How to Dust Mop Floors
With the return of hardwood floors, the old fashioned dust mop is also making a comeback. They are flexible, quiet and efficient, but only to a point. Good for quick touch-ups and for putting a nice sheen on your hardwood floor, a dust mop is not by itself a heavy-duty cleaning tool, so don't throw the vacuum out yet. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Angle broom with dustpan
- Dust mop with swivel neck
- 2 washable dust mop head covers
- Hardwood floor or laminate floor cleaner
Instructions
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1
Vacuum or use an angle broom and dustpan to sweep up large particles such as sand that people and pets track in. A dust mop doesn't hold onto these well.
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2
Save work; vacuum or sweep pet hair once a week. Pet hair collects quickly on a dust mop and you have to keep removing it in order to make cleaning progress.
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Use the dust mop to go over the entire floor, once you've cleaned off the large particles and most of the pet hair. The dust mop will pick up all the fine particles that the other two tools don't and leave behind a nice sheen.
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4
Work in long straight swathes, just as you would with a vacuum. Take the dust mop outside and shake it off when it collects too much dust.
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5
Wash the mop head. Most dust mops, now, have removable mop heads that you can throw in the washing machine, which you should do once a week.
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Use the dust mop to do a heavier cleaning now and then, when the floor needs it. When you see marks and footprints that a normal dust-mopping leaves, it's time to clean the floor.
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Spray the mop head with hardwood floor cleaner or, if you have laminate floors, laminate cleaner. To do a heavier cleaning, use the same two-step process as you normally do, but with the addition of the cleaner. If the mop head cover becomes too dirty, take it off and use a second one.
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Remove scuff marks or other marks by buffing with a damp rag.
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Tips & Warnings
Either the terry cloth or cotton rag dust mops work well.
Avoid spraying ammonia-based cleaners or oil soap on your dust-mop. These cleaners will eventually cloud the finish of the floor.
Do not saturate the head of your dust mop with water and use it as a wet mop. This too can ruin the finish on your floor.
