How to Use a Microfiber Mop

I think we can all agree that microfiber mops are one of the most essential tools in everyone’s cleaning arsenal. Not only do they improve on basically every aspect of traditional mops, nowadays they are really affordable. So you really don’t have an excuse not to buy one. You really can’t go wrong if you decide to buy a microfiber mop, but what good is it if you’re not sure how to properly use it? Don’t fret, because in this article, we will take you through everything you need to know about using your new mop.

Let’s get started!

Things To Know Before Using Your Microfiber Mop

Before you start mopping around, let’s us first go over some basics that’ll make sure you utilize the microfiber mop to its fullest. First of all, with the microfiber mop, you no longer need to carry around a heavy bucket filled with water, nor use any chemical cleaning tools. Just run the microfiber cloth under the water for a few seconds until it gets damp. Sometimes, even that won’t be necessary, but more on that later. That’s just about all the prep work you need to do. Well, you’ll actually have to assemble the mop (with some manufacturers) yourself prior to using it, but it shouldn’t be too hard to figure out. And most of the time there are guidelines, either included in the package or online, so you can look it up easily. Once you’ve assembled your mop (if necessary) and got the cloth wet, you’re ready to start cleaning.

Using microfiber mops you can clear just about any hard surface, whether its tile, concrete, hardwood, concrete, etc. And since there’s no mucking about with the bucket, you will do the job much faster, enabling you to clean more efficiently. There are three types of cleaning with this amazing tool, so let’s check those out right now.

Dry Dust Mopping With A Microfiber Mop

As mentioned above, sometimes the mop cloth itself is enough to do the cleaning, without adding anything else – even water! You can use your mop to sweep any hard surface in your home, and thanks to its fibers, it’ll pick up any dust, dirt, crumbs, etc. However, be sure to use the proper type of mop pad while dry mopping. Most manufacturers will have multipurpose pads that are a good choice in this situation, but if you can get your hands on special dusting pads, that would be ideal. The reason why these are so good is that its fibers are much longer, and can thus hold more gunk inside of it. Once you’re done with your dry dust mopping, you just pull off the microfiber pad and dump all the nasty stuff into the trash. Then you can either rinse it in warm water or throw it in the washing machine, which is one of my favorite pros of using these types of mops.

Wet Mopping With A Microfiber Mop

The other way to clean using your new mop is, of course, wet mopping. Just by adding a bit of water into the mix will make your microfiber mop one of the most efficient cleaning tools you’ve ever used. To start wet mopping, you just need to take off the mop pad and rinse it in a little bit of water under a faucet. Pop it back on and you’re ready to start cleaning any hardwood floor much more efficiently. You don’t need to use any type of chemical cleanser, but if you want to, you can. That’s the best thing about this, you get to choose and adapt the mop to do exactly what’s needed in any particular situation.

When using this type of cleaning, your mop will remove just about anything off your floors – footprints, mud, spilled liquids, various stains, scuff marks, etc.

Steam Cleaning

There’s an additional type of cleaning that some of you might opt for when choosing the perfect mop for you. As the title suggests, we’re talking about steam cleaning. Some special types of mops use this type of cleaning as it is one of the most efficient cleaning methods around. Once again, there are no cleaning detergents you need to use. Just put boiling hot water into the tank, and press it down a few times until you can see the steam coming up from the pad. Now all you need to do is start pushing the mop around like a vacuum cleaner. These types of mops are quite more expensive than the more basic ones, but they come with several benefits – you can clean basically anything (including carpets even), most of them come with special add-ons for clearing specific types of surfaces, and to top it off, it kills off all the bacteria without usage of chemicals.

Step By Step Cleaning Instructions for Microfiber Mops

Now that you know the theory, it’s time to get practical. Here are the step by step instructions on how to clean using your new mop:

Dry Mopping

1. Put the mop together if needed, and be sure to attach the microfiber pad to the head of your mop. Make sure to use the special dry mopping pad if one is available.
2. Push and pull the mop around your surface until you’ve swept up all the dirt, dust, pet hair or whatever it is you’re cleaning.
3. If necessary, dump all the gunk into the trash (if there’s too much of it even before you’re done cleaning).
4. Once done, empty the pad into a trash bin, and then clean it in water, or throw it in the washer.

Wet Mopping

1. Assemble the mop if needed and attach the pad to the head. Since you are wet mopping, don’t forget to damp the cloth in water (or detergent if you’re so inclined).
2. Firmly grab the handle and push the mop around your floor. Don’t be afraid of adding more water if needed. Continue doing so until the floor is cleaned.
3. If the cloth gets too dirty, detach it and rinse it in warm water to ensure you’re not spreading the bacteria around instead of the opposite.
4. Once you’re done with the cleaning, wash the cloth or put it in the washing machine. If you decide to use the wash, don’t throw the pad in with your regular clothes, because it will release lots of dirt onto them.
5. Leave the pad to dry in the air.

Steam Mopping

1. Boil up some water and add it to your mop’s tank.
2. Plug the mop into an electrical outlet.
3. Push down on the mop a few times until it starts steaming.
4. Start cleaning your floor. From time to time, add more steam by pushing the button (or however it is that the particular manufacturer intended it, should be self-explanatory).
5. Once you’ve finished, take the microfiber pad and throw it in the washer, or just clean it by hand in warm water.
6. Let it dry before re-attaching it.

Microfiber Mopping Tips

You now know both the theoretical and practical parts of cleaning your floors with microfiber mops. Before we say goodbye, here are a few tips to make you even more efficient!

• Many manufacturers offer several types of mopping pads, so be sure to use those when appropriate. For example, always use dry mopping pads for (you’ve guessed it) dry mopping, because those have longer fibers and can thus store more dust and dirt between them. That way you don’t need to visit the trash can every minute.
• Most mops will have swiveling heads, which enable you to clear tight spaces (like around a toilet for example) much easier, so be sure to utilize that.
• It’s very common for mops to have telescopic handles, meaning that you can adjust their length to be perfect for you. No more breaking your back while mopping!
• Most mop pads are to be cleaned just in water, so be sure to check the manual before adding any chemicals into the mix.