Keep that floor looking like new with this quick and easy tutorial on how to clean interior brick floors with all-natural cleaning ingredients!
Originally posted March 2020 • Updated September 2023
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It’s been three years since we installed the beautiful brick floor in our entryway. I am as much in love with it today as I was on install-day. However, it has started to show it’s wear and tear. While it gets a weekly vacuuming, I have yet to give said floor a good scrubbin’. It’s looking a little sad, wouldn’t you say?
Because we didn’t seal the brick (I didn’t even know that was a thing, to be honest!), I started the hunt for a safe cleaner that would get the job done, without harming the floors.
Friends, I found my new favorite cleaning mixture. Now, I’m not a complete cleaning novice, but I tend to gravitate towards to ‘all-in-one’ cleaner that I can pick up at Target. I have my favorites so making something at home hadn’t really crossed my mind.
Until now.
I’ve experienced the power of the baking soda-vinegar combo and I am amazed. Because I’m not a huge fan of the vinegar smell, I dashed a few drops of essential oil into the mixture and now feel the need to smell my brick floors.
Brick floor cleaner supply list
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Lemon essential oil
- Scrub brush
- Cleaning bucket (for warm water)
- Storage container
Brick floor cleaner recipe
In the storage container, mix together:
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 2 tablespoons vinegar
- 2-5+ drops of essential oil
How to clean your interior brick floors
Step one: Grab your cleaning bucket and fill it with warm water.
Step two: Sprinkle your baking soda cleaning mixture over a small area on the floor. I started with the space right in front of our door because it’s the area that needed the most love.
Step three: Dip your scrub brush into the warm water and then start scrubbing the area sprinkled with the all-natural cleaning mixture. I’m a small, circular motion type of gal but you can choose whichever style works best for you.
Now, I may or may not have pulled a shoulder muscle from scrubbing (that’s for me and the dogs to only ever know) BUT you don’t have to hit it that hard to get results – I promise.
Do you see how clean that grout looks?
Sidenote: even Gunner thought the floor smelled good 🙂
It’s like we have a brand new floor AND didn’t have to do the install work 😛
I’m kind of liking this whole homemade cleaning recipe thing. I get to experience the instant gratification of a job well done PLUS sprinkle in a little DIY. Now, off to see what else I can spiffy up with my new favorite cleaning combo.
All our best,
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I have so many questions about interior brick floors. I love the look but am concerned about daily comfort and keeping clean.
After you cleaned the floor did you apply a sealer? Do brick sealers make the brick surface shiny? I don’t want that.
I know how dirty floors get and wondered if your feet got dirty from walking barefoot indoors?
Do the brick floors make the house feel colder than a wood floor? I know walking on my porcelain tile floors in the winter make my feet very cold.
Also, how does brick floor installation compare in price to wood or ceramic tile?
Many thanks in advance for your response.
Hey Paula! So many great questions – responses below. Let me know if you have any follow-ups!
1. We did not apply a sealer. We’ve had the floors in now since 2017; we vacuum them weekly and I scrub clean the grout about every three months or so. It’s our entryway but I don’t feel like they’re too dirty.
2. We are definitely a barefoot house, especially in summer and I didn’t notice ‘extra’ dirt from the brick floors, compared to our wood floors.
3. It’s our entryway so it’s naturally a little cooler since it’s the front door. And we’re in Minnesota. But also, the way our house is laid out – we have a fireplace in our living room which is right next to the entryway, so I don’t notice much since I think the heat from the fire makes its way over to the entryway pretty easily. I hope that makes sense.
4. We actually chose this brick because it was so much cheaper than tile. Again, it was 7 years ago so I don’t remember the exact price per square foot but I remember us being surprised at how inexpensive it was. I think the grout ended up being more than the tile itself.
Overall, I LOVE our brick floor. I don’t think I’d do it in a large surface (i.e., the entire floor, like you would with wood flooring) but having it as an accent in a mudroom or entryway is perfect. It adds great character and it’s been really easy to maintain. We had two large dogs and with all the people trampling through – I haven’t had any chips or dings. The biggest complaint is that it gets a little dirty but honestly, it’s not that noticeable and the tile cleaner works wonders.
Good luck!