For the last 18 months I have been using a mop and bucket to clean my floors, which are rather expansive. The slick walk back and forth to the sink just doesn't cut it. As I've gone along, I've realized the key isn't in what mop you use, it's all about the bucket!
The Eclipse Bucket from Casabella has been a life changer. Seriously. Yes, I know it's lame that a bucket is worth writing about, but folks, the old saying about using the right tool for the job is so true.
This bucket (check out the image above) has ridges in the bottom. Instead of dipping your mop back into water with floaties (technical term) into it, the crud and dirt sinks to the bottom and falls between the grooves. Although you might have dingy water, it isn't near as dirty as a traditional bucket would leave you with.
Now, a single bucket does my whole floor and with the sturdy grip on back and spout up front, it doesn't even slosh in the sink. Can you tell I'm excited? I've officially geeked out over a bucket (there could be a self help book for such things), but it's important. Did I mention it's made from recycled plastic? Even better. Keep your eye out for them in stores near you or you can pick them up online for $12.99 at the Container Store.
(Image: Sarah Rae Trover)
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You are freaking me OUT! Please do not tell me that you are cleaning wood floors with a mop and bucket!
Benefit of the doubt, perhaps she has stone tiling in her kitchen and bath - which can be equally expensive to hard wood.
TYZEPHYR - expansive, not necessarily expensive.
Well, it's hardwood in the pics... And really, as long as you wring the mop out well, you should be ok, even with wood floors. I know in our house, with our two big dogs, 3 hairball-hacking cats and two equally sloppy humans, nothing else can come close to keeping up with the mess than the old fashioned mop and bucket. And compared to the abuse our floors suffer constantly through our particular family's use... when they're being mopped is probably the best treatment they get all day, the poor things.
I mop my wood floors. Why not? They're sealed with varnish, after all. You don't want a dripping wet mop, just lightly damp. But my floors look great afterwards!
we're using an old fashioned mop and bucket as well. we live in a 1920s building and the floors have been finished and refinished many times...so i'm sure we're not doing damage to them. on top of that...there's only so much a swiffer can do to wipe up the mess of 3 cats, 2 humans and the remnants of an iowa winter.
Or fill your sink/bucket & throw in several rags. Wring them out really & attach them to a swiffer-like mop. Use one per room & switch them out--then you're NEVER mopping with dirty water. The best ones I have are from old sweatshirts, microfiber cloths, cloth diapers.
Yea, there's nothing wrong with mopping sealed/varnished wood floors- how else do you clean them??
Maybe I don't get it but that's just a plain ol bucket to me. I don't have a "floaty" problem cause I sweep or vacuum my wood floors before I mop always. And I've always used a bucket (and a squeezable sponge mop so I'm not soaking my floors in water) Seems silly to imagine walking back to the sink each time to wash it out. I always use Murphy's Oil Soap on them too. It's a natural liquid soap made for wood floors and gets them super clean.
Rubbermaid Spray Mop = Microfiber mop + cleaning liquid sprayer in one item.. THAT changed my life. No more wet drippy mops and sloshy pails! Perfectly cleaned and dry floors! I always vacuum before mopping too though so I don't get the floaties or even a lot of dirt. I thought vacuuming first was how everyone did it, otherwise wouldn't you end up pushing larger particles and stray hairs/fur around?
awesome!! It will be a great addition to our Shaklee GET CLEAN stuff, including the Basic h2 that we use for EVERYTHING, including the wood floors...and the vegies...and the windows...
I've only got tiles, but I found a great steam mop in perfect condition, with an electritions signed document saying it wouldn't electrocute me- all for $15. I've got two cats and it keeps things clean and a bit more sanitary.
Doesn't matter WHAT surface you are mopping...
you need TWO buckets (any kind will do)
one for your cleaner of choice (if any) and one to rinse your mop in
so you're not mopping with dirty water.
It's not rocket science .... just plain ole common sense, folks
(a *special* bucket, really? ROFLMAO)
At first glance, I thought this was a portable toilet.
I don't know why anyone is freaking out about cleaning wood floors with a mop and bucket. What do you think people did before Swiffers? Besides, I don't think Swiffers work very well anyway. You certainly don't need 2 buckets because your mop water will continue to collect more dirt after it "looks dirty". There's no such thing as a perfectly clean floor, I approach mopping with the goal of collecting the vast majority of the dirt, and certainly any visible dirt.
Easy to clean wood floors the green way. Microfiber mop, warm water. Squeeze the mop as dry as you can get it and then mop. Change water and clean the microfiber mop often as needed ...then dry the heck out of the floor. Drying is key to help prevent damage. Always check with the manufactor before you clean your wood floors. They also make a enviromentalym safe spray to use as a cleaner. I also like it. I take a bucket fill it with warm water and roll the fiber mops so I can grab and squeeze the water out of it. Then I squeeze again. Because you don't want to saturate the floors with water. I am a professional I find out all information from the manufactors on any surface I clean. I don't use recipes over the Internet because it can and will damage surfaces. My very best advice is go to the manufactor and find out they want you to clean. Because if you don't it can void any warrenty on the surface you are cleaning. If you don't know then find out. It will save your floors from damage.