Keeping your floors clean is important to maintain your home. It doesn't matter if it's your home, a business, or commercial space, the methods for keeping your floors clean are the same, and all you need is a few floor cleaning tips and tricks.
Not sure where to begin? There are a lot of DIY methods for easy floor cleaning. Check out our tips on how to clean floors and get your home looking clean and tidy.
How Often to Clean the Floor
Before we get into how to keep your floors clean, it is essential to know how often you should complete this task.
Generally, in high-traffic areas such as the bathroom, kitchen, dining room, entryway, and hallway, you should sweep or vacuum once every 1-3 days, followed by mopping once a week. Mopping is a great way to keep your floors clean, but sweeping and vacuuming are essential for maintaining the look of your floors as this process helps to remove dirt that can cause damage as you continue to walk on it.
Although sweeping and mopping are usually considered routine tasks, not everyone knows how to do them properly, especially when it comes to mopping. The most common mistake people make with mopping is not using an additional bucket to rinse water. Many people use just one bucket to rinse the mop and use that same bucket to wash the floor.
However, one of our top floor cleaning tricks for truly clean floors is to use two buckets: one filled with a solution of detergent and water and the second for a clean rinse. This will make a big difference.
How Can I Keep the Floor Clean Longer?
Dust, dirt, and grime are likely to accumulate over time, but there are several ways to prevent this from getting out of control. One way is to use doormats at your entryways and request visitors to remove their shoes. This will reduce the amount of dirt that is tracked into your home. Also, we suggest wiping up any spills as soon as they happen. Otherwise, you really can't avoid cleaning for too long!
Floor Cleaning Tools & Materials
When figuring out the most efficient way to clean floors, starting with the appropriate set of tools for the task is essential. To properly clean your floors, we recommend:
Equipment/Tools:
- A broom and dustpan or a vacuum
- A mop
- Two mop buckets
- A rag
Materials:
- A sponge
- Mopping detergent
- Household cleaner
- Paper towels as needed
How to Clean the Floor
Okay, let's begin the journey you've been looking for and learn how to clean floors properly. From choosing the right materials to mopping not once but twice, we will go through the steps needed to master the task of cleaning the floor. Let's break it down.
Step 1: Choose the Right Mop, Buckets, and the Cleaner
The first step in cleaning your floors is to get the right equipment and supplies for the task.
The ideal mop for you depends on the kind of floor you're cleaning. For example, if you're cleaning a floor with some texture, such as ceramic flooring, the classic string mop can work. But a sponge mop will be more suitable if you have a smoother floor.
When it comes to buckets, it is best to search for buckets that have built-in wringers if you are using a strip or string mop. If you are using other mops, all buckets will work. When choosing the best floor cleaner, ensure to choose one specially designed for your floor type. This will be clearly displayed on the bottle's label.
Step 2: Begin with Sweeping or Vacuuming
Before mopping your floors, you must begin by vacuuming or sweeping. This will eliminate getting any sticky, muddy residues after mopping. Also, it's the ideal time to remove any gunky spots you spot before mopping because these areas may be harder to clean with a mop. To tackle these rough spots, you can use a cleaning product or soapy water and a sponge to scrub them away.
Step 3: Fill the Buckets
The next step for easy floor cleaning is to fill the buckets with hot water. The hotter water is more effective at cleaning than cold or warm water. Then add your detergent to the bucket to be used for washing. Be careful not to add too much detergent in the hope of getting floors extra clean-- this will only result in harder-to-rinse residue. Instead, follow the specific directions on the bottle.
Step 4: Start Mopping
Now it's time to begin mopping. This is a must when cleaning the floor, but what's the easiest way to mop a floor? We suggest working from one side of the room to the other, moving backward, so you never step on the mopped floor and leave tracks. Especially when using a sponge mop, it is important to mop in straight lines. Use a figure-8 motion to get the most effective clean if it's a rag mop.
Step 5: Rinse the Mopped Area
Once you've scrubbed each area of your floor, rinse your mop between sections in the rinse bucket. For this, you need to dip the mop several times, then ring it out to rid it of the dirty water, removing as much debris as possible. You may want to repeat this process several times to clean it.
Step 6: Keep Mopping
There's still a lot to do. Continue to mop your floors section-by-section until you've mopped the entire area. While mopping your floors, it is important to keep an eye on the wash and rinse water. If the water starts to turn super gray and dirty, you'll need to empty and refill the buckets so that you don't spread dirty water across the floor. This will only make the process of rinsing more difficult.
Step 7: Rinse One Last Time
You're almost done with the process of cleaning the floor. But first, we need to rinse the floors once more. After thoroughly removing all dirt and there's not much detergent residue left, mop over your floors once more with a fresh rinse of hot water. This will allow you to remove all those last detergent marks and debris for super-clean floors.
Step 8: Let the Floor Dry
Last but not least, let the floors dry. Now that you've rinsed your floors, they'll need to completely dry before walking on them. If you walk on them before, you may see track marks running across your newly clean floors, making them look grimy despite all your effort.
Takeaways
After you've learned about how to clean various types of floors and the necessary floor cleaning trips, now is the time to get your floors back to their top condition. Whether you're scrubbing the grout between tiles or mopping your hardwood floors, we know just the way to get your unique flooring sparkling and clean.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
1. What is the best way to clean marble floors?
The best way to clean marble floors depends on the type of flooring you have. In general, sweeping or vacuuming to remove dirt and debris is a good place to start. You can use a mop or a cleaner specially designed for your flooring type to wash and disinfect the surface.
2. How often should I clean my floors?
The frequency of cleaning your floors depends on the amount of foot traffic and the type of flooring. High-traffic areas may require to be cleaned more often than lower-traffic areas. As a general rule, try to clean your floors at least once a week.
3. How do I remove stubborn stains from my floors?
To get rid of stubborn stains on your floors, use a specialized cleaning solution or a mixture of baking soda and water. Apply the solution to the stain, and let it rest for a few minutes before scrubbing it off with a cloth or brush.
