10 Mopping Tricks & Tips for The Easiest and Cleanest Floors

Mopping is just one of the chores that we learned how to do when we were young and never questioned it ever again. However, it might be very helpful to look at the way you’re mopping and see if there’s any way to streamline the process. Here are just a few tricks and tips to help you get a cleaner floor easier!

• Hopefully you’re already doing this, but if not then it will definitely make your life easier. Make sure to sweep and vacuum the floor before you start mopping. This gets rid of all the big chunks of food, dirt, and gunk that would get caught in your mop and smear around the floor.
• Know what kind of coating is on your floor. Usually it’s going to be polyurethane or a wax sealing. This will affect the way you take care of and clean the floor. Run your finger across the flooring. If a smudge appears, it’s likely a wax coating. However, you can always check with the manufacturer or contractor if you want to be sure. Once you know the difference, it will help you take care of the floor in a way that keeps it cleaner and nicer longer.

• If you have a waxed or wood floor, then do NOT mop them with a mop soaked in water. While it may be tempting to fall into old habits, a drenched mop can actually do more harm than good to your wood floor. Instead, make sure you have swept well and then get the mop SLIGHTLY wet (if you really want to mop) just to pick up any remaining dirt or get rid of stains.
• There’s no need to break out all the mopping equipment if you’re just worried about a few scuffmarks from new shoes. Take a pencil eraser and use it on the scuffmarks! They should come right out in half the time it would take to even get the mop ready!
• Don’t bend over when you’re mopping. While it may seem like the best solution, over a long time, this will really make your back start hurting. Instead, invest in a mop that has the appropriate handle length.
• Make sure you’re cleaning with a multi-purpose solution. That way you’re not only cleaning the floor, but also sanitizing and disinfecting it. This is especially important if you have small kids or pets around.
• When mopping, make sure to put your bucket on a rag. This will keep the bucket from scratching up the surface of your floor as you push it around, and it also makes it easier to slide along. Not only that, but the rag can absorb any extra water that you might have missed.
• To make your own mopping solution that cleans and adds a shine to your floor, mix together 1 cup of vinegar, 1 cup water, and 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil. It’s best to apply this solution with a rag by hand, but it’s not 100% necessary.
• A smart way to keep your floor cleaner is by drying it once you’ve finished mopping. I know a lot of people like air drying, and that’s not bad, but if you’re kitchen is a high traffic area and you think people will go in before it’s dry, then the floor is going to get dirty all over again. Drying with a highly absorbent towel will do the trick!
• For those stubborn stuck on marks that the mop just can’t get rid of, try using some steel wool. Before you do this, you’ll want to test it out to make sure the steel wool won’t damage your flooring. If it’s safe, then dampen the steel wool pad and gently rub the stained spot. Do this until the stain comes out and then wipe it clean with a damp sponge and dry.