Mopping The Floor The Best Mopping Systems And How To Use Them

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Mopping the floor is a household chore that everyone has to do, but no one really likes.

If you’re tired of mopping and want to try something new, then these tips will help make your mopping experience perfect.

I’ll cover everything from choosing the right mop for you and your floors, to what solutions work best and how often you should be changing them. By following these simple steps, you can soon enjoy mopping as much as I do!

Table of Contents

Choosing The Right Mop For Your Floor

There are many mops on the market today. Some have better features than others, and some will cost you more money than others. There is no one perfect mop out there; it all depends on your needs.

In order to choose the best mop, you should consider size and material. For instance, a microfiber mop is great for wood floors because they don’t scratch them like other materials might.

For more information on cleaning with microfiber and why you should switch, read my post here.

Mop and Bucket

A mop and bucket is a traditional mopping system. It consists of a long handle attached to an absorbent head. Mopping systems are used for cleaning hard surfaces that are impervious to water, like linoleum or tile.

A mop-and-bucket combo is a tried-and-true method for getting dirt off hard surfaces like linoleum, tile, or wood. You can clean nearly any floor with this simple tool – but before you go and order one. Read my advice on how to use a mop and bucket effectively and safely.

Before You Jump in Head First into Mopping The Floor

First things first, you cant go in all guns blazing. Certain floor types, like wood and laminate, require a little extra care and thought.

Linoleum, tile and stone floors are fine to go in with a mop and bucket. Fill your bucket with hot water and a cap full of a good quality cleaning solution. If using bleach, the water should be cold.

Dip your mop into the water, ring it out and start from the furthest point away from the exit/entryway in a figure of eight or S shape motion.

How To Use a Mop and Bucket for Effective Floor Mopping

The figure of eight and S motion patterns ensure every part of the floor has been cleaned. When you reach the edges of the room, use the straight edge to catch every inch as you go.

Be careful not to soak the floor, the mop should be rung out enough to be damp but not soaking wet. More isn’t always better when it comes to cleaning.

Clean and ring out the mop often, this is the key to effective mop and bucket cleaning. The mop will pick up lots of dirt on its journey so will need dipped and wrung out several times, even on small areas.

For stubborn stains, repeat the process until the stain is removed. A little elbow grease may be needed.

Choose a mop and bucket for:

Linoleum

Tile

Stone

Microfiber Spray Mop

Do you have a hard time keeping your floors clean? Is it tough to keep up with the constant messes that seem to happen in every room of your house? Would you like an easier way to get rid of dirt and grime without using harsh chemicals or spending hours slaving away on your hands and knees scrubbing at those stubborn stains?

The microfiber spray mop is perfect for cleaning floors. It’s easy, fast, and fun! So easy and fun, my 3-year-old can do it.

The microfiber spray mop is perfect for cleaning floors. It’s a great product because it picks up dirt and grime without leaving streaks or causing damage to your flooring.

I have a spray mop and a steam mop. I’ll explain why in just a minute.

Microfiber Spray Mops Are Convenient For Mopping The Floor

My microfiber spray mop is amazing for dealing with messes fast. Its convenient enough to use daily and with hardwood flooring, sometimes It needs a daily clean.

There are many brands on the market though so it can be hard to find the right one.

I use a generic branded one from amazon like the one below. I don’t need all the bells and whistles because it’s only for dealing with everyday spills.

There are good quality branded spray mops like Bona. I don’t use Bona personally, however, I’ve cleaned lots of homes that do. It’s a great system, expensive, but great. The cleaning solution they sell smells amazing and it can be used on all types of flooring.

It doesn’t leave streaks and the floors are left feeling like they’ve just been cleaned.

What Type of Flooring Can I Use a Spray Mop On?

A spray mop can be used on all types of flooring. Although stone and uneven surfaces arent ideal to pair with a spray mop. Because of the rough and uneven surface, the spray mop gets stuck and the pad often gets pulled off mid clean. A mop and bucket is the better choice in this instance.

Choose a spray mop for:

Linoleum

Vinyl, vinyl tiles and vinyl planks

Hardwood

Laminate

Tile

Steam Mops

Steam mops are a great choice for cleaning floors because they can kill germs and bacteria as well as clean, sanitize, and deodorize floors. They have the ability to remove dirt, grime, and even sticky substances like tape residue with ease.

There is a lot of controversy on the internet around steam mops and it’s mostly undue. It’s not that there is a problem with the steam mops it’s that there is a problem with the user, specifically not reading the instructions set out by the manufacturer.

Steam mops are suitable for all hard sealed floors, like tiles, vinyl, wood and laminate.

So why do I read other blogs that say not to use steam mops on wood floors?

I won’t beat around the bush and fill you full of BS just because a few people failed to read the instructions on a product and now go around scare mongering the rest of the internet.

Most steam mop manufacturers state that you can use your steam mop on wood flooring, providing you use it on a low heat and don’t leave the mop to stand on said wood flooring after you have used it. Why? Because it’s the prolonged exposure to heat that damages the wood not the cleaning with low heat.

I find my steam mop to be 10 times more effective at cleaning even on the low heat setting than a mop and bucket and for bonus points, I’m not humping a heavy bucket around with me either.

Speaking of heavy buckets, a steam mop uses gallons less water than a mop and bucket so there’s no heavy lifting and it’s better for the environment.

Can I Use a Cleaning Solution with a Steam Mop?

A word of warning on the water tank. Don’t be tempted to add a cleaning solution to the water tank, it will corrode the inside mechanics of the steam mop and most likely will never work again.

Some brands such as vax do sell a manufacturer-approved cleaning solution that is safe to use with your machine but it’s completely unnecessary because steam cleaning is so powerful and effective on its own.

If you like the just cleaned smell you get from a mop and bucket, light a candle or melt some wax to fill your home with a lovely aroma.

Conclusion

My round up, use a spray mop for everyday spills and a steam mop for a more powerful deep down floor mopping.

Best Mop and Bucket For Your Money:

The Best Spray Mop For Your Money:

My Best Steam Mop For The Money:

Mop and Bucket Best Cleaning Solution