Vinegar-Based Cleaners

• Mix 1 cup of distilled vinegar with 1 cup of vegetable oil, says the Michigan State University Extension Service. Apply a thin film of it to your floor. Rub it thoroughly.
  
  An acid, vinegar is a natural disinfectant that can lift the dirt from wood flooring. It also dissolves gummy accumulations.
  
  The N.Y. Consumer Site says that even without the oil, vinegar is a great hardwood floor cleaner. Simply add 1 cup of it to a pail of hot water, and damp mop your floors. The vinegar's odor will evaporate with the water. This cleaner is suitable for other floor surfaces as well.
  
  

Washing Soda-Based Cleaner

• If you are cleaning a painted hardwood floor, go with 1 tsp. of washing soda in 1 gallon hot water. Apply with a soft brush, sponge or mop. This is also effective for eliminating mildew. Washing soda, which you will find near the dry bleach at your grocery store, is a strong alkali so wear gloves while handling it.
  
  

Ammonia or Soap-based Cleaners

• While ammonia might not be as green a cleaning ingredient as some others, it is economical and versatile. To use it on your hardwood floors, says the Harford County, Maryland Extension Service, mix 1/2 cup in a bucket of warm water. After you have swept or vacuumed the floor, mop it with the ammonia mixture. Replace the mixture as soon as it is dirty. When the floor is clean, rinse the mop, fill the bucket with warm clean water and rinse the floor.
  
  Because ammonia has caustic fumes, make sure you keep the room well ventilated while you are mopping.
  
  For a good soap-based hardwood floor cleaner, mix 1 tsp. of mild liquid soap and 1 gallon of warm water.
  
  

Cleaning Gum or Wax from Hardwood Floors

• While there is no DIY cleaner to handle these, placing a plastic bag filled with ice cubes on them until they are hard and scraping them off with a spatula or putty knife works well. You will probably have to spot polish the area when you are done.