Steam Mop Smells Like Fish | What To Do & How to Fix It

One of the most common issues which steam mops show is the fish-like smell. That smell is so annoying that we can’t even stand next to the mop when it’s smelly. Especially, when you are a person who doesn’t eat fish, we understand how much pain it can cause you.

So you definitely feel like discovering a permanent solution to this intolerable problem, don’t you? Well, we got your back! Today, we will share a few incredible solutions to get rid of your Steam Mop Smells Like Fish problem.

If you are facing this problem with any specific brand, like if you are suffering from your Bissell steam mop smells like fish issues, we will solve that as well.

So, keep on reading and discover the permanent solution for this irritating problem. Let’s rise!

Steam Mop Smells Like Fish- Obstinate Solutions

Here are a few solutions which may help you to get rid of this problem and breath fresh air without any stinks while standing next to your steam mop.

Solution 1: Vinegar and some detergent!

Many people think vinegar will do enough to remove the fishy smell from their steam mop. But to be honest, vinegar kills the germ but can’t help much with the smell. So along with vinegar, you have to add some detergent to the water and clean the mop with that mixture. Your mop will be all cleaned and smell great after trying this method.

However, the detergent you will use should be a scented detergent. Non-scented detergent won’t help with the smell as well. Personally, we prefer this method the most because eventually, in every solution you need to clean your mop either way. So following this one is going to save you a lot of time and energy.

Solution 2: Unscrewing the head can save your day!

The fishy smell actually comes from the head of your steam mop. So what you have to do is unscrew all the screws so that you can remove the head from the mop. After removing the head, smell inside the mop and you will realize where the smell is coming from. Then put some cleanser there so that the place remains clean.

You can also add some vinegar and sprinkled baking soda and wipe the inside area. Still, you have to soak the bottom into vinegar and let the vinegar sit for 15 minutes. After that, apply some sprinkled baking soda.

Wait for another 10 minutes. Now again spray some vinegar and create some foam. Let that work for 15 minutes and clean that with water. The effluvium will be withdrawn with this method.

Solution 3: Orange drops, lemon drops or lavender essential oil can be your decision!

To get rid of the ridiculous fishy smell of your steam mop you can apply a few drops of orange, lemon, or lavender essential oil to the cover of your steam mop. The fishy smell will vanish in a few seconds. On the other hand, your house will smell awesome when you will clean the house with that mop.

Solution 4: Rubbing alcohol also works

Add a little bit of rubbing alcohol to the cover of your steam mop and rub the cover properly. Now let the alcohol sit for a few whiles and all the bad smell will be gone. Afterwards, try cleaning up the mop using detergent or soap.

Tip: If you don’t want your mop to smell again and repeat the process mentioned above then you can use lemon drops on the cover of your steam mop every day. This way your house will smell great as well.

Read next: Why Do My Steam Mop Leave Streaks

How to fix when Bissell steam mop smells like fish?

Many of the users of Bissell steam mop have this problem. As the fishy smell of the Bissell steam mop is completely intolerable for us we should find a solution of getting rid of the Bissell steam mop that smells like fish and this task can be held in some ways. 

Solution 1: Cleaning the head and bottom

The easiest solution to this problem is unscrewing the screws which hold the head and the whole mop together as all smell comes from there actually. After unscrewing the screw apply some cleanser or some vinegar and sprinkled baking soda inside the area, then wipe the area. The head area will be cleaned after doing so.

Now clean the bottom with vinegar and sprinkled baking soda as well. First, soak the bottom into vinegar and wait for 15 minutes. Then apply some sprinkled baking soda and let that sit for 10 minutes. Again spray some vinegar, create foam, let the foam sit for 15 minutes and the bottom will be smell-free as well.

Solution 2: Orange and lemon drops

We all know lemon and orange drops can defeat any kind of bad smell. So apply a few drops of lemon or orange drops into the cover of your bissell steam mop. The wonderful smell of those drops will make your house smell like a garden as well.

Solution 3: A detergent mixture

The scented detergent will also help your Bissell steam mop to become smell-free. All the bad smells will be gone in a few minutes. Also, you can use that detergent while mopping the floors and your floors will be cleaned and scented.

Read next: BISSELL PowerFresh Steam Mop Review

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I put vinegar in my steam mop to get rid of the fishy smell?

You can definitely put vinegar in your steam mop, to get rid of the fishy smell, which will kill all the bacteria and germs from the mop and your floors as well. But barely it will do something with the smell. For removing the smell you have to use scented detergent along with vinegar.

Can you put bleach to remove dirt and smell in a steam mop?

No, you can’t. If you read the manufacturer’s manual you will know that it is inappropriate to add any kind of cleanser into your steam mop. You can put a mixture of water and soap and vinegar to kill germs if you want. Nothing other than those can be put in the steam mop.

Should I use bottled water to kill germs in my steam mop?

No, you should not. We use bottled water for cooking or drinking to provide ourselves with healthy and safe water. But the minerals in bottled water may hamper your steam mop. So it’s better to not use bottled water in the steam mop.

How much vinegar should I put in my steam mop to kill all the germs and bad smell?

You can not put vinegar individually into the steam mop. What you have to do is mix vinegar and water along with scented soap or detergent and then put the mixture into your steam mop. You will need 2 to 3 cups of vinegar for doing the whole process. The quantity of water will be 1 gallon.

Can I put Pine-Sol in my steam mop to remove the fishy smell?

Definitely not. Benzoic acid, sodium salts, and sulfonic acids are included in Pine-Sol. And all these acids are not allowed to be used in the steam mop. So you can never use Pine-sol in your steam mop.

Decisive words

By now, it should be obvious to you how to solve your Steam Mop Smells Like Fish problem. We have shared several solutions so you can choose whichever you want. But we would like to suggest that we found the first method as the most effective one. So you can pick that as our personal favorite.

No matter which method you prefer to use, clean up the mop using soap or detergent afterward. You can use warm water to give it a better clean as well. Try to keep the steam mop cover neat and clean, if you do so there might be no odor and your house will be clean as well!