How To Clean a Mop – The Ultimate Guide
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I love sharing cleaning tips with you, and I think one of the best things you can do as a homemaker is maintain the cleaning tools you already own. I know from experience how tempting it is to want to buy the next gadget that promises to make your job easier, but at the end of the day we can make do with what we have.
Today we are going to talk about how to clean a mop. I’m going to cover both wet mops and dust mops and the best practices to keep the mops you already own sanitized and in good shape!
How To Clean a Wet Mop
I have tried various mops over the years, and I always come back to the good, old wet mop and bucket. Depending on the top of mop you have, you can usually mop around four times without having to do a deep clean on your mop head (unless you’re mopping up bodily fluids, then please deep clean that mop head immediately).
Since we do our weekly mopping if you follow my monthly cleaning calendar, a good rule of thumb is to do a deep clean of your mops around once a month.You want to make sure your clean floors really are clean!
Simply rinse the mop with warm water after you use it and leave it in an area that it can dry completely. A damp mop is a breeding ground for bacteria, so definitely make sure the mop head is completely dry before putting it away!
Don’t forget to give your mop bucket a good rinse after you empty the dirty water!
How To Deep Clean Mop Head
I prefer removable mop heads because they are so much easier to clean. When it’s time to deep clean your mop head, you have a few options.
The best way to clean your removable mop head is in the washing machine. I wash my mop heads on the gentle cycle with hot water using regular laundry detergent (try the best non-toxic laundry detergent) and a cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle.
If you have a sanitize cycle on your washing machine, you may want to try it, but make sure the the mop fibers can handle high temperatures.
Make sure you only wash your mop heads with items you don’t mind getting beat up such as towels and rags. Allow your mop heads to air dry.
If you feel you need more sanitizing power, you can try adding bleach or some laundry sanitizer.
Do you have a steam mop or other mop that uses a mop pad? Most of those mop pads can be laundered immediately after use. My favorite steam mops have microfiber pads that are easily washed and dried.
How To Clean a Traditional Mop
Do you have a string mop with a fixed head? You won’t be able to pull the mop head off and wash it in your washing machine. Here’s a step-by-step guide to cleaning your traditional mop.
- Rinse your traditional mop after every use and allow it to air dry before storing.
- Once you notice unpleasant odors from your mop, you know it’s time for a deep clean because of bacteria growth.
- Fill a clean bucket with a mixture of half water and half bleach. I recommend bleach over vinegar in order to really disinfect the mop and kill bacteria that vinegar just cannot kill.
- Let the mop sit in the bucket of water and bleach for 15 minutes.
- Rinse the mop with plain until the water runs clear.
- Squeeze out any excess water left in the mop.
- Allow the mop to air dry before storing in a cool, dry place off of the ground.
How To Clean a Sponge Mop
Some people prefer to use a sponge mop rather than a string mop or a steam mop.
After every use make sure to throughly rinse the sponge with clean water and air dry the mop before putting it away for use.
If the sponge on your mop is detachable, you can use your dishwasher to sanitize it! Wash it in your dishwasher on the sanitize cycle without any dishes.
Make sure to replace your sponge mop at the first sign of any damage to the sponge or any strong odors you cannot eliminate.
How To Clean a Dust Mop
Thankfully, dust mops are fairly easy to maintain. After each use, shake the dry mop outside to get rid of any dust, dirt, or debris stuck in the mop.
Depending on the type of mop you have, you can also use a vacuum cleaner and vacuum away any dust or dirt. A vacuum cleaner works great on a feather duster, too.
If you have a detachable, machine washable dust mop head, you can also just wash it in the washing machine frequently.
I really like my O’Cedar dust mop and I’m able to wash those mop pads. I really like my O’Cedar dust mop and I’m able to wash those mop pads. It’s one of those flat mops that has microfiber pads. It works great for hardwood floors when you just need to quickly pick up the dust bunnies or pet hair!
Properly cleaning and maintaining your mop will not only help your mop last longer, but will also ensure that your floors are actually getting clean each time you mop.
How To Clean a Mop
Learn how to properly clean your mop no matter what type of mop you have!
Instructions
How To Clean a Mop with a Detachable Head
- A good rule of thumb is to do a deep clean of your mops around once a month.
- In between deep cleans, simply rinse your mop with warm water after you use it and leave it in an area that it can dry completely. A damp mop is a breeding ground fro bacteria, so definitely make sure the mop head is completely dry before putting it away.
- When it's time to deep clean your mop head, remove it from the mop and wash in the washing machine with hot water, detergent, and a cup of bleach.
How To Clean a Traditional Mop
- Rinse your traditional mop after every use and allow it to air dry before storing.
- Once you notice unpleasant odors from your mop, you know it's time for a deep clean because of bacteria growth.
- Fill a clean bucket with a mixture of half water and half bleach. I recommend bleach over vinegar in order to really disinfect the mop and kill bacteria that vinegar just cannot kill.
- Let the mop sit in the bucket of water and bleach for 15 minutes.
- Rinse the mop with plain water until the water runs clear.
- Squeeze out any excess water left in the mop.
- Allow the mop to air dry before storing in a cool, dry place off of the ground.
How To Clean a Sponge Mop
- Throughly rinse the sponge in hot water in between each use to rid the mop of dirt and debris.
- Allow the sponge mop to air dry completely before storing.
- If the sponge detaches, you can deep clean it in the dishwasher. Wash on the sanitize cycle with no dishes.
- Allow the sponge to dry completely and reattach it to the mop handle.
Notes
Many flat mops and steam mops have detachable heads that can be washed in the washing machine. Check the cleaning instructions that came with your particular mop.
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