Do you use a wet mop on your floors? If so, what type?

rubysmama · Mar 9, 2016

Hi folks. I have both hardwood and vinyl floors.

I dust (aka de-fur) them with a Swiffer dry mop.

And use a wet mop with dishwashing detergent when I need to wet clean them. The mop I currently use is this type:

3_4a.jpg

rubysmama
Mar 9, 2016

However, I find it never wrings out enough to not drip water, therefore I am looking for something better.

Any suggestions? Comments? Reviews? Thanks.

red top rescue · Mar 9, 2016

I use the Swiffer wet mop with the Hardwood formula for the wood floors, and I can use the same mop with a different pad and some diluted SpicNSpan I have in a spray bottle to do the kitchen floor (linoleum).

artiemom · Mar 9, 2016

Before I adopted Artie, I used all the Swiffer products for the floor. I have laminate, and ceramic tile. I would use varying ones depending on how bad the floors were.

After adopting Artie, I started worrying about the solutions. I loved how the Swiffer Wet Mop cleaned and how the floors sparkled from it....but I noticed Artie would walk all over the wet areas, even when I thought they were dry.

I was concerned he was getting the solution on his paws and ingesting it...

I even went so far as to lock him in my bedroom while I was washing the floors. Invariably, he would find a wet spot.. I then began to dry the floors with a huge beach towel... that turned out to be a lot of work, and the perfume was still there..

I started thinking about things...yes, and left my floors a mess for a bit...I finally researched and bought a steam cleaner.

I switched to the Swiffer steam mop... loved it, thought it was great...but then I got to thinking about things, and my guy was diagnosed with IBD...maybe just a coincidence, but you never know. Still the perfume smell was there. I loved the smell but thought that he is so close to it, I wonder how it is effecting him...

I ended up buying a Bissell Floor Steam Cleaner/Vac.... I love it!! Uses distilled water and a cloth pad which I just throw in the washer after each use.

So much safer for both us. No chemicals, no smell from perfume, and cleans really well...

misterwhiskers · Mar 9, 2016

I'd love to have a steamer, but right now I use a swiffer. I use paper towels much of the time. If I use a cleaner/disinfectant, I can then put in fresh paper towels and use hot water on them to rinse once or twice. I have a regular mop but my linoleum area is so small that it doesn't make sense, it takes too long to dry, and I hate the idea of dirty water.

MoochNNoodles · Mar 9, 2016

I switched to a Eureka steam mop about 2 1/2 years ago. Before that i used a swiffer wet jet. I hated mopping with a traditional bucket and sponge mop. Our floors at our old house never really looked clean to me anyway. The home had been repossessed before DH bought it. It had seen better days!

I'm really glad we got the steam mop. It does take me a little longer to do the floors than the swiffer; but the floors are dry almost instantly and they look good. The biggest thing DH and I noticed was that the girls started eating their dropped food off the floor. They used to drop kibbles and then just sniff them.

Winchester · Mar 10, 2016

Bissell pet steam cleaner. We really like it. It also has a little steam cleaner to clean up areas where the cats have puked.

rubysmama · Mar 10, 2016

Red Top Rescue said:
I use the Swiffer wet mop with the Hardwood formula for the wood floors, and I can use the same mop with a different pad and some diluted SpicNSpan I have in a spray bottle to do the kitchen floor (linoleum).

Although I use the Swiffer dry mop, I find all the Swiffer products have a strong scent, so I prefer to avoid their wet products.

Artiemom said:
Before I adopted Artie, I used all the Swiffer products for the floor. I have laminate, and ceramic tile. I would use varying ones depending on how bad the floors were.

After adopting Artie, I started worrying about the solutions. I loved how the Swiffer Wet Mop cleaned and how the floors sparkled from it....but I noticed Artie would walk all over the wet areas, even when I thought they were dry.

I was concerned he was getting the solution on his paws and ingesting it...

I even went so far as to lock him in my bedroom while I was washing the floors. Invariably, he would find a wet spot.. I then began to dry the floors with a huge beach towel... that turned out to be a lot of work, and the perfume was still there..

I started thinking about things...yes, and left my floors a mess for a bit...I finally researched and bought a steam cleaner.

I switched to the Swiffer steam mop... loved it, thought it was great...but then I got to thinking about things, and my guy was diagnosed with IBD...maybe just a coincidence, but you never know. Still the perfume smell was there. I loved the smell but thought that he is so close to it, I wonder how it is effecting him...

