How to Mop Every Type of Floor the Right Way
While flat mops like Swiffers are great for daily cleanup of dirt and dust, only a thorough damp mopping can provide the deep cleaning your floors need. Damp mopping with the proper cleaning solution is the best method for many flooring types, including vinyl sheet flooring, vinyl tile, and ceramic or porcelain tile. Read on to learn the proper mopping technique to achieve and maintain sparkling, clean floors throughout your home.
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What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
- Vacuum cleaner or broom and dustpan
- Mop
- 2 Buckets
- Sponge
Materials
- Mopping detergent
- Household cleaner (optional)
Instructions
How to Mop Any Type of Floor
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Sweep or Vacuum First
Before you begin mopping your floors, remove any loose dust and dirt with a broom or vacuum. This will prevent your floor from becoming a sticky, muddy mess as you mop.
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Choose the Proper Mop and Cleaning Solution
Next, choose the proper mop and cleaning detergent for your floor type. For instance, a steam mop can help pull up stubborn grout stains between ceramic tiles. For smooth vinyl floors, however, a sponge mop will work well.
It's also important to select the right cleaning solution for your floor type. To clean wood floors, for example, you should avoid products like vinegar and bleach and instead choose a product formulated for sealed wood floors.
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Fill the Buckets
Instead of using one bucket to absorb soapy water and rinse your mop, we suggest you use two buckets—one with water and detergent, and another with clean water for rinsing. Fill each bucket with hot water and add your cleaning detergent to the wash bucket. Remember to always follow the instructions on the detergent label.
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Begin Mopping in Sections
Dip your mop in the bucket of water and detergent, then wring it out. The mop should be damp, but not sopping wet, since too much water can damage the floor.
Mop a section of your floor, such as five or six square feet, moving backward to prevent tracking. Mop in straight lines if you are using a sponge mop. For rag mops, mop in a figure-eight motion to use the design of your mop most effectively.
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Rinse the Floor, Then Repeat
After mopping and scrubbing a section of your floor, rinse your mop thoroughly in the rinse bucket. Dunk the mop up and down a few times, then wring out to remove as much dirty water from the mop head as possible. Repeat the mopping and rinsing process for each section until you've completed the floor.
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Do a Final Rinse
At this point, your floor should be quite clean, but go ahead and mop one final time with fresh, hot rinse water. This will ensure that you've not only rid the floors of dirt and grime, but also that there is no detergent residue left as well.
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Let Everything Dry
Thoroughly rinse out your mop and mop buckets and allow them to dry completely before storing them. Avoid walking on your floors as they air dry. To speed up the process, you can use a squeegee or a clean towel to dry the floor yourself.
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How Often to Mop Your Floors
As a general rule, you should mop your floors at least once a week, especially in areas that are used daily. However, there are additional ways you can keep your floors clean in the interim.
Floors in high-traffic areas like kitchens, dining areas, bathrooms, entryways, and hallways should be swept or vacuumed every one to three days. You should also spot-clean spills as soon as they occur, using a damp microfiber cloth or sponge and the proper cleaning solution for your floor type.
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Do I only need to use water for mopping?
To clean your floors effectively, and extend the time between each mopping, it's important that you mop with a combination of water and the appropriate cleaning detergent for your floor type. You should also rinse the floors thoroughly after cleaning to avoid leaving soapy residue.
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What is the fastest way to mop a floor?
Damp mopping is a faster and more effective method for mopping floors, since the excess water will help pull up dirt and grime. That said, make sure you follow the proper cleaning regimen to avoid leaving mud or sudsy residue behind.
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What are the most common mistakes when mopping floors?
Some of the most common mistakes people make when mopping their floors include using one bucket for both washing and rinsing, as well as failing to purchase the proper mop and cleaning materials for their floor type.