Mopping tip highlights big mistake making floors dirtier

A former housekeeper has shared a handy tip for knowing how often you need to change the water when mopping.
I know what you’re thinking – ‘Just change the water when it looks dirty’ – but we’ve all been guilty of doing an area or the whole house without refreshing the water (at least I am).
So having a rule to follow is a helpful reminder the water really does need to be changed over once in a while.
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Vanesa Amaro revealed the standard rule for changing over mop water in a TikTok video.
“How often are you changing your mop water while mopping your house? I bet it’s not often enough,” Amaro says.
“The research shows you need to be changing your mop water every 100 to 200 square feet (30.5 square metres to 61 square metres). So that’s about every two bedrooms, so if you’re not changing your mop water every two bedrooms then maybe consider it.”
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However, Amaro knows that changing your dirty mop water to clean that frequently isn’t something most people are going to do, instead she has another guideline.
“Being more realistic, as a former housekeeper I say that you should change it at least twice – at least – and bathrooms should not be mopped with the same mop [you use for other rooms],” she says.
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The reason mop water needs to be changed regularly is so you aren’t using dirty water to clean the floor, which negates the purpose of mopping in the first place.
Mop brand Vileda also warns to use a clean mop each time, which means you should be tossing the mop in the wash after use rather than letting it sit damp in a bucket with dirty mop water.
Before the mop gets put back in your cupboard ready for the next mopping session you also need to ensure it’s dry so that it isn’t susceptible to mould.
Your home should be mopped once a week, according to Maid2Match, but even fortnightly is OK depending on how much foot traffic the rooms in your house get.
“However, you may need to mop more frequently if you have pets or small children. For homes with heavy foot traffic, it’s a good idea to mop at least twice a week,” Sophie Franklin wrote in a guide to mopping for the cleaning company.
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