Non-toxic tile floor cleaning

[Scribe]

What do you non-toxic cleaners use to mop your tile floors? We've been trying to use vinegar and water, but it ends up dull and streaky. I want it to shine if I'm going to take the time to mop it, but I don't want to use nasty Mop N Glow or similar. Ideas?

[zmom]

I use vinegar and water with a dash of peppermint oil to clean my tile floors. I was having the same problem and I asked my dad (who owns a tile company) what I could do. His suggestion was to actually take the time to dry the floor instead of letting it air dry. So I use a soft cloth on the end of my mop to dry the floor when I'm done mopping it. It works great!

[sunnysandiegan]

We've cleaned our white tile floors (kitchen and foyer) a variety of ways over the years:

1. DH used to mop with a semi-traditional mop. (I don't recall the exact mop, but common back 8-9 years ago.) He used about 3/4 gallon of HOT water with a cup or two of white vinegar (half a glass bottle, although we purchase it by the gallon and just refill the bottles).

2. When I pitched the mop (I'm not a fan of those things), I took on the task of mopping our huge kitchen floor by hand. (The floor grew, btw, or so it seemed! LOL) I would use two buckets and two rags and wear gloves. One bucket for clean HOT water and vinegar (about the same ratio as DH used, but less water overall) and one bucket for the icky water I squeezed back out after scrubbing each section and rinsing before dunking in the clean bucket...one rag had more "texture" than the other to handle the sticky or grimy spots. I usually hand-dried along the way with an old cloth diaper.

3. DH got me a Scooba last year in early December. (GREAT deal on Black Friday online.) I LOVE IT!!! I use it with plain hot water mostly, but I have added white vinegar (the included measuring cup has a line for it) on occasion. The Scooba uses less water than either of the above methods, so the amount of vinegar needs to be less. I haven't gotten the right ratio, yet.

I've never had streaking or dullness with methods 1 or 2, but have with #3. I wonder if your water/vinegar ratio is off? My above #2 method really did result in the prettiest floors. However, it took me a long time to do and I didn't exactly rush to do it often. The Scooba works just as well simply because I run it fairly regularly (3-5 times a month) and since I do, I tend to spot clean the floor immediately. It isn't a huge chore anymore.

[zmom]

We have a Scooba too and I love it. It does take a long time to use though so when I'm feeling particularly behind, I'll mop a quick section by hand. The Scooba seems to get it clean and dry though with minimal streaking.

[lillydilly]

While I vacuum with the brush head, I walk/slide/dance along behind on a slightly dampened old bath towel. I can clean into all sorts of crevices and corners with my toes on the towel. That's how I clean our cream tiles, most often.
Then about once a month I use a steam mop, which doesn't streak. But I still go along behind the mop with my feet on a dry towel. Leaves it sparkling.
I usually only use water, but if the grandkids are coming, I'll splash a big of vinegar and tea tree oil on the towel.

[MonkeyPrincess]

Originally Posted by zmom

His suggestion was to actually take the time to dry the floor instead of letting it air dry.

That's what we found, too.

And we have a scooba, as well - and we LOVE it! Really, and truly, that and the roomba are right up there with a washer and dryer.