Instead of trying to tackle the whole floor with the same bucket of water, start with a small amount of water for a small area.
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But trying to clean your floor with dirty water is an even bigger pain because you're ultimately wasting your time by spreading the mess around further. Yes, lugging around a big bucket of water everywhere is a pain. If you notice your mop turning an unsightly brown or black color, it's a good sign that it's time to pause and rinse it out. The problem is that many people neglect to swap out or clean their mops before finishing a floor, so they end up using a grimy mop for half of the job. If an overly wet mop only swishes around the mess, a dirty mop is even worse. "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," says Alexandra Churchill, writing for expert homemaker Martha Stewart. On the other hand, you don't want to go overboard with water, either. Definitely follow the instructions for proper dilution to avoid this problem. You could end up with an excess of product that will leave your floors looking streaky at best or damaged at worst. "While bleach will likely disinfect porous surfaces, it's possible that you could damage the wood or the finish, discoloring it or getting into the actual wood and damaging it," Susan Richardson, Ph.D., and a professor of chemistry at the University of South Carolina tells Apartment Therapy.īefore you dump extra cleaning solution into the bucket to make up for your lack of mopping in a while, you should know that overdoing it may make your floor look worse. However, it can be just as harsh on your floors - especially on porous surfaces like hardwood. The same goes for other flooring types.īleach is a disinfecting favorite among many homeowners because it's the no-nonsense cleaner that obliterates virtually every germ in its path. "But if your flooring isn't new, or you can't consult the manufacturer, pick a product that is specifically made for cleaning wood floors," Bennett says. Jessica Bennett of Better Homes and Gardens recommends speaking with your flooring manufacturer for tips on cleaning specific floor types. You might be surprised at all the dust you'll scoop up on an otherwise clean-looking floor.Ī product may claim to leave your floors bright and shiny, but if it's not the right kind of solution for your flooring type, you could end up with a cloudy mess.
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And don't assume that just because a floor looks clean it doesn't need to be swept first. Obviously, it's going to be difficult to achieve a smooth, sleek shine on a surface that's riddled with dirt, grime or hair. Not sweeping the floor before breaking out the mop and bucket is a rookie mistake and most people know better. From innocent mistakes to egregious errors that could ruin that gorgeous hardwood, here's a list of things to avoid if you want to achieve a shiny, streak-free finish. You bought the recommended brand of cleaner and used a top-of-the-line mop - so what went wrong?Īctually, there's plenty of room for error when it comes to deep-cleaning your floors.
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On the flip side, nothing is more aggravating than mopping for hours only to spot several streaks and spots on the ground. Nothing is more satisfying than a freshly-cleaned floor that shines like new. This story is sponsored by Giant Carpet One.