How to clean the floor

Cleaning tips for floors - expert advice for all surfaces

You've dusted and wiped your surfaces, tidied up your belongings and vacuumed your home — all that's left is cleaning the floor!

Depending on what kind of floor you have, you'll need to use different products and approach the task in a different way. If you're unsure, read our handy guide below to keeping your floors sparkling clean...

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How do I keep my floors clean for longer?

Keeping on top of dust, dirt and grime is better than letting it build up and having to spend longer doing a big clean. One way you can do this is by using doormats at entrances, taking your shoes off when you enter the house and grooming your pets often.

It's always a good idea to wipe up any spills immediately if possible, especially on porous surfaces like marble. A product like Zoflora Biodegradable Antibacterial Floor Wipes is useful to have to hand for quick clean ups.

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How to clean laminate floors

Vacuum, dust or wipe with a lightly dampened mop – never use soap-based detergents, as they can leave a dull film on the floor, and avoid over-wetting. Don’t use wax polish either, as this will make the floor slippery.

To remove marks and stains, use a dilute solution of water and vinegar. Don't be tempted to use abrasive cleaners, such as nylon scouring pads or steel wool, as they can scratch laminate.

Stubborn marks, such as shoe polish, can be removed with nail polish remover containing acetone, or other mild solvents. Trusty old WD-40 is also effective.

To protect the floor, put felt pads underneath furniture legs and drip trays under plant pots.

GHI Tip: Vacuum or sweep all types of hard floors regularly to prevent the surface being scratched by grit, and remove shoes at the front door.

How to clean ceramic and quarry tiles

Thankfully, these need minimal maintenance! Sweep and wash with a mild detergent solution, before rinsing with clean water. Never use wax polish – the tiles will become slippery.

You could also try a steam cleaner. They're are a quick and effective option for cleaning sealed floors and tiles, and they only need water to get the job done.

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How to clean terracotta tiles

For the first year after installation, terracotta tiles mature. Most floor suppliers stock a special cleaner, sealant and polish to use on terracotta tiles, so be sure you use the products recommended on yours.

How to clean cork

Wipe factory-sealed cork tiles with a damp mop, using a washing-up liquid solution. For an extra layer of protection, especially in high-traffic areas like the bathroom and kitchen, apply an acrylic or polyurethane sealant.

Never over-wet cork floors, and take care not to damage the seal or protective coatings by dragging appliances or furniture across them.

GHI Tip: Scuff marks on your skirting boards? Squirt them with WD-40 and wipe them away with a soft cloth.

How to clean vinyl

Sweep with a soft brush or vacuum, then wipe with a damp mop, using a mild detergent. Rinse thoroughly after wiping. To remove scuff marks, use a cloth dipped in neat washing-up liquid or white spirit, then rinse off.

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How to clean stone

Stone is susceptible to staining, so it should always be protected with a resin sealant. To clean sealed stone, vacuum it thoroughly, before mopping with a mild detergent solution.

To remove grease or oil, use a proprietary spot-treatment stain remover for stone.

How to clean wooden floors

Sealed floors need only to be swept and damp-mopped. Don't use too much water or the wood could swell and split.

Unsealed and waxed floors should be swept regularly and occasionally re-polished. Use wax sparingly, as any excess will leave a tacky residue and attract dirt, then buff well. Should worn patches appear on the surface, apply a non-slip floor polish.

GHI Tip: Never varnish a waxed floor – it won't dry!

On a waxed floor, polish and dirt builds up over time. The only way to clean it is to remove the wax and start again. Use a cloth moistened with white spirit. Let it soak in, and as the wax and dirt begin to dissolve, wipe it away with crumpled newspaper. Scrub obstinate parts by hand, or with abrasive pads on a floor polisher.

Once all of the polish has been removed, damp-mop with clean water. Leave it to dry completely before applying new polish, one small section at a time.

For protecting your wooden or parquet flooring, we recommend Dr Beckmann Hardwood & Parquet Floor Cleaner. It nourished our boards and brought slightly faded ones back to life.

