Homemade Linoleum Floor Polish? [In Depth Discussion]

Having a Linoleum floor is a classy choice, but good things come with maintenance responsibilities. You have to clean and polish the floor to keep it shining. There are various products in the market to polish your linoleum floor.

But studies have shown us that exposing yourself to products with chemicals can cause skin diseases, while homemade linoleum floor polish is the safest option. Some chemicals are proven to be safe to use. These chemicals can be found in many products you often use from your pantry. 

So if you’re thinking about homemade solutions to polish your linoleum floor, that is an excellent choice. Here I’m going to show you how you can make homemade polish with these safe chemicals.

10 Best and Readily available Homemade Linoleum floor polish

When you say homemade, ready-made works as the opposite word. However, many ingredients work especially to make your floor shine.

Here I’ve picked the ten best and readily available homemade linoleum floor polishes for you. Let’s look into them: 

1. Vinegar:

The acidic nature of vinegar helps to clean any stubborn stain. You’ll get this ingredient in any shop, or you might have it in your pantry. From apple cider vinegar to rice vinegar, any vinegar can work as a cleaning agent. The 5% alcohol and pH of around 2.5 give vinegar more effectiveness.

Moreover, vinegar can dissolve grime like dirt and stubborn stains easily.

Many think mixing more water can increase the efficiency of vinegar, but it should always be 50/50. And also, for your linoleum floor, the less is more. Apply vinegar on the spot and rub it until you’re satisfied and the stain is gone.

You can use vinegar with water and essential oil for aroma, but never, I repeat, use vinegar with bleach. It will have a chemical reaction and can damage the floor and your skin.

2. Rubbing Alcohol:

Another simple yet powerful floor polish is rubbing alcohol. It cleans any stain and makes the floor shiny. You can just mop your floor with it. 

Rubbing alcohol, primarily IPA/ Isopropyl alcohol, removes stains. Isopropyl alcohol contains different solutions, alcohol types, purity grades, and concentrations. All of these items help to generate disinfecting and cleaning products. 

Solutions made with Isopropyl alcohol rapidly eradicate pathogens and other harmful germs. IPA is known as the universal cleaner and powerful disinfectant. Besides, solutions with 60%-90% alcohol and 10%-40% water work as potent antimicrobials. 

However, If you want to remove any stubborn stain, soak the stain with rubbing alcohol or IPA for almost 10 minutes, then use a brush to rub it and remove the stain.

3. Water:

Water is the most efficient and ordinary floor polish you can easily and quickly get. Water breaks the dirt molecule and the sticky texture of any stains. Water cleans, and after drying, no other polish is needed to make it shine. However, regularly cleaning the floor with water works very well as polishing. It removes all kinds of dirt and makes the floor shiny.

You just need warm water, fill a bucket with it, and then mop the floor. It will remove all the small amounts of dirt. In the meantime, if you add any other cleaning agent with water, that would help you clean more strong stains and excellent polish.

4. Borax:

It is an alkali cleaner that helps to clean oil and grease. This natural cleaner is the safest and most active cleaner you’ll ever find. This white powder is also called Sodium borate, disodium tetraborate, and sodium tetraborate. Borax is made from the combination of boron, sodium, and oxygen.

Also, borax can remove any acidic stains and pungent smells like pet urine, and it works as a natural deterrent for fleas. Back in the time, this was much more popular as a cleaner, but its fame faded away with time because of the modern cleaning products.

Regardless, borax will always be on the list as readily homemade products. You can easily make spray or pastes with it and use it as a cleaner. You just need to mix it with warm water, and it’s ready to go. Borax not only works as a floor cleaning agent but it can also be used for many other purposes.

Potent cleaning agents like borax can be mixed with vinegar, warm water, and essential oil to improve effectiveness. The alcohol of vinegar and the boron, sodium, and oxygen of borax work together to make a robust solution. And this can remove any stains and give you a lovely polished floor.

5. Olive Oil:

The richness of monounsaturated fat in olive oil increases its potency. It has about 14% saturated fat and 11% polyunsaturated fat, containing omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.

Similarly, the natural hydrating quality of olive oil works fine as floor polish. It can polish and clean your linoleum floor at the same time.

Or, if you want a quick buff, using olive oil can surprise you, my friend! Just mix a few drops of olive oil with water or alcohol, and you’ll see for yourself the sheen that it gives. However, it hydrates the wood of your floor and makes it shiny. 

6. Essential Oil:

The concentrated hydrophobic liquid with volatile chemical mixes from plants gives a sweet and pleasant aroma. Essential oils are mainly for giving your house or floor a pleasant odor. 

Because what’s the purpose of cleaning and making your floor shiny if it stinks? Well, in that case, essential oils work fine. Mix it with your cleaner or just warm water and make your floor smell as good as it looks. The oil will help give a shine to the floor, and more importantly, it will leave a sweet smell as you want.

