TikTok made me buy this mop and now I’m Mopping’s number one fan

When I was growing up, every Saturday was cleaning day. I was hired to sweep the floors. But readers, there is one caveat: we didn’t own a mop. An old T-shirt torn to shreds, our empty trash can with some washing-up liquid and my bare hands were the weapons of mass disinfection. It was a difficult task. I drove around our Moscow apartment with this shoddy setup, bending in a constant forward crease and constantly rinsing and wringing the T-shirt mop, which didn’t pick up much dirt at all.

Now, as a single adult, I still clean every weekend. It grounds me and connects me to my space on a deeper level; It’s self-care and routine that dictate the rest of my week. However, I ended up just ignoring the bottoms (and the bottoms of my white socks) most of the time. The rag-and-trash-can method doesn’t work for me anymore — my back isn’t what it used to be, and who wants to deal with the inconvenience of washing and drying their trash can?

“I don’t have to live like this,” I said to myself the other day. So I looked around for mops. I tried the Swiffer mop with disposable pads but it was expensive and wasteful. Also, it couldn’t absorb spills. Then I bought a mop with a flat, rectangular, detachable microfiber head. It was advertised as being super absorbent that can penetrate cracks and crevices to pick up dirt and is machine washable. But it ended up pushing the water and debris across the ground instead of sucking it up. After that, I got a mop with a sponge bottom and a squeezing mechanism that’s touted for easy wringing out. While that was an improvement, it also got very soapy due to its porous material. I had to go over the floors twice with fresh water so they weren’t sticky. In addition, it was very clunky and difficult to maneuver into tight spaces. “Actually, maybe I can live like this,” I told myself as I put my mop collection on the street with a sign that said “FREE.” I switched to black socks.

I really thought I would never wash the floors again until I discovered #CleanTok on TikTok. While mesmerized by the satisfying videos of people cleaning their homes or doing housekeeping services, I noticed reports showcasing the O-Cedar EasyWring Spin Mop & Bucket System. Many viewers echoed the sentiment of one commenter, who wrote, “Can you please share the brand name of this mop!? I see it all over TT.”

The O-Cedar spin mop and bucket combo is a simple contraption: the bucket has a foot pedal that spins a built-in press, giving us the gift of hands-free squeezing and moisture control. The mop has an extendable pole that is easy to store and can be adjusted to different sizes according to your needs. The microfiber mop head is triangular, making it easy to steer and clean those hard-to-reach corners. It’s also removable and machine washable so you can use it over and over again – a win for the planet, my wallet and my sanity.

O-Cedar EasyWring spin mop and bucket

Gabrielle Vigneault, known as @cleaningwithgabie on TikTok, is a stay-at-home mom who has grown into a full-time cleaning and organizing content creator with 1.3 million followers and 6.6 million likes. Like me, she struggled with cleaning motivation until she came across #CleanTok — and this viral mop. “This is my favorite mop for a number of reasons: the microfiber mop head is the ideal material – it cleans so well – and you can also detach it and pop it straight into the washing machine,” she says. But the most outstanding feature for her is “the mechanism that rotates the mop and allows it to remove the excess water”.

When my own mop and bucket arrived I was hopeful. “Hello darkness, my old friend,” I whispered towards the kitchen floor. I’ve now become an unofficial mop expert and have learned the following to get the most out of your O-Cedar EasyWring Spin Mop & Bucket System. For effective cleaning, your mop should be damp but not dripping. Wash floors along the grain. And when dry, the mop can sweep up dust and pet fur, or use it to wipe down high, hard-to-reach spots like closets and ceiling fans. The #CleanTok girlies even wash their walls with it.

I never thought I would say I love my mop, but I really love my mop. The ease of use motivates me to clean the floors so I have a comforting, spotless home. The dog days with rags and buckets are behind me. In the words of one TikTok commenter, “And now I want to mop my house.”