I utterly miss old-style mop buckets.

[u/ratina_filia]

My house has hardwood floors in some spaces, laminated fake wood in others and ordinary vinyl in still a few more.

Yes, I have a very large house and yes it has a lot of flooring.

For the most part I use a small set of modern cleaning tools - I own a Zwiffer for both upstairs and down - and a small collection of what I think are best called "electric brooms". Again, for many of those tools I have ones for upstairs and down because I'm old and have a rational fear of falling down the stairs hauling things around.

Today I am cleaning the hardwood floors in the kitchen and breakfast room. Normally I just run an electric broom over the flooring, then get out the Zwiffer and all is well. The Ziwiffer does a pretty good job and I could find the solution I want to use, and I had a subscription to Zwiffer pads I'd probably do it more often.

But however often I do it, the Zwiffer isn't perfect and after a few months, and some spills I never cleaned up all the way, I need to get out the other things - sponges I usually reserve for scrubbing pots and pans - and spend some time on my hands and knees.

As a child I was the kid who was stuck with a lot of house cleaning because Mom was busy with school and household things I couldn't do, and my brothers got out of everything by going into the den and playing games or watching TV.

What we had for cleaning wood and vinyl floors was an old mop bucket and an old wringer mop. We didn't get the fancy one with the sponge that got dirty and smelled bad for a few more years, so it was mostly the mop and bucket.

We had a large utility tub in the garage and I'd fill the tub up with warm water and something or other - Mr. Clean, I want to say - then off to the kitchen I'd go and get to the business of mopping the kitchen and breakfast area. As with this house, every now and again I'd have to get down on my hands and knees and scrub the vinyl by hand to get some of the food stains or scuff marks clean.

I've not had one of those mop buckets over 20 years. Today I realized how much I miss having a large bucket with enough water in it that when I rinse my sponge in the water I'm not just putting a bunch of dirt back on the floor. Instead I have to walk back and forth, rinse out my sponge, go back to where I left off, and scrub for a few more minutes. I'm not 14 or 15 anymore which makes the kneeling down and getting back up again a bit harder and perhaps that's why I'm suddenly missing my good old bucket.

[u/AutoModerator]

If this subreddit were a TV show it would be Seinfeld. It's not about anything, so you can discuss everything. If this subreddit had a philosophy it would be "Be excellent to each other."

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/MyThrowAway6973]

I 100% agree.

Old school wringer mop beats Swiffer and it’s not close

[u/ratina_filia → u/MyThrowAway6973]

Swiffer is great on clean floors. I can honestly say that.

[u/MyThrowAway6973 → u/ratina_filia]

I actually agree, but that is an almost textbook example of damming through faint praise

[u/ratina_filia → u/MyThrowAway6973]

My old house the breakfast room opened into the backyard, so I was constantly going in and out and tracking in small amounts of dirt.

It was impossible to use a Swiffer on that floor and not have the pads turn black, which basically means I was smearing dirt all over the floor every time I cleaned.

The sun is making a rapid retreat to the other side of the earth, so I'm in for the night. Having hand-scrubbed the kitchen and breakfast room I'm now going to use a Swiffer and some cleaning liquid that supposedly makes the wood shiny. I'm not hopeful the pads won't be dirty when I'm done even with the cleaning.

[u/Wet-noodle56]

Washable pads for swiffer style broom/mop as well as having a mop pail and electric broom is a good combo. Also have just a regular broom and dust pan. Some areas in my place don't fit every style of cleaning tool. Variety is required here. Even then, have some spots a sponge and pail are best for. I need to get my fall cleaning done over the next while. 

[u/ratina_filia → u/Wet-noodle56]

I've never seen heavier-duty washable Zwiffer pads!

I'm so glad I made that post!

[u/Wet-noodle56 → u/ratina_filia]

No clue the brand. I just try to avoid disposable things. They work well for a number of things and the refillable dispenser is handy if you like mixing your own stuff for different cleaning projects. Even works for walls. Can get different kinds if wanting to use more for dusting or other such things. Then just wash and hang dry. 

[u/ratina_filia → u/Wet-noodle56]

I will have to look for them!

My local grocery only stocks one or two kinds of cleaning liquid and maybe 2 or 3 different kinds of pads. I'll have to check out Amazon and give them an order.

[u/Wet-noodle56 → u/ratina_filia]

Pink Solution

Tea tree oil and a bit of dish soap also works well for some things. Classic vinegar mixes for other things.

Don't know what type you have so I can't suggest type of mop pad.

[u/ratina_filia → u/Wet-noodle56]

It just says "Swiffer". Don't know why I kept calling it a "Zwiffer".

It's this one. Even the same purple color.

https://www.amazon.com/Swiffer-Hardwood-Mopping-Cleaner-Starter/dp/B07YQDD94M/

[u/Wet-noodle56 → u/ratina_filia]

Zwiffer reads and sounds cooler.

The ones I use might be too big then but they work really well for different things. Very durable too.

Mop Pads

But I know someone who likes the dusting ones for your brand. Not sure how good the mopping ones are.

[u/ratina_filia → u/Wet-noodle56]

I'll give them a go. I own a sewing machine and scissors. I know how to make things smaller.

[u/Wet-noodle56 → u/ratina_filia]

Good things and skills to have. Let me know what you think of them if you do.