Why Are People Putting Ice In Their Mop Water, And Is This A Good Idea?

With all the various cleaning trends and hacks dominating the internet (and especially social media platforms), it's no wonder the comments range from grateful to skeptical and everything in between. After all, while some are really useful, like a simple trick that can double the life of your microfiber cloth, others, like adding ice to your mop water, might just be a dud. To find out if this fad is worth the fuss, House Digest exclusively interviewed Kathy Cohoon, Operations Manager at Two Maids, about whether or not she recommends trying this out. According to Cohoon, "It's certainly an interesting visual for a social media post, but from a cleaning and sanitation standpoint, I believe this trend misses the mark."

So why would social media users tout using cold water over the traditional option of warm or hot suds, which are meant to be useful at disinfecting and cleaning away dirt? Cohoon believes it comes down to the "draw" of trying something different on the internet. She explained "Social media is visual — and ice mopping does catch the eye and seem interesting." However, Cohoon warns of several detrimental factors of using this method.

When discussing the pros and cons of adding ice to your mop bucket when cleaning, Kathy Cohoon explained that there were several negative elements to trying this hack. "Cold water doesn't break down dirt and grease as well as warm water," she exclusively told House Digest, following up with noting that "Cold water can cause floors to stay wet longer, which increases the risk of moisture damage, especially on hardwood or laminate surfaces."

Cohoon pointed out that it wasn't just the hardwood or laminate which could be damaged by the trend. According to her, "Ice-cold water can cause grout to contract, which could lead to cracking over time." Cohoon acknowledges that there could be a benefit to trying this out, but it mainly comes as a way to freshen floors up. "Cold water simply doesn't sanitize as effectively as warm/hot water," according to her. She adds, "An occasional cold water once- over on your floors is ok for a quick surface clean, but not for weekly cleaning, and the ice cubes are really not necessary."

Kathy Cohoon suggests avoiding this hack if you want good results and cleaner floors. She says, "Stick with warm or hot water and a floor cleaner that's recommended by your floor's manufacturer. That combination will not only help keep your floors clean and germ-free, but also protect them from damage over time." Cohoon also advises to "Always use a clean mop head, rinse frequently, and allow floors to dry thoroughly to prevent streaking or moisture buildup."

With a final tip during her exclusive interview with House Digest, she explained that, "As a cleaning professional, I'm a firm believer in warm water for mopping because it simply works better. Warm water helps dissolve dirt, lift grime, and kill germs far more effectively than cold water." According to Cohoon, "Most cleaning agents are also formulated to perform better with warm water," which is why you should skip this trending trick and opt for the tried and true method of cleaning your floors with the stuff that has always worked. Cohoon's mopping tips will keep your floors looking like new, and could even help keep your floors cleaner for longer!