Ashley Abramson Ashley Abramson Ashley Abramson is a writer-mom hybrid. Her work, mainly on psychology, health, and family, has been published in The Washington Post, New York Times, Allure, and many more. Her home is in the Milwaukee suburbs, with her husband and their two sons.
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Whatever flooring you have, mopping is among the most efficient methods to ensure they are tidy (and also to stop the spreading of germs all over your home). However, with the variety of mop options available on the market and all the cleaning solutions you can locate — it’s not easy to find the ideal method to mop the floors. Once you’ve landed on the proper equipment, which is the best method to complete the task?
If you’re ready to clean your home but unsure where to begin, We’ve got you covered. Here’s all you must be aware of when it comes to cleaning, regardless of floor type. Consider Before Mopping.
Before starting start, you should make a strategy. The tools (and techniques) you choose will ultimately depend on the flooring you have. Picking the wrong one can damage the floor (or, at the very minimum or worse, a poor job).
The first step is determining your flooring type: laminate, hardwood vinyl, linoleum tile, or any other. Select a cleaner that is suitable for the flooring you have. For instance, you may be able to utilize commercially available, chemical-based cleaners for tiles, but they won’t work on floors with more pores, such as wood. In general, you should use less moisture on wood floors to minimize the chance of warping or discoloration, suggests Prerna Jain, the founder of the Ministry of Cleaning. Ministry of Cleaning.
When you have found the most effective cleaner, you need to decide which type of mop to choose to use. Flat mops are typically the best option when you don’t want to deal with much moisture, such as laminate or hardwood floors. Strip or string mops are more able to hold water, which is why they’re more suitable for flooring materials where moisture isn’t a concern.
Based on the type of mop or cleaner you select, you might also want to consider using a container. When drying your floors, using a squeegee could accelerate the drying process.
What You’ll Need
Also, the equipment you’ll need will vary depending on the kind of floor you’re sweeping (and the mess you’d like to clear up). Here’s a brief checklist of the tools you’ll require to mop.
Determine the flooring you have
First, you must determine the kind of flooring you’ll be working on to be able to select the right tools.
Gather your tools
After that, gather all the mopping tools you’ll need. If you’re cleaning floors made of hardwood, you should use an elongated mop made of sponge or microfiber material to avoid spreading excessive water all over the floor. You’ll need the traditional mop if you’re working on a tile or linoleum floor.
Get your cleaning product ready
Pick the right cleaning product depending on the floor or mop you’re using. For a flat mop for wooden floors, you should avoid harsh chemicals like ammonia and vinegar, which could harm the floor. Colin Matthiesen, a cleaning expert at PR Cleaners, advises making use of a gentle wood-safe cleaner that is mixed in warm water. For bedtiles and floors, he suggests you use dish soap and warm water. The same applies to vinyl. If she’s cleaning vinyl floors, Jain is known to add tiny amounts of baby oil into the cleaning mix to bring back the floor’s shine and provide additional protection from wear and scratches.
Pre-clean
Before you begin to mop, make sure to clear all debris from your floor using a broom or a vacuum. Otherwise, you’ll be scattering it and creating more mess.
Make sure that the mop is wet
Include the cleaning agent you like to the mop. It should be moist but not dripping to ensure you don’t get excessive moisture on your floor. This could mean you must wring off a rope or a strip mop before starting. If you’re mopping wood floors, you should aim to be damp, not completely wet. “Instead of soaking the mop in the cleaning solution, I lightly dampen it to prevent water from seeping into the wood and causing damage over time,” Jain says. Jain. “This also ensures a quicker drying and minimizes the risk of warping or discoloration.”
Apply the cleaner on the floor
It’s time to clean. Most flat mops need to be mopped in straight lines. However, strip mops and string should be swung around using circular motions. “Always remember, regardless of the floor type, to start mopping from the furthest corner of the room and work your way towards the exit,” Matthiesen says. Matthiesen. “This prevents you from walking on freshly cleaned floors.”
Rinse or add additional cleaner as required
If your mop accumulates dirt, you might need to rinse it in a bucket or sink. After rinsing, you can add more cleaning solutions and continue mopping. Repeat as often as you need to.
Allow for the flooring to air dry
Once it’s dry, let the floor dry before walking on it, Which could take as long as 20 minutes, based on the condition of your foot and how saturated it was during mop-up. A squeegee can speed up the process.
Dispose of everything away
For the final rinse, wash your mop, dump your bucket in the wash, and rinse it off. Then you can enjoy the serenity of a spotless floor — or until the next time.