Green Cleaning Linoleum

Cleaning linoleum without toxic chemicals...

If you have genuine linoleum flooring in your house, congratulations! This 150-year-old natural floor covering is made from renewable materials, unlike vinyl flooring types that harbor toxic chemicals from their manufacture. So it stands to reason that when you have a good quality, eco-friendly flooring like this, it is worth learning how to clean linoleum without toxic chemicals.

 

Linoleum, sometimes referred to as "lino", was invented by Englishman Frederick Walton in 1855. Walton noticed a flexible, rubbery looking skin that formed on a can of oil-based paint; this substance was solidified linseed oil, the basis for Walton's further experiments. Today manufacturers use renewable materials such as pine rosin, wood flour, linoxyn (our old friend solid linseed oil), ground cork dust, and mineral fillers to make linoleum.

Quality linoleum has proven to be extremely versatile and durable and is often the flooring of choice in buildings with high foot traffic or where more rigid types of flooring would crack. Today however, linoleum has been replaced in homes by flooring made from polyvinyl chloride or PVC. This is unfortunate, because PVC flooring can be highly toxic when burned; research shows that it releases cancer-causing agents known as dioxins.

So if you have a genuine linoleum floor, you're lucky. It's a good quality, flexible, non-allergenic flooring material that will hold up well with regular natural cleaning. Additionally, it isn't necessary to get down on your hands and knees to scrub linoleum. It's much easier to clean than that. When cleaning linoleum, start by removing the dust with debris with a dry soft mop or a dust mop. If the floor is scuffed, there are several natural methods from getting up those black marks:

 

• Some people like to "dance" the scuff mark out. Place a soft cotton cloth over the mark, then stand on it and shift back and forth, using the weight of your body to work out the scuff. This method is lots of fun if you'll put on some lively music and do the "Twist" for your movement. Check the cloth periodically and soon the scuff will be off the floor and on the cloth. Who thought cleaning linoleum could be so fun?
• More stubborn scuffs may require a little attention to loosen the mark. Some homemakers put a few drops of baby oil on the scuff and work it off with a cotton cloth. Another alternative is to apply baking soda to a damp sponge and scrub up the scuff.
• One of the most ingenious ways to clean scuffs off linoleum is often used by commercial cleaners. It works like this: Take an old tennis ball and drill a hole into one end, then wedge it onto a broomstick. Scrub the tennis ball over the scuff and the mark comes off easily. Moreover, it saves wear and tear on your back.

For routine cleaning, simply damp mop the floor with a solution of one-half cup of vinegar in a gallon of hot water. Be sure to wring out the mop well; it should be damp, not sopping. Dry the floor as you go with an old towel to prevent falls.

If your linoleum floor has small indentations designed to prevent slipping, you may have to make an extra effort on these when they collect dirt. Here's where you'll have to get down on your hands and knees with the old fashion scrub brush and a bucket of warm water with a few drops of eco-friendly dish detergent (check the label for chemicals). Scrub lightly until the dirt comes up, and dry the floor as you go. This method should only have to be used two or three times a year, as regular "green" cleaning linoleum will keep the it in excellent condition.