Perhaps the single best piece of advice for how to mop floors correctly is this: Move backward as you mop. “Start mopping moving backward, and avoid stepping on the wet area, as this will leave behind foot traces,” Barrett says. Moving backward gives the wet areas time to dry before you walk over them again.
Ensure the area being cleaned is well ventilated and litter/clutter free. Place warning signs in position. Begin mopping at the furthest point from the exit, working backwards to the exit area. Mop the edges first followed by systematic overlapping passes.
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. When both sides are dirty, wash the mop in the bucket; otherwise, you'll be spreading dirt around instead of removing it.
Many people think you need to mop with boiling water to thoroughly clean your floors. This, however, is a myth – rather than always giving you a better clean, the temperature of the water can actually have a negative effect.
In addition, dry mopping in some form or another (more on that below) should always be done before wet mopping. If you wet mop before cleaning up loose dirt, you'll end up with a trail of wet sludge following every sweep of your mop.
Before mopping, sweep or vacuum the floor to remove grit, hair, and other large particles. Removing the everyday accumulation of dirt first makes the task of mopping less arduous. Be sure to blot dry any wet areas before sweeping or vacuuming; otherwise, you'll dirty the floor further by spreading the grime.
Dip your mop in the bucket and wring it out with a wringer or by hand. The mop should be damp, not sopping wet. Too much water dripping from the mop can damage a floor and dramatically extends the drying time.
To ensure there is not film build-up left behind the floors should be followed with a quick plain water rinse and a quick-drying to eliminate the chance of filmy residue left on the floors.
Use a microfiber flat mop pad to mop your floor.
Not only do microfiber mop pads clean well with just water, they also prevent your floors from getting too wet which can cause streaks. Microfiber mops don't even require a bucket to get the job done, and are easy to rinse and wring out in the sink.
It consists of five steps: 1) removing dry soil, 2) setting up for wet cleaning, 3) wet cleaning, 4) drying, and 5) take down and sign removal. Removing dry soil can be accomplished by sweeping, dust mopping, or vacuuming, depending on conditions and equipment available.
Avoid Using Too Much Soap
Soap only lifts dirt and oil into water, making them suspend in water. Therefore, the more soap you use, the more your mop gets saturated with dirt. So, if you do not remove all the soapy water from the floor, the dirt remains, forming streaks on the floor.
When the cleaning solution becomes visibly dirty, it's time to change rinse out the buckets, change the mop head and start with fresh cleaning solution. There's no standard regulation concerning the frequency with which mop heads or water should be changed.
If you are using a mop that has not been cleaned properly, it can spread dirt and grime instead of picking it up, leaving streaks on your floors. To prevent this, it's important to regularly clean and sanitize your mop and change the water when it gets dirty.
The answer is yes: it's been proven that water is often enough to clean efficiently when used in conjunction with a good auto scrubber.
But as a rule of thumb, you should mop your floors at least once a week—especially in areas that are more likely to get stains from drips and spills, like the kitchen and bathroom. “Of course, you need to vacuum or sweep the floor before mopping,” explains Leiva.
There are four major steps in the maintenance process: Stripping, Scrubbing and Cleaning, Buffing and Polishing, and Burnishing. Understanding each step and the specific floor pads involved is crucial to achieving the best appearance and extending the life of the floor.
Daily: Flush your toilet every day (even if it's not in use) to discourage the growth of bacteria. Weekly: Deep-clean your toilet once a week or biweekly—this includes the toilet bowl, exterior and toilet seat. Yearly: Clean your toilet tank twice a year.
Air It Out
Wait 10 minutes, then rinse and wring out the excess water. Never leave your mop sitting in the bucket to dry, or you'll risk the formation of bacteria and mold in the leftover moisture.
Mix 1/4 cup mild dish soap and 3 cups warm water. Mix 1/4 cup dish soap, 2 cups vinegar, 2 cups warm water, and 1/2 cup lemon juice.
Hard, nonporous flooring surfaces, especially those in bathrooms and kitchens, can be easily cleaned with a Clorox bleach and water solution. It's as simple as mixing up bleach and water, mopping it on, rinsing it off and letting everything air dry.