I ended up buying a Bissell Floor Steam Cleaner/Vac.... I love it!! Uses distilled water and a cloth pad which I just throw in the washer after each use.

So much safer for both us. No chemicals, no smell from perfume, and cleans really well...

I worry about the chemicals in the products as well. No matter if Ruby is sound asleep when I start cleaning, she is sure to wake up and be walking over the floors before they are dry.

I hadn't considered a steam cleaner, but it sounds like it might be what I'm looking for.

MoochNNoodles said:
I switched to a Eureka steam mop about 2 1/2 years ago. Before that i used a swiffer wet jet. I hated mopping with a traditional bucket and sponge mop. Our floors at our old house never really looked clean to me anyway. The home had been repossessed before DH bought it. It had seen better days!

I'm really glad we got the steam mop. It does take me a little longer to do the floors than the swiffer; but the floors are dry almost instantly and they look good. The biggest thing DH and I noticed was that the girls started eating their dropped food off the floor. They used to drop kibbles and then just sniff them.

I too hate the mop and bucket method of cleaning. I'm definitely going to do some Googling for steam cleaners.

misterwhiskers said:
I'd love to have a steamer, but right now I use a swiffer. I use paper towels much of the time. If I use a cleaner/disinfectant, I can then put in fresh paper towels and use hot water on them to rinse once or twice. I have a regular mop but my linoleum area is so small that it doesn't make sense, it takes too long to dry, and I hate the idea of dirty water.

Your comment about dirty water is another reason I don't care for the mop and bucket method, as I always feel the water gets dirty too quickly.

Winchester said:
Bissell pet steam cleaner. We really like it. It also has a little steam cleaner to clean up areas where the cats have puked.

I've seen vacuums that are supposed to be good for getting pet fur, but never heard of a pet steam cleaner. Anything that helps clean cat puke can only be a good thing!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thanks for all your replies, folks. I knew my fellow cat parents were the ones to ask about the best cleaning products.

Those of you that have steam cleaners, do you remember approximately how much you paid for them? A quick search at Walmart.ca - http://www.walmart.ca/search/steam cleaner - shows prices ranging from $49 to $199, so not sure how inexpensive I can go and still get a decent-working product.

sivyaleah · Mar 10, 2016

Winchester said:
Bissell pet steam cleaner. We really like it. It also has a little steam cleaner to clean up areas where the cats have puked.

NEED!

sivyaleah · Mar 10, 2016

We use Swifters also. A few times a year my BF will do a serious wet mop of all areas of the house (we have mostly wood but they tolerate some moisture if dried quickly).

The pet steam cleaner @Winchester mentioned sounds like something we need.

catlover19 · Mar 10, 2016

I have a spray mop that I can fill with my own cleaner. I've been wanting to get a steam cleaner though because I've got 2 kids and pets and don't like using chemicals too often.

jcat · Mar 10, 2016

I use a Kärcher steam cleaner on the floors - stone tile, marble, parquet and laminate - with microfiber cloths. The steam cleaner is also used to clean just about everything else in the house, including the litter box and windows.

rubysmama · Mar 10, 2016

Just when I was convinced I needed a steam cleaner, I Googled and discovered they are not recommended for hardwood floors. In fact, using a mop with water isn't even recommended, especially the type of mop I've been using.

So now I'm more confused than I was before I started researching!

jcat · Mar 10, 2016

They're not recommended for parquet and laminate, either, but our floors were put in 25 years ago, and I've been using the steam cleaner every week or two for 16 years. I just use the lowest setting and double the microfiber cloth. In other words, the floor isn't soaked.

artiemom · Mar 10, 2016

I have the Bissell steam vac.. It is a steam cleaner with a vacuum. You can have the vacuum running as you steam. I really like that option. It is a pet one also, however you cannot use it hand held. It has a height adjustable handle, That is handy for us tall people..

I did not see the one Winchester was discussing. I was at Target and decided on this one. I love the cleaning pads which come with it. One for regular steaming, another which is a bit tougher for stuck on stuff. I always use the scrubby one. Never know what my cat will drop on the floor...and me....ooops...

foxxycat · Mar 10, 2016

I don't use any mop. I just use an old hand towel with hot hot water and vinegar/baking soda mixure if its bad. I have an asthmatic cat and we try not to use bleachy smelling things-normally the floors are swept at least every other day and once a week I use a hot hot washclothe to wipe down the floor in the kitchen. its laminate. So far the vinegar seems to work good at disinfecting. I dont use lysol due to the chemicals going into their paw pads into the bloodstream. I am really nervous about chemicals and cats. It is only the bf and I so we dont have to clean up after people.

