The Easiest Way to Make Mopping Less Sloppy

Cleaning a mess with another mess is counterintuitive, and that's often how I've viewed mopping. The big bucket of water that sloshes about as you move through the house goes from clean and soapy to dirty and flat quicker than you'd like. I've personally overcome these issues by using products like a Swiffer Wet Jet or the Bissell CrossWave Omniforce, which spray water out instead of relying on a traditional bucket system. But you don't need to spend a bunch of money on a special product or another large cleaning device if you don't want to. There's a cheaper, easier way to mop better: Use a spray bottle.

A mop bucket, a vacuum-mop combo, or even the humble Swiffer take up a lot of space, and they can be pricey. A spray bottle, on the other hand, is neither of those things. You can go to the dollar store and get one right now, or Target has one available for $4. All you really need beyond that is a basic mop. Instead of mixing your cleaner and water in a big, unwieldy bucket, just mix it in the spray bottle and start misting up your floor. It's easier and less sloppy than dunking your whole mop into a giant bin of suds. The dry time is faster, you can be more precise, and you don't have to drag the bucket around with you.

If you're some kind of traditionalist and can't get behind the idea of not using a bucket, can I at least interest you in a better bucket? It's high time you upgraded to one that reduces the amount of liquid in your mop head, thus reducing the amount that gets sloshed around on your floor. O-Cedar produces a variety of QuickWring systems that squeeze your mop head and make it less, well, wet. If space is a concern, get a small one for $31.49. If you've got room to store it, $49.99 will get you one that separates clean and dirty water, making your mopping more fruitful. Both of those come with a mop, too, so you're getting some bang for your buck and making sure the mop you use will actually fit into the wringer.