Tips To Help You Mop Your Floors
Fall is a beautiful time to explore the great outdoors, but you need to take extra care to keep all that beauty outside your home. No matter how careful you may be, mess will inevitably find its way inside. When that happens, it’s time to break out the cleaning supplies and fight back. We previously wrote about tips to help you vacuum, but what can you do to tackle those floors that you can get soaking wet?
Get Your Supplies
You don’t want to start cleaning only to realize that you forgot an important tool. Here’s a simple checklist for you to follow:
- Mop
- Two buckets or sinks
- Paper towels or rags
- Broom and dust pan or vacuum
- Mopping solution
Every floor is different, so you’ll want to make sure everything you’re using is safe and won’t damage your floors. Follow all manufacturer’s directions, and make sure to only use cleaners that have been tested and proven to be safe for your floors.
Sweep or Vacuum the Floor
Dust and can be sneaky fellows to deal with, so you want to sweep up as much of it as you can before you start getting your floor wet in order to prevent muddy puddles from forming. It’s also the perfect time to take note of any especially gunky or sticky areas that may require extra attention.
Fill Up Your Sinks or Buckets
There are pros and cons to both sinks and buckets; on the one hand, buckets are very easy to move around and position based on the part of the floor you’re mopping, but the water in them might get so dirty that you need to clean them out before continuing. On the other hand, sinks are incredibly easy to drain, scrub, and refill, but they aren’t quite as mobile as a bucket. Either way, be sure to use hot water and mopping solution that won’t damage your floors. Also, only use as much solution as is recommended – using extra will only leave residue behind once you’re done cleaning.
Don’t Use a Dripping Mop
After you dunk your mop in the sink or bucket, make sure to wring it out before introducing it to your floor. Using a dripping mop might damage your floors, and at the very least will extend the length of time it will take them to dry.
Time to Mop
Plan out your mopping route before you begin. It’s always best to keep your feet on un-mopped floor, so start at the top of the room you’re in and work your way down. If you have a rag mop, use a figure eight motion for best results, and for a sponge mop move it in a straight line. When you come to one of your noted problem areas, press down a bit harder and rub quicker.
Rinse, Rinse, Rinse
Don’t forget to rinse your mop out every so often. This is where the second sink or bucket comes in – you don’t need to add any cleaner there, just make sure it stays filled with warm water so you can rinse the grime off your mop, wring it out, and dip it back in the solution-filled container. Try to do this every couple minutes so you don’t just wipe dirty water all over your floors, and make sure to replace the water as it gets cold. If you have any hard to reach edges and corners, use the rags or paper towels.
And there you have it! With these simple tips, your floor should be spotless in no time. However, not everyone’s busy schedule allows them to carve out enough time to do a proper clean throughout their house, which is where we come in. At The Maids Murrieta, our crew of professionals use our specialized 22-Step Healthy Touch Deep Cleaning System to get your house spotless. Fill out our online form to start your cleaning process, or give us a call at (972) 471-9509 to ask for a free price estimate!
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