Occasionally I will lovk them in another room and use a spray cleaner like 409 but it leaves the floor with a filmy feel. so usually its just diluted vinegar and hot hot water. I use papertowels or old rags on my knees, I tried the swifter thing but it didnt seem to get the floor clean like it would when I use a scrubby sponge on my knees. I have a small kitchen so its not too bad. the same in the guest bathroom. I have carpeting in the rest of the home. which if I could afford it I would rip it up and put lanolium down instead. carpet is such a pain to clean with three cats tracking everything all over the house.

rubysmama · Mar 10, 2016

jcat said:
They're not recommended for parquet and laminate, either, but our floors were put in 25 years ago, and I've been using the steam cleaner every week or two for 16 years. I just use the lowest setting and double the microfiber cloth. In other words, the floor isn't soaked.

Doubling the microfibre cloth is a good idea.

Artiemom said:
I have the Bissell steam vac.. It is a steam cleaner with a vacuum. You can have the vacuum running as you steam. I really like that option. It is a pet one also, however you cannot use it hand held. It has a height adjustable handle, That is handy for us tall people..

I did not see the one Winchester was discussing. I was at Target and decided on this one. I love the cleaning pads which come with it. One for regular steaming, another which is a bit tougher for stuck on stuff. I always use the scrubby one. Never know what my cat will drop on the floor...and me....ooops...

I could certainly use a pet vacuum, as Ruby is a pro at shedding fur!

foxxycat said:
I don't use any mop. I just use an old hand towel with hot hot water and vinegar/baking soda mixure if its bad. I have an asthmatic cat and we try not to use bleachy smelling things-normally the floors are swept at least every other day and once a week I use a hot hot washclothe to wipe down the floor in the kitchen. its laminate. So far the vinegar seems to work good at disinfecting. I dont use lysol due to the chemicals going into their paw pads into the bloodstream. I am really nervous about chemicals and cats. It is only the bf and I so we dont have to clean up after people.

Occasionally I will lovk them in another room and use a spray cleaner like 409 but it leaves the floor with a filmy feel. so usually its just diluted vinegar and hot hot water. I use papertowels or old rags on my knees, I tried the swifter thing but it didnt seem to get the floor clean like it would when I use a scrubby sponge on my knees. I have a small kitchen so its not too bad. the same in the guest bathroom. I have carpeting in the rest of the home. which if I could afford it I would rip it up and put lanolium down instead. carpet is such a pain to clean with three cats tracking everything all over the house.

Hmmm.. I'm not sure I want to get back down to hand washing the floors, but the old-fashioned way is probably still the best to get them cleaned.

stewball · Mar 10, 2016

sivyaleah said:
We use Swifters also. A few times a year my BF will do a serious wet mop of all areas of the house (we have mostly wood but they tolerate some moisture if dried quickly).
The pet steam cleaner @Winchester
mentioned sounds like something we need.

What actually is a swifter? ,

stewball · Mar 10, 2016

I use a squeegee with a microfiber cloth. Well my cleaner does. She throws water on the floor and squeegees the water back out of room then she uses the squeegee with the microfiber and cleans and then dries it off. She changed the water as necessary. I use a Polish floor cleaner and the floors shine brilliantly. They're marble or whatever.

DreamerRose · Mar 10, 2016

Stewball said:
What actually is a swifter? ,

It's a spray mop with a pad. You spray from the handle and mop it up. Surely you must have seen the commercials on TV. They also make a dry one, which is like a dust mop. You can get them any where, especially grocery and hardware stores.

LTS3 · Mar 11, 2016

Stewball said:
What actually is a swifter? ,

Swiffer is a brand name of a line of household cleaning dusting cloths and wet cloths and spray maps. If you don't have Swiffer where you are, here's the US web site with more info: http://swiffer.com/en-us

I had a Bona spray mop once. I put it together following the instructions but it did not work. So that got returned. Maybe I bought a bad one. I now use the Rubbermaid spray mop. I have a regular Libman mop as well. I have a steam cleaner / vacuum (Shark brand) but hardly ever use it.

Do you use a wet mop on your floors? If so, what type?

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