While not the best floor cleaner, dish soap can be used to mop floors. It’s an excellent cleaner for most stains but won’t match the performance of a dedicated floor cleaner.
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you need to clean the floor with a mop but you don’t have any floor cleaner? It can be very annoying but instead of heading out to the shops for just that one item, can you use dish soap instead?
There are several floor cleaning agents available out there and each has its specific use but the most common of them are antibacterial chemicals. There is a huge difference between dish soap, detergent, and floor cleaner.
Dish soap is made to clean the oil and grease from your dishes while the detergent or floor cleaners are specialized to kill floor germs and remove dust.
While it won’t be the most effective cleaning solution you can use, you can still use dish soap to mop the floor. Here we’ll look at why it works and how you can effectively clean your floors with dish soap.
Why You Can Use Dish Soap To Mop The Floor
Dish soap wasn’t made to be used on floors but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be a good cleaner. There are three big reasons why using dish soap to mop the floor can be a good idea.
Effective Against Stains
Most dish soaps contain sodium lauryl sulfate and chloroxylenol. Sodium lauryl sulfate acts as a surfactant that cleans the surface while chloroxylenol is an antibacterial compound.
Both act perfectly when mixed with water to clean any surface. Terpineol is the main chemical that works against stains and dust.
Safer To Use
When compared to floor cleaners, dish soap has very low toxicity and you won’t have to worry about children or pets coming into contact with it. In most floor cleaners, compounds like phthalates are added to kill bacteria.
Phthalates are used to produce fragrance in most floor cleaning products but are suspected to be associated with diseases like asthma. So the dish soap that does not contain any chemicals like phthalates will be safer to use.
Strong commercial floor cleaners can also give off fumes which can be dangerous to children and pets, and means you need to clean in a well-ventilated area. With dish soap, you never need to worry about fumes.
Easily Available
Dish soaps are available everywhere as it is a basic need of your house. They are cheap and the best alternative to dedicated floor cleaners. Using them can mean you save some money on buying expensive floor cleaners.
If you live far away from a large store, then you’ll always be able to pick some up from your local convenience store. These smaller stores may not stock floor cleaners but they’ll always have dish soap.
Best Way To Mop Floor Using Dish Soap
There is a specific way to use dish soap to mop the floor. By following this method you can ensure you’re getting the highest level of cleaning performance from your dish soap. Here is the best mopping solution recipe to clean and shine your floor.
Things You Need
Here are the things you need before starting mopping and all of them should be easy to acquire. Make sure you gather these items and then follow each step carefully.
- Lukewarm water
- Dish soap
- A mop
- A bucket of water
Making Soap Solution
Lukewarm water is best for the dissolution of dish soap. The addition of lukewarm water produces more foam that covers more surface area. To make this solution, take a bucket half-filled with water, which for most standard bucket sizes will be around 10 liters.
Now add 10 to 15 drops of dishwashing soap to it. Wet the dry mop using tap water. Now use this mop to steer into the bucket. The water must be lukewarm otherwise you will not get the best results. Mix until you see a nice cover of foam on the top of the water.
Clean The Floor
To start cleaning, dip the mop inside the bucket and shake it for a few seconds. When you feel the mop is completely submerged and has absorbed some of the cleaners pull it out.
Gently wipe the floor with the mop. Just leave the mixture on the floor for a few minutes.
If you are using a dish soap that is non-toxic then you can just leave the solution to dry. If the soap has any toxic compounds then you have to wipe it again.
To do this, fill another bucket with tap water. Dip the mop and wipe the floor as you did before.
Best Homemade Floor Cleaners
While dish soap can be a good floor cleaner, there may be other things around your home that would be even better. Here are a few homemade floor cleaners that you can try.
Vinegar Solution
Mopping your floors with vinegar is a great way to disinfect them without leaving behind any chemical residue. Vinegar has antibacterial abilities and is safe to use.
The big downside to using vinegar is just the smell it produces.
You can negate this smell with baking soda, which you can then vacuum up after you spray it.
Adding lemon to the cleaning solution is another good idea but the smell on its own will dissipate quickly. You can also use a fragrant spray if the smell is too strong.
If you ignore the smell then for cleaning stains, dust, and bacteria, it is the best homemade solution. Mix the vinegar and water in a 0.2:3 ratio now use the mop to spread it on the floor.
Liquid Soap and Detergent
Laundry detergents and liquid soaps are good floor cleaners too. Both could be used to clean the floor without any issues as they both contain cleaning agents.
In case of using laundry detergent, you’ll need to re-mop the floor with tap water after using it, as the detergent can create a slippery surface.
Rubbing Alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol is also known as rubbing alcohol. This recipe is best for hardwood floors. There is no doubt you can use it to clean tile floors but it is also safer for wood.
You have to use one part of rubbing alcohol and four parts of water to make an effective solution in a bucket. There are two major benefits of using rubbing alcohol for floor mopping.
First, it kills all the bacteria, and secondly, it dries quickly.
FAQs On Can You Use Dish Soap To Mop The Floor
What is the best thing to mop your floors with?
The best thing is always dedicated floor cleaners. These cleansers have different compounds to kill bacteria and clean the floor stains.
What can I use instead of mop soap?
There are several mopping solutions available in the market. Some of them are easy to prepare at home. These include a rubbing alcohol solution, laundry detergent, dish soap, liquid hand wash, and vinegar.
How often should you mop your floors?
This depends on how much the room is used but for the likes of kitchens, you should be looking to mop the floor weekly.