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How to clean linoleum

Sweep or vacuum to remove grit and dust. Clean with a mop or cloth dampened with a floor cleaner or detergent solution. Use water sparingly. Rinse after washing.

Stubborn marks can be removed by rubbing lightly with a dampened fine nylon pad.

How to clean carpet

If you own a carpet cleaning machine, this is the best way to clean your floor. If not, you can still do a good job without one.

Start by spot-treating any stains. We like the Dr Beckmann Carpet Stain Remover for removing stains. Simply use it according to the manufacturer's instructions, but remember that it's always best to target stains quickly. The longer you leave before removing a stain, the harder it will be.

Next, you'll want to tackle the carpet with your vacuum. Once you've been over it once, use your vacuum accessories to clean hard-to-reach areas. Use the crevice tool to vacuum the edges of your carpet and under radiators — this will help to prevent black lines forming around the skirting board. If your carpet is particularly thick, use the turbo brush (or power brush) to collect stubborn dirt and pet hairs.

GHI Tip: Remove any annoying indents and impression marks left by furniture by rubbing an ice cube over the affected area.

Carpet cleaning kit

How to Clean a Floor

Sarah Aguirre

Sarah Aguirre is a housekeeping expert with over 20 years of experience cleaning residentially and commercially. Over that time, she has been writing about tips and tricks for housekeeping and organizing a home for national publications.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 07/06/22

Reviewed by

Katie Berry

Reviewed by Katie Berry

Katie Berry is a cleaning expert with 30 years of household management experience and 12 years of writing about cleaning methods and routines for Housewife How-Tos. She is the author of several books about homemaking.

Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board

Fact checked by

Emily Estep

Fact checked by Emily Estep

Emily Estep is a plant biologist and fact-checker focused on environmental sciences. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a Master of Science in Plant Biology from Ohio University. Emily has been a proofreader and editor at a variety of online media outlets over the past decade.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

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Project Overview

Traditional damp mopping remains the best way to clean many types of floors. While flat mops like Swiffers are great for daily cleanup of dust and light soil, only a good, thorough weekly damp mopping with a proper cleaning solution and a mop can really provide the deep-down cleaning a floor needs.

Damp-mopping is by far the best method for cleaning vinyl sheet flooring, vinyl tile, and ceramic or porcelain tile. Properly sealed woods or laminates may tolerate an occasional damp wipe, but heavy mopping with water is not advised for these floors.

Here we show you the proper mopping technique to get a sparkling, clean floor, from getting the right mop for your type of flooring to the two bucket method.

As a general rule, floors in high-traffic areas, such as kitchens, dining areas, bathrooms, entryways, and hallways, should be swept or vacuumed every one to three days and mopped once a week. While a good mopping is essential for keeping floors clean, regular sweeping or vacuuming is critical for maintaining the finish and life of the flooring. This is because it removes dirt and grit that can damage the floor as it's walked on. When it comes to mopping, the best time to clean is when the floor looks like it needs it.

Most people imagine they already know how to mop a floor, but a key mistake often made is to neglect to use a second bucket for rinse water. It is very common to use only a bucket of wash water and to rinse the mop in the same water used to wash the floor. The better method is to use two buckets—one for a solution of water and detergent, and another with clean rinse water. You can also use one bucket for wash water and fill a sink basin with fresh water to rinse.

Click Play to Learn How to Clean a Floor

Equipment / Tools

Vacuum cleaner or broom and dustpan
Mop
2 mop buckets
Rag as needed

Materials

Sponge
Mopping detergent
Household cleaner (optional)
Paper towels (optional)

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Choose a Mop and Buckets

Choose a mop based on your floor type. If you have a floor with a lot of texture, such as some ceramic tile floors, you'll want the more classic string mop or a strip mop. If you have a smooth floor, a sponge mop will work well. Mop buckets with built-in wringers work well if you are using a string or strip mop, but any bucket with a handle will work fine if you are using a sponge mop.

