How to Get Clean Floors With Less Waste and Less Pain
I live in a house that is going through some remodels, I have a dog that is inside then outside then inside (repeat) all day, and I don’t yet own any rugs. All this means that my floors are almost always in need of some kind of cleaning. I mentioned before that my Dyson stick vacuum is a lifesaver, but it doesn’t work on a wet footprint left after coming in from the rain, or the thin layer of dog food detritus Hero leaves after every meal. For that, I have a new tool in my arsenal: The Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop.
There are a ton of different models of spray mops out there, but I went with Rubbermaid because, well, that’s what they sold at Target. I’ve had a Swiffer WetJet in the past, and it’s a similar setup except with Swiffer, the pads are disposable. Plus, while you could certainly refill the bottle with whatever you like, first you have to use up a whole bottle of Swiffer cleaning solution. There are also Swiffer Wet Mop Pads that are SOPPING wet and again, disposable. The appeal of the Rubbermaid, and any other similar products, is that the pad is machine washable microfiber, and the bottle comes empty so you can use any floor cleaner you like.
The mop is also really easy to use. It’s not heavy, and there’s a cushion grip lower on the handle so you can use two hand easily. I suppose you’d only mop two handed if you’re really scrubbing at something, but on the Rubbermaid Spray Mop there’s a little scouring pad on the top so you can flip the mop over and attack any stubborn spots. I’ve washed the microfiber cloth twice, and I’m amazed at how clean it comes out. If you do a lot of mopping, it might be wise to get a second microfiber so you can always have one in-use while one is being washed.
As for cleaning solution, I use Mrs Meyers Surface Concentrate in Honeysuckle (you know I’d get Mum if they sold it in the concentrate - Mrs Meyers, if you’re reading this, I’m begging). I had to do a LOT of math to figure out how much of the Mrs Meyers to dilute in water to clean my floors, which was stressful, but now I know. FYI: The Rubbermaid mop comes with a 22oz bottle and for that it’s 4-5 tablespoons of Mrs Meyers, and the rest water.
If you love a clean floor but don’t have a lot of time, or like me, suffer from joints that just don’t work as you’d like, then a spray mop could be the one for you. I feel better about producing less waste, my joints aren’t screaming, and my floors aren’t embarrassing. Win-Win-Win!
