Autoscrubbers offer a better way to clean hard surface floors. With features like pre-sweepers, automatic cleaning solution dispensers, and vacuums, the technology cleans more completely and much faster than a mop. Autoscrubbers also leave surfaces dry, cutting the potential for slips and falls.
Using Window Cleaner as a Mopping Solution
You can even use window cleaner as a spot cleaner on your floors, spraying directly from the bottle and using a wet mop to wipe and remove dirt and sticky spots. The good thing about this recipe is that you can make a lot or a little, depending on your needs.
Traditional damp mopping remains the best way to clean many types of floors. While flat mops like Swiffers are great for daily cleanup of dust and light soil, only a good, thorough weekly damp mopping with a proper cleaning solution and a mop can really provide the deep-down cleaning a floor needs.
A steam cleaner does to stubborn dirt which a regular mop can never do without cleaning products. Since a steam mop uses water, it makes the grime and dirt loosen before the mop head absorbs it. Also, steam dries quicker than water, so you don't have to worry about mold regrowth after you clean.
Mopping Sanitizes Your Floor
As such, the germs accumulate and build up quickly, especially during hot weather and flu seasons. Thus, regular mopping is crucial in keeping your home sanitized. A clean floor translates into a cleaner house, and a clean house means a healthier and happier home.
Microfiber flat mops paired with dual compartment buckets are an effective way to clean for health and sanitation. Together, they prevent surface and mop head re-soiling. The dense microfiber blend promotes deeper penetration for cleaner surfaces.
High-traffic areas, like kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and entryways, require weekly mopping. Infrequently used rooms, such as formal living areas or guest rooms, can be mopped every other week, or even once a month, so long as they're vacuumed once every seven days to remove dust and grit.
Why is my floor sticky after I steam mop? Sticky floors after steam mopping are often the result of residue from cleaning products that had been used on the floor. Using a dirty mop pad also can cause sticky floors.
Used correctly, steam cleaning is a natural and effective way to remove stubborn dirt and stains. Once the water reaches 175-degrees F, it will sanitize surfaces effectively and many home cleaners reach up to 245-degrees F. There are other advantages to using the power of steam for cleaning, too.
Mops do a better job of agitating build-up so they can easily wipe it away with either a cleaning solution or water. Depending on the type of cleaner that you use, mops can also remove 99.9 percent of bacteria and common household germs; steam mops accomplish this with water alone.
Use an old dish sponge.
You could of course use a washable microfiber cloth, too. I just like the sturdiness of a sponge. Overall, I prefer the precision I get from my own two hands versus a mop that, to me, can leave residue as it moves.
Combine 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup dishwashing detergent, 1-2/3 cups baking soda, and 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar. Stir the mixture until everything is dissolved. Pour it into a spray bottle. Wash flooring in small sections by spraying on, mopping off, then rinsing thoroughly with warm water.
Water + Vinegar + Dish Soap + Rubbing Alcohol
Their ratio of two cups of warm water, half a cup of vinegar, a quarter cup of isopropyl alcohol, and just an eighth teaspoon of liquid dish soap also cuts the acidity of the vinegar so that it won't damage sensitive floors.
While sweeping and dry mopping is great for pre-wet mop prep and rounding up dirt, wet mopping gives you a deeper clean that will help preserve the integrity of your floors for years to come.
Dry mops work better than brooms because sweeping the dirt or dust pushes it around. You'll have to use a dustpan or vacuum to suck up everything, but either method can force dust particles into the air. Wet mops clean floors with damp mop heads.
There are a few disadvantages to using steam cleaners. One is that they can be expensive. Another downside is that they require a lot of water, which means you will need to empty and refill the tank often. Finally, steam cleaners can take longer to clean than other methods.
So, where does the dirt go when you steam clean? Actually, it doesn't go anywhere. Instead, the heat and vapour of steam cleaning ensure that all the unwanted substances or stains are fully broken down and easy to get rid of.
To clean, simply mix a quarter cup of mild or pH-neutral soap with water in a bucket. Then grab a microfiber mop that makes quick work of the chore, like Libman Wonder Mop. It's easy to wring out, making it ideal for hardwood floors that work best with a barely damp (not soaking) mop.
Sticky floors happen when you have not passed the mop to remove too much cleaning solution or the wrong cleaning solution. It can also be due to dirty water used in rinsing your mop.
The string mop and bucket system was patented in 1893 and is still the most widely used method for mopping floors today. Despite several studies that have demonstrated the health hazards associated with the use of string mops, they continue to be used by many commercial cleaning companies.
Over-mopping
For best results, mop your high-traffic areas no more than once a week. Other areas that see less foot traffic can be cleaned once a month, or (prepare to put your feet up) even once a quarter. Too much mopping can wear down the seal on your floors or oversaturate them with water.
Using excess water
A common mistake is thinking that wet is clean! On the contrary, when cleaning a floor, you should try to use the least amount of water possible! After dipping the mop in the bucket, wring it out until it's almost dry!