How to Clean a Floor
Know what kind of floor you've got., Plan to clean sections of the floor in the right order., Sweep the floor to clear any debris and to collect hair and dust., Use natural materials where possible., Wear gloves and soak the mop in the pail of soapy...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Know what kind of floor you've got.
While the tips here cover some basic steps for sweeping/vacuuming and mopping, particular types of floor require different materials and tools.
To get the best advice, check out an article for your particular floor type:
How to Clean Hardwood Floors How to Clean Tile Flooring How to Clean Carpets How to Clean Laminate Floors How to Clean Vinyl Flooring How to Clean Concrete Floors -
Step 2: Plan to clean sections of the floor in the right order.
Be smart: avoid getting "stuck" in a certain area and needing to rewash it after you've walked over it.
Clean from the far corner of any given room, towards the door, so that you don't end up doing extra work. , It's important to do this before you introduce water, so that you can sweep it all up without it sticking.
You can also vacuum at this stage, if desired. , You can try baking soda for tile floors; dissolve 1/2 cup of baking soda in warm water, and use it to mop your floors.For wood floors, try vinegar; just combine 1/4 cup of white vinegar with 1 quart of water and use that.,, Walk around carefully so as not to get dirt on the areas you've already cleaned, but keep going until everything has had a good mopping. , If it gets too grey or grimy, add more detergent/natural products and water.
This is a good time to rinse the mop out, too. , By this time your floor might have some streaks of dirt that the mop missed or even spread.
To remove them, wipe the area with clean water, over and over again.
Another method is to splash hot water around the floor, wait, and then mop the area twice or thrice.
Just avoid flooding your floor! -
Step 3: Sweep the floor to clear any debris and to collect hair and dust.
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Step 4: Use natural materials where possible.
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Step 5: Wear gloves and soak the mop in the pail of soapy water.
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Step 6: Start mopping in one direction.
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Step 7: Change the water if needed.
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Step 8: Give it a second go.
Detailed Guide
While the tips here cover some basic steps for sweeping/vacuuming and mopping, particular types of floor require different materials and tools.
To get the best advice, check out an article for your particular floor type:
How to Clean Hardwood Floors How to Clean Tile Flooring How to Clean Carpets How to Clean Laminate Floors How to Clean Vinyl Flooring How to Clean Concrete Floors
Be smart: avoid getting "stuck" in a certain area and needing to rewash it after you've walked over it.
Clean from the far corner of any given room, towards the door, so that you don't end up doing extra work. , It's important to do this before you introduce water, so that you can sweep it all up without it sticking.
You can also vacuum at this stage, if desired. , You can try baking soda for tile floors; dissolve 1/2 cup of baking soda in warm water, and use it to mop your floors.For wood floors, try vinegar; just combine 1/4 cup of white vinegar with 1 quart of water and use that.,, Walk around carefully so as not to get dirt on the areas you've already cleaned, but keep going until everything has had a good mopping. , If it gets too grey or grimy, add more detergent/natural products and water.
This is a good time to rinse the mop out, too. , By this time your floor might have some streaks of dirt that the mop missed or even spread.
To remove them, wipe the area with clean water, over and over again.
Another method is to splash hot water around the floor, wait, and then mop the area twice or thrice.
Just avoid flooding your floor!
About the Author
Andrea Williams
Committed to making lifestyle accessible and understandable for everyone.
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