Ashamed to ask this but.....How do you mop a floor properly?

[JohnCusacksWife]

Cant believe I have to ask this but what is the secret to mopping a floor properly so that it's actually clean? As soon as I put the mop in the bucket the water just turns dirty and then all I seem to do is spread said dirty water around and it never seems really clean. Short of buying a new mop each time whats the secret? Am embarrassed by the colour of my DDs socks by the end of the day!

tweed I empty it into the loo.

On hol recently in France I used the mop bucket and it had a separate section under the wringing part to catch the dirty water, so the clean and dirty water didn't mix.

But what happens with all the muck that gets steamed when you use a steam mop? I use an cloth mop, then scoop up the muck it drags with kitchen paper.

*ecloth

No idea, I get DH to do it once a year before my parents come for Christmas.

It's the only way in and out the house, either you mop it everyday, or not at all. Not at all works just fine.

lazuli
I asume the cloth of the steamer will catch a bit.
otherwise it will be clean dirt :o

Can you really put a mop head in the washer?

Thank you mausmaus good plan

"Can you really put a mop head in the washer?"

of course you can! how else would you get it properly clean?

Tell me more about steam mops people... What do I need to know before purchasing?

I just throw them away when they look a bit nasty

What cycle does one wash a mop head on

Can you use a steam mop on laminate floors?

Yes to steam mop on laminate, I use mine on real wood, laminate and carpet. I have one which has a detachable bit to make it a hand held steamer too but you can get cheaper ones which are just mops - I'd personally spend a bit more cos the handheld one can steam anything. Particularly good at nooks and crannies.
The steam mop has a cloth on the base that picks up the dirt, then you take that bit off and stick it in the wash.

Buy a Scooba and use it every week.

Galens I really want a Scooba and a Roomba but I don't know anyone in real life with one to get a demo and I can't quite bring myself to spend all that money without being sure it's worth it.

lizziemint thanks for info. I've got a steam mop, but only used it on lino so far. And for cleaning windows, nooks & crannies etc as you can detach the handle.

I Hoover first then use the vileda spray mop, then bung the micro fibre pad in the wash.

I'm also delighted to find out that you can put a mop head in the washing machine. Would also like to know what temp others wash theirs on?

BTW I mop my floors once a week and the floors the water is never dirty but then I have a no shoes policy so maybe that's why. I hoover, fill mop bucket with floor cleaning liquid and a bit of Dettol and away I go.

I wash mop heads at 60 - along with cloths and tea towels.

they get washed after every use.

I mop with microfiber mops, I don't use a bucket, I wash the head under the tap as I mop.

After a couple of swishes round I dry it with an old towel to wipe up what is left of the muck.

It leaves the floor very clean, and is the same principle as using a cloth just faster.

Can't believe I've just found this thread. Was going to start my own. Just bought a house with tiled hallway and kitchen. Have a crawling baby. Currently mop with dettol weekly, and use antibac wipes for around the high chair and high traffic area- usually every day.

We are out most of the week (work and nursery).

Don't have the energy to mop in the week. Is this enough? Is dettol ok for the floor?

I'm thinking about getting a steamer but I have a carpet cleaner with a hard floor attachment so I may give that a whirl. I agree that a mop doesn't work.

Dettol's OK for the floor

dettol is overkill imo.
not needed. save the money and use washing up liquid or all purpose soap instead.
once a weeks is ok if you don't have pets.

Bissel. Fantastic on carpet, shit on tiles and lino. I had an attachment, this did naff all and ended up soaking the excess water up with a mop