Losing the mop bucket

[citygirl1961]

I used to use a mop and bucket to clean the floors but found it a faff and storage became an issue so I started to use just a flat mop and floor wipes, however the wipes don't seem to clean thoroughly and aren't very cost effective. Is there another way I can use the mop without the bucket, maybe use an all purpose spray directly to the floor? Any ideas?

I use a vileda magic mop with hot soapy water (Flash/Stardrops, etc in the water) in an ordinary bucket rather than a mop bucket. The bucket is multi-purpose and gets used for many things.

Tbh I don't see how you can get the floor clean without water in a bucket, otherwise you are just pushing the dirt around rather than picking it up and washing it off.

You can always put your bottles of cleaning stuff in the bucket when you put it in a cupboard, etc. if space is an issue.

I have a steam mop and I love it. It makes washing the flooors so muhc easier. No waiting for them to dray and seems way more hygenic than my old mop and bucket.

B&M bargains have some quite cheap.

Get a steam mop, end of drudgery. They're easy to store, use and get your floors sparkling in seconds.

Thanks for your replies. I do fancy a steam mop but have heard they take time to heat up and that you only get a bit of cleaning out of each heat up and that they are expensive. My sister in law has one and uses it inbetween using a mop and bucket.

I may be tempted though if they can be used instead of a mop and bucket. My sister in law says they clean really well. Do you have to get an expensive one for it to be worth it?

I've got a vax steam mop, it was only about £50 in a sale. It heats up in about 3 seconds, and I mop all my downstairs in about half of the (small) container of water.

Miles better than a mop and bucket, I just regret not getting one with an detachable handheld unit too

I don't see how we could do without a mop bucket, unfortunately.

The reason mop and buckets have stood the test of time, is because they work.

The gadgets that come and go onto the market (Swiffer, Flash power mop/Vileda 1 2 spray mop) are ok and fun, but that's all they'll ever be, gadgets and good for a quick touch up.

IMO they will never do a thorough clean.

I think steam mops are fine if you mop daily, but if you're like me and you only mop weekly (or sometimes monthly! ), you need a mop, soapy hot water and a drop of bleach, for peace of mind that your floors are clean. FWIW, I use a basin instead of a bucket, and two mops- one for kitchen and one for bathroom, as that is where the litter tray is, and my elderly cat doesn't always make the litter tray. Hence the bleach :).

My mum always had one sort of like this kind, and used the kitchen sink for the hot soapy water.