How to mop a floor? Do you need to rinse the floor somehow afterwards?

Question

Hi there! I know how to mop a floor, but, I am wondering how to rinse the soapy water you put on the floor to clean it? It seems to me that mopping just moves dirty water around? Any tips on how to rinse?

Is there also a safe cleaner for crawling babies? I have read vinegar, but does that disinfect?

Answer 1

The best way to mop is still with a long rag mop! Soap it up in a bucket of "**** and Span" or "Mr. Clean" (wring out excess suds and water with a mop wringer that sits in the mop bucket) walk backward as you swing the mop strings back and forth across the floor; flop the mop back in the bucket move it up and down to get more suds, then squeeze excess out and mop again. Rinse time, empty soapy bucket fill with clear cool water, sop mop up and down then squeeze in wringer dealie, do it again to make sure suds are gone and rinse by slopping fairly dry rinsed mop back and forth over the washed areas. Empty when too dirty or sudsy and get clear water and proceed till thoroughly rinsed. Threaten to pinch ears off whoever walks on your wet clean floor!!!

Answer 2

Depending on how dirty the floor was to begin with, usually there is a little dirt left on the floor, but a residue of the cleaner will also be there with that little bit of the dirt. The best thing to do is to throw out the dirty mop water, rinse the bucket and mop, put clean water in the bucket and go over the floor again using only the plain clean water. If the floor was still dirty, either from the dirt being re-cycled in the original dirty water, or you get suds from the cleaner residue, you may have to mop it more than once with the clear water.

You mentioned "soapy water" don't use soap, use a floor cleaner, and follow the instructions on the container so you don't put more than necessary in the first water, if you do that will make it more difficult to rinse it thoroughly.

If you're planning to wax the cleaned floor, it is especially important to get all the dirt and cleaner off, otherwise, the wax mixes with the residue of the dirt and cleaner and gets embedded in it. creating a yellowing in the wax, and it will eventually have to be removed with a special cleaner.

Answer 3

I mop it with whatever cleaner I'm into at the time. Second, I go back over with clean water, changing the water frequently. Then I take two old towels or large soft cloths, put them under my feet and "skate" the floor dry. If the towels come up dirty........time for another rinse job and another skating party.

My favorite tool was (and still is ) an old Hoover floor machine. It dispensed cleaning solution, scrubbed it's heart out, then sucked all the suds back up. Refill the dispenser with clear water and rinse and suck again. These new floor machines don't have the capacity either in liquid or don't have suction. The new ones with suction are pathetic when compared to the old ones. (thanks I need to get that off my chest)

Answer 4

I do it in sections. Mop with the soapy water in a 3'x3' section, then go back over it with a rinsed mop to wipe off the leftover soap. You'd be suprised how much more dirt you get off that way.

And I change the soapy water if it starts getting brown.

I have a small kitchen, but it usually takes 2-3 bucketsful of soapy water so that I know it's clean. And i only mop it once.

Answer 5

Mop The Floor With You

Answer 6

I go over it once with soap and water, then I Take the dirty water and dump it, rinse out my mop until it comes clean the, refill my buck and go over the floor with just the water, until the water comes clear. I know it sounds like alot, but it's the only way to make sure your floor is clean and the dirty water and soap doesn't get back onto the floor.

Answer 7

It depends on which product you buy. Some products require NO rinsing.
First get a product either no rinse or rinse product. If it requires no rinse follow instructions on product. Usually take a wet rag or mop and just squeeze product on floor, mop, ring out a few times with clean water and keep washing. Then you are done.

If it requires rinsing get a bucket or use the sink as a bucket. Follow directions on bottle. You wash, scrub and rinse as you go.

Answer 8

Clean water and a new clean mop is what I do. Or rinse your mop out good 1st if you only have 1. Also, if you have tile and the floor is really dirty, Krud Kutter cleaner from Home Depot works very well.

Answer 9

It depends on what type of mop you are using. I use a libman WONDER MOP...the material is excellent and pretty much hands free of the mop itself...all you do is after you are done a room change the water to clear water and rinse the mop out throughly...then happy rinsing of the floor...

Answer 10

After you mop your floor, rinse your mop out and get a pail of clean water and mop your floor with the clean water.