Grading Eco-Friendly Wood Floor and Furniture Cleaners

I am currently in the process of detoxifying both myself and my home. After reading about the thousands of chemicals that are in everyday household products and their potential side effects, I am slowly phasing in the new green products and getting rid of the hazardous chemicals. This week I focused on finding an eco-friendly wood floor and furniture cleaner that would keep my home healthy and also clean as effectively as traditional cleaning products. I was able to find some in my local discount store and grocery store and also ordered some online.

The first product I reviewed I actually had under my sink for years and was surprised to learn was non-toxic. Murphy's Oil Soap is a wood floor cleaner that is useful in other areas of the house as well. It is safe to use on cabinets, ceramic, marble, plastic, and so on. To clean my floors, I added a quarter cup of Murphy's Oil Soap to a gallon of warm water. Using a sponge mop, I scrubbed the floor and sat on the counter while it dried. I had high hopes and really enjoyed the lemon scent, but the floor was a little streaky when it dried. However, it did remove the dirt and grime, and I'm used to the steaks, so it wasn't awful. I would give it a B-.

The next product I tried was Method's Wood For Good Floor Cleaner. I was excited to see that it has an almond scent, which I love. It is non-toxic and biodegradable and contains baking soda. The cleaner comes in a squeeze bottle, which you spray directly onto the floor, and then use a mop to scrub the floor clean. It was a little awkward getting used to the squeeze bottle concept and avoiding the area rug, but the results were fantastic. Not only did my living room smell divine, but I was left with a gleaming streak free finish. A+.

I was so impressed with the first Method product that I tried, I went out and bought their Wood For Good Furniture Polish. It has the same wonderful almond scent as the floor cleaner. I have a dining room table that was coated with every other furniture polish I had tried. It was spotty with oil and residue. I sprayed Method's product on the table, then buffed with a microfiber cloth. The table turned out just as great as the floor. There was no greasy residue, and I think after a few uses, all the old product residue will be gone. This is a keeper. A.

The next product I tried was 3R Living's Howard Naturals Wood Cleaner. It is made from vegetables and essential oils and comes in a handy spray bottle. I used this to clean my kitchen cabinets, and it did a great job of removing the grease spatters on the cabinets over the stove. The smell wasn't overpowering, and a little goes a long way. I give this eco-friendly furniture cleaner an A-.

I picked up Earth Friendly Products Furniture Polish to try out next. This cleaner is made from water, olive oil and orange oil and completely non toxic. I sprayed it on my dining room buffet and used a microfiber cloth to buff it to a clean shine. Another plus is that this product isn't tested on animals. I give this furniture cleaner an A-.

The final product I tried was All Natural Hardwood Floor Cleaner. It is made from essential oils and has a wonderful eucalyptus and lemon scent., plus it is 100% biodegradable. It's also available in unscented if you are sensitive to fragrance. This cleaner worked well on my hardwood floor. It left a few streaks after it had dried, but the floor was definitely clean. I would give this product an A-.