7. Lemon Juice:

Lemon is always known as a cleaning agent. It contains- 

Citric Acid: Though it is a mild acid, it still fights any water spots and tough water film.

D-Limonene: Works as a powerful degreaser and solvent.

Lemon oil: The oil it contains will give a beautiful odor, and also this is an antibacterial disinfectant. 

The best part about using lemon or lemon juice is that you don’t need to add any other alkali cleansing product to it. 

Lemon juice, olive oil, and white vinegar make a great cleansing product and polish. 

Lemon juice contains citric acid, and the monounsaturated fat in olive oil provides you with an amazingly effective solution. That can help cleaning as well as polishing the floor. You can try and see the results for yourself.

8. Baking Soda:

Sodium bicarbonate or baking soda is used to clean any sticky stains from paints or dirt that seems impossible to remove.

As a blasting medium, baking soda removes surface contamination from softer and minor resilient substrates.

However, you should use cold water with sodium bicarbonate if you’re using it on steel as a solution with hot can corrode steel.

Baking soda almost works like borax. It is also a popular choice as homemade floor polish.

Add two cups of water and ¼ cup of baking soda to a spray bottle. Try using this mixture for deep cleaning and polishing your linoleum floor. 

Focus on the area with an intense build-up of dirt, spray on it, and rub it off with a mop. Then rinse it with water and mop the water away.

9. Baby Oil:

The 98% mineral oil in baby oil can make the flood shiny. The other 2% is fragrance, which will give a pleasant aroma.

Baby oil can be used with different cleaning agents. Only using this oil will give an excellent polished floor, but to get a more beneficial result, use agents that have alcohol or sodium in them.

Sodium and alcohol fight the dirt and remove the stubborn stains. So, mix the oil with warm water and vinegar to get a better result.

But if you find your floor slippery, I suggest you avoid this ingredient. Though it depends on the condition of your linoleum floor, this mixture is one of the most effective ways to polish the linoleum floor.

10. Liquid Dish Soap:

With 95% water, there’s 0.63% sodium hydroxide, and 2.4% DDBSA liquid dish soaps are excellent cleaner and floor polish.

DDBSA is a high phenyl product that demonstrates high detergent and excellent foaming ability.

One of the easiest mixtures you can use. The liquid dish soap works as a cleaner and disinfectant in this mixture.

It will help you break the sticky dirt or substances on the linoleum floor.

Mix 1 gallon of warm water with ¼ cup of any liquid dish soap with natural ingredients, and then just use it with a mop.

6 DIY Homemade Linoleum Floor Polish

There are some readily available ingredients that you can use as a cleaner and polisher. But mixing them will provide you with better efficiency. Here’s some step by step guidance on DIY homemade Linoleum floor polish: 

1. A Mixture Of Water, Essential Oil, And Liquid Dish Soap

Water cleans dirt without any chemical formula. But if you mix liquid dish soap with water, it will create a solution that cleans and polishes the floor. 

Liquid dish soap contains sodium hydroxide, DDBSA, and sodium chloride that helps to clean stains and make the floor shine.

Now here’s what you can do to make the solution is- 

• Take a bucket of warm water,
• Then add ¼ cup of liquid dish soap,
• and then add pine essential oil ten drops, and cypress essential oil five drops.

It will give a lovely scent and make the floor look shiny. This mixture is quite good for polishing your linoleum floor,

2. Warm Water, Lemon Essential Oil, And Borax

Now, this solution with borax is compelling. Borax has sodium and boron that works as cleaning agents. If you mix them, you’ll get a fantastic cleaning and polishing solution, 

• In 1 gallon of water, add ¼ cup of borax. 
• Now add five drops of lemon essential oil for fragrance.

This mixture is for regular use. It cleans dirt, makes the house smell good, and gives the linoleum floor sheer shine.

3. Water, Baby Oil, And Vinegar

Simple ingredients like water, baby oil, and vinegar can make a powerful solution. Here’s the process,

• Take 1 gallon of warm water. 
• Then add 1 cup of vinegar.
• Lastly, add a few drops of baby oil. 

The baby oil in it will make the floor shiny; on the other hand, the vinegar and water will clean the dirt and stains on the floor.

4. Baking Soda With Vinegar And Water

Any ingredient with sodium in it works well as a cleaner, and when you mix it with vinegar that contains alcohol, the effectiveness increases. Here’s how you can make the solution,

• Take a spray bottle and add ½ cup of water followed by two tablespoons of vinegar, 
• Then one ⅔ cup of baking soda.

Try this mixture to remove stubborn and sticky stains. This solution can easily remove stains and dirt that can’t be removed by regular water.

