How to Clean a Mop

It doesn’t matter how often that you clean your floors, if you are not using a clean mop, all you’re doing is spreading the same dirt around. Most people don’t look forward to mopping their floors, but we all know that for large areas, there is still no substitute for the old mop and bucket! Don’t worry; we have a couple of great tricks to help you clean faster and better with that old mop.

Without a clean mop, you’re just spreading dirt around!

First of all, mops have gotten a lot better over the last decade. I recommend getting a mop with a self-wringing head, like the Lipman Twist mop. Besides keeping your hands cleaner, these mops have a removable heads that are machine washable. This makes keeping the mop head clean a snap and lets you replace it with a new one as needed. When you are done cleaning your floors with them, just throw them in the washing machine. Use the delicate setting with the water as hot as possible. Use minimal detergent and no fabric softener. Do not use any bleach as bleach can destroy the cleaning fibers, shortening the mop head's life! Some mop heads can also be thrown directly in your dryer. Just check the label and follow the directions. Do not use any dryer sheets, as they may reduce the cleaning power of the mop.

While you are mopping, make sure that you keep cleaning the dirt from the mop. If you can, rinse the mop often in a sink or washbasin before dipping in your detergent solution. This will make your cleaning solution stay clean throughout the mopping. If you do not have the ability to rinse the mop, get a second bucket filled with warm, clean water and use it as a pre-rinse before putting the mop back in your cleaning solution. This sounds like more work, but the increased cleaning power of a clean mop will reduce the overall time required to get great results! This also will allow you to use the same bucket of cleaning solution for a larger area, reducing the amount of cleaning products that you use.

If you do not have a machine washable mop, rinse and wring out the mop until the rinse water comes out clean. Use the hottest water that you can to kill off any bacteria. Store your mop with the mop head up and away from the wall. This will help it dry better and will reduce the chances of mold. You can always sanitize the mop head with a rinse of water and hydrogen peroxide after each use. Just make sure that you rinse it out completely when you are done.

Related Posts:

• Keep Your Floors Cleaner With These Mopping Tips 
• Homemade Floor Cleaner
• Use Area Rugs to Cut Down on Mopping
• Microfiber Mop, Cleaning Tool for the 21st Centry

Protect Your Investment In a Front Loading Washing Machine

Front loading washing machines are becoming more popular. They are very energy efficient and allow for large loads. They do require a little more maintenance than your grandma's washer.

The most common compliant with front loaders is that they start to smell. This is usually due to standing water in the machines. The way they are designed leaves a tiny bit of water left in the wash tub. They also have large seals around the door that can start to get mildew or mold growing on them. The best defense is to leave the door open when you are not using the washing machine. A good second defense is to run an empty load with bleach on the largest capacity setting once a month.

Nobody wants to wash their close in a stinky washer! With a little extra care your front loader with last a long time and alway be fresh and clean.

Visit our Washing Machine section for more tips.

Why does my washing machine smell?

Kelly from New York asks:

Why does my washing machine smell?

There are lots of reasons your washing machine could smell. The most common odors are caused by standing water. This can happen when you overload the machine or from a clogged drain pipe. First, check and make sure the drain is working properly. Check all of the hoses and replace them if you can see any visible cracks. If everything checks out, set your washing machine to the largest cycle and set for hot water. Once the tub is half full of water add 2 cups white vinegar and 2 cups baking soda and let the empty load complete. It is normal if the mixture starts to bubble. If this doesn't remove or reduce the odor, the odor probably isn't coming from inside the machine. Let us know how it works.

Cleaning Your Rubber-Backed Bathroom Rugs

Rubber-backed rugs are perfect for bathrooms. They are skid-free and surprisingly easy to clean. Make sure that there are no special care instructions on them and toss them in the washing machine. Make sure that you sort by color. Use the gentle cycle, cool water setting, and basic laundry detergent, absolutely no bleach! Line dry the rugs with the rubber side up. Once dry, fluff the rugs with your hands.

Removing Deodorant Stains from Laundry

Many women complain about deodorant stains especially in regards to dark clothing. To remove these stains, wipe the stain with white vinegar and launder as instructed. If the stain remains, soak the area with denatured alcohol. Wash with your usual detergent in the hottest water setting safe for the fabric type. As always, test your cleaning solutions on an inside seam to test for color or fabric damage before tackling the stain.

Wash Your Washing Machine

It is a good idea to wash your washing machine from time to time. I like to run the washing machine through it's normal cycle, I just add a gallon of distilled vinegar and let it go on the warm water setting. This will remove any hard water and soap residue that has built. This is really import for any pumps and hoses because the residue can make your washer work harder then it needs to. Soap residue can also lead to hose failure, which is a really nasty mess to clean up.