The Best Types Of Mops To Use On Vinyl Floors (& Why It Matters)

Vinyl is a very popular flooring choice for many folks. It's affordable, available in a number of colors, patterns, and textures, and easy to maintain. But even with all of these pros, you can't use just any mop on vinyl floors. Some mops, like traditional wet mops, oversaturate the flooring, which can cause a number of issues such as bubbling, peeling, lifting, as well as mold and mildew growth beneath the vinyl planks. You should also skip using steam mops on vinyl flooring, as vinyl is also sensitive to heat, so it can warp the planks and deteriorate the glue that holds them in place. Even though steam mops and their sanitizing capabilities are tempting, don't use them on vinyl.

There are some key characteristics to look for in vinyl-friendly mops — most importantly, they need to either require very little water to clean effectively, or have a way to be sufficiently wrung out between mop strokes. Spray mops, dry mops, and spin mops are all solid choices for keeping your vinyl floors clean and in great condition. 

Spray mops are one of the easiest ways to clean vinyl floors. They use a pre-mixed mopping solution that is dispersed in a fine mist from a spray bottle attached on the handle of the mop. This means the floors don't get too wet, and as an added bonus, the floors dry very quickly. They also usually use a microfiber mop head that does a great job of absorbing any excess moisture. You can just toss the dirty mop head in the laundry when you're done mopping and have it come out clean — that's great because it's important to keep mops clean as they can become harbors for bacterial growth and mold. 

Dry mops are similar to spray mops, working a bit like a microfiber push broom with a replaceable mop head, but don't always have the spray bottle attachment. Instead, the mop head is put under a water tap and then wrung out until just damp, then put back onto the mop handle. This makes for minimal moisture involved in the mopping process, which is great for vinyl floors. 

Finally, if you're not ready to give up the mop and bucket system, then you might want to try a spin mop. These use a bucket full of soapy water that the mop head is dunked into, but wrung out in a pedal-controlled spin system that eliminates excess water. Some models even separate dirty from clean water, making for a super efficient and easy mopping routine. Plus, you can use your spin mop to try TikTok's hack for cleaning walls and baseboards.