Professional cleaners never waste their time with standard mops on tile floors – this is the $13 essential they always recommend instead

Although mopping floors is a great way to stay on top of everyday mess, it is never quite enough for tile floors, especially when cleaning textured ones, experts say.

Dirt collects in the tiny surface dents or surface variations on tiles, which a standard mop cannot fully clean, and instead ends up spreading the mess around. That's why professional cleaners never waste their time using standard mops to clean this type of flooring.

Instead, they swear by a stiff-bristled brush – namely the Libman scrub brush, available at Lowe's – to clean tile floors instead, pulling up and removing grime with ease.

Why you should never use a standard mop to clean tile floors

As pointed out by Donna Mendoza, a.k.a. The Cleaning Lady on TikTok, using a standard string mop on a textured hard flooring doesn’t do enough to pull embedded dirt up from its micro-grooves and dents.

To mop floors the right way, Donna starts by using a stiff scrubbing brush to get the job done – and the results are nothing short of satisfying (if not mildly horrifying).

In the video, Donna then uses a Libman scrub brush, also available at Walmart, which is designed to fit into tight floor corners, and Pine Oil, such as Pinalen multipurpose cleaner, also from Walmart, to pull up the rest of the dirt without the need to crawl around scrubbing on her hands and knees.

Only then does she use a standard mop such as the O-Cedar EasyWring Spin Mop, from Target, to finish the job and clean a floor without streaks.

Why 'just mopping' can be damaging

Forgetting to scrub floors regularly is a common cleaning mistake making chores harder, says Scott Schrader, cleaning expert at CottageCare. He explains, ‘Overall, manual scrubbing combined with the right tile cleaning compounds or steaming will deliver more deep cleaning results than basic mopping.

'Common mops usually poorly clean textured tiles when deep cleaning, because the flat mop and absorbent head can't reach down inside the grooves and areas with a texture where dirt and muck build up. Regular mops push dirt in crevices into other positions but do not remove it.’

‘For deep-down cleaning, a long-handled scrubbing brush, or a hand-held brush with stiff bristles, works much better because it can physically remove the stuck dirt in the texture of the tile.

'Using pH-neutral cleaning products that are specifically designed for tiles, or a diluted vinegar solution, can also deep clean the textured areas and break down grime without damaging it.’

Don’t forget to give the same attention to cleaning grout in floor tiles to prolong its life and keep your home looking its best. For this task, cleaning with The Pink Stuff is a certified winner, especially when paired with an electric scrubbing tool such as the Sonic Power Electric Scrubber from Target to take out the elbow grease.

What to shop

Meet the expert

Scott Schrader

Scott is a cleaning expert at CottageCare, which is a leading home cleaning company with over 41 locations nationwide. He's a big believer in using eco-friendly cleaning solutions like baking soda.

This isn't the only cleaning blunder you need to swerve. The worst Reddit cleaning tips could also make your home dirtier than when you started.