SAHM Seeking to Find Nice Reliable mop...lol

Mop and Glow! Use Mop and Glow. I had tile floors just like that when I lived in Hawaii (the red-clay-mud-state) and I used to mop them with Mr. Clean and then when dry I used a separate, dedicated mop head to apply Mop and Glow and it made my floors look spectacular. Give it a shot and I guarantee you'll love it. They'll look great for several days too, as the product has some kind of sealer in it.

Have you tried the flip-it?? It's a wet vac that sucks the water back up off the floor so it that you don't keep cleaning with dirty water. I swear by it!! I've had mine for 4 years and it's still going strong! They make solution for floors, wood or laminate, but I use my own solution of viniger and water, except with my hard wood floors, I do use their reccomended solution, which leaves the hard wood floors so shiney and clean. Good luck! It's worth the investment

Its a lot more work, but I wash my floors on my hands and knees. I worked for Merry Maids for a few months, and that was the only way we cleaned the floors... and I have to say, after I worked there, I threw my mop out! The floors come out much cleaner when done by hand.
I also suggest using vinegar and warm water. I use vinegar to clean everything. Vinegar cuts through grease and really cleans the floors good without leaving any kind of residue.

I used to have white tile floors when I lived in FL, and my cleaning ladies turned me onto the "cuban" mop. It's a towel over a long stick. What you do is cut a small hole in an old towel and slide it down over the stick. I bought the special mop stick (like a broom with a wooden dowel at the bottom) but you could test out the technique with a short broom. You can rinse it clean in the sink and then throw it in your washer after your done and it's clean for the next time. I've been doing it for the past 20 years and love it. I use the same technique on my wood floors now.

I too have tile floors, and my cleaning became much easier when I got a steam mop. There are many different kinds, I have a shark steam mop which I saw on tv, but bought at Sams. It works great and my floors are the cleanest they have ever been. The only downside is that they don't do a great job on things that get stuck in the grout lines, but otherwise it's great.

It's not the mop, it's what you are using. A sponge mop is fine, but pine sol is made with an oil that remains as a residue. I use Armstrong tile cleaner, it dries almost streak free. It almost smells like window cleaner, but if you think about it, the coating on modern tiles is more like glass/plastic than anything else.

I had a really great lady that used to help me clean my house and she said that putting a towel (hand towel,kitchen size towel, tea towel ) over the sponge mop head cleaned better and left no streaks! I have been doing it ever since and using my swiffer wet jet in between cleanings! The towel wins everytime!
best of luck! also...use less pinesol....it just takes a little!

Hi Terri,

I have the Shark steam mop and I think it is great. I have hard wood floors and it seemed that every time I cleaned my floors, I was leaving a layer of detergent on the floor. I used the steam mop and it was very difficult to push and the fabric piece was filthy. The next time I used it, it was much easier to clean, and the fabric wasn't as dirty.

I'm convinced that this is the best way to sanitize your floor (hot steam sanitizes and leaves NO residue) and it seems to be able to remove years of buildup the old detergents left behind. I got mine at Bed Bath and Beyond with a 20% off coupon. I saw it for sale at Costco but it was the same price as when I used the coupon. It comes with a second fabric piece and you can machine wash them (but not dry them or they'll shrink and not fit).

I love mine!
Liz

The bissell floor mate is cheaper than the hoover brand. Still pricey but totally worth the money. it squirts the water out and then sucks it back in so there is no moving dirty water around like with a mop. You can get them at target for under $100.00. I bought mine on sale for about $60.00. They are sold at most stores, not just target. Expensive but if I had to choose between the floor mate and a vacuum cleaner, I would choose the floor mate :o)

I have tried every mop on gods beautiful planet to clean my white floors ( I know I know white floors and babes yuck) I swear by hot water with a cup of vinegar. and I will occasionally use Mr clean. BUT i get on my hands an knees with a heavy duty cloth. I swear its the only way I get my floors clean!

HTH

I don't have any advice on a specific mop but try cleaning your floors with vinegar. It should stop the streaks..but it doens't smell the greatest.

You should try the Shark Steam Mop. Bed Bath and Beyond sells it. It uses just water and washable pads so there are no chemicals or need to buy any type of refill. It does a great job cleaning! It is pricey up front but totally worth it considering you don't have to keep buying things for it (cleaner and pad refills). Good luck!

I don't know about mops but I use that clorox green works products for my floor and I don't have any problems with streaks.

Vinegar and water is the BEST thing to use. I have gone through the same problems and found good ol vinegar and water and towel to wipe and a towel to dry. Even women that I know that have house keepers still feel that mine have a better shine. Don't use too much vinegar it could burn your floors.
Good luck!
E.

switch to vinegar and water, you can add a few drops of soap of you want (they sell Dr. Bronners at target now and it is great for this kind of thing). I also find that washing on my hands and knees goes faster and makes the place cleaner. My dad cleans houses and says that if you use a sponge mop put a wet hand towel over the sponge to eliminate streaks.

I have found that it doesn't matter which mop I use (I use the libman washable mop), but it is the cleaner. I have used the swiffer wet jet and have stopped. I started using the Pledge Multi Surface cleaner and it is wonderful. I don't have streaky floors and it smells really good. Good luck!!

Tarara

Hi Terri
I was having the same problem and the only solution I could come up with is to get on my hands and knees with a rag. As for a solution--I alternate pine sol & clorox green works. They both smell great but the pine sol is really tough on our skin. I also used to use white vinegar and hot water but found it easier and more pleasant to use green works.
It doesn't take as long to scrub the floors with my hands as I thought--and it's a lot less trouble than dragging out the mop and bucket!!
Good luck
C.

Add some vinegar to a plant based soap or go over the tile once again with just a sprinkle of water after moping. I prefer the Libman sponge mop that utilizes rollers and a handle to squeeze out the water.