Why Professional Cleaners Won't Use A Mop On Your Bathroom Floors

At face value, using a mop to clean your bathroom doesn't sound like a problem. In reality, however, a mop is the last thing anyone should be reaching for — especially for those spots around your toilet. In fact, using one may actually contribute to a less hygienic home. 

With most bathrooms containing tiled or vinyl floors, it makes sense that mops are usually what people reach for when it comes to cleaning. And, after running over the area with one, it probably will look clean. However, as many a cleaning expert has pointed out in the past, the opposite is true. For starters, traditional mops are said to remove less than 50% of the bacteria from an area. That's just the tip of the iceberg, though. 

On top of not removing all the bacteria from a space, there's also a lot to be said for the transfer of the germs a mop does trap when it goes in and out of one bucket. Even if you're cleaning your mop between uses, really removing all the dirt caught in it is no small feat. That means you may actually be introducing the bacteria from your bathroom into the other parts of your home.  

So, mops in bathrooms are a bad idea — but what's the alternative? This is a job for disposable options. Grab some paper towels before going in with a disposable cloth and Pine-Sol.

As demonstrated by TikTok cleaning expert, Vanesa Amaro, the floor surrounding your toilet is often downright nasty. We're not talking tiny particles of bacteria, here. This is straight-up gunk comprised of urine, among other things. In other words, the last thing you'd want to pop back into a bucket of water, or use again in your kitchen. Simply spritz some Pine-Sol on the area, leave it to sit for a few minutes, and then go in with your paper towel. Wipe, toss the paper towel, and you're done – without any danger of contaminating other areas of your home.

Another, even more seamless option you may want to try is disinfectant wipes. For just over $50 on Amazon, you can get a bucket of 160 hospital-grade wipes. Keep wiping the area down until you get a clean wipe, et voila! Deep cleaning, made easy. If $50 is over budget, you can also always reach for good old Lysol wipes, or DIY your own. Happy cleaning! Without a mop, that is.