No, for real, if you struggling with keeping linoleum clean in a high-traffic area of the house, AND you also prefer to use non-chemical household cleaning products, then you'll appreciate what I'm about to share here.
The surprise product is... hold onto your hats, people... Bon Ami!
Does anyone even know about Bon Ami? It's this nifty little abrasive cleaner that shares space in the aisle with Comet and Ajax. The can is yellow, there's a little chick on it. It's good for a whole host of purposes, which we can talk about later as I don't want to spoil the fun by spilling all in this one post.
Bon Ami is pretty cool because it contains no chlorine bleach and yet it still stands up against old floor crud, berry and tea stains on your counter tops, and other things that we Keepers of the Family Domain must deal with on a routine basis.
Here's a can of Bon Ami, in all its glory, in case you have no idea what I'm talking about. The ingredients are limestone, feldspar, soda ash, baking soda, and surfectant. I'm not really sure what any of these things are, but they sound good so there you go.
So, anyway, let me tell you what to do with the Bon Ami when your linoleum needs a good scrubbing.
Fill a bucket with hot water and your favorite other, natural cleaner. My preferred kitchen floor mix contains the following:
- Splash of Dr. Bronner's (I prefer the lavender scent)
- About 15 drops each of lemon oil and peppermint oil
- About 6 drops of tea tree oil
The essential oils impart a delightful, clean scent while delivering disinfectant capabilities. I'm not sure if Bon Ami disinfects, but at least this way you've covered all your bases, plus you can enjoy that fresh and delightful aroma which I honestly find so inspiring.
Anyway, so grab a clean cloth and get on your hands and knees for some good old-fashioned floor scrubbing. Don't you know, scrubbing is good for the soul? Plus, you can sneak in some yoga while you're down there. Cat, cow, scrub, breathe, rinse. Also, be sure to wear something slutty in case your husband comes by and finds himself aroused by this scenario. Not that this has ever happened to me, but hey. A girl can dream. Uh, what?
So, back to the floor. Here's what you do. Dip your cloth in the bucket and then wring out. Spinkle just a bit of the Bon Ami on the area of the floor that you want to clean the muck from, and scrub it in with your handy cleaning cloth. Next, dip your cloth into the bucket again, wring out, and wipe clean the spot that you just Bon-Ami'ed.
Repeat until the entire floor has resumed its former glory. And, you're not done. Your floor will now feel gritty. Have no fear. You can simply use a hot-water saturated mop to go over it again several times until the abrasive grit is removed. Also, pay attention to the bottoms of your feet. They will probably have Bon Ami on them. Wash your feet before resuming normal daily activities.
xo,
Mom
No comments:
Post a Comment