If there’s an area of your home that usually gets overlooked when it comes to regular cleaning, there’s a good chance it’s the floor. It may be directly under your feet, but how often do you think about it?
We’re all so concerned about benchtops, sinks and kitchen appliances that we often forget about one of the greatest harbourers of dirt and bacteria – the floor! Where do you think that dropped food and mud from your shoes end up? Clean floors are essential to a healthy home, especially if you have young ones that crawl around. So, which floor cleaners will be the best bet for maintaining a clean and healthy floor? Our customer satisfaction ratings can offer a helpful guide.
This year, we surveyed more than 1,100 consumers across Australia for their feedback on the floor cleaners they have purchased and used in the last 12 months. Respondents rated brands on effectiveness, environmental friendliness, ease of use, smell, packaging design, value for money and overall customer satisfaction. Those that received the minimum required survey sample of 30 responses are featured in our results.
Best Floor Cleaners
Here are the best floor cleaners in Australia, as rated by consumers in Canstar Blue’s latest review:
- Bosisto’s & Pine O Cleen
- Earth Choice
- Strike
- Handy Andy
- ALDI Power Force
- Coles Ultra
- Dettol
- Ajax
This year, Bosisto’s & Pine O Cleen share the top spot in our floor cleaner ratings, both achieving five stars for smell, ease of use and overall satisfaction. Bosisto’s also got full marks for packaging design, with Pine O Cleen achieving effectiveness. In addition, earth Choice got the edge over other brands for environmental friendliness, while Strike took the crown for value for money.
How To Find A Good Floor Cleaner
Whether you get on your hands and knees and scrub or lean on your trusty old mop or steam mop, you will undoubtedly need a floor cleaner that lives up to its dirt-busting promises. This means removing any stubborn stains you can see on the floor – and handling those tiny bacteria particles, you can’t see. You’ll also want a floor cleaner that’s easy to use and represents good value for money. Our research this year identified the following drivers of customer satisfaction when it comes to buying a floor cleaner:
- Effectiveness: 23%
- Value for money: 20%
- Ease of use: 17%
- Smell: 15%
- Packaging design: 14%
- Environmental friendliness: 12%
Most Aussie households have tried multiple floor cleaners (47%), while one in three (38%) stick to the same brand. Over a third of our respondents even said they would recommend what they use to their friends and family (38%). Interestingly though, fewer people now opt for whichever floor cleaner is the cheapest or on special (27%)
Floor Cleaners
Bosisto’s
Bosisto’s isn’t just for soothing colds or freshening your laundry but also for cleaning your house with natural ingredients. The brand offers a range of natural cleaning products with locally sourced essential oils, primarily eucalyptus oil.
Pine O Cleen
Pine O Cleen is advertised as being an expert in all things benchtops, floors and other surfaces, with a wide range of cleaners that typically fall into the ‘multi-purpose’ category. For example, a cleaner range includes scents such as Crisp Apple and Pomegranate Blossom, which claim to cut through tough dirt and grime on floors and tiles while supposedly killing 99.9% of germs.
Earth Choice
Keeping your home nice and clean doesn’t have to come at a cost to the environment, and Earth Choice is certainly a brand of choice for many eco-conscious Aussie consumers. Amongst its armoury of cleaning products is its Floor & Surface cleaner in an attractive bottle made from recycled plastic.
Strike
For something cheap as chips, the Strike Floor Cleaner knocks pretty much all other brands down on price. The product is exclusive to Woolworths and available for just $2, with each bottle containing 750ml.
Handy Andy
If your name is Steve or Amy, you can still use this product and consider yourself pretty useless around the house. A Clorox brand, Handy Andy is a no-frills floor cleaner that comes in a 750ml bottle.
Aldi Power Force
Discount supermarket chain ALDI flexes as one of the leading brands for floor cleaners. It offers the Power Force Pro Heavy Duty Cleaner in a couple of scents − Original, Citrus and Wooden − each sold in a 1.25L bottle for $2.19.
Coles Ultra
Coles has a range of budget-oriented floor cleaners, including its no-frills liquid cleaner, as well as some floor wipes made for easy spill clean-ups. Similarly to Woolies’ Strike, Coles’ Ultra floor cleaners check out at an affordable $2 for a 750ml product or $2.30 for a 1.25L bottle.
FAQs About A Cheap Good Cleaning Solution For The Floor
What Is A Good Mopping Solution?
Aslett recommends an easy cleaning solution: a quick squirt of dish detergent in a bucket of water. “Dish detergent is made to cut through grease and grime. Just don’t use too much, or the floors will be dull.”
How Do You Make Homemade Floor Cleaning Solution?
Combine ¼ cup white vinegar, ¼ cup baking soda, one tablespoon dish detergent, and 2 gallons of hot water. Apply it either with a damp cloth or a wrung-out mop. Afterwards, go over it with fresh water and dry it.
Is Bleach Good For Cleaning?
From disinfecting clothes to bathroom and kitchen surfaces, bleach is indeed good for cleaning, but there’s a lot you should know about the strong agent before you go ahead and douse your furniture with it.
