Punteha van Terheyden
Pouring cinnamon powder into your mop water is probably the last thing you think of doing when cleaning your home, but it turns out it can have several benefits for your space, including evoking fall-related memories with the scent.
From boosting your prosperity to banishing bacteria, this simple trick may seem a bit out of the box, but it is thought to be the perfect all-rounder for cleaning and scenting your home this fall.
Here, experts explain why this natural and affordable cleaning tip might be perfect for your home.
Why mopping with cinnamon this fall is beneficial
1. Connect to fall using all of your senses
As summer fades and fall's embrace takes hold, we seek ways to bring that cozy, harvest-time feeling indoors. While the best candles, simmer pot recipes for fall and winter, and diffusers are popular, mopping with cinnamon is a simple and effective way to fill your home with the warm, spicy aroma of the season, straight from the floor up.
Adding a little cinnamon to your mop water will cheaply and instantly help to infuse your home with a cozy scent, contributing to fragrance layering in the extreme.
‘Yes, using cinnamon while mopping can leave a pleasant scent in a room,’ begins Petya Holevich, house cleaning expert and supervisor at Fantastic Services. ‘You need to avoid using too much cinnamon because it may leave a residue on the floor if it’s not properly diluted.'
Some people are allergic to cinnamon, too, so watch out for that if preparing your home for fall and welcoming guests. It can also be toxic for cats and other animals so proceed with caution if this applies to your household.
Otherwise, Petya advises, ‘Instead of applying cinnamon directly to the mop or water, I recommended using a cinnamon-infused cleaning solution. If you can’t find a product like that, there’s a simple recipe you can try as an alternative.'
'You’ll need warm water, a few drops of mild dish soap, and one to two cinnamon sticks or a teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, combine them in a mop bucket, allowing the cinnamon to steep for a few minutes to infuse the water with cinnamon fragrance.
‘Then, mop the floor as usual with the cinnamon-infused solution. The warmth and movement of mopping will release the cinnamon scent into the air, leaving the room smelling fragrant, while the warm water and mild dish soap will help effectively clean the floor.
2. Bolster floor and surface cleaning by adding cinnamon
You can use cinnamon sticks to infuse water or cleaning solutions, as well as powder or essential oil form
What’s more, cinnamon has several antibacterial properties, meaning it is more than just a superficial addition to your cleaning routine.
In addition to its natural bacteria-busting qualities, using essential oils in your DIY cleaning solutions will make light work of stubborn, stuck-on debris when mopping.
This is especially important in the fall when foot traffic will see additional grime tracked in, including mud, leaves, and dirt. Adding cinnamon to the mop water will make cleaning high-traffic areas such as entryways and mudrooms that much easier.
Elizabeth Shields, professional cleaner and operations manager at Super Cleaning Service Louisville, explains, 'Cinnamon carries natural antibacterial properties, so when it's applied or introduced into a cleaning solution, it can help kill or suppress the growth of bacteria on surfaces, making it a natural and effective antibacterial agent for household use.
'This is thanks to compounds like cinnamaldehyde and eugenol. Cinnamaldehyde is the compound responsible for cinnamon's distinct flavor and aroma, and it has been found to exhibit antibacterial and antifungal properties. Eugenol also contributes to its antibacterial effects.'
She warns, however, that you should be mindful of using it on sensitive floor types, as the abrasive nature of cinnamon might not be suitable for all surfaces.
'When mopping hardwood floors, or trying to clean a floor without streaks, for instance, cinnamon could potentially stain or leave a residue, especially on unfinished wood or natural stone, so it's best to skip it here,' Elizabeth says.
Otherwise, if it's safe to use, for instance, on linoleum or sealed wood floors, you can add a few drops of pure cinnamon essential oil from Walmart to your mopping mix.
3. Mopping with cinnamon brings prosperity and spirtual cleansing
Cinnamon has been regarded by many ancient traditions and customs to boost prosperity
Cinnamon is not just good for cleaning your home. The autumnal equinox, a time of balance and transition, is a powerful moment of the year for spiritual cleansing.