5. Lemon Juice And Liquid Dish Soap To Make The Floor Sparkle

Solutions like this do not take much to prepare. Lemon juice contains citric acid, and the liquid dish soap has sodium hydroxide; both help clean stubborn stains and make the floor shine through their polishing effect.

Follow the steps to make the solution:

• Add 2 cups of lemon juice to a container,
• Then add 2 tsp liquid dish soap.

Use a mop to clean the floor. Next, use this mixture on the stain or spot, and wait for 5 minutes. Thereafter, wipe it off with the mop. Now, finish the cleaning by mopping with plain water.

6. Red Clover Tea With Water, Vinegar, And Grapefruit Seed Extract

Now here’s something pretty new for you. Red clover tea has calcium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus ingredients. 

On the other hand, grapefruit seed extract includes antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic, and antifungal properties. 

Mixing them with vinegar with alcohol will make an excellent solution as a cleaner and floor polish. Here’s what you need to do:

• Brew 2 tsp red clover tea,
• Then soak it for 10 minutes,
• Keep the liquid and strain out the leaves, 
• Now, take ¼ cup of water,
• 1 cup of vinegar, 
•  ½ cup of the liquid of red clover tea,
• And ten drops of the seed extract of grapefruit. 

Mix it up altogether, and it’s ready to use. You can contain it with the cleaning cloth you use as homemade floor wipes. Use it regularly to make the linoleum floor shiny and clean.

Tips And Tricks To Applying Homemade Floor Polisher On Your Linoleum

Applying floor polish can be challenging if you don’t know the tips and tricks. If you do this task accurately, the floor will shine brightly. Here are some tips and tricks for you from me. I hope this will help you. See them below:

• Say No To Drippy Wet Mop

A soaking mop is a no-no. So if you’re using your polishing solution in a bucket and the mop is dripping wet, wring it well to extract the liquid.

• Maintain The Mopping In Order

Always try to start cleaning from the end of the room to the door. Start mopping from one corner of the room, then continue doing this to the other end of the corner.  Keep on mopping like this till you reach the door.

• Avoid Cleaning With Used Solution Or Water

Remember to change the bucket of the solution in it while mopping. Otherwise, your linoleum floor can get filthy and sticky. 

• Olive Oil Goes With Everything

Try to apply olive oil no matter what solution you use to clean. It will add shine and make the floor look more beautiful.

• Be Careful

When working with these solutions, be careful, and do not forget to wear gloves and take safety precautions.

Advantages Of Homemade Floor Polisher

Using a homemade floor polisher is safer than using any products from the market that contain chemicals. So if you are thinking about what advantage you can get from homemade floor polish, take a look at them here:

• Chemical-Free Solution

Homemade floor polishes are chemical-free. So,  if you have a baby roaming around the house, homemade ones should be at the top of your list. Because the floor polishes, products can be harmful to the baby as it has chemicals. 

• Pet-Proof

Many people have pets with them, and as pet owners, you know that they sometimes lick the floor. So using homemade floor polish will keep them out of any chemical reaction.

• Budget-Friendly

The polishing products we buy from the market are costly. The ingredients you need to make homemade floor polishes are very cheap compared to that. You’ll find these ingredients in your pantry or any local shops.

• Eco-Friendly

These ingredients are from nature, so there won’t be any harmful impact on the environment. Homemade floor polishes are environmentally friendly.

• Good For Skin

Using homemade floor polishes is good for your skin as it will remain healthy, and you won’t have any allergic reactions.

How to Make Linoleum Floors Shine Naturally

To make linoleum floors shine naturally, follow these steps. First, sweep or vacuum the floor to remove any dust and debris. Mix a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water or warm water with a few drops of mild dish soap.

Dampen a mop or microfiber cloth with the solution and wring it out well. Gently mop the linoleum, avoiding excess moisture.For added shine, you can buff the floor with a dry microfiber cloth or use a solution of water and a few drops of vegetable oil.

This will enhance the shine and provide a natural, non-toxic way to keep your linoleum floors looking glossy and clean.

How to Clean Linoleum Wood Floors

Cleaning linoleum wood floors is simple and effective. Start by sweeping or vacuuming to remove loose dirt and debris. Next, mix a solution of warm water and a few drops of mild dish soap.

Dampen a mop or microfiber cloth with this solution, ensuring it’s not overly wet, as excess moisture can damage linoleum. Gently mop the floor, focusing on any dirty spots. To maintain the floor’s shine, avoid using abrasive cleaners or excessive water.

Rinse with clean water and dry with a dry mop or cloth if needed. Periodically, use a linoleum floor polish homemade to keep the surface looking fresh and protect it from wear.

Related Questions:

Can You Polish Linoleum Floor With Natural Polisher To Get Back Shine?

Linoleum floors can get dull with time. But you can restore its shine with natural polishes. Add vinegar with warm water and mop the floor with it. It will bring back the shine.

