Is There a Right Way to Mop?
Is there really a correct way to mop? As with most things, it turns out that there is in fact a correct way to mop. However, if you read my instructions below and find out that you’ve been mopping the “wrong” way for years, it doesn’t make your efforts less worthy. This blog post is about teaching you how to mop smarter, not harder.
So what is the correct way? Well, it just depends on the floor. If you purchased your floor while you’ve owned your home, then it might be a good idea to look at your manufacturer instructions, just to be sure you don’t do anything that would damage your warranty. With that being said, here are some tips and instruction for mopping your wood floors or tile floors.
• If using a traditional wet mop, make sure that your bucket has a wringing device on it so you don’t over saturate your floors.
• Fill your bucket 3/4 full with very hot water (if your tap water typically only gets lukewarm, just boil it on your stove.) It’s important that the water is hot so that it will disinfect your floors properly.
• Add a general all-purpose cleaner or 1/4 cup of baking soda to your water for the cleaning agent. Add a couple of drops of essential oil to your bucket to fill it with fragrance if you want to add an extra little touch.
• Begin mopping in the very far corner of the room, furthest away from when the floor meets the carpet *or the door, whichever is appropriate for the layout of your home.* The important thing to remember is that you want to be working backwards so you aren’t immediately stepping over a freshly cleaned space.
• When mopping, apply pressure when swinging the mop back and forth. If using a sponge mop, make an “M” or “W” pattern. If using a standard mop, make an “S” shape when mopping.
• When mopping, don’t ever dump the entire water bucket onto the floor because your floor may eventually warp or ruin.
• To keep your wood or tile floors sparkling and polished, be sure to schedule a professional cleaning about once every six months to ensure a long life in your home.
Do you have any other mopping tips? Leave me some comments in the section below!
And also, have a beautiful, safe Memorial Day Weekend!
Love,
Angela
Mopping smarter, not harder is a great way to think when tackling your floors. In my opinion, nothing is worse than sweating through your kitchen floor duties. However, on hardwood floors I would consider using cooler water so it doesn’t affect the wax and prevents streaking.
Hi Janitorial Supplies! Thanks for reading. I love and will definitely use the tip about using cooler water on wood floors.
Love the M & W tip!
Thanks Sarah!