When we were kids we sometimes camped out in the foothills near the town where we were raised. The caves made perfect shelters, and setting up our campsite always included building a campfire, storing our groceries and cleaning the floor so that we could spread out our bedrolls.

That was nearly forty years ago, yet today, after all that time, we still find ourselves cleaning floors. Only now, they are floors of a different nature - vinyl, hardwood, ceramic tile, and more. We would like to share a few homespun concoctions with you that we hope you will enjoy making and using on your floors.

Linoleum is probably the most common of floor coverings. It is comparatively inexpensive and it is durable and long-lasting. A mild detergent (such as dish soap) is perfect for daily cleaning. A damp mop is all that it takes. For grease spots, simply add a few drops of vinegar to the solution. To get rid of dull greasy film on no-wax linoleum, use a half-cup of vinegar in a half-gallon of hot water. When cleaning, always use hot water. Often, hot water is all that is required to dissolve most dirt and crud.

Rubber tile isn't quite as damage-resistant as vinyl flooring, so be careful here. Oils, solvents and strong detergents are a no-no. They can harm the surface. For best results, wash with plain old-fashioned hot water. In some cases a mild detergent might help. Use a damp mop.

When cleaning wood floors, think salad dressing - the oil and vinegar variety. Use it to clean and brighten your hardwood floors. Mix equal parts of vinegar and vegetable oil. Do not add salt and pepper to taste. Use this cleaner sparingly. You don't want to make a slippery mess out of your family-room floor.

If your wood floors are painted, use washing soda. Washing soda is basically sodium carbonate. It can be found at the pool supply store in a product called PH increaser. Mix one teaspoon of sodium carbonate into one gallon of hot water. Scrub with a sponge, mop or soft bristle brush.

When cleaning brick and stone floors, muratic acid (pool acid) is the cleaner of choice. Unfortunately, muratic acid is wicked stuff. The vapors can cook your lungs and a splash on the skin can cause severe burns. Although you ultimately might have to resort to muratic acid, trying a milder solution of vinegar first is prudent. Mix one cup of white vinegar into one gallon of hot water. Scrub with a bristle brush and rinse with clear water.

Linoleum, vinyl and wood floors also respond well to oil soap or club soda. Read the last sentence again we said "or" not "and." We have never tried mixing them together, but as stand-alone cleaners, oil soap and club soda can make your floors glisten.

Nothing makes a floor look less appealing than a layer of yellowed wax. To remove it from vinyl or asbestos tiles, try club soda. Pour some onto the affected area, scrub it in with a bristle brush, let it stand for a while and then wipe the yellow away. If this fails, use a heavy-duty wax remover applied with a commercial floor-scrubber. Try the club soda first. It's cheaper and easier.

To remove wax from linoleum, use isopropyl alcohol. Mix a solution consisting of one part alcohol to three parts water. Use a mop to scrub the solution in, and be sure that the area is adequately ventilated.