Have you ever mopped the floor and it took hours to dry because you have water all over the place? Yeah, me too! So it brought me to the fantastic idea of researching the best way to mop the floor and how to do it correctly. I must say, I am pretty astonished at what I found. Before we state the obvious filling a bucket up with water and cleaner then going to town on your kitchen floor, can I just mention their is way more to it than that? In fact, the correct way to mop your floor without all the mess is to do the following:
How To Mop A Floor Correctly in 5 Steps
Gather your mop, bucket and cleaning supplies. Although you have many choices when it comes to mops, always be sure to choose the best for your flooring type. Whether you choose a sponge mop, string mop or another type of mop, be sure the head of the mop is clean before each use to prevent the spread of bacteria.
Step 1: Prep your floor
Make sure you thoroughly sweep/vacuum your floor to get the dirt or fuzzies out of the way. If you skip this step, you could end up regretting it quickly. Not prepping your floor can drag leftover dust or mud on your clean floors. The dirt with react to the water causing a muddy mess.
Step 2: Prepare to Mop
Now you can fill the bucket up with your water and cleaner of your choice. (Be sure not to add to much cleaner!) You do not want to have a bubble mess on your floor. Adding to much cleaner can make your floor stick or slippery once it dries.
- EFFECTIVE - Designed to pick up dirt, dust, pet hair, and other debris, these mops for floor cleaning know how to make a clean sweep around the home, apartment, dorm, or office.
- SWIVEL ACTION - Take this hardwood mop for a spin! It features a 360-degree rotating head to effortlessly wipe up messes in every direction, especially under furniture and hard to reach areas.
- ADJUSTABLE - Our floor duster has a sturdy, aluminum, telescoping handle that extends up to 60" for easy cleaning on windows, walls, under the couch, and every other nook and cranny.
- COMPATIBILITY - The machine-washable pads and microfiber dust mop are compatible with the Swiffer Wet Jet, Shark, Bona, Bissell, Libman, o-Cedar, and other mop brands.
- MULTIPURPOSE CLEANER - Whether used as a wet or dry mop, these microfiber floor mops work wonders on wood, tile, laminate, vinyl, and most other types of floors.
Last update on 2023-08-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Step 3: Correctly Mopping your Floors
Dip your mop into the bucket and wring out the access water from the mop itself. If you are using a different mop, we will get to that topic here in a few. Once you have all the water out of your mop, slowly and carefully mop your floor from top to bottom using your mop in a straight line pattern. ALWAYS, remain on unmopped floor so you do not slip or put yourself in danger of slipping. Frequently change your dirty water. Once you have thoroughly mopped your floor, allow it to dry. Again, please do not try to attempt to walk across the wet floor!
Step 4: Cleaning Your Mop & Bucket
While your floor is drying, clean your mop and bucket good and hang your mop to dry. This prevents mildew from growing on your mop head. Keep in mind, you should change your regular mop head frequently as it can become dirty if not washed or cleaned properly after each use.
Step 5: But wait, There’s More!
Remember when I stated above that depending on the mop you use can play a factor on how to mop a floor correctly? I didn’t forget I promise. As you know, people have different floor plans. You can have wood, linoleum, laminated flooring, vinyl and many more. Which comes to my next topic of finding the best mopping technique for each.
If you’re like me, then you hate the left over mess of water. You may also hate the fact of knowing that water is secretly making its way into the crevice of your flooring and could put your wood flooring (In my case) in danger of eroding (Gross). During my research, I have found another interesting mopping technique but requires a bit of prepping beforehand.
How to Correctly Clean Your Floors Using a Steam Mop in 4 Steps
A steam mop is an easier technique without the use of a mop and bucket but requires mop pads. By using a steam mop, it is very important to prep the floor beforehand because you are using heated steam to “mop” and if you have any trace of dirt, it will smear on your floor. Another tidbit of information, if you plan to use a steam mop, do so regularly as a steam mop shouldn’t be used on an extremely dirty or soiled floor.
- SUPER-HEATED STEAM: The Shark Steam Pocket Mop turns ordinary water into super-heated steam to remove everyday dirt and grime that other mops leave behind.Water Capacity: 450 ml (15 oz.).Voltage: 120 volts.Form factor : Upright
- QUICK & EFFORTLESS: Get on-demand steam ready in just 30 seconds for quick & easy results.
- NO CHEMICALS OR RESIDUE: With the power of steam, you can remove grease and grime with just water — no chemicals needed and no residue left behind.
- LOCK IN DIRT: 2 machine washable microfiber pads lift and lock in dirt - no more messy mops and heavy buckets.
- COMFORT & CONVENIENCE: A soft-grip handle and comfortable design that make it easy to maneuver without physical strain.
Last update on 2023-08-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Step 1: Prep Your Floors
First thing is first is to prepare the area you are planning to mop by vacuuming or sweeping the area and making sure everything is clear of debris. If you mop without doing this, you will cause a muddy mess as the steam from the steam mop will loosen the dirt and dust making it run on your clean flooring.
Step 2: Prepare your supplies
Next, prepare your mop by placing a cleaning pad on the mop. Please place the cleaning pad on the mop before plugging in the mop itself because it can cause an electrical shock due to the steam mop heating very quickly. Then, Fill the reservoir up with water to the indication line.
Step 3: Mopping your Floor
You are finally ready to mop when the indication light on the mop turns on. You will want to start on the far side of the room or area in which you are mopping. Push the mop forward to release steam and backwards to pick up debris on the cleaning pad. The same thing goes for a steam mop as a regular mop, always be sure to frequently change your cleaning pad. If you use the same cleaning pad on your entire floor, you will basically be pushing the dirt around and streaking the floor.
Step 4: After Care Clean Up
Once you have completed your Steam mop cleaning, be sure to clean and store your mop properly for the next use by emptying the reservoir from all water and removing the cleaning pad to prevent mildew. Throw the cleaning pad in the washer to clean for the next use or replace with a new cleaning pad.
Not everyone will use the same mopping techniques as you but after research, I feel more confident in my mopping choices and how to correctly mop my floors. Keep in mind, always clean your mops after each use to prevent mildew and always take precautions while stepping on a wet floor.
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