How to Hand Mop a Floor

No one likes to walk on gritty, dirty floors, especially with one's bare feet. Because a home is a place where people want to be as comfortable as possible, bare-feet and socks will often be the norm in your house. As a result, regular sweeping and mopping of a floor is essential to the comfort and cleanliness of the home. There are many options available to today's homemaker when it comes to mopping the floor. However, most people agree that hand-mopping is the best way to be sure that your floor is completely clean and it allows you to wipe the baseboards off at the same time.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 or 2 buckets commercial floor cleaner or vinegar terry cloth or other textured rags plastic gloves knee pads or a floor mat medium-stiff brush

1. Prepare for mopping by thoroughly sweeping or vacuuming the floor. Fill a bucket with water and cleaner. Use the manufacturer's directions for the water to cleaner ratio. If using vinegar, use one cup white vinegar in a bucket of water.

2. Dip your rag in the wash water, then wring it out until it is damp but not dripping. Scrub a small section of the floor clean, wiping the baseboards as you go along. Work in small sections in a circular pattern. Work new sections into the pattern that prevents you from crossing over cleaned areas. Overlap the sections slightly so that you ensure that all areas are washed one time.

3. Rinse your rag out regularly. When the wash water gets dirty, dump it out and prepare a new bucket. After the floor is completely mopped, dump out the wash butter and fill the bucket with clean water. You will use this to rinse the floor.

4. Rinse the floor immediately after you wash it. Rinsing will be more effective if you wipe up the soap and remaining dirt before it has a chance to dry. Dip clean rag into the water and wring it out thoroughly. Use it to rinse the floor. Work in sections similar to the method used for washing the floor. Refresh your rag by rinsing it regularly.

Tips & Warnings

• If you prefer, you can wash and rinse at the same time. Using two buckets, wash a small section of the floor and then rinse it before moving onto another section of floor. Wear plastic gloves to protect your hands and use knee pads or a cushioned mat to protect your knees. Scrub out stubborn spots and stains with a stiff bristled brush.