Introduction
Cleaning floors may seem like a simple task sweeping the floor and then mopping it up when some detergent of sorts. Well, you are not entirely wrong, however, there are various other methods too, for instance, you can clean your floor with a machine. The different types of floors and methods might be overwhelming to newbies. Don’t fret though, this article will explain to you in detail how you can achieve the squeakiest and shiniest floors with some tips and tricks along the way. Read on to find out more.
Some Hacks You Should Follow
There are a few important floor cleaning tips that can make a significant difference. The volume of soapy water you use, for example, is critical. Even though your floors are grimy, you don’t want to over-soap because it will leave a nasty remnant and contradict the objective. Furthermore, you wouldn’t want to use excessive amounts of water and risk overwhelming your floors, which could cause them to deform. Always wring your mop dry before dipping it in the detergent. After soaping, give the area a thorough wipe with clean, warm water. Also, make sure your mop is clean before you start mopping your floors; otherwise, any amount of mopping will be ineffective in keeping the floors clean and shiny.
Sweep Your Floor Before Beginning To Mop
If you omit this portion of effectively cleaning your floor, what eventually happens is that the subsequent mopping step will be futile because you’ll just be moving wet filth, grit, fluff, and fur in moist little clumps. If you want to make this procedure go more quickly, you could get a sweep with disposable dry pads that you can put away once it collects all the grime and dust from the floor – it is up to you to decide! Remove any carpets, chairs, or other impediments from the floor to ensure that you are able to get all debris removed.
Picking the Right Equipment
Your choice of equipment and soap is very essential for achieving squeaky clean floors. Before you go out and get your mop and detergent, think about two things: what you prefer to use to clean your floor and what kind of floor you have. There are traditional mopping equipment in the market, such as string-based and sponge-based mops, as well as mops that conveniently come with disposable wipes which can all be used on a variety of floor surfaces, from finished wood and parquet. It is also adequately soft enough to use on a daily basis for debris and mild grime.
If You Have a Hardwood Floor
If you prefer a more conventional way of mopping your hardwood floors, a basic white vinegar and water solution (with a 1:2 white vinegar to water ratio) with a regular mop once weekly or so would suffice. On both polished and unpolished wood floors, use a barely moist mop because excessive amounts of water can readily cause cracking. While mopping, make sure there are no spots or surface waters. Additionally, any ionic strength soap and water mixture, like dish soap, will also be adequate.
If You Have Laminate Floor
Different kinds of mops, such as kinds with sprays or with strips work well on laminate flooring. To prepare a mopping solution, combine several drops (approximately a teaspoonful) of liquid detergent with hot water. Anything that has grease in it should be avoided. Also, attempt to use small amounts of water when you mop your floor as it could leak under the laminate boards and cause your floor to bulge or become uneven. When you’re done with mopping, wipe the clean floor with a dry mop.
If You Have a Vinyl Floor
Vinyl has the advantage of being extremely durable and simple to clean. You can opt to mix both apple cider vinegar and water to create a mopping mixture. Vinyl is tough and can withstand chemicals that are very acidic, which means that when you disinfect and remove filth from the floor, it will not leave a soapy residue behind. You could just use mild detergent and hot water if your floor is not very dirty.
If You Have Linoleum Floor
Mild dish soaps work best for mopping floors made of linoleum; merely a few splashes of dish warm soapy water will be sufficient to keep your floors clean. Linoleum can also be cleaned using any combination of apple cider vinegar and water, or even just scrubbing with baking soda for when you encounter difficult spots.
If You Have a Stone Tile Floor
For floors made out of stone, you should find or create an ionic strength solution as it is much more suitable for this kind of flooring. To avoid mistakenly removing any varnish from your tile, consider not using bleach, vinegar, or ammonia just to be safe.
If You Have Ceramic Tile Floor
For ceramic, an ordinary and non-toxic solution of hot water and vinegar will do just the trick.
After Mopping
After you’ve cleaned and rinsed the entire floor area in different sections, give it a last rinse with clean, warm water. Allow your floor to dry before replacing couches, rugs, and other items. Also, to make the drying process much quicker and easier, do remember to open your windows or switch your fan on so that the wind or breeze can help you to dry your floors a lot quicker.
Also, how many of you have placed your mop up before offering it a thorough cleaning after each use? It’s easy to just put your mop away into the powder room, closet, and anywhere your housekeeping tools live when they’re not in use, but it’s critical to clean and dry such items before using them again. You’ll be happy you did it, we promise. Often these mops can be washed in a pail with warm water and small amounts of bleach, and then squeezed out to dry.
Conclusion
In summary, cleaning your floor does not have to be difficult, and neither is achieving a squeaky, shiny clean floor difficult as well. All you have to do is to be a little more mindful of what your floors are made out of and what sort of solution best fits your home and you would have already won half this (cleaning) battle. Keep this list in mind the next time you clean your floors!
