Mops are an essential cleaning tool that everyone has in their home. Spilled something on the floor? Mop it. Muddy footmarks? Mop it. Want to make your floor sparkle? Well, simply sweeping it won’t do. So you know what you should do? Mop it! But you know what’s better than mopping? Wet mopping! This concludes my argument that dry mops are the best when it comes to cleaning. Mop heads help us to make our flooring nice and completely clean with a cleaning solution, as long as we mop the floor as often as we can. But who cleans the mop nice and clean?
After every use, it’s important to rinse your mop head (see ‘Flat Mop vs Spin Mop‘) clean thoroughly. And what’s more critical than rinsing it clean is drying it thoroughly. This is because if you don’t dry your mop, it can become a smelly home to bacteria and fungi. One thing to note is that once your mop head gets infested with mildew (fungus), you need to replace it ASAP. This is because instead of cleaning, it’ll be spreading bacteria and odor across your floor. So make sure to keep your mop clean and dry, to prevent bacteria growth!
How to Dry a Wet Mop (in an Apartment)
A clean mop will clean your floors better – see best mops for laminate and best mop for vinyl floors. That’s why after every use, you should rinse the mop thoroughly of off cleaning solutions and dirt, using rubber gloves, allow it to dry completely, and then store it away for later use. But drying a wet mop head can be a challenge if you live in an apartment as there’s not much space for drying cleaning supplies. So what do you do for a clean and fresh floor? Simple! Follow the tops we give you.
1. Drying it in Sunlight
This method is the best way to dry a mop that is wet. I think everyone knows that the sun’s heat evaporates water, but that’s not all. If you dry your mop that is wet in direct sunlight, you’re not only removing the unnecessary excess water but also killing germs. Sunlight is known to kill bacteria. So you know your mop – see mops for slate floor – will be free from those buggers. What’s more, if any insects are hiding between the strands, they’ll be forced to come out. This is because even insects can’t handle the heat from sunlight.
2. Using a Hairdryer
If you don’t have a safe place to dry your mop head in the sun, you can use a hairdryer. I know it might seem a tad bit too wacky (I thought the same), but trust me. It works! Moreover, if you use warm/hot air to dry it, this method will get rid of some germs as well. All you have to do is hang your mop on a drying rack with the strands falling down and get blow-drying. Make sure to rinse the mop head thoroughly, keep the mop sanitary and store the mop properly.
You can even brush the strands. This helps the mop dry faster as it promotes airflow. You can even shake the mop head to help it dry faster. Furthermore, make sure that there are no water puddles around your drying area. This is to avoid getting electrocuted from the machine. I mean, having a dry mop is important, but safety comes first. Something to consider is that your electricity bill might increase a bit as blow dryers use up a lot of energy.
3. Drying it Using a Fan
If you want to spend extra money using a hairdryer, you can try drying the mop with a fan. But make sure to wring the mop head and get rid of as much water as you can. This is because drying a mop under a fan takes time. So wring the mop saves some time. Another thing to note is that this method might make your mop develop an odor. This is because you’re drying your mop head under relatively cooler air. Also, as it takes longer to dry, odor might develop.
4. Drying it in a Balcony or Next to a Window
Most apartments have a balcony (terrace for the UK peeps) of sorts. It doesn’t matter if your balcony is small or large but that you have a balcony in your apartment. Just make sure that the area where you’re going to dry your mop is clean. This is because as balconies are outside (as we all know), they tend to have dust covering all surfaces.
If you were just to lay your mop on a dusty surface, you’d make it dirty instead of cleaning it. Moreover, make sure to hand your mop heads to dry. Never lay them on the floor wet. This is one of the reasons mops develop an odor, bacteria, and fungi like mildew. If your apartment doesn’t come with a balcony, no need to worry.
Windows are the next best thing to drying your mops on the balcony. What’s more, windows offer excellent ventilation so you can place your mop next to a window to dry it. Another benefit of this is that if sunlight enters through the window, the mop will dry quicker. Sunlight will also help kill some, if not all, of the germs. Just be wary of bugs that can come through the windows.
5. Drying it Inside the Apartment
If none of the above options seem suitable for you, you can try this one. If you have a drying rack, then hang the mop strand-side down and let it dry. If you don’t have a drying rack, then you can use rope to hang the mop head. Simply tie a rope from one wall to another and hang your wet mop on that.
If hanging a mop that is wet out in the open in your apartment seems like too much, you can hang it in the bathroom. Nobody cares how it looks in the bathroom. Just make sure that the bathroom is well-ventilated. Because if you dry a wet mop in a humid bathroom, you’ll just get a smelly, semi-dry mop instead.
Related Mop Guides: How to clean smelly mop | How to clean steam mop
To put it Simply
Cleaning is essential for healthy, hygienic, and happy living. That’s why “clean” cleaning tools are a must for an immaculate home. This is the reason you should ensure to dry your wet mops. If you skip the drying step when putting your mop away, you’ll have more than a mop that is wet with a cleaning solution on it. Mops that are wet tend to accumulate bacteria and fungi while also giving a horrible smell. Once that happens, you have no other choice but to buy a new mop. So, let’s save money and keep our mops as dry, fresh, and clean for as long as possible.
FAQs
1. How long does mop take to dry?
Depending on the space's size and temperature, a floor can dry in 30 minutes to an hour. A lot depends on the amount of water left on the floor after cleaning and the room's temperature.
2. Do you dry mop or wet mop first?
Do you need to dry mop before wet mopping? Always dry mop before wet mopping! Even though it may seem repetitive to clean something you are going to clean, wet mops are ineffective at removing crumbs, dust, hair, and other solids. Unswept floors are likely to result in trash being pushed around during sweeping.
3. How does dry mop work?
Microfiber or fabric is usually used for the handle of a dry mop head. When you sweep over the floor with the swivel head of a microfiber cloth, a clump of yarn captures dust, tiny debris, and hair.
4. How can I make my mop dry faster?
Mixing vinegar or window cleaner into mop water will result in clean floors that dry quickly and without streaks.
5. Can you mop with just water?
In most cases, floors can be cleaned with plain water because properly diluted chemicals dissolve the sticky bindings that bind greasy pollutants to the floor.
