How to Mop Your Kitchen the Right Way

Keeping the kitchen clean and tidy is every home cook’s ultimate dread. We can prepare food and whip up some appetizing meals with so much enthusiasm. But when it comes to cleaning and mopping the kitchen floor, we just don’t have the energy anymore. No need to fret. Mopping the kitchen floor and keeping it neat and clean is not difficult. Here, we’ll teach you how.

Start with a Good Mop

Everything starts with the kind of floor material you have in the kitchen. If your floor comes with a smooth, nonporous surface, using a sponge mop does the trick. But if the surface is rather textured, then perhaps a string mop or a rag mop will do.

You might also want to give the best spin mops a try since they are a lot easier to clean during the mopping process. You might also want to ask your contractor – the one who installed the floor in your kitchen – about specific recommendations on the type of mop to use.

Prepare the Kitchen Floor

Like any other cleaning activity, preparing the kitchen floor is important. This often means removing superficial dirt, debris, and other particles that can congeal once you pass a wet or damp mop. Hence, it’s important to sweep the floor with a broom or use a vacuum cleaner to pick out all particles on the floor.

Before you do this, it’s best to manually pick up larger items and put them in the trash can. Sweeping or vacuuming the kitchen floor prior to mopping eliminates the risk of creating bunches of dust and hair that can collect in a corner.

Prepare the Water Bucket for Mopping

There are three essential things to keep in mind when preparing the bucket of cleaning solution for mopping. First, always use warm water as it is perfect for removing oily or greasy stains without damaging the floor surface. It’s also not too cold that the grease will only congeal a lot more. Second, the type of cleaning solution should be appropriate for the type of floor that you have. As such, make sure that the cleaning product you’re going to mix in the water is right for your floor.

It’s also best to go by the manufacturer’s instructions. Third, always use the recommended amount of cleaning solution for every unit of water. For instance, if the manufacturer says one capful of cleaning solution for every gallon of water, then you should follow that.

Learn to Wring the Mop the Correct Way

It’s critical to wring the mop of excess water. There is this belief that the “wetter” the mop, the better it is in cleaning the floor. This is not necessarily true. If the mop is too wet, then it will take a much longer time to dry. You will also leave water spots on the floor.

Wringing the mop after several passes also removes dirt, making the mop clean again for another pass. This is why many homeowners choose the best spin mop to help them keep the mop clean after every pass.

Learn How to Mop the Correct Way

Cleaning with a mop is dependent on the type of mop that you have. For example, sponge mops work best in a straight line. You can go straight towards one side of the kitchen and back. If you’re using a rag or string mop, then you need to move it in figure-8s or half-circles.

When mopping your kitchen floor, it’s best to start from the farthest end and work your way towards the entrance. This will help prevent tracking on the just-mopped floor. It also allows for the much faster drying of the surface.

If you come across a hard or sticky spot on the kitchen floor surface, you can exert more pressure on the mop. Most homeowners have better luck moving the mop back and forth, simulating a scrubbing motion.

Observe a Rinse-Wring-Mop Cycle

Every time you mop the floor, you’re picking up dirt, which can make the mop dirty. That’s why you have to rinse it in the cleaning solution before wringing it of excess water. From here, it’s a cycle of rinsing, wringing, and mopping.

If the water temperature cools down, then you need to replace it. The same is true if the cleaning solution has already turned dark. Be sure to use warm water and the correct type and amount of cleaning solution.

Mopping in the kitchen shouldn’t be a dreadful chore. Stick to best practices and you’ll get your floor clean in no time!