Can you machine wash a mop head?

Removable mop heads can be machine washed, if the label allows, in a laundry bag and separately from clothes. Handles, holders and plastic fittings are not machine washed; they are wiped with a damp cloth.

Can a microfibre mop be washed with fabric softener?

No. Fabric softener coats the microfibre fibres and reduces the mop's ability to hold dirt and water. Wash microfibre mops with a little detergent and rinse them well; do not use bleach either.

How often should a mop be washed?

It depends on how intensively it is used. In professional cleaning, mop heads are washed at the end of every shift or every day; at home, washing the mop when it gets dirty and starts leaving streaks, and regularly, is recommended.

Guide · Laundry and clothes washing · October 20, 2026

How to Wash a Mop Head

A mop head picks up dirt, sand and cleaner residue from the floor with every pass; a mop used without washing spreads dirt back onto the floor and leaves streaks. How a mop is washed depends on the head's material: microfibre mops are washed without fabric softener or bleach, while cotton mops can withstand a higher temperature if their label allows. This guide explains how to machine and hand wash a mop head, how to dry the mop and how to clean the mop bucket.

Before washing

Read the label: check the mop head's material (microfibre or cotton) and washing temperature.
Remove the head: detach the head from the handle and holder; handles and plastic fittings are not machine washed.
Remove coarse dirt: shake hair, sand and crumbs off the head or swish it in clean water.
Keep colour codes apart: wash colour-coded mops used in different areas separately.
Hospital cleaning supplies list: corridor, patient room, kitchen and laundry

How to machine wash a mop head?

Use a laundry bag: put the mop head in a laundry bag; long-strand heads do not tangle.
Wash separately: do not wash mop heads together with clothes and towels.
Temperature: choose the temperature allowed by the label; very high heat damages the fibres of microfibre mops.
Detergent: use a small amount of detergent for coloureds; add the detergent at the dose on the label.
Extra rinse: do an extra rinse so that no detergent residue remains; residue leaves streaks on the floor.

How to wash a microfibre mop?

Wash microfibre mops with a little detergent at the temperature on the label. Fabric softener coats the microfibre fibres and reduces the mop's ability to hold dirt and water, and bleach wears out synthetic fibres, so use neither. Do not dry microfibre mops on high heat in a tumble dryer. For details, see how to wash microfibre cloths.

How to wash a cotton mop?

Cotton mop heads can be washed at a higher temperature if their labels allow. For white cotton mops, if the label allows, bleach can be added to the wash water at the dose on the label; do not use bleach on coloured and blended mops. Cotton mops can shed lint in the first washes; wash them separately at first.

How to hand wash a mop?

Fill a bucket with lukewarm water and dissolve a small amount of detergent completely; TETİK hand-wash detergent can be used fully dissolved in water. Wash the mop head by pressing and swishing it in the water, then rinse it several times with clean water until the water runs clear. Wring the mop with the wringer or by hand and hang it to dry.

How should a mop be dried?

Hang the mop head with its strands facing down to dry in a well-ventilated place.
Do not leave a wet mop in the bucket or in a closed cupboard; a mop that stays damp can smell bad and mould stains can form.
Use a tumble dryer only if the label allows and on low heat.
Store the mop head only once it is completely dry.

Mop bucket and handle

After every clean, pour away the dirty water and wash the bucket with a neutral surface cleaner added to lukewarm water at the dose on the label, then rinse. According to its safety data sheet, our START all-purpose surface cleaner has a pH of 7–8. Clean hair and dirt out of the wringer and leave the bucket to dry open. Wipe the mop handle and holder with a damp cloth. For floor-mopping steps, see what to mop floors with.

What not to do

Using fabric softener and bleach on a microfibre mop.
Washing mop heads together with clothes and towels.
Leaving a wet mop in the bucket or a closed cupboard.
Mixing up colour-coded mops used in different areas.

For cleaning companies, hotels and hospitals

In cleaning companies, hotels, hospitals and schools, mops are used in large numbers every day and washed in bulk; sorting them by colour code, rinsing well and drying them completely extends their life. Healthcare facilities wash mops according to their own cleaning instructions. TETİK Detergent for Coloureds is sold in 4 kg packs, powder machine detergents for coloureds and whites and TETİK Hand-Wash Powder Detergent in 20 kg and START All-Purpose Surface Cleaner in 5 L. For the product list, see supplies for a cleaning company; request a quote for bulk purchases.

Prepared by: Tetikoğlu Kimya — cleaning chemicals manufacturer since 1997. When using products, always follow the instructions and warnings on the pack.