Many people still believe they need hot water to clean surfaces like floors. But modern cleaning products don’t need warm or hot water to kill germs. Why not wipe the floor with warm water? This old rule needs to be updated for the sake of the environment and the lifespan of your floors. Today we will explain why you should forget about this rule and wash the floor with cold water.
Mop the floor with warm or cold water? That is the question
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Why should you never clean floors with warm water again?
Do you still clean your floor with warm water? It’s high time to shatter the myth!
Floor cleaners are now also suitable for cold water
Like any detergent from the 21st century, the floor cleaners are also suitable for cold water. Follow the directions on the back of the solution, or make your own suds with lemon if the floor is greasy.
Mix the detergent with cold or lukewarm water
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Another fact that we often forget is that floor cleaners can perfectly activate their active ingredients in cold water. On the other hand, if you mix them with hot or warm water, substances such as alcohol, which are responsible for disinfection and cleaning, can evaporate.
This rule also applies to homemade organic cleaning products with vinegar or citric acid in water. Note that not only the cleaning power is reduced. Hot water can change the properties of your cleaning product, which can easily lead to the formation of lines that then need to be carefully polished.
Mopping the floor: This is how much water you need per year
Have you ever wondered how much water you use cleaning the floors? It depends on how big your house or apartment is, but the huge amount of energy and of course money you save by mopping with cold water is life changing!
Save more water and energy with this trick
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If you clean your house once a week
A standard cleaning bucket can be filled with 15-20 liters and at least one water change is required for a proper cleaning.
For a cleaning day
The difference between a bucket of 10 or more liters of warm water and a bucket of cold water is certainly huge! Over the course of a year, the difference seems very large.
Considering a one-month cleaning cycle that uses about 50 or 60 liters of water, the annual average is more than 700 liters of water with detergent in it. So it’s worth letting the water flow cold into the bucket, right?
Clear coarser particles with a vacuum cleaner or a broom
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In which case can you pre-clean the floor with warm water?
A study by the Institute for Cleaning Technology reveals that warm water removes greasy and stubborn stains better than cold water.
For example, if you find grease on your kitchen tiles, it can be easily removed with a little warm, soapy water. We call this a pre-clean, because it’s not about cleaning the whole apartment with hot water, just a small affected area.
These stains are usually found around the stove, oven, or dishwasher. You can also use a degreaser sprayed on paper towels if there is too much grease and should be dealt with manually. Then, as recommended, clean the kitchen with a detergent added to cold water.
Treat dirty spots by hand
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These are the best tips for perfect floor cleaning
To have a nice and fresh floor to step on, follow our great tips below:
- Clear out the area that needs cleaning. All objects on the floor or chairs and tables must be removed so that you can mop anywhere without obstacles.
- If necessary, pre-clean with a vacuum cleaner to remove dust, crumbs and other dirt that is not grease.
- Pour about 10 liters of water and as a cleaning agent. Make sure it is well mixed with the water. Grab your favorite mop and get started!
- Always pay close attention to the manufacturer’s instructions for the correct dosage.
- Be careful not to wipe too wet. Especially not on laminate and parquet floors as this will damage your floors and cause them to swell.
- Finally, dry the floors with a soft cloth to avoid wrinkles and falls or slips.
Follow our tips & tricks for easy and sustainable cleaning
