How to Wet Mop

Wet mop a floor to make it sparkle.

Cleaning a floor has assorted options for accomplishing the task. Some people prefer to scrub on hands and knees where they are close enough to see the dirt as they remove it. Others are satisfied to wet mop a floor to clean it. If you fall into the latter category, make sure you wet mop a floor thoroughly to get the floor as clean as possible. With basic effort and attention to detail, your floors will sparkle after wet mopping.

Things You'll Need

• Broom and dustpan or vacuum cleaner
• Mop bucket
• Floor-cleaning product
• Wet mop

Instructions

1. Remove objects from the floor before you clean, including chairs, stools, rugs and any other objects that you can lift easily.

2. Remove the surface dust and dirt from the floor before you wet mop by sweeping or vacuuming the floor thoroughly.

3. Fill the mop bucket approximately two-thirds full of warm water and add an appropriate amount of floor cleaning product to the water. Follow package recommendations for the proper amount of product to use.

4. Start at the corner furthest from the entrance to the room. Keep the bucket in a dry area of the floor and place the mop into the bucket and wring out the mop so it is not dripping.

5. Place the mop onto the floor, holding the mop handle at a 15- to 20-degree angle. Start at the outer edge of the floor approximately 4 inches away from the baseboard and swish the mop over the floor to contact the floor over this area.

6. Move the mop in a "figure-eight" motion to work in a line across the floor. As you bring the mop around at the bottom of the figure eight, the mop should come no closer to your feet than approximately 12 inches. As you finish each figure eight, begin another, making sure to overlap each for complete floor coverage. Continue working across the entire floor until you reach the other corner.

7. Insert the mop back into the mop bucket when the mop fibers appear soiled. Move the mop up and down in the bucket two to three times and wring it out again.

8. Step back (you are working backwards) and begin another row using the same figure eight method. Continue mopping the floor using this technique until you finish mopping the entire floor.

9. Pour the cleaning solution out of the bucket and refill the bucket with plain warm water.

10. Wait until the floor dries (to avoid slipping accidents), and go over the entire floor again with the plain water using the same mopping technique. This will rinse the chemical residue from the floor.

11. Allow the floor to dry completely and then replace the objects you removed. Pour out the water, rinse out the mop head and store your equipment.

References

• Marc: Wet Mopping
• Mop Bucket and Wringer: Proper Floor Mopping Procedure For Wet Mopping A Floor