How To Use Steam Mops? Complete Guide

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Have you purchased a steam mops recently and don’t know how to use it? Or do you plan to buy one? Knowing how to operate a efficient steam mopping will saves you a lot of time. Take 5 minutes here to saves hours later. In this page we will have a look at how to use steam mops. 

How To Use Steam Mops

A steam mop is one of the most useful cleaning items in the world. But take time to learn how to use it properly,. Else you simply aren’t going to get much benefit out of it. This is a simple guide that will allow steam mop owners, or potential owners, get the most out of their steam mops. Steam mops are available in many shapes and sizes. 

Some come with various attachments for many other applications besides just cleaning your floors. Steam mops are more efficient and easier to use than the usual more conventional mops. Also when you use a steam mop to clean your floors you don’t only clean up the dirt. You actually sanitize the floor killing many forms of harmful bacteria. Here are some general rules to use before cleaning your floors.

Prepare The Floor

The first thing that needs to be done before the floor is steam mopped is vacuuming. This step might seem a little basic. Although you can’t imagine how many people skip this step. If you try to steam mop your floor before it is vacuumed, then you have to know that the mop isn’t going to be able to effectively do its job. Even the best steam mop in the world can’t clean the floor if there is an inch of hair, dust and dirt all over it. So be sure to thoroughly vacuum before using your steam mop.

Now to be fair, I know that a lot of people skip vacuuming because they have a combination vacuum/steam mop and think they can just do it in one pass. But I have two things to say about that. One, you would have to use the vacuum on the unit first and then use the steam feature. It can’t be done all in one pass. And two, using a full-size vacuum to do the floor instead of the combination vacuum usually results in better results. In other words, it gets more stuff off of the floor.

BISSELL CrossWave Floor and Area Rug Cleaner

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It is very important that you vacuum or sweep the floor to ensure that it is free from any large particles. The microfibre mop pad on the head is designed to pick up only small particles and dust.

Be Careful Where You Use Steam Mops

It’s easy to make the transition from dry to steam floor mops. First, read the manual for your steam mop. Then, just add water, make sure you have attached a clean microfibre pad, and wait a few minutes while the temperature climbs to around 120°C. Remember to always take the necessary safety precautions to avoid burns or injury. Now you’re ready to tackle practically any sealed surface. When you are using a steam mop for the first time on your floors it is wise to survey the surface of them first.

Tiles. Almost all tiled floors are OK to use a mop on them because of the way tiles are manufactured.

Vinyl. Floors that are covered with vinyl are also generally safe for steam cleaning. But you have to make sure that the steam mop is not in contact with the same part of the floor for an extended period of time. After all, vinyl is a plastic and can be susceptible to heat which can alter it permanently.

Laminate Wood Floors. This is where many users make huge mistakes and can often ruin a perfectly good wooden floor in a room so great care needs to be taken before introducing steam to laminate floors. Most laminate floor boards consist of a hard laminate surface glued to a carrier that is made from pulped wood particles. The heat from the steam mop can effect the glue composition of the edges and the joints of the boards which can lead to cracks appearing and the moisture of the steam can damage the underside causing the laminate lift. If you want to know more about it read our article on the subject.

What frustrates you when it comes to cleaning your floors, Leave us a comment?

Way to Clean and Disinfect

Have Sufficient Mop Pads Available

Another mistake people make when they steam mop is to try to reuse the same pad over and over again. This really isn’t advisable.  Mostly because you are going to end up doing is to smear the dirt you picked up the last time and redistribute back to the floor.

Keeping a good stock of them has become feasible for most people as mop pads have come down in cost in the last few years so. Some people purchase a separate mop for each of the floors that they regularly steam mop. They are also washable and can last a long time. To maximise their lifetime make sure you clean them properly after use. 

The cleaning of your floors is one of the tasks that is carried out during a house deep clean which can be carried out by.

Remember: you can’t clean a floor if you are using dirty mop pads.

What frustrates you when it comes to cleaning your floors, Leave us a comment?

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