Before you start mopping, clear the area of any furniture items and sweep or vacuum the floor thoroughly. Then, take your mop out of the solution and wipe down the floor in 4 to 6 inch sections. To learn how to use a cloth head mop, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No. Random Article. Home Random Terms of Use.
We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. How to Mop a Floor. Explore this Article methods. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Method 1. Mop no more than once a week.
If your floors get particularly dirty thanks to children, pets, or lots of foot traffic, you may need to mop them every week. However, for most houses, try to mop your hardwood floors around twice a month.
Clear the area of furniture. Before mopping, remove any tables, chairs, throw rugs, and similar objects from the area you intend to clean. You do not need to move large furniture items like couches or bookshelves unless you plan to mop under or behind them. That way, if dust or debris falls on the floor, you can clean it up before you start mopping.
Sweep or vacuum the floor before mopping. Most mops do a poor job of picking up crumbs, hair, and other forms of solid debris. Method 2. Mix warm water and a standard cleaning product. Grab a bucket and pour in enough water to completely submerge your mop head. Then, mix in a small amount of dish soap, apple cider vinegar, bleach, ammonia, or a similar cleaning product.
Dip your mop into the cleaning solution. Place your mop in the bucket and let it soak up the cleaning solution. If your mop is particularly stiff, it may need to soak for a few minutes to loosen up. You can purchase string mops at most big-box and cleaning supply stores. Lift the mop and let the excess water drip off. Mops often absorb way more water than they need, so hold your mop up for 2 to 3 seconds to let excess liquid fall back into the bucket.
Wring out as much water as possible for hardwood floors. Any excess water can damage the wood. Mop your floor in small sections. In order to get as much grime up as you can, focus on a single 4 to 6 in 10 to 15 cm section at a time.
This will allow you to cover as much of the floor with cleaning solution as possible. Work your way toward a door. If you still end up stepping on a wet area, run the mop back over it to clean up your tracks.
In narrow stretches like corridors and hallways, mop the sides first and the center of the floor last. Keep squeezing until the mop has little to no water left in it.
Run your mop over the floor to wipe up dirty water. Run your mop over each cleaned section 3 to 4 times. Between each section, wring out your mop to get rid of the absorbed water. To put it simply, you should mop when the floor looks dirty. For small households, this may be every other week; for households with kids and pets, it may be once a week or more.
Aslett suggests using doormats at entry doors to keep floors cleaner for longer. Makes sense! For lightly soiled floors, wiping just once with a damp mop may do the job.
This will loosen the dirt and any sticky goo. Mop around the edges first, then move to the middle of the floor, using overlapping, figure-eight strokes. When one side of the mop gets dirty, turn the mop over to the clean side.
If any stubborn soil remains, remove it with a scrubber before rinsing. To rinse, go over the floor with a mop dampened with clean water. Pro tip: Place a quarter in the bottom of the bucket. Wet the microfiber pad and wring it out well. Damp-mopping is by far the best method for cleaning vinyl sheet flooring, vinyl tile, and ceramic or porcelain tile. However, it is not a good idea to use water on any type of wood floor or on laminate, cork, bamboo , or any other type of flooring where the manufacturer discourages contact with water.
Properly sealed woods or laminates may tolerate an occasional damp wipe, but heavy mopping with water is not advised for these floors. As a general rule, floors in high-traffic areas, such as kitchens, dining areas, bathrooms, entryways, and hallways, should be swept or vacuumed every one to three days and mopped once a week. While a good mopping is essential for keeping floors clean, regular sweeping or vacuuming is critical for maintaining the finish and life of the flooring. This is because it removes dirt and grit that can damage the floor as it's walked on.
When it comes to mopping, the best time to clean is when the floor looks like it needs it. Most people imagine they already know how to mop a floor, but a key mistake often made is to neglect to use a second bucket for rinse water. It is very common to use only a bucket of wash water and to rinse the mop in the same water used to wash the floor. The better method is to use two buckets—one for a solution of water and detergent, and another with clean rinse water.
You can also use one bucket for wash water and fill a sink basin with fresh water to rinse. Choose a mop based on your floor type. If you have a floor with a lot of texture, such as some ceramic tile floors, you'll want the more classic string mop or a strip mop. If you have a smooth floor, a sponge mop will work well. Mop buckets with built-in wringers work well if you are using a string or strip mop, but any bucket with a handle will work fine if you are using a sponge mop.
Select a cleaning detergent that is designed for your flooring type. Avoid products advertised using phrases such as "mop and shine," as these can lead to a buildup that yellows over time. Prevent your floor from becoming a sticky, muddy mess by sweeping or vacuuming the floor thoroughly before ever touching the mop to the floor.
This is also a good time to pre-wash sticky or gunky spots that you notice when sweeping or vacuuming. Do this with a sponge and soapy water or your favorite household cleaning solution just make sure it's safe for your flooring. Fill each bucket with hot water, which cleans better and quicker than cold or warm water. Add the mopping detergent to the wash bucket.
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