Have you ever thought of using laundry detergent to mop up your floor? You may have wondered whether it will work or not. Perhaps you might have thought of using laundry detergent to mop the floor for saving a few bucks. As a DIY expert, I can definitely help you with that question.
You can definitely use laundry detergent to mop up your floor. So next time when you are visiting a supermarket, pick up laundry detergent from the cleaning aisle.
In this article, I will talk about whether you can actually mop your floor with laundry detergent. I will also share some very interesting use of laundry detergent. So please read to the end.
Why Laundry Detergents Work So Well For Mopping Floors?
The chemical composition of laundry detergents is almost similar to floor cleaners. That means, they can pretty much do the same job as floor cleaners do in terms of cleaning the floor.
Laundry detergents have the ability to loosen up dirt and grime. This ability of laundry detergent is known as surfactant. Surfactants can break up oil and dirt which can then be washed off with water.
Both laundry detergents and floor cleaners contain sodium lauryl sulfate and bleach. Two great cleaning agents. So rest assured, you can easily mop up your floor with laundry detergents.
5 Steps To Follow For Cleaning Floor With Laundry Detergents
You must follow certain steps if you intend to use laundry detergent as a floor cleaner. The steps are:
Step 1:
Take a measuring cup and measure a quarter of a cup of laundry detergent. Pour the detergent into a bucket. Fill in the bucket with warm water. Make sure the water is not too warm because excessive warm water can damage the mop head.
Step 2:
Dip the mop into the bucket and swirl it around. Remember, your goal is to make water as bubbly as possible. After that, take out the mop from the bucket. Try to make the mop as dry as you can. A wet mop can leave watermarks on the floor after you are done cleaning.
Step 3:
Press hard and continue moping the floor. You may have to mop the same spot multiple times if you have a very dirty floor. Do not forget to change the dirty water at regular intervals.
Step 4:
You can make a paste with baking soda and water to get rid of any greasy and hard-stuck dirt. Cover up the greasy dirt with paste for about 2-3 minutes. Then, take a brush and scrub off the dirt. Mop the spot with detergent afterward.
Step 5:
After you are done with the cleaning, you may notice the floor being too slippery. This may happen because of using too much detergent while cleaning the floor.
Take a spoon full of vinegar and mix it with water. Use the vinegar-water mixture to mop up the floor once again. This process should be enough to get rid of excess detergent from the floor.
Other Uses Of Laundry Detergents
Laundry detergents are the ultimate cleaning agent. You can reuse and repurpose laundry detergents to clean a lot of things. Some uses of laundry detergents are:
1. Clean Doors And Cabinets
Laundry detergents are great at cleaning doors and kitchen cabinets. Take a cup of warm water and pour in some detergent. Then, use a brush or a sponge for the cleaning process. Rinse off excess detergent from the doors and cabinets after you are done cleaning.
2. Remove Carpet Stains
You may get surprised to know that detergents are really effective at getting rid of stains from carpets. If you have some dirty patches on your carpet, laundry detergents can definitely help you to get rid of them.
Take a spoon full of detergent and mix it with a half cup of water. Pour the mixture on the stain and let it sit for about 5 minutes. You can now easily scrub off the dirty patch with a brush or foam.
3. Clean Children’s Toys
If you have a small child then you must know they have a bad habit of putting anything they see in their mouth. That is why you should always keep their toys clean. Detergents can do a phenomenal job at cleaning them.
Take a bucket full of warm water and add 3-4 spoon of detergent to it. After that, take all the toys and dip them into the water-detergent mixture. Let the toys soak for a few minutes and then dry them off.
4. Unclog Drains
Clogged drains can be a real pain to deal with. Instead of calling a plumber, use detergent to unclog the drain yourself and save some money.
You have to use liquid detergent to successfully unclog a clogged drain. Pour 1-2 cups of liquid laundry detergent down the sink. Wait a few minutes and then pour a bucket full of warm water into the sink. Doing this should flush out the clog.
5. Make Bug Repellent
Bugs and insects generally do not like to roam around soapy water. That is why laundry detergents can act as a great bug repellent. Mix a decent amount of laundry detergent with water and spray it all-around your house. It should keep the bugs out of your home.
6. Make Hand Cleaner
The price of hand sanitizers has skyrocketed amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. As an alternative, you can use laundry detergent as a hand cleaner and sanitize your hands.
Mix equal parts of liquid laundry detergent and water into a bottle. Shake the solution so that laundry detergent gets properly mixed with the water. You can also add a touch of vegetable oil to the mixture.
This homemade hand cleaner will work great if you want to remove tough stains from your hand.
7. Clean Upholsteries
Dirty unclean upholsteries can leave a bad impression on your guests. Luckily, they can easily be cleaned with laundry detergents.
Mix half a cup of liquid laundry detergent with 2 liters of water. Dip a rag and scrub off any dirt from your upholsteries. This technique can also be used to clean the interior of your vehicle.
Why Does My Mop Smell And How Do I Stop It?
Smelly mops can be very irritating. Mops usually smell if they are left wet for an extended period of time. Mould and mildew can grow because of the moisture which can let off a fishy odor. Moreover, a mop can smell if you do not regularly change the dirty water while cleaning.
Do not leave the mop head wet for too long. Try to dry off the mop head as soon as you are finished cleaning. Try to change the dirty water as frequently as possible.
You can also get rid of the smell by dipping the mop head into vinegar and water solution. The vinegar should kill any mold or bacteria growth.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article helped to better understand the cleaning capabilities of laundry detergents and answered all your questions. Make sure to keep any type of cleaning product including laundry detergent out of the reach of children.