Also, Ammonia can be used, as it can remove heavy stains or sticky dirt and bring back the shine that your floor has lost.

Take a bucket, pour 2 cups of warm water, and then add 2 cups of ammonia with 2 tablespoons of castile soap. Now mix it up and use a mop to apply the solution to your linoleum floor. 

Lastly, rinse it off and mop the water, and you’ll find your floor shining like before. While using ammonia, you should be extra careful and wear gloves.

How Do You Make Your Floor Polish?

Take a container, add 2 cups of warm water, and mix it with 2 tsp olive oil and 1 tsp white vinegar. Apply this with a mop on your floor to have a clean, shiny floor.

And for more solutions like this, read the article thoroughly. It will help you to polish your floor.

Can You Use Murphy’s Oil Soap On Linoleum Floors To Polish?

Without any doubt, you can use Murphy’s oil soap on linoleum floors. Moreover, it contains natural ingredients. Approximately 98% of natural ingredients are used to make it.

So, using Murphy’s oil soap is an excellent choice. You can go with it.

How Much Time Does It Take To Make A Natural Polish Recipe?

If you have all the ingredients available at home that you need to make the solution, it won’t take much longer.

According to my research, it will only take 10 minutes maximum. Five minutes to prepare everything, 5 minutes to mix it up and make it ready.

So total 10 minutes, and you’re ready to polish the floor with a natural solution.

Is Homemade Linoleum Floor Polisher Clean Thoroughly?

They can clean heavy grime of dirt and make the floor shiny simultaneously. So, the homemade polish you will use can clean the flood as well.

Natural cleaning agents are also known as the ingredients used in homemade floor polishes. Natural cleansers are natural ingredients like lemon juice, vinegar, borax, baking soda, and warm water. 

What is The Best Cleaner For Linoleum Floors?

The best homemade laminate floor cleaner for linoleum floors is a mild solution of warm water and a few drops of a pH-neutral, gentle dish soap. This combination effectively cleans dirt and grime without harming the linoleum’s surface.

Avoid harsh chemicals, ammonia, or abrasive cleaners as they can damage the finish over time. For tougher stains, a mixture of white vinegar and water in a 1:10 ratio can be used sparingly. Always rinse with clean water after cleaning and dry the floor to prevent excess moisture from seeping into the linoleum.

Routine care and a gentle cleaning approach will help maintain the appearance and longevity of your linoleum floors.

What Makes Linoleum Floors Shine?

Linoleum floors shine due to their natural composition and the way they react to proper cleaning and maintenance. Linoleum is made from linseed oil, wood flour, cork dust, and other natural materials.

When kept clean and well-maintained, linoleum retains its original shine. Cleaning with a mixture of warm water and mild dish soap helps remove dirt and maintain the sheen. Occasionally using linoleum-specific floor polish or a solution of water and a few drops of vegetable oil can enhance the shine.

Buffing the surface with a dry microfiber cloth can also restore luster. Essentially, proper care and gentle cleaning methods preserve and enhance the inherent shine of linoleum floors.

How Do You Clean Linoleum Floors?

Cleaning linoleum floors is a straightforward process. Start by sweeping or vacuuming to remove loose dirt and debris. Next, mix a solution of warm water and a few drops of mild dish soap. Dampen a mop or microfiber cloth with this solution, making sure it’s not too wet, as excess moisture can harm linoleum.

Gently mop the floor, paying attention to any dirty spots. Avoid abrasive cleaners, ammonia, or harsh chemicals, as they can damage the linoleum. Rinse with clean water and dry the floor if necessary. 

Periodically, you can use linoleum floor polish to maintain shine and protect against wear. Consistent, gentle cleaning keeps your linoleum floors looking their best.

What to Use to Clean Linoleum Floors?

To clean linoleum floors effectively, use a mixture of warm water and a few drops of mild dish soap. This solution is gentle yet capable of removing dirt and stains without damaging the linoleum’s surface.

Avoid abrasive cleaners, harsh chemicals, ammonia, or excessive moisture, as they can harm linoleum. Dampen a mop or microfiber cloth with the soapy water, ensuring it’s not overly wet, and gently clean the floor. Rinse the floor with clean water after cleaning and dry it to prevent moisture from seeping into the linoleum.

For extra shine and protection, consider using a linoleum-specific floor polish occasionally. This basic, non-abrasive cleaning approach will help preserve your linoleum floors.

Final Verdict:

Having a versatile floor like a linoleum floor is classy and beautiful. But to maintain that beauty you need to clean and polish the floor so that it won’t get dull.

But the chemically made products to polish the floor can be harmful and also they are not environment friendly. Hence, using natural homemade linoleum floor polish is a great choice.

In this regard, I hope this article on homemade linoleum floor polish has served its purpose and guided you while answering all the questions you have.

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