There’s nothing more frustrating than spending time mopping your floors, only to be greeted by a weird, sour smell, or that dreaded wet odour lingering afterward. It’s not uncommon for this kind of experience, whether the tile floor smells like wet dog after mopping, or gives off a rotten, musty odour. As a rule of thumb, we should mop our floors at least once a week, twice if you have pets, kids or live in a dusty area. The culprit? It is often the bacteria in dirty mop, mildew buildup, or residue from improper cleaning methods. Thankfully, with the right approach, these problems are easy to fix.
Why does My Floor Smell Bad after Mopping?
A dirty mop or dirty water is most likely the reason your floor smells bad after mopping. When you use a mop soaked in dirty water, you’re basically spreading germs and grime instead of cleaning. You can imagine the result would be a sour, musty smell left behind after mopping. That being said, several other factors could be causing the unpleasant odour.
Using Dirty Water or Mop
The most common reason for the bad smell after mopping is using dirty water or a mop that hasn’t been cleaned properly. Over time, bacteria, mildew and rotten residue can build up on the mop, which then is transferred to your floors. Always use clean water and rinse your mop thoroughly after every use to avoid this.
Excess Moisture Left on the Floor
Did you know leaving your floor too wet after mopping can create the perfect environment for fungus and germs growth ? Excess moisture is a recipe for trouble on various floor types, especially inside the cracks and grout lines on tile floors. To avoid this, use a dry mop or towel to absorb extra water after mopping.
Poor Ventilation After Mopping
Good ventilation not only helps regulate temperature, but also reduces excess moisture and clears out sour, damp odours at home. Poor airflow can cause the floor to dry slowly, leading to a musty odour. Remember to open windows and doors to allow fresh air to circulate and turn on fans to speed up the drying process.
Mould and Mildew Growth
If your floor smells like wet dog after mopping, you might be dealing with mould or mildew. Humid environments encourage these undesirable fungal growths, especially in grout lines and under tiles. Soon enough, you will find a rotten odour that lingers even after mopping. From time to time, add a disinfectant floor cleaner to your cleaning solution or dry the mop properly to prevent mould.
Residue From Cleaning Products
While floor cleaner is necessary, using too much cleaning products can risk leaving a sticky residue. Unfortunately, this residue easily traps dirt and bacteria that causes your floor to smell after mopping. Always follow the ratio stated on the product manuals, and mop the floors with clean water afterwards to avoid odour buildup.
How to Get Rid of Bad Smells after Mopping?
Using clean water and a fresh mop is the best way to get rid of a bad smell after mopping. When you finish the cleaning session, be sure to rinse the mop several times and get rid of the dirt and residue. This way, you can get fresh tools ready for your next clean. If you’re struggling with your floor smelling bad after mopping, these additional steps will help remove the odour.
Use Clean Water and a Fresh Mop
To prevent your floor smelling musty after mopping, replace the water frequently while cleaning and wash your mop head after every use. A fresh mop ensures you’re removing dirt, not spreading bacteria, mildew or rotten residue back onto the floor.
Proper Drying
Excess moisture is a common cause of odours, hence a damp floor creates the perfect condition for moulds and germs. Proper ventilation prevents moisture buildup – try to open windows and doors after mopping for fresh air circulation; on top of that, use fans to speed up the drying process.
Clean and Disinfect the Floor Properly
While you may have mopped away the dirt and debris, there is a risk that germs and fungus still thrive on the floors. Using a high-quality floor cleaner with disinfectant helps kill germs; meanwhile, scrub areas that trap dampness, like tile grout, with a disinfectant solution to eliminate the source of musty, sour smells after mopping.
Remove Any Residue From Cleaning Products
When you are preparing to mop, avoid mixing too much floor cleaner as it can leave residue on the floor. Residue easily traps bacteria that leads to a rotten smell. For the best mixing ratio, refer to the instructions on your floor cleaner, and rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove any leftover product.
Address Mould and Mildew
Whether it’s due to smell issues or health concerns, it is important to remove mould or mildew from your home. To prevent them from getting out of control, deep clean regularly with a mildew remover or disinfectant. Check hard-to-reach areas, too, particularly in rooms with poor ventilation or tile floors with grout lines. If the odour persists, consider professional cleaning.
How can I Prevent My Floor from Smelling after Mopping?
To prevent bad smells after mopping, start with proper cleaning habits and understanding how different weather affects floor drying. In humid regions like Cairns and Darwin, hot, humid air slows down drying and encourages moulds. Even in milder climates like Sydney and other coastal Australian cities, rainy seasons tend to trap moisture indoors. To keep your floors fresh and odour-free, try these cleaning tips at home.
● Use fresh, clean water: Every time you mop, fill a bucket with fresh water to prevent spreading dirty water and bacteria.
● Rinse and dry your mop: After each use, thoroughly rinse and dry your mop to prevent mould buildup.
● Improve ventilation: If the weather allows, open windows, turn on fans or even air conditioning to speed up drying.
● Choose natural cleaning products: Pay attention if the product contains harsh chemicals. Natural ones leave less residue and thus reduce the chance of sour smells.
● Use a robot vacuum cleaner: Customise the water level on your robot vacuum and mop, and set a regular cleaning schedule to reduce the amount of dust and debris, minimising the frequency of mopping. DEEBOT X5 PRO OMNI further pairs with a self-empty OMNI station, where it automatically cleans with 70°C Hot Water Mop Washing and blow-dries the mop pads with a 2-hour Hot Air Drying system after each use, keeping your floor hygiene and clean.
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