Incorporating cinnamon into your mopping ritual can symbolize clearing out old, stagnant energy from the summer and making space for the abundance and introspection that fall brings.
It's a way to spiritually cleanse your home, something many cultures have rituals around the autumnal Equinox to prepare for the colder months ahead.
Using cinnamon to mop your floor is also thought to be a perfect way to improve your prosperity, says Bart Nanka, manager at Mudbrick Herb Cottage.
Much like sprinkling rice around your home or using Feng Shui in a bedroom for good luck, Bart says, ‘Cinnamon is thought to cleanse the space of negative energy and invite positive vibes. The warm, inviting scent of cinnamon can create a harmonious atmosphere, bringing luck and prosperity into your home, according to some spiritual beliefs,’ he explains.
Victoria Nielsen, spiritual guide and empowerment coach, suggests that while this method can work, there are sometimes better ways to introduce good luck to your space, such as blowing cinnamon on your front door. ‘It's much better to blow cinnamon through your front door as a ritual with intention.
‘Doors are portals,’ she explains, ‘so by blowing cinnamon, which is associated with luck and abundance, into your home, you're creating a physical representation of what you want to occur in the spiritual realm.’
What to shop
Add 10-20 drops to your mop water for a gentle scent and superior cleaning. A few drops of dish soap will act as surfactant, making the mix 'stick' to surfaces easily.
Open air can make cinnamon quickly lose its scent and potency so keeping it in a tightly-lidded bottle like this will make it work well for longer. Store out of sunlight.
This non-GMO and filler-free cinnamon powder, which comes in a handly resealable 2 lb pack can be used for cleaning and cooking, meaning none of it will go to waste or lose potency whilst awaiting use.
With a long steel handle, the Libman floor scrub brush enables you to freshen up tiles and textured floors without kneeling and is loved by our cleaning pros. It also reaches into tight corners with the pointed head and pivots 180° for ease.
For the smaller areas of grout that need precision care, these detail grout brushes are ideal. They're also great for scrubbing tough grime spots, awkward corners, textured grouting, and other floor intricacies the mop won't quite hit thoroughly enough.
It comes with three easy-wring refills, and is perfect for mopping hardwood floors when using cinnamon. The spinning function will help you avoid over-saturating floors with water, which can cause warping over time, especially in linolium or wood.
This expert-recommended floor brush comes with a three-section handle that can be adjusted to your preferred height (30-40-50 inches) for no more bending or straining when deep cleaning.
Meet the experts
As an intuitive healer and guide, Victoria demystifies ancient energetic practices like the Akashic Records and Kundalini Yoga to help you live a more embodied and empowered life.
FAQs
Does mopping with cinnamon keep bugs away?
Cinnamon is often used as a natural pest repellent meaning that mopping your floors with it can help to deter pests such as spiders and ants. It is important to remember that this is not a surefire way to prevent these pests in your home, and traditional methods such as sealing gaps and removing food sources are also essential.
How do you cleanse your home with cinnamon?
If you are looking to cleanse bad energy from your home with cinnamon, you can mop your floors with it, adding either ground cinnamon or essential oil into your mop water or to your household cleaning sprays, or incorporating cinnamon sticks into your home decor to infuse your home with this spice.
If mopping your floors with this spice is not for you, Bart Nanka of Mudbrick Herb Cottage assures that there are other methods for attracting prosperity with cinnamon including placing cinnamon sticks around your home or using it in specific rituals.
'Whether you believe in it or not, the pleasant aroma is a bonus.’
With a long steel handle, the Libman floor scrub brush enables you to freshen up tiles without having to kneel. You can also reach into tight corners and small spaces with the pointed head. It pivots 180° for even more convenience.
For the smaller areas of grout that need precision care, these detail grout brushes are ideal.
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