Can I Use Laundry Detergent To Mop The Floor?

If you have run out of a cleaning solution designed for floors, you might be rummaging through your cupboards trying to find a suitable replacement. Luckily, there are a few different substitutes that you can try.

One of the questions we get asked often is “Can I use laundry detergent to mop the floor?” The truth is that yes, in many cases it can be used.

If you use laundry detergent on your floors, you will likely get sparking floors in which you can see your own reflection.

But how can laundry detergent be used? Find out below!

can i use laundry detergent to mop the floor

How Can You Use Laundry Detergent to Clean Floors?

If you are interested in trying this technique, it is super simple. There are a few things you need before you get started:

A dirty floor – this might sound obvious, but a floor that requires cleaning is needed.

Laundry detergent – you can use whatever brand of detergent you want. There are loads of different brands with different scents, so just pick your favorite!
Hot water – this is a cleaning essential. Make sure that the water is nice and hot.
A mop and bucket- (just call me Captain Obvious) Make sure that you invest in a high-quality mop as cheap ones tend to break easily.

Vacuum The Floor First

It’s always a good idea to vacuum floors before mopping. This will pick up most of the surface dust and dirt, leaving less mess to mop up and help make your water last longer before changing.

Mix Your Laundry Detergent With Hot Water

Mix 1/4 of a cup of laundry detergent with 2 gallons of hot water in your mop bucket. Stir it gently with your mop to ensure the detergent has fully mixed with the water.

Wring Excess Water From The Mop

Too much water on your mop will only make your job harder. You want it damp but not soaking wet.

Start Mopping

Glide the mop against the floor, being sure to cover the floor entirely. If your mop head becomes dry, be sure to dip it in the water again.

Don’t Let Your Water Get Dirty

Make sure you change your mop water once it gets dirty. Otherwise, you will be just spreading the dirt around and will leave unsightly streaks and stains on the floor.

Wait For The Floor To Dry

Walking on a freshly mopped floor will (a) leave dirty footprints or (b) result in a nasty fall. Neither of which are very good. So be patient. Have a glass of wine. But don’t you dare spill it.

What Surfaces Can Laundry Detergent Clean?

Laundry detergent makes a brilliant cleaner for most types of flooring, such as laminate or tiles.
However, there are a few varieties that you should refrain from using this hack on.

For instance, hardwood floors are not suitable for detergent cleaning. This is because hardwood floors require mild cleaners. The harsh alkalis used in detergents will be too much for the hardwood floors.
You might also want to refrain from using detergent on floors made with stone tiles.

While detergent should work fine on some types of stone tiling, it will be less successful on others. Like hardwood, stone (such as marble and granite) floors tend to prefer milder cleaners. However, you can add a little detergent to your cleaning mixture without harming your floor.

If you are unsure as to whether this cleaning method is suitable for your floor, you can perform a patch test first.

What Is A Patch Test?

Essentially, a patch test is a method of testing a product on a small area to see if it is suitable. To see if detergent is suitable for your floor, simply mix the detergent according to the instructions above.

Then mop a small inconspicuous part of the floor. Wait for the water to dry. Once dried, you can see whether the detergent has harmed your floor.

If it has, you should refrain from mopping the remainder of the floor. If the floor is fine, keep cleaning the rest of the surface.

Is This Method Safe?

Yes, this method is just as safe as using any other floor cleaner.

If you have any pets or kids in the house, you should keep them away from the floor. This is because wet floors are slip hazards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Does Laundry Detergent Work For Floors?

The reason why laundry detergent works is because of the cleaning enzymes.
These enzymes are designed to pull dirt off surfaces. When combined with hot water, detergent can also kill bacteria.
For these reasons, detergent works just as well as specific floor cleaners.

Can You Clean Floors With White Vinegar?

White vinegar is an incredibly versatile cleaning solution that can disinfect surfaces.
Simply combine with some warm water to create an effective floor cleaning mixture.
Like detergent, this can be quite harsh so refrain from using white vinegar on hardwood floors.

What Else Can You Use To Clean Floors?

Aside from detergent, dish soap is also a simple yet effective way to clean floors.
Like detergent, you likely already have dish soap in your home.
Baking soda and lemon juice are also effective methods. Therefore, these are convenient and cost-effective ways of cleaning your floors.

Can I Use Laundry Scent Boosters?

Laundry scent boosters help to remove strong odors from clothes, so providing that they don’t contain any substances that could be harmful to your floor, they might be a useful addition to make your floors smell nice!

Final Thoughts

Laundry detergent makes for a brilliant floor cleaner. Just make sure that you are using it correctly!

By doing so, you can end up with impressively clean floors. Not to mention, you can save money on buying formulas designed specifically for floors!

Don’t just take our word for it, Becky Daniels reckons it is her best floor-cleaning hack ever!