Mopping a floor should be easier said than done because all you need is a mop and bucket full of water and run the floors with it. That surely sounds easy!
However, how often do you mop the floor and clean a mop head afterward? It is a complicated task as there can be many different types of stains your mop is experiencing; hence, to get the mop cleaned afterwards is tricky.
It is important to know that the cleaning items should be in a perfect condition as they are meant to be reused.
Alternatively, how many times do you clean dirty mop heads between cleaning turns?
It is observed that the users, do not often consider this as an important task, hence, they do not invest much thought and effort into it. If you are reading this blog, congratulations, you have definitely given this a thought and are now going to learn the right way of doing this.
If you do not clean your mop properly, you will not be able to achieve the perfectly cleaned floor you dream about. The basic rule of mopping a floor is to rinse and clean the mop head between mopping rooms and afterward too.
But how to clean mop head? Is there a mop head cleaner that you need to buy? Or just rinse out the dirty mop with water?
Hold your horses because we are about to tell you what you never knew. The clog below is a guide for you to achieve just that.
How to Clean a Mop Head
Keeping your cleaning mop is sanitary to ensure your house remains super clean. If you have been using the same mop head for long and have never washed it or cleaned it, we would suggest replacing it with a new one and starting fresh.
This way, you will keep the new one in a perfect condition by following the instructions, rather than spending whole lot of time in cleaning the existing one.
There is no wonder why you’ve been getting sick lately because unclean mop heads help settle down dust rather than cleaning it away which proves a big flaw in your cleaning action.
So, what is the best way to clean a mop head? How would you know about a dirty mop? Here is everything you wish to know about mops cleaning:
1. Rinse with Hot Water
Before you start mopping the floor, clean the bucket and fill it with hot water and add a little white vinegar. The solution will help remove grease and oil from the mop head without you having to scrub it.
But make sure you do not wash it along with your clothes or else the dirt will wash away from the mop head and stick to your clothing.
2. Clean According to the Mop Type
If you have a mop with a detachable head then you can easily through it into the washing machine for a good spin. Add some good detergent to it and the machine should give it back to you all clean.
But what to do if the mop head is irremovable? You cannot throw it in the washing machine. But you can always add some vinegar or bleach into warm water and let the head sit in it for a few minutes before rinsing it out.
Both bleach and vinegar are quick to remove stains and both of these ingredients also work as a disinfectant which is necessary to keep the mop head sanitary.
3. Let it Dry Completely
With the detachable mop head, you can easily put it in the dryer so it comes out fully dry.
But for the irremovable mop head, make sure you air dry it to avoid breeding of bacteria as moisture and humidity welcome them with open hands.
When cleaning with a mop, you need to keep it sanitized so that when you use it to clean the floors, you are sure no germs are lingering around the house to make you sick.
If the need is, prepare a cloth line and hang the mop head out in the sun to get rid of the germs that might be hiding within the fibers.
4. Clean Between Mopping Rooms
Are you done mopping the lounge? If it is time to move to the next room, make sure you rinse it thoroughly to get rid of dust, grime, and dirt that may have stuck to the mop from the previous room.
This avoids the spreading of dust and germs from room to room and thus, gives you better cleaning results.
5. Replace the Mop Head Often
Does your mop head look dirty and discolored even after proper rinsing? Are the fibers coming out?
If yes, then it clearly indicates you need to replace the mop head with a new one because this one will not clean the floors as it should be.
Even if you do not mop the floors often, we will suggest replacing the mop heads every 3 to 4 months to maintain a high level of cleanliness and hygiene around the place.
How to Clean a Smelly Mop?
If you failed to clean or store the mop head without drying then you will find it stinking the next time you bring it out of the closet for use.
But should you be using it like that? Not at all because if you use a smelly mop to clean the house, your place will stink up bad too!
If rinsing it with hot water did not help, you need to mix either vinegar in hot water or hydrogen peroxide, whichever you find safe to use.
Make a solution and dip your mop head in it for around 30 minutes at least. Then rinse it thoroughly with changing water, dry it under the sun and you should be good to go.
Or if you still haven’t succeeded, try replacing it with a new mop head.
3 Things to Remember When Using a Mop
Using a mop should not be hard but there are a few common mistakes that you make lead to quick tearing of the equipment.
Hence, here are a few things that you should do when using a mop head/ mop for cleaning:
Do not leave the mop soaking in water for more than 5 to 10 minutes because the wetter it becomes, the more moisture it will trap inside and breed bacteria
Do not forget to dry the mop completely before storing it away to avoid the accumulation of moisture within which can lead to the quick growth of bacteria and mold
When using a new mop head, let it soak in water for minutes before you use it to get rid of any manufacturer coating which will reduce the absorption of water or cleaning solution
Mops are made of fibers and hence, are very delicate. If you wish for the mop head to survive at least a few cleaning jobs, make sure you are cleaning a mop head right!
As we already have discussed how to clean a mop head above, make sure you dry it completely before using or storing it away to avoid the breeding of bacteria and mold.
Also, change the water between cleaning rooms and wring the mop to remove the excess water, which can otherwise seep into the tiles or sit into the grout and damage it over time.
Remember, a few things when done right can take you along with by keeping your tile flooring as fresh and as good as new.
John Wesley is passionate about cleaning industry especially vacuum cleaners. He is having more than a decade of experience in repairing and selling vacuum cleaners from a well known retail shop. When he’s not testing and reviewing latest vacuum cleaners for this site, he likes to spend time with his partner, 2 kids, and doing house projects.
