Well, mopping is the great way to clean your floors, but many people are concerned about the cleanliness of the mop-like how effective it is in cleaning the floors or whether it only removes dirt or does it remove germs from the floor so whether its hardwood flooring or engineered wood flooring or ceramic tiles as well and etc.

You might wonder or may feel odd on reading about cleaning the products that you use to clean your home. But you have to realize a fact that how can a product clean your dirty floors well if it’s not hygienic itself? In fact, a research states that a lot of floors actually became more infected with germs only after the floor was mopped. The research also states that around 6 million types of germs are found on the kitchen floor especially wooden flooring and even more than that with pets. Rather In a mop head, they found around 8 million types of germs.

Now whom do you think as a culprit? the floor or the mop?

But this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t mop your home, a properly maintained mop, efficiently clean your floors, only a mistreated mop spreads more germs and dirt than it clears. Based on the kind of mop you use, we suggest you simple methods for cleaning or de-germing your mop.

Irrespective of the mop type, there are certain points which you should keep in mind while mopping.

1. Use 2 buckets of water while mopping

It is always advisable to use 2 buckets of water while mopping, one for rinsing and other one filled with disinfectant or floor cleaner. You can dip the mop in the bucket filled with water and squeeze it out every time before mopping and for the next time dip the mop in the bucket filled with solution. By this way, you can avoid contaminating the floor.

1. Dry the mop after every use

Cleaning and drying the mop after each use is very crucial to maintain a hygienic floor. This makes sure that you mop is ready for next use. Because after mopping your home, the wet and dirty mop creates a suitable environment for bacteria.

1. Dry it completely

As mentioned above, you could either wash it in machine or hands, but make sure it is completely dry before using it for the next time. Because, if you leave the mop wet, there are high chances to that your mop will be a house for numerous bacteria and mildew. However, once mildew appears you should throw away the mop which might lead to several problems.

Standard Mops

After you are done with mopping, leave the mop in a bucket filled with a cup of water and a cup of vinegar. Let the mop soak in the solution for few minutes after which you should dry it out in the sun. If your mob head is machine washable, then give it a gentle wash in the hottest temperature. In case, if it is not machine washable then soak and rinse in a disinfectant solution or vinegar.

If your mop is removable and machine washable then follow the below suggestions:

1. Remove the mop head and give it a deep cleanse with white vinegar or detergent or disinfectant
2. If your mop is machine washable, toss it in the machine and clean with hottest water setting. You can also add a cup of vinegar while washing
3. If your mop is irremovable then wash it by hand or by soaking.

Microfiber Mop

If your mop is a microfiber mop follow the below instructions:

1. Take off your mop head off your microfiber mop and toss it into the washing machine (if you prefer).

Change the water setting as hottest and use a mild detergent or disinfectant solutions

1. After it is done dry it in the sun or throws it in the dryer

Sponge Mops

Cleaning and Maintenance techniques slightly vary for sponge mops, as these mops are little delicate. You cannot expect deep cleanse in the washing machine as the sponge are more delicate, so follow the below instructions to clean your sponge mops:

1. Add one cup of hot water and 1 cup of vinegar in a bucket and soak the sponge mop head
2. Let it soak for 15 to 30 minutes, then rinse the mop head thoroughly
3. Dry it in the sun for better results
4. Note: It is always better to replace the mop heads every 3 to 6 months

Dry Mops

Dry mops need just a little care as compared to the wet or sponge mops. Follow the below instructions:

1. Give the mop head a few vigorous shakes to get rid of dust particles after every use
2. You can also dust your mop with a vacuum cleaner
3. If your mop becomes very dirty then you should wash or rinse it by hand using some mild detergent.
4. Rinse and squeeze it thoroughly and let it dry in the sun.
5. Note: Similar to other mops, ensure that your mop dries thoroughly before you store it.