We often look for the quickest and easiest ways to knock chores off our list; however, it’s important to avoid compromising on cleanliness. That's why professional cleaners are no longer simply mopping bathroom floors.
As it turns out, a humble mop is often not enough to sanitize these high-traffic areas, especially where tile and grout are involved.
So, how are they avoiding common bathroom floor cleaning mistakes? By switching to a $20 scrub brush from Amazon, instead. Here's why.
Why you should not mop bathroom floors
To clean a bathroom like a pro, Sofia Martinez, a cleaning expert and the CEO of Sparkly Maid Austin, begins, ‘Mopping the floor in your bathroom is important, but mopping is only half the battle of having a clean bathroom if you need to clean tile floors.
Yes, most mops superficially touch the grout lines and textured tile and don’t seem to actually get in the grime that has settled in the low areas. This is where a scrub brush comes in!
‘When using a brush, you can get into those low areas that are between your tile and scrub out the residue and grime that mops may actually leave beneath – dirt, soap scum, and even germs! I like the OXO Good Grips grout tool [available at Amazon] because I find I have better control and it's more durable.’
This expert-recommended floor brush comes with a three-section handle that can be adjusted to your preferred height (30-40-50 inches) for no more bending or straining when deep cleaning.
Floor brushes make light work of grout lines.
Although mopping alone is a bad habit making your floors dirty, the last thing you want to do is spend hours upon hours scrubbing on your hands and knees. That’s why Jade Piper, the operations manager for BetterCleans, recommends the two-in-one Heavy-Duty Floor Scrub Brush from Amazon.
She shares, ‘It’s multipurpose and I love the built-in squeegee. Mops can catch surface dirt, but if you really want to clean between the grooves and pores, you need a brush. Mopping also leaves water behind, so the squeegee helps the floor dry faster with just a few passes.
‘What I usually do is scrub the floor right before I hop out of the shower. If I need to maneuver, I just swivel the head and adjust the angle. I start from the farthest corner and work my way toward the drain. Once that’s done, rinse the floor and switch to the squeegee side. After cleaning, rinse the bristles with hot water over the toilet bowl and hang them up to dry.’
The same rules apply to any tile floors in your home.
Want to take all the physical effort out of cleaning bathroom floors without harsh chemicals? Consider a motorized alternative, such as this electric spin scrubber pro with replaceable heads, also from Amazon.
Loved by our Head of Solved, Punteha van Terheyden, electric scrubbing brushes can transform home cleaning, especially if you suffer from chronic pain.
She shares, ‘With chronic pain and weakness in my wrists, electric scrubbers have become my most essential cleaning tool, helping me save time and physical effort without sacrificing on results.’
She recommends a long arm scrubber from Amazon for easier floor cleaning.
What to shop
White vinegar is incredibly effective at killing mold, making it a great non-toxic option for scrubbing tiles and grout in humid rooms such as bathrooms.
For smaller gaps and details, opt for finer grout brushes, designed to slot into awkward corners.
Made with all-natural ingredients, The Pink Stuff paste is truly miraculous. It breaks down all sorts of grease and grime without damaging the surface beneath, making it ideal for grout and tiles.
FAQs
How often should you scrub bathroom floors?
One thing people with clean bathrooms do is scrub the floors regularly – at least once a week, to keep them fresh and free from dust, hair, and bacteria, which thrive in humid environments. In between cleaning, mop up puddles and splashes, and lift bath rugs and shower mats off the floor to allow them to dry, preventing mold and musty odors.
Meet the experts
Sofia is a cleaning expert and the CEO of Sparkly Maid Austin, a leading name in professional cleaning services, with over a decade of comprehensive experience in both residential and commercial cleaning.
Punteha was editor of Real Homes before joining Homes and Gardens as Head of Solved. Punteha is a cleaning and DIY enthusiast and spends her weekends working on ways to personalize and revive her newly built home. She is disabled and suffers chronic pain so small transformative projects that bring useful functionality while sticking within the bounds of her adaptive pacing schedule are her focus.
When cleaning grout, be it on floors or walls, consider cleaning with white vinegar to help remove staining and get rid of black mold and bacteria for a fresher clean.
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