- Bleach is an ideal sanitizer for most hard floors. Before you use bleach, open the windows in your home. This helps fumes escape and provides you with clean, fresh air while cleaning. Put on nonporous gloves and, if desired, protective eye glasses. Clean the floor with soap and water first. After the initial cleaning, add 1 cup of bleach to 5 gallons of water. Mop the floor with the bleach mixture and let it dry.
- Borax, a powdery white mineral known for its cleaning properties, is usually found in the laundry aisle of most grocery stores. It works equally well on hard floors and carpets. For hard floors, pour 1/2 cup of borax into a container and mix with 2 gallons of water. Mop the floor with the solution to clean and sanitize it. For carpets, blend 1 cup of borax with 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of cornmeal. Spread the mixture on the carpet and rub in. Let the borax mixture set for a few hours and then vacuum the carpet.
- Your carpets are a magnet for dust, dirt and spills. Regular vacuuming helps pick up dust particles and pet hair, both of which cause trouble for people with allergies. A vacuum cleaner with an attached HEPA filter works best for picking up tiny particles. Vacuum the carpet at least once a week. Steam carpet cleaners work well to pull dirt from the floor. If you have concerns with using chemical carpet shampoo with a steam cleaner, skip the shampoo and use only water. The cleaner still picks up plenty of dirt without shampoo.
- Vinegar is a safe, natural way to sanitize hardwood floors, as well as other surfaces in your home. You may not want your home to smell like vinegar, but the pungent smell goes away completely after the liquid dries. To sanitize the floor, add 1 cup of white vinegar to a bucket of hot water. Apply the vinegar mixture with a mop or towel, and let the floor air dry.
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