If you like essential oils, and love using them in humidifiers and diffusers, you may have considered using them with your steam mop. But from a practical perspective, can you put essential oils in a steam mop? More importantly, should you be adding oils to your steam mop tank?
This article will look into answering the question: can you add essential oils to steam mop? Besides this, you will find out the 411 on cleaning your carpets with fragrant oils. In addition, I’ll help answer the question: can you put essential oils in a clothes steamer?
Should I Put Essential Oils in My Steam Mop?
Essential oils are popular cleaning products as they smell great and many have antimicrobial properties. Before we look into using these oils in cleaners, let’s take a moment to examine how steam cleaners work.
Steam cleaners and mops have a reservoir or tank that holds water and cleaning products. When the unit is switched on, the temperature of the water gradually increases, and the unit pushes the water and cleaner to the bottom of the mop or steamer.
When the mixture reaches the bottom of the mop, it saturates the mop head, wetting it with hot water and detergent. The cleaning pad on the mophead cleans and sanitizes your floors and as you sweep with it.
Many people add things like a little bleach or white vinegar to deodorize their floor and lift stains. So it is natural to assume that essential oils will add to the cleaning effect.
However, not all steamers are meant for cleaning products. For instance, essential oils in a Shark steam mop are a no-no. So, can you put essential oils in a Shark steam mop reservoir? For the best results, I suggest not doing this.
Some steamers only recommend using water to clean. Other manufacturers suggest only using specific cleaning products like diluted bleach or vinegar.
Can you add essential oils in Bissell steam mops? According to the company, only distilled water should be used in the reservoir.
Why is this? Essential oils can often leave a film of grease over the different parts of the steam mop. The oil can clog the steamer components and damage your unit beyond repair.
Essential oils are made of an oil base with other additives. Since oils are viscous, they will float over the water instead of mixing with it. When the reservoir is emptied, the essential oil sticks to the surfaces inside the machine.
Also, these oils can bleach or discolor your floors and other home surfaces. Moreover, essential oils are quite harmful to fabric, furniture, and upholstery. As a result, it is best to avoid using essential oils in any sort of steam cleaner.
How to Safely Use Essential Oils with Your Steam Mop
So if you shouldn’t add essential oils to your water tank, how can you incorporate them into your floor cleaning routine? The safest way to do so is to add a dab or two of the oil to the mop pad of your steamer.
This will not clog up your machine. Also, if you have washable mop pads you can easily wash them after each use, removing any residual oils.
Using oils this way will dilute them, ensuring they will not damage your furniture or floors. They will add a slide shine to hardwood and vinyl floors, as well as a pleasant smell to your home. Essential oils have a strong smell and will mask any odd smells like dampness, oil floors, and cooking smells.
It is always a good idea to use the smallest amount of oil possible, as too much can damage your floors or furniture, and the very strong smell can become a nuisance.
What are the Best Oils for Using With Your Steam Cleaner?
The following oils are frequently used for cleaning, as they have antibacterial properties and a pleasant, clean smell.
- Pine oil: This is a very popular option as it makes your home smell very clean. Pine essential oil also kills bacteria on the floor. At the same time, this oil clears air congestion in your living spaces.
- Tea tree oil: Tea tree oil is a well-known antibacterial and antifungal. It also has a woody, medicinal scent that is long-lasting. If you want to disinfect your floors, a drop or two of this oil is all you need.
- Lemon oil: Lemon is a good deodorizer and will also impart a soothing citrusy smell to your home. It will lighten any dark stains and grout on your floors as well.
In addition to these oils for the purpose of cleaning, you can also use things like neroli, chamomile, lavender, and eucalyptus, and peppermint oil to get your house to smell pretty and fresh.
People also use rose and other floral oils, as well as oils like vanilla, cinnamon, and spearmint oil to scent their house as they clean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below you’ll find answers to questions we get asked the most about using essential oils in a steam mop.
01. Can I Add Essential Oils to a Steam Mop?
It is a good idea to not add essential oils to a steam mop as they can get stuck in the components of the unit, damaging it. At the same time, it can discolor your floors.
02. How Can I Use a Steam Mop with Essential Oils?
To safely use essential oils with your steam mop, wipe a few drops of the oil to the mop head before you start mopping.
03. What are the Best Essential Oils for Cleaning?
Essential oils like tea tree, eucalyptus, peppermint, and pine oil are all good options for cleaning floors as they have antibacterial properties.
04. Can Essential Oils Damage Steam Cleaners?
Yes, the sticky heaviness of the oils can cling to the inside of the steamer, damaging the internal components.
Final Say
Now you know the answer to the question: can you put essential oils in a steam mop? Instead of adding the oil directly to the reservoir of your steam mop, add a few drops onto the mop pad.
This will make it possible to apply the oil directly onto the floor, while still being diluted. And with all that being said, which essential oil is your favorite to use when cleaning?