Did you know that many people mop their floors incorrectly? Read on to learn about the proper way to mop floors.
Keeping your home clean can reduce allergy symptoms, lessen the spread of germs, and lower your stress and anxiety.
It can be hard to remember those benefits when you’re faced with the daunting task of mopping your floor. But if you know what you’re doing, mopping can become another simple household chore.
We’ve put together a quick guide that’ll teach you the proper way to mop floors.
So keep reading below!
What You’ll Need
To mop your floor the right way, you’ll need more than just a mop and a bucket of water. So before you start, spend some time gathering these items from around your house.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Boom and dustpan (or a vacuum)
- Mop
- Mop bucket
- Warm water
- Floor cleaning solution
- Rag or sponge
Make sure you read the directions on the back of your floor cleaning solution. You may want to wear rubber gloves as you mop if the directions suggest it.
How to Prepare the Room
You should always start your mopping job by tidying up the room.
Move any light furniture—like chairs, coffee tables, rugs, etc.—out of the room. If you can, you should move larger furniture—like tables, couches, TV stands, etc.—as well.
Then give the room a good sweep. Mopping is a lot harder if your floor is covered in dirt and food crumbs. You can use a vacuum to clean up the flood as well.
How to Mop Floors the Right Way
Now you’re ready to start mopping.
Fill your mopping bucket up with warm water and add in the recommended amount of cleaning solution. Don’t use more than this amount. Extra solution won’t make cleaning the floor any easier. It will just make the floor harder to rinse later.
Dip your mop into the water and wring it out. If your mop bucket doesn’t have a wringing tool, hold the mop over the bucket for several seconds to let the water drain out.
Your mop should be damp, not dripping.
Mop one small section of floor at a time. Push your mop back and forth in vertical strokes (like a vacuum cleaner) to ensure you get all the grime off. For corners and other hard to reach areas, you may need to use a rag or sponge.
When you mop, start at the back of the room and make your way toward the door. This will prevent you from walking on spots you’ve already cleaned.
Rinsing Your Floor
This is the part many people forget when they’re mopping their floor.
After you’ve scrubbed the floor with the cleaning solution, rinse out your bucket and fill it with clean water. Go back over the room with the clean water to rinse any leftover solution off your floor.
Don’t Mop Too Much
You should only mop once every two to three weeks. If you live with pets or kids and your flood ends up dirty a lot, you can mop as frequently as once a week.
Don’t mop any more than this.
Mopping too often can form a sticky residue over your floor that actually traps dirt, dust, allergens, and other debris inside.
In Conclusion
If you don’t know the proper way to mop floors, you might end up doing more harm than good. Make sure you stick to the recommended amount of floor cleaning solution, rinse your floors after you’re done, and avoid mopping too often.
