How to Properly Mop a Floor
Hard-surface flooring is a common fixture in many modern homes, and while it doesn't take much for make a tile floor look dingy and dirty, cleaning it up is also very simple and doesn't take very long. Knowing how to properly clean a floor is a skill you may think you already have a handle on, but simply putting a mop to the floor isn't enough to get a floor truly clean. You'll have to put a little work into getting your floor successfully clean, but the effort is worth it to get your floor nice and shiny. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
-
-
1
Prepare for mopping. Pick up all small objects and sweep all dust and small particles. Mops will only pick up stains left by liquid -- and dirt, dust and particulates will just be spread around the floor if you don't pick them up before you mop.
-
2
Fill a bucket with water and place it on the edge of the floor where you intend to mop. If you use a cleanser, read the directions and add the appropriate amount of cleanser to the water. This will vary greatly depending on the brand and the type of floor you clean (wood, tile, etc.) so ensure you get your measurements correct.
-
-
3
Submerge the mop in the bucket and then firmly squeeze to get rid of the excess water. You want your mop to be barely more than damp before you put it on the floor.
-
4
Press the mop's head firmly against the floor and make figure-eight strokes, taking care to overlap each area several times before moving on. Although it is a bit more conventional to mop in a straight line, mopping in a figure-eight shape will ensure that stains are scrubbed away instead of pushed around.
-
5
Move across the floor in a diagonal motion. Once the entire floor has been mopped, wait several minutes for the floor to dry.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you do not want to use a mopping solution when you mop, you can spray an all-purpose cleanser directly on the floor instead.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
