Why I Prefer To Use a Steam Mop

Spring cleaning is in full swing! If you are anything like me then you like to have clean floors all year long. Lol! But I don’t like to drag out a mop and bucket because it is messy, and I don’t feel like it kills all the germs. So, I am sharing today why I prefer to use a steam mop on my floors over other methods.

I don’t know about you, but we don’t wear shoes in our house. We did a blog post a while back, 3 Reasons You Should Never Wear Your Shoes in the House. You can read that here. There is so much dirt and bacteria that is tracked into our houses regularly. Even if you are taking your shoes off! Chemicals, garbage, food, yard trimming, oil, and fecal matter to name just a few!

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How Does a Steam Mop Work?

For most steam mops you only need one thing, water! After you plug it in, they heat up and the steam has tiny vapor molecules that penetrate a surface’s pores. This forces out any dirt, germs, or bacteria that are hanging out on your floor. Most steam mops kill 99.99% of germs and bacteria.

For steam to be effective and sanitize, that water needs to reach a minimum of 212 degrees. Not all steam mops are made to get this hot and to sanitize so when buying one make sure it can get this hot. Also, take caution when using them because that is also hot enough to cause a serious burn.  

Can I Add Anything To The Water?

Most steam mops are designed to only use water. There are some out there that have cleaners that are made to put into their specific device and Bissell has scented demineralized water you can buy for their steam mop. You can find that one here.

There really isn’t a need to put anything else into your water for your steam mop. The steam will do all the cleaning for you. You might damage your mop or your floor if you add any cleaning fluids to it. So be sure to check the directions on your steam mop.

I know a lot of people miss the smell of a “clean floor”. You know, that freshly cleaned smell. You won’t get that when you steam mop. Some people will add just a few drops of essential oil to their water. Popular oils to use are lemon, orange, and eucalyptus.

A Few Steam Mop Tips:

• Vacuum dirt and debris before using your steam mop.
• If your floors are heavily soiled in areas clean those up first. Otherwise, you will be smearing dirt all around your floor.
• Fill the water and put on the cleaning pad prior to plugging in the steam mop. They heat up fast and you could get burned if you try to put on the cleaning pad after turning it on.
• Check the cleaning pad while cleaning if you are doing a large area. Switch out to a clean one if needed. Just make sure you unplug the mop before doing this!
• Only use your steam mop on sealed floors. You never want to use a steam mop on vinyl tiles or planking because it can melt or make it bubble. Vinyl is basically plastic! So, make sure you know what type of flooring you have.

Are you currently using a steam mop? If not have you thought about it? I love mine. Yes, most of our house is tile so it works great for that. We have hardwood upstairs. It is sealed so I also use the steam mop up there just on a lower steam setting.

Please share in the comments below any tips you have when using your steam mop. Or how it has made your life easier.