Do You Need To Rinse After Cleaning With Bleach?
Rinse bleach from surfaces as directed; make sure you rinse surfaces as directed, as proper rinsing prevents bleach residue. When the food contact surface sanitizing solution is mixed correctly with the right amounts of bleach and water, there will be no residue when the surface has been air-dried.
What Should You Not Use Bleach On?
Bleach shouldn’t be applied to copper or stainless steel appliances. That’s because the corrosive chemicals in bleach can react with metal and leave behind stains and even corrosion, according to ARCSI. “Always use approved cleaners on metal surfaces. Also, never use bleach or ammonia to eliminate rust.
Natural Cleaning Recipes
When it comes to keeping the home clean, sometimes natural is better. So if you’re ready to take the eco-friendly plunge, it’s time to toss out your arsenal of sprays and tonics and start cleaning the natural way. Natural cleaning remedies are often better for the environment and far cheaper than commercial alternatives. Easy to make, many natural cleaning solutions can be created with simple household staples like white vinegar and bicarb soda.
Not only are these natural cleaning ideas hard-working, but they’re also versatile and can be used in a wide variety of ways throughout the home. So you can say goodbye to filling your vanity cupboards to the brim with cleaning products. If you’re unsure where to start with natural cleaning solutions, here are seven basic multi-purpose natural cleaning recipes to master that will help you clean your home from ceiling to floor in no time at all.
All-Purpose Cleaner
One part white vinegar + one part water = all-purpose cleaner.
FYI: Don’t use vinegar on marble, stone or granite – it can strip them.
Drain Cleaner
One cup of baking soda + kettle full of boiling water = drain cleaner.
Pour the baking soda down the drain, followed by the water.
Cast Iron Pan Cleaner
Olive oil + coarse salt = cast iron pan cleaner.
A little elbow grease helps with this one, too!
Floor Cleaner
Bucket of boiling water + 1/2 cup white vinegar + 1/2 cup vodka + 1 tsp eucalyptus/peppermint oil = floor cleaner.
Feel free to sub in your favourite essential oil.
Stainless Steel Cleaner
White vinegar + olive oil = stainless steel cleaner.
Spray with vinegar first and rub away dirt and debris. Then buff in a tiny (truly, tiny!) amount of olive oil for shine.
Glass Cleaner
Two cups distilled water + 2 tbsp white vinegar = glass cleaner.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
1/2 cup baking soda + 1/2 cup white vinegar = toilet bowl cleaner.
Pour it in, let it sit, and flush.
How To Make Your Floor Tiles Sparkling Clean With Vinegar?
With an increasingly global consciousness related to keeping the environment clean, more and more people worldwide are opting for green products. Especially when it comes to our homes. Rather than going for strong chemicals and bleaches that can be harmful, there is a growing awareness that we can keep our homes clean using natural homemade remedies.
Why Is Cleaning Tiled Floors With Vinegar A Good Idea?
Let’s face it, tiles get dirty and grimy pretty quickly. So when you think of the porcelain or ceramic tiles in the bathroom or kitchen, vinegar is the perfect eco-friendly cleaner. Why? First of all, it is safe to use around pets and children.
While it has a very distinctive smell, the latter is not overwhelming or harmful, and it disappears pretty quickly with good airing. Moreover, vinegar safely disinfects most hard surfaces and works wonders with grease and hard water stains. And the best part about it is that once it dries, it leaves behind a fresh and neutral scent.
What You Will Need For Your Homemade Vinegar Floor Cleaner:
- White vinegar
- Bucket and warm water
- Mop
- Broom or vacuum
- Towel
- Sponge
The Step-By-Step Tile Cleaning Process
- Combine 1/2 cup of vinegar with 1 gallon of warm water into the bucket. Then mix well.
- Sweep with a broom or vacuum the floor to collect all dust, sand, mud and other small particles that could, otherwise, scratch the tiles’ surface during the cleaning.
- Clean the kitchen tiles by dipping the mop in the vinegar and water solution. Apply the mop over all the tiles in sequence from side to side or top to bottom.
- When cleaning the bathroom tiles, we suggest you make use of the sponge, too. Dip the sponge in the vinegar cleaner and wipe the hard water stains off. Once you’ve used the sponge on the stains, you can use a dry towel to wipe off the remaining wet residue.
- Open the windows to let the fresh air flow through the room. This way, the floor will dry faster, and the strong smell of vinegar will be gone in before you know it.
- You may need to spend some extra time on those tiles with stains. Keep wiping the stain with the solution until it disappears or fades. Once you’ve covered the whole floor, give it some time to air dry completely before walking on it.
- Bonus tip: If you have stubborn stains, consider wetting the floor and sprinkling baking soda all over it. Then scrub gently with a water and vinegar solution. Cleaning tile floors with vinegar and baking soda is an easy and chemical-free way to deal with old stains in the kitchen and bathroom.
Antibacterial Cleaning Products
The overuse of antibacterial cleaning products, including disinfectants in the home, may produce bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics. Bacteria resistant to many antibiotics are known as multi-resistant organisms (MROs). As a marketing strategy, media advertisements suggest that bacteria in the home are harmful and must be eliminated by using any number of antibacterial or antimicrobial products available.
