How to Clean A Dust Mop | With 2 Different & Easy Ways

A dust mop is an important tool for home maintenance. It picks up tiny dust particles and keeps your home clean. People use this tool for many purposes like cleaning floors, walls, ceilings, and so on.

However, a dust mop mops the surface until it is clean itself. After using it for some time, the dust mop gets dirty and it starts spreading dirt around rather than picking it up. The cleanliness of the dust mop is also essential.

Different dust mops have unique shapes, so it becomes trickier to clean the dust mop. In this article, we will describe to you the easiest way to clean a dirty dust mop.

How to Clean Dirty Dust Mops?

A dust mop is a very useful cleaning tool. It wipes out the floor without getting wet. For hardwood floors, most people use a dust mop as wet cleaning can damage the floor. Moreover, dust mop is used in offices, schools, or shopping malls.

Dust mop picks up dirt as long as it is clean. So you need to make sure that it is clean every time before using it. But there are different types of dust mops.

The cleaning system is changed according to the mop types. Before getting into it, you should know what the type of dust mop is.

Dust mop types

There are mainly three types of dust types, for example:

1. Microfiber

A microfiber dust mop is the most popular option among all types. It is made of synthetic material combining nylon and polyester. Microfiber dust mop tends to be positively charged and it attracts dust and dirt. It is great for removing bacteria.

A microfiber dust mop is also absorbent and effectively cleans pet mishaps or spills. It is also a durable type of dust mop. Most microfiber dust mops allow machine washing so you can easily clean them.

2. Wool

His type of dust mops come in a noddle appearance, capturing fuzz. It is an absorbent material that effectively cleans surfaces and spillage. The wool dust mop is trickier to clean. Probably it needs hand washing.

3. Cotton

Cotton is a soft and natural material that nicely cleans your floors without damage. It is great to dry clean and also affordable to purchase. But they tend to tear wash. So hand washing is also preferable for cleaning cotton dust mops.

In some cases, the brand recommends machine washing or hand washing. So it is preferable to check the label of your dust mop and see if it is compatible or not. However, we have given both ways to clean your dust mop.

1. Machine Washing

You can wash microfiber or solid cotton dust cotton mops in the washing machine, still, assure with your ones. Follow the steps below:

Step 1

Briskly shake out excessive dirt and dust from the mop. For a better result, use a vacuum to remove solid dust from the mop head.

Step 2

Use a protective bag like a net washing bag before putting the mop head in the washing machine.

Step 3

Then separate the mop head and soak the mop head for 10 minutes in hot soapy water.

Step 4

Pour 1 cup of regular laundry detergent into the washing machine. Turn on the washing machine at a low speed. Wash the mop head for 3 to 5 minutes on the washing machine. Never put the mop alone in the washing machine.

Always wash it with a full machine load. Because overwashing or excessive bleach usage can make severe damage to the mop.

Step 5

Remove the mop head from the washing bag. You can dry the mop head in the dryer or air-dry it. Check the label as well before putting it into the dryer. Tumble the mop head in the dryer not exceeding 180 F and make sure it is fully dry. Remember, excessive temperatures and drying time affect mop lifespan.

2. Hand Washing

Hand washing is the stablest way to clean the dust mop. Well, it may be time-consuming for you. But it is an effective and better way to clean your dirty dust mop. To get the job done, follow the steps below:

Step 1

Use a vacuum or a counter-dusting brush to remove visible soil from the mop head. Remove dust as much as you can.

Step 2

You need to make a cleaning solution with warm water and detergent. Take a bucket, pour 1 to 2 gallons of warm water and add regular laundry detergent into the water. Stir well to mix all the elements. Many use a mop bucket with a wringer for this application. Actually, it is also great to clean a dirty dust mop.

Step 3

Disassemble the dust mop head from the frame. It depends on your mop design. The mop may have either united it or simply slid it off from the metal frame.

Step 4

Soak the dust mop in the bucket of warm soapy solution. Saturate the mop head well and let it soak for at least an hour.

Step 5

If you can see the dust mop is not as clean as you expect, you need to dump the old soapy water and make another bucket of clean water and detergent solution. Again, soak the mop in the solution for a while.

Step 6

Rinse the mop head thoroughly using lukewarm water. Then again rinse with cold water. Now squeeze out excess water and hang out for air drying. Or you can hang it outdoors if the weather is sunny.

The dust mop should dry in 2 to 4 hours. Since cotton retains the most amount of moisture it takes time to dry properly where the synthetic dust mop doesn’t.

Tips: While cleaning the mop head, don’t soak it for an extended time, it will start to build up mildew.

For humid conditions, you can use a hairdryer or dryer on the mop to speed up the drying process. But before using the dryer, check the label of your dust mop.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How often should you clean a dust mop?

Dust mop effectively cleans the surface if it is clean itself. But you should shake out the dust mop every time before using it. Always shake the mop head outside or over a garbage can so that dirt and dust don’t fly everywhere.

Well, the dust mop should be cleaned deeply for optimal cleaning or to expand its lifespan. It is recommended to clean the dust mop every four or five usages.

Are dust mop heads washable?

Most dust mops are washable whether the material is. There is just a difference in their washing system. However, dust mop heads can wash with regular detergent but ensure no bleach. Use hot water and rinse well before drying the mop head.

In the case of microfiber mop heads don’t use above 140 degrees of temperature, otherwise, the excessive temperature can damage microfiber material.

Is a dust mop better than a broom?

Brooms are very well-known tools for cleaning surfaces. Particularly, the broom has sturdy synthetic bristles and is much more durable than a dust mop. Brooms are useful to clean rough surfaces like concrete, cement, brick, or stone.

On the other hand, a dust mop helps to clean fine particles of dirt and dust. This dust mop is widely used on smooth surfaces like hardwood floors, vinyl, or tiles.

What if I soak the dust mops overnight?

Dust mop never should be soaked in water overnight. It should be rinsed and dried out as much as quickly. If you soak the dust mop overnight in the cleaning solution, there will be mold and mildew growth in it. As a result, it becomes unsuitable for re-use.

Final Words

Cleaning the dust mop is one of the significant tasks for a healthy environment. If you don’t clean your dust mop in time, it won’t pick up dirt and spread dirt everywhere, making more mess. So you should clean the dust mop at the right time.

You may be confused about which way you should follow to clean your dust mop. We will recommend checking the label of the dust mop and finding out which is preferred by the manufacturer. We have given 2 ways: machine and hand washing. Following the steps, you can clean the dust mop thoroughly.