap will make the solution a little less sudsy, but overall won’t have much of an effect on the overall result. However, liquid Castile soap doesn’t have any antibacterial properties, so you wouldn’t get the additional cleaning power like you would with traditional dish soap, but the alcohol will take care of that.

How do I store homemade mop solution concentrate?

I like to store this mopping concentrate in a half gallon mason jar with a pouring top in a cool, dark space, which is underneath my kitchen sink, right next to my mop and bucket.

Do I have to use essential oils in this recipe?

You do not have to use essential oils in this recipe if you don’t want to. The reason I like to use essential oils is that it helps to mask the strong smell of the alcohol. It will work just as well without essential oils, but I like the fresh smell they provide.

Ingredients

Distilled white vinegar: Vinegar is great at cleaning a variety of different surfaces in your home. It helps cut through dirt, grease, mildew, mineral deposits and so much more, leaving surfaces clean. I love using it in homemade cleaning products because it’s easy to find and super cheap.

Isopropyl alcohol: Not only does isopropyl alcohol help remove dirt and grime, but it also helps to sanitize surfaces, meaning it helps to kill bacteria and viruses. You can use something like vodka in this recipe, but it doesn’t have a strong enough concentration of alcohol to truly sanitize.

Dish soap: Dish soap is super effective at cleaning surfaces and removing dirt and other messes. Some dish soap also contains agents that help sanitize surfaces as well. You can also use liquid Castile soap in this recipe.

Essential oils: Essential oils like lemon and orange help cut through grease and grime and also help neutralize the smell of isopropyl alcohol in this recipe. This ingredient is optional.

How to Make Homemade Mop Solution Concentrate

TOOLS YOU MAY NEED

• Large mason jars
• Mason jar pouring spout
• Measuring cups
• Mixing spoon

INGREDIENTS

• 4 cups distilled white vinegar
• 4 cups isopropyl alcohol
• 1/2 cup dish soap
• 1/2 bottle essential oil of choice

DIRECTIONS

To a half gallon mason jar, add the distilled white vinegar, isopropyl alcohol, dish soap and essential oils.

Add a lid to the mason jar and shake.

Use 1/4 to 1/3 cup per bucket of hot water to mop your floors.

NOTES

• In place of regular distilled white vinegar, you can use DIY scented vinegar to enhance the smell of this homemade mop solution concentrate and reduce the need for essential oils.
• Use this recipe to make this solution for spray mops.
• 1 bucket with 1/4 cup of this mop solution concentrate will easily clean 1100+ square feet.
• Store the mop solution in a glass container that’s in a cool dark place indefinitely.

Continue to Content

Homemade Mop Solution Concentrate

Yield: 1/2 gallon

Active Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Ditch store-bought floor cleaners and instead make this simple homemade mop solution concentrate that keeps all floor types clean and sanitized.

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Materials

• 4 cups distilled white vinegar
• 4 cups isopropyl alcohol
• 1/2 cup dish soap
• 1/2 bottle essential oil of choice

Tools

• Large mason jars
• Mason jar pouring spout
• Measuring cups
• Mixing spoon

Instructions

1. To a half gallon mason jar, add the distilled white vinegar, isopropyl alcohol, dish soap and essential oils.
2. Add a lid to the mason jar and shake.
3. Use 1/4 cup per bucket of hot water to mop your floors.

Notes

• In place of regular distilled white vinegar, you can use DIY scented vinegar to enhance the smell of this homemade mop solution concentrate and reduce the need for essential oils.

• Use this recipe to make this solution for spray mops.
• 1 bucket with 1/4 cup of this mop solution concentrate will easily clean 1100+ square feet.
• Store the mop solution in a glass container that's in a cool dark place indefinitely.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

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Did you enjoy this homemade mop solution concentrate? If you did, I’d really appreciate if you came back and gave the recipe a five star rating!