hone the fine art of mopping with these dos and don’ts for cleaning floor .

Mopping is one of the most rough-cut ways toclean floors , and it ’s essential to pick up how to mow floors when it comes to keeping extremely trafficked sphere like the kitchen and privy sporty and germ - free . But mopping is not a one - sizing - fits - all cleaning solution , and knowing how to mop different types of floors will spare you a lot of frustration and prevent pricey equipment casualty .

forwards , you ’ll find guidance on select the right mop solution for your dump type , the stone’s throw to get a shiny , fair floor , and choosing the ripe swob . Additionally , we ’ve broken down some DO and don’ts regarding how to pout dissimilar flooring types , from hardwood and laminate to roofing tile and lino .

person mopping tile floors

Credit:Jason Donnelly

Jason Donnelly

Before Getting Started

take aback materials and their care can be pretty varied , so before you consider how to mop , it ’s essential that you know what type of floor you have . The character of floor will inform the selection of mopping solution and , in some cases , the kind of mop itself .

When it come to trading floor cleaners , less is more : Overusing clean productswill leave a residual that lends a dingy , streaky , and deadening appearing to floor ; intimately follow maker direction regarding dilution ratio . to boot , the consumption of too much detergent can damage floor by impart a film that requires several straits with clean water to withdraw , oversaturating story and creating more work for you .

What You’ll Need

Equipment / Tools

Materials

Instructions

How to Mop Floors

Grant Webster

Sweep or Vacuum Floors

Before introducing a lactating mop to a foul level , sweep orvacuum the areato pick up as much dirt , dust , and other junk as possible . This will keep the floor from becoming muddy when a liquid cleaning solvent is introduced . Take note of any mucilaginous spills or stick - on messes that need to be spot - plow before all - over mopping , and handle those first .

Wet and Wring the Mop

Dip the mop in the bucketful to saturate it withmopping solution . Then , wring the swob out well using the work up - in wringing mechanism or with your hands ; the swob should not be dripping or sopping pie-eyed .

Always wring the mop out well before introducing it to the floor . A dripping wet swab can cause damage to many flooring case , and soak the level will extend dry sentence unnecessarily . Additionally , working with a sopping wet mop will make the chore palpate like a slog .

Mop in a Line or a Figure 8

Starting in the far recess of the room , mop using a name 8 question for microfiber , string , andrag mopsor in a straight line if using a parasite swob . Work backward , see to it you ’re fend on an unmopped segment of the storey to ward off tracking dirty step .

Spot-Treat Tricky Areas

If you overleap any sticky place in step one , apply the swob to spot - treat them by use down air pressure while itch the mopquickly back and forth . If your swab ca n’t reach corners or articulation , use a microfiber textile dipped in the pout solution to clean house them manually .

Rinse Floors and Mop

wash the mop very well with clean water , and go over the floor to take any residue from the mopping root . If you’remopping a large area , you may choose to mop and rinse in sections , necessitating a two - pail system for the mopping solution and sportsmanlike water .

Clean the Mop Head

clean house the mop head itself , either by bump off and laundering it or bywashing it by handin raging , soapy water and rinse well .

Allow Floors and Mop to Dry

reserve the floor to dry completely before walking on it . After make clean the mop head , rinse or pass over out the swob bucket ; dry it entirely before storing .

How Often to Mop Floors

How often to mop the floors change based on several factors , include the size and composing of your house , how extremely traffic the floors are , and environmental factors . For example , theentryway floorin a household with tyke and pets in a ironical , dusty climate will require to be pout more often than the guest bathroom in a one - person household .

Highly traffic floors may be cleaned with a heather , dust mop , or vacuum-clean every solar day or every other day ; kitchen floor once every two week ; and bathroom floors once a calendar week . Less highly traffic floor can becleaned with a broom , dust swab , or vacuum once a workweek and mopped once a calendar month . If needed , spot - cleaning tumble with a moist microfiber cloth and an all - purpose cleaner can help cover the clock time between mopping .

Best Products for Mopping

There are a pile of mopping solutions on the market place , as well as recipes for DIY mop solutions that you may make at rest home with everyday household items ; some are pretty good , some are quite uncollectible , but most are just okay .

However , there is one product that is almost universally an fantabulous selection for all flooring character , that also has the welfare of being cheap , widely available , and almost certainly something you already have in the household : Dish soap . ( Generally speaking , when a " mild detergent " is called for in cleaning instructions , it refers to dish goop . )

prefer the right swob , too , will aid to make the job faster , leisurely , and more effective . In ourreview of best mop , the BOSHENG Mop and Bucket with Wringer Set was name the best overall swab ; if you prefer a spin mop , the O - Cedar RinseClean Spin Mop & Bucket System was the top pick inour review of the dear twisting mops .

Vacuum floors

Credit:Grant Webster

More Floor Cleaning Tips

If your floors are concrete , especially if they ’re painted or stencil , they need to betreateddifferently from other type of floor . Kitchen floorsmay need to be cleaned more thoroughlythan bathroomssince grease , nutrient dust , and spillway can get caught in grout lineage or edge of textured roofing tile , like travertine . To keep floors from getting dirtier than they call for to , enforce a"no shoes " policyfor inside your home . This will also help keep out allergen .

Wring mop over bucket

Credit:Grant Webster

Cleaning floor with mop rag

Credit:Grant Webster

Spot treat floor stain

Credit:Grant Webster

Rinse floor with mop

Credit:Grant Webster

Clean mop head

Credit:Grant Webster

Dry mop bucket

Credit:Grant Webster