The floors at your home attract the dust, food, dirt, and scraps that don’t make it to your bin, so it’s very important to regularly clean them– particularly your kitchen floor. Kitchen floors quickly become soiled, so they require the most attention. Vacuuming and floor mopping are key parts of this process. Below are some strategies to help make cleaning your floor easier and more effective.
The worst thing to happen when you’ve just mopped the floor is someone walking all over it – especially if you’re forced to do it yourself. One of the most basic (and essential) floor mopping tips we can give you is to always mop from the back of your room towards an exit. This means you can swab the entire floor without stepping over your good work!
Essential Products for Mopping the Floor
A vacuum or a broom, dustpan and a brush.
Rubber gloves.
A mop – either a rag or a sponge type.
A mop bucket.
Floor cleaning solution and water.
How to Mop the Floor
Step 1:
Begin by vacuuming or sweeping the area. It’s more difficult to mop if there are food or dirt particles on the floor. Always tidy up the area first.
Step 2:
Safety first. Snap on those handy rubber gloves and check the label on the back of your floor cleaning product for safety information.
Step 3:
Fill your mop bucket. Mix hot water and an appropriate amount of floor cleaning solution according to the directions on the label – Choose a cleaner that are specially designed for cleaning floors, such as Domex Floor Cleaner, for great results.
Step 4:
Start mopping! Plunge your mop in, wring it out, and get to work!
Step 5:
Rinse the floor. Once you’re finished mopping, make sure you give the floor an extra rinse – especially if you have kids or pets. This is easily done by washing out the mop you’ve just used (or using a dedicated ‘rinsing’ mop), and going over the area again with plain water.
Steps for Mopping
Step 1:
If you have a rag mop, mopping in a tight horizontal figure of eight will work the best as this doesn’t leave any bits behind that you might have missed while sweeping or vacuuming.
Step 2:
Periodically shake out your rag mop over the bin if required.
Step 3:
If you have a sponge mop then clean like you would vacuum – in vertical lines.
Step 4:
If you come across any trouble spots that the mop won’t clean, don’t worry! You can go over those later with a cloth.
Floor Cleaning Safety
If you have children or pets, it’s likely you’ll have to clean your floors more often than most, but you will also have to be more careful about the products and methods you use. Toddlers and pets often lay on the floor touching it with bare skin – and yes, they may even eat off the split food on the floor! It’s important, therefore, to make sure that your floors are clean, but you should also use the least toxic products available as not to endanger your child or pet. Many floor cleaning products are wonderful at eradicating grime but can cause irritation if they come directly into contact with skin. Be sure to check the labels of your floor cleaning products for safety instructions. If you’re advised to use gloves when handling a product your baby’s feet shouldn’t be walking in it! Be sure to rinse floors thoroughly after you mop.
Key Steps:
1. Vacuum or sweep the floor before you begin mopping.
2. Always follow the safety instructions on your cleaning product’s label.
3. Remember to rinse the floor with fresh water once you have finished mopping.