Household Products Containing Antibacterial Agents
Household products that are labelled as antibacterial, antiseptic or antimicrobial include:
soaps and detergents
- hand lotions
- disinfectants
- window cleaners
- cleaning cloths
- surface sprays
- mouthwashes
- toothpaste
- garbage bags and plastic wrap
- Textiles and carpet underlay.
Many of these products contain antibacterial agents such as triclosan. These ingredients are valuable in hospitals and other healthcare settings, but their effectiveness could be compromised by unnecessary domestic use. Their wIn addition, their read use in the home could make some bacteria resistant to these antibacterial substances.
Cleaning Products May Contribute To Antibiotic Resistance
- There is evidence that the use of antibacterial and antimicrobial cleaning products – combined with the over-prescription of antibiotics – may produce strains of bacteria resistant to disinfectants and antibiotics. There are several issues involved:
- There may not be enough antibacterial or antimicrobial agents in these cleaning products to destroy bacteria completely.
- Most bacteria will die when exposed to antibacterial or antimicrobial cleaning products, but some may survive and multiply. These strains can become resistant to antibiotics and disinfectants.
- Resistant strains of bacteria can lead to increased infection risk in the community, hospitals, and other healthcare settings.
- Disinfectants are often not used correctly. For example, they are not mixed according to the manufacturer’s instructions (more is not better).
Most Bacteria Are Beneficial
Most bacteria help humans. For example, intestinal bacteria help us to digest food. In addition, the ‘good’ bacteria that naturally live on and inside our bodies help us stay healthy by keeping the numbers of ‘bad’, disease-causing bacteria under control.
Unfortunately, good bacteria are also killed when using antibacterial or antimicrobial cleaning products. This could be harmful if the ratio of good to bad bacteria is disturbed, and bad bacteria get the upper hand.
Soap And Water Is Just As Effective As Antibacterial Cleaning Products
Healthy households do not need antibacterial cleaning products. Effective handwashing with soap, and household cleaning using warm water and a plain detergent, is the cheapest way to get rid of germs.
Avoid antibacterial or antimicrobial products – they are more expensive, no more effective at cleaning, and their widespread use may pose a wider health risk.
Antibacterial Cleaning Products And Allergies
Researchers have suggested that the modern obsession with cleanliness may be partly responsible for the increase in allergic asthma and conditions such as hay fever (allergic rhinitis).
It has also been suggested that some exposure to certain microbes may help regulate the immune system.
This exposure may reduce the body’s tendency to develop an allergic reaction against common allergens.
This is based on the observations that are growing up in a large family, being in child care from a young age and living with household pets seem to reduce the chances of developing allergic disease.
More research into this area is needed, but current understanding suggests that children’s immune systems may need exposure to bacteria and other microbes to function at their best. In other words, a little dirt never hurt anyone. Therefore, we target our hygiene practices to the areas of greatest risk, such as washing hands after going to the toilet and before handling food.
Reducing The Effects Of Harmful Bacteria
Food poisoning is a major health risk. Around 11,500 Australians are affected by food poisoning every day. This is caused by poor food storage, preparation and handling. To reduce this risk:
- Wash and dry your hands after going to the toilet, blowing your nose and before handling food – especially between handling raw and cooked food.
- Use disposable paper towels to dry your hands rather than cloth towels.
- Keep cold food cold (below five °C) and hot food hot (above 60°C) to discourage the growth of bacteria.
- Store raw foods below cooked foods in the refrigerator.
- Use separate utensils for raw and cooked foods.
- Clean the toilet and bathroom regularly, especially the toilet seat, door handles and taps.
- Clean surfaces of baby change tables every day or more often if they are dirty.
Conclusion
Using one basic household product, you can clean almost everything in your house in an eco-friendly manner. This includes the tiled floors, of course, although not all types. Yes, we’re talking about vinegar! Opting for a natural tile floor cleaner is easy and low-cost, and while vinegar may not have the best smell, it can certainly make your tiles shine.
How much does it cost to epoxy garage floor?
Epoxy garage floors cost between $1,447 to $3,006, with the national average at $2,227. If you’re tired of the plain concrete flooring in your garage, you may be interested in long-lasting epoxy flooring. Epoxy is a rugged and durable finish that will transform dull garage flooring into a gleaming surface.
Is it worth it to epoxy garage floor?
Epoxy flooring protects the underlying concrete from moisture, stains, grease and cracks. In the long run, this can save you a great deal on cleaning and maintenance costs by eliminating the need to clean carpet or grout. It’s also very reasonably priced for the duration and level of protection that it offers.
Why you should not epoxy your garage floor?
Steer Clear of Epoxy on Your Garage Flooring- #1: Epoxy has Weak Adhesion. Compared to paint, epoxy has far stronger adhesion. …
- #2: Epoxy Takes Multiple Days to Fully Cure. …
- #3: Epoxy Fades. …
- #4: It Can Stick to the Wrong Places! …
- #5: Poor Flexibility. …
- #6: Cooler Temp Applications Are Tough.
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