Floor Mops and Cleaners—Here’s the Best-of-the-Best!
Ever been tempted to buy one of those exotic “miracle” mops that you see on TV infomercials now and then? You know, the one where all you have to do is twist the handle? I have. I’m a sucker for a good sales pitch.
The reason I bring up the subject of mops is because they’re often the tool of choice when deep cleaning the kitchen floor. While there are those that like to drop to their knees and scrub with a cloth, the majority prefer the relative ease of a mop.
So let’s talk mops. That “miracle” mop I almost bought? A waste of money, say the Speed Cleaning experts, Jeff Campbell and the Clean Team. (My deepest apologies to the millions of people that have this mop and love it…) Their recommendation? They say a European-style flat mop (a SH-Mop, for example) with a terry-cloth cover is so much better.
They’ve tried every mop on the market, and their research shows this mop is genuinely faster. It doesn’t recycle dirty water back to the floor, and it reaches under appliances and into corners. Best of all, because its terry-cloth covers are washable, it’s like a new mop each time you use it.
It does well on tile, hardwood, vinyl, and even stone floors. I’ve been using this mop for several years now and I agree completely with Campbell and his Clean Team. I used to clean a yoga studio in trade for classes—miles of hardwood floors. But this mop made light work of the job.
And the best way to use this mop? Spray a non-toxic disinfectant on areas about 3 or 4 feet square and mop away. About half-way through your floor, turn the terry-cloth cover inside out and continue with a damp, but clean mop cloth.
The disinfectant I’ve used for many years is from a recipe I found on www.realsimple.com. It’s a large spray bottle with 1 ½ cups water, ½ cup white vinegar, ½ cup unflavored vodka, 10 drops lemon essential oil, 10 drops lavender essential oil, and 10 drops of Tea Tree oil. But actually, the ratios of oils are really up to YOUR nose—there’s no exact science to this. Play around with it until you find an aroma you really like. Pour all the ingredients into the spray bottle and shake well.
The essential oils add to the antibacterial properties as well as create a pleasing scent. And that vodka? Besides being an effective disinfectant, if you have a little left over after making your cleaner and it’s been a tough mop-job…well, you get the idea!
We all like a clean kitchen floor, and this basic mop and cleaner is the way to go. Give it a try and let me know what you think. Meanwhile, I have a floor to mop…
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The reason I bring up the subject of mops is because they’re often the tool of choice when deep cleaning the kitchen floor. While there are those that like to drop to their knees and scrub with a cloth, the majority prefer the relative ease of a mop.
So let’s talk mops. That “miracle” mop I almost bought? A waste of money, say the Speed Cleaning experts, Jeff Campbell and the Clean Team. (My deepest apologies to the millions of people that have this mop and love it…) Their recommendation? They say a European-style flat mop (a SH-Mop, for example) with a terry-cloth cover is so much better.
They’ve tried every mop on the market, and their research shows this mop is genuinely faster. It doesn’t recycle dirty water back to the floor, and it reaches under appliances and into corners. Best of all, because its terry-cloth covers are washable, it’s like a new mop each time you use it.
It does well on tile, hardwood, vinyl, and even stone floors. I’ve been using this mop for several years now and I agree completely with Campbell and his Clean Team. I used to clean a yoga studio in trade for classes—miles of hardwood floors. But this mop made light work of the job.
And the best way to use this mop? Spray a non-toxic disinfectant on areas about 3 or 4 feet square and mop away. About half-way through your floor, turn the terry-cloth cover inside out and continue with a damp, but clean mop cloth.
The disinfectant I’ve used for many years is from a recipe I found on www.realsimple.com. It’s a large spray bottle with 1 ½ cups water, ½ cup white vinegar, ½ cup unflavored vodka, 10 drops lemon essential oil, 10 drops lavender essential oil, and 10 drops of Tea Tree oil. But actually, the ratios of oils are really up to YOUR nose—there’s no exact science to this. Play around with it until you find an aroma you really like. Pour all the ingredients into the spray bottle and shake well.
The essential oils add to the antibacterial properties as well as create a pleasing scent. And that vodka? Besides being an effective disinfectant, if you have a little left over after making your cleaner and it’s been a tough mop-job…well, you get the idea!
We all like a clean kitchen floor, and this basic mop and cleaner is the way to go. Give it a try and let me know what you think. Meanwhile, I have a floor to mop…
Alice Osborne
Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2006
Email the author! alice@dvo.com
Sources:
- www.forbes.com
- www.rockabyeparents.com
- www.amazon.com
- www.cleanmama.com
