The smell of dirty mops can be overwhelming, and they’re a breeding ground for germs, especially in schools. Unfortunately, mops are often overlooked when it comes to cleaning routines, but you should know how to clean a smelly mop at least once every week.
The smell of a fresh, clean mop can make your whole day. But what if that fresh-smelling mop starts to stink? Luckily there are some easy ways to get rid of the stench and allow you to enjoy mopping again.
Why Does Your Mop Smell Bad?
Why does your mop smell bad?
The answer may seem simple, but the underlying cause can be as complex.
Mold and mildew will grow on a wet surface if it sits long enough, even after you’ve mopped!
Therefore, it’s essential to dry out any wet floors immediately with paper towels or old rags before leaving them for too long so that they don’t become infected by these odorous bacteria.
This is especially true during humid summer months!
In addition, the moist environments in your home can cause mold and mildew to grow on the mop, causing an unpleasant musty smell.
Last but not least, after cleaning the dog’s urine with a mop, remember to wash your mop. Otherwise, the smell of dog pee will linger on your mop for a long time and smells bad.
Best Ways to Get the Odor out of Mops?
If you’re feeling frustrated about the lingering odor of your mop, don’t worry; there are plenty of ways to get it out.
First thing first, if your mop head is detachable and washable, you can simply throw it into a washing machine. If you don’t prefer this method or your mop head is fixed, washing it with cleaners is another method you can choose.
You can use baking soda and vinegar mixed in a spray bottle with water for an all-natural solution, or try pouring boiling water over the head before wringing it tightly so that any leftover liquid can dry up faster.
- Use warm water. Fill your washing bucket with warm water and prepare a bottle of bleach, vinegar, or baking soda.
- Put the mop into the bucket while rotating the mop quickly and hit the bottom of the bucket to completely remove the germs.
- Drain the dirty water and get a bucket of clean water. Spray bleach and vinegar on the mop.
- Refill the bucket with hot water, and soak your mop with baking soda.
- Leave the mop in the bucket for 30 minutes, and then repeat the steps above.
- Wring out the mop and rinse it in a clean mop one more time.
- Put your mop under the sun to dry it.
How to Deep Clean and Sanitize Your Mop after Using?
After mopping the floor and removing all traces of dirt from your home, you should deep clean your mop.
Then, soak it in a bucket with some bleach for at least an hour to kill any bacteria that may have been left behind after use.
Make sure not to get water on the aluminum part, resulting in corrosion over time!
Rinse well until no more detergent can be seen coming out of the bristles or head when squeezed hard by hand; air dry before storing away, so they don’t end up smelling musty later down the line due to moisture condensation forming inside during storage.
After mopping your floor, you should deep clean and sanitize the mop before putting it away to avoid any unfavorable microbes from lingering next time.
You can use a 1-quart warm water solution mixed with two tablespoons of bleach or a designated cleaning agent for this purpose.
How to Prevent the Odor of Your Mop?
Using a smelly mop to clean the floor only makes the floor smells too. Therefore the smart choice is to prevent your mop from getting stinks.
First, make sure your mop is completely dry. Every time you use mops, do not just leave the damp mop in the bathroom. Put it in an open area to let it dry naturally.
Second, clean it thoroughly after using it. If the mop is not cleaned thoroughly, it will get a smell because of dust and detergent remains. Traces of dirt will spread grime during the next use, and leftover soap residue can damage your mop.
Third, store the mop in a cool place, A dry place is an ideal storage place for cleaning tools. After mopping floors, you can hang it, so the mop head avoids brushing against the floor.
Fourth, replace the mop head regularly. Cleaning a new mop pad regular is necessary because a dirty and smelly mop can not work well on floors. Make sure a replacement every two or three months when the mop is getting dirty and hard to clean.
Conclusion
You will be able to clean your mop with this article, and you can avoid the need for a new one. To get rid of that smell when cleaning your mop, it is crucial to do so regularly.
This way, any bacteria or other germs in the flooring where you are mopping won’t have time to linger before they are removed by water and soap solution.
If you don’t want to invest in buying another plastic handle, there are many ways we show how you can proceed with just what you currently own!
Read more:
- How to Clean a Carpet with a Steam Mop?
- How to Use a Microfiber Mop?
- How to Mop Stairs? – Guides on Cleaning All Types of Stairs
- How to Clean Floors with a Mop Correctly?
