Club Benefits
If you have hard floors in your home, it can be a challenge to keep them spotless daily. And since I love nothing more than seeing my floors clean and shiny, I can't help but give them a quick once-over with my trusted mop and bucket for fresh-smelling floors.
But while you might be tempted to include favorite cleaners or ingredients in your mop water to eliminate smells, you could be adding substances you really shouldn’t.
1. Bleach mixed with other cleaners
Bleach is a common cleaning product found in many homes and is mainly used for killing bacteria and sanitizing areas. And while there are many things you could clean with bleach, mixing bleach with anything other than water is a firm no-no.
This is because bleach can react with other chemical cleaners to form a toxic gas that is potentially very harmful. “We always tell our teams not to mix bleach and ammonia-based cleaners because people will just grab whatever is under the sink without looking at the labels,” warns Neel Parekh, founder and CEO of MaidThis.
“When you mix those two, they make chloramine gas, which can be harmful if you breathe it in a small space without enough air flow.” In addition, harsh bleach could potentially discolor tile, grout, and sealed wood floors. And the last thing you want is to spend money on expensive repairs or replacements.
"Over time, bleach can also weaken the wood itself, making it prone to warping and cracking," adds Yarl Christie, Founder of Stories Flooring." Once the protective finish is compromised, the wood becomes more susceptible to moisture damage in a vicious cycle."
Instead, use a pH-neutral solution designed to clean your specific flooring type, and always follow your manufacturer's care guidance before adding substances to mop water. “If you have any doubts, use only warm water with a barely damp microfiber mop instead of running the risk of damaging the floors by using chemicals that cannot be repaired,” adds Sofia Martinez, cleaning expert & CEO at Sparkly Maid Austin.
Be sure to also read our guide on 7 things you should never clean with bleach.
2. Oil-based soaps
While there are so many different cleaning solutions on the market, not all are created equal. According to experts, avoid oil-based soaps to add to your mop water. “Oil-based soaps create a slippery film that dulls the finish of the flooring and attracts dirt, which makes future refinishing difficult,” states Martinez.
”I would recommend using a barely damp microfiber mop with very little product to minimize the risk of excessive moisture. To clean laminate flooring, wring out the mop until it is nearly dry before mopping. And for tile and stone flooring, use a pH-neutral cleaner or a diluted baking soda solution instead of vinegar.”
Alongside the best substances to add, also bear in mind the quantity when pouring into your mop water. “You only need three or four drops of dish soap on sealed floors, but people always use too much,” states Parekh.
“Plus, always test (water) in a hidden place, like the floor of a closet or behind a door. Even though some products say they are safe for all floors, they still act differently depending on the finish.”
If you have plenty of hard floors to maintain or don’t want the back-breaking task of mopping, I’d recommend investing in one of the best robot mops or wet floor cleaners to handle the task. Not only do they offer powerful scrubbing power, but they also have handy smart features to adjust to your floor type and protect it from damage.
3. Vinegar
Similarly, white vinegar has proved to be a real lifesaver when it comes to our most problematic household woes. From removing stubborn stains, limescale, and unclogging drains to getting rid of pests, vinegar is a great multi-purpose substance. However, if you've always thought that it’s perfectly fine to clean your floors with it, you're mistaken.
“I'd suggest not using vinegar,” advises Tanner Berg, owner at Modern Renovations & Contracting. “People see it being helpful with glass and just assume it will work with wood flooring, but that is a terrible choice. It is acidic, so it can pull the finish off sealed hardwood floors. It can also damage natural stone tiles and grout; it works as an etcher. It can even mess up the adhesive under laminate floors. Just stay away from vinegar on anything but glass.”
In addition, never use vinegar on natural stone surfaces, such as marble or granite, as its acidity can etch the material. This damage can ruin the smooth, shiny finish, causing discoloration. Since these materials are costly, repairs can be expensive.
Instead, the simplest and most effective way to maintain a sparkling finish on your marble and granite tops is with just warm water and dish soap.
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