How to Mop Your Floors the Right Way, According to Martha

Mopping the floor — Photo:
vadimguzhva / GETTY IMAGES

Even with the proper precautions and regular vacuuming, dirt will undoubtedly find its way onto your floors. And once it does, the best remedy is a thorough mopping. But if you don't do it correctly or with the right tools, you can easily just push built-up grime around your floors rather than actually removing it. To ensure you're doing this chore the right way, we're sharing Martha's best mopping tips, which come straight from her Homekeeping Handbook.

How Often to Mop Your Floors

High-traffic areas, like kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and entryways, require weekly mopping. Infrequently used rooms, such as formal living areas or guest rooms, can be mopped every other week, or even once a month, so long as they're vacuumed once every seven days to remove dust and grit. An all-in-one mop is an easy way to touch up floors in between cleaning sprints. It will allow you to whisk away kitchen spills or muddy foot or paw prints without going to the trouble of dragging out a bucket.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

Vacuum
Mop
Bucket

Materials

Mop

Household cleaner
Water
Non-abrasive nylon pad
Microfiber cloth
Rubber gloves

Instructions

Vacuum:

Before mopping, sweep or vacuum the floor to remove grit, hair, and other large particles. Removing the everyday accumulation of dirt first makes the task of mopping less arduous. Be sure to blot dry any wet areas before sweeping or vacuuming; otherwise, you'll dirty the floor further by spreading the grime.
Fill Your Bucket:

Fill a bucket with warm water (unless your floors are waxed; in this case, you should use tepid water) and a small amount of cleaner designed for your floors—generally, a squirt or two is sufficient. Using too much can leave behind a residue, which will make floors look dull.
Dampen Your Mop:

Dip the mop in the bucket, remove it, and wring it out well. The mop should be damp but not sopping wet. No floor benefits from copious amounts of water, which can seep between cracks and under baseboards, causing serious damage. A mop that's too wet will also merely swish the dirt around, instead of lifting it off the floor—and will leave water marks as it dries.
Begin Mopping:

Start in the corner farthest from the entrance and work your way backwards, stepping only in areas you haven't cleaned yet. Begin mopping along the edge of the baseboard in back-and-forth strokes. Move to the open area of the floor, overlapping the back-and-forth strokes as you work.
Clean Stubborn Areas:

Remove any tough scruff marks with a light-duty nylon pad (be sure to keep separate pads for floors and dishes). If you can't get into tight corners without hitting baseboards, wipe them by hand with a damp cloth.
Continue Mopping:

Make two passes over each area—once to wet and to spread the solution, and again to remove it. If you don't pass a second time, detergent may remain, leaving the floor sticky and cloudy. If you're working with a two-sided sponge or string mop, turn it frequently to avoid redepositing soil onto floors. As soon as your bucket becomes murky, replace it with fresh water—but never dump dirty water down sinks, where it can spread germs and contribute to clogs. Flush it down the toilet instead.
Rinse Your Floors:

When you've successfully cleaned your floors, mop again with clear water to remove any cleaning-solution residue. Let dry.

Mopping supplies — Liudmila Chernetska / GETTY IMAGES

Choosing a Mop

Sparkling floors begins with selecting the best-possible mop. We prefer Libman's Wonder Mop, which can tackle virtually any surface, including vinyl, wood, linoleum, laminate, marble, stone, and ceramic tile. Its microfiber strips lift stubborn dirt with ease, while the power wringer helps remove excess water. Best of all: The head is machine washable—making it an eco-friendly addition to your home—and composed of antibacterial material.

How to Clean Your Mop

Keeping your mop clean between uses is essential. "Failure to do so can leave your clothes with an undesirable musty odor, grow mold, and even bacteria," says Melissa Poepping, the founder of The Chemical Free Home. To clean yours, rinse the mophead thoroughly in a bucket of clean, hot water immediately after mopping. If the mophead is detachable, you can rinse it in a utility sink instead. To avoid spreading germs, never rinse mop heads or other tools used for cleaning in the kitchen sink. Hang the mop to dry in a well-ventilated area. The quicker a mop dries, the less likely it is to become malodorous. Most importantly, do not set mops on the floor or put them in closets while damp.

When to Replace Your Mop

When your mophead has reached the end of its lifecycle—indicators of this are stained fibers, a permanent odor, or rips in the fabric—dispose of it appropriately. When shopping for a new one, be sure to choose an option that's machine-washable (and launder it about once a month).

Natural Cleaning Alternatives

Rather than using a household cleaner, consider mopping your floors with a natural alternative (so long as it suitable for your floor type). "I will forever be a fan of vinegar, water, and essential oils for cleaning my floors," says Poepping. "Nearly every floor surface can tolerate it (with the exception of wood) and the cleaning power of vinegar has long stood the test of time. For hardwood floors, I use a mixture of hot water, olive oil, and orange essential oil." Always test your solution on an inconspicuous area of your floor prior to cleaning.