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Choose a Cleaner

Select a cleaning detergent that is designed for your flooring type. Avoid products advertised using phrases such as "mop and shine," as these can lead to a buildup that yellows over time.

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Sweep or Vacuum First

Prevent your floor from becoming a sticky, muddy mess by sweeping or vacuuming the floor thoroughly before ever touching the mop to the floor. This is also a good time to pre-wash sticky or gunky spots that you notice when sweeping or vacuuming. Do this with a sponge and soapy water or your favorite household cleaning solution (just make sure it's safe for your flooring).

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Fill the Buckets

Fill each bucket with hot water, which cleans better and quicker than cold or warm water. Add the mopping detergent to the wash bucket. Avoid the temptation to double up on the amount of detergent in an effort to boost cleaning power (or speed). This is not a good idea, as extra-concentrated wash water will not clean any better, and it will just be harder to rinse. Always follow the instructions on the detergent label.

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Dip and Wring the Mop

Dip your mop in the bucket and wring it out with a wringer or by hand. The mop should be damp, not sopping wet. Too much water dripping from the mop can damage a floor and dramatically extends the drying time.

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Begin Mopping

Begin mopping the floor, working from one end to the other, and moving backward so you are always standing on an unmopped area to prevent tracking. Mop in straight lines if you are using a sponge mop. For rag mops, mop in a figure-8 motion to use the design of your mop most effectively.

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Stop for Stubborn Spots

When you encounter tough or sticky spots, rub back and forth rapidly over the spot, applying downward pressure to remove the grime. For hard-to-reach corners and edges, you may need to squat down and scrub the floor with a sponge or paper towels.

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Rinse the Mopped Area

After scrubbing each small area of the floor, rinse your mop thoroughly in the rinse bucket. Dunk the mop up and down a few times, then wring out to remove as much dirty water from the mop head as possible.

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Continue Mopping

Repeat the mopping and rinsing process for each section until you've completed the floor. As you work, keep an eye on both the wash water and rinse water. When they become visibly gray or dingy, empty and refill the buckets. Using dirty wash water or rinse water only spreads dirty water over the floor and complicates the rinsing process.

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Do a Final Rinse

At this point, your floor should now be quite clean, with little or no detergent residue left. But for an extra cleaning step, you can mop over the entire floor a final time using nothing but fresh hot rinse water. If your rinse water gets at all dirty or sudsy, you will know the final rinse has been necessary.

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Let Everything Dry

Thoroughly rinse out your mop and mop bucket and allow them to dry completely before storing them away. Let your floor dry completely before walking on it.

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How and with what to wash the floor: effective cleaning products

“Mopping the floor? What is so difficult here?!” you say. However, like any housework, keeping the floor clean requires some skill and knowledge of a few simple rules for caring for different types of flooring.

Simply washing with water is not enough for high-quality cleansing, preventing the spread of dangerous bacteria and viruses. The best option for cleaning is to use the Domestos Lemon Freshness universal cleaner. It effectively cleans various floor coverings, provides a persistent antibacterial effect, and eliminates unpleasant odors in the house. Just 1 cap per 5 liters of water is enough and your floor is clean and safe again

Take your time - first find out which cleaning method is suitable for the care of different types of flooring in order to avoid damaging them!

A few general rules for cleaning the floor:

Before arming yourself with a rag and mop, start the fight with dirt with a regular broom. Thoroughly sweep the room, paying particular attention to corners and other hard-to-reach areas where dirt tends to accumulate. To keep the dust off, dampen the tip of the broom with water, then remove excess moisture by lightly running the bristles against a floor cloth.
Start cleaning the floor from the corner farthest from the door, moving steadily across the room. To make the task easier, divide the room into several sections, each of which should be cleaned moving from the walls to the center of the room. Once you've finished cleaning, all you need to do is sweep away a pile of dust and debris collected from the most distant corners in the middle of the room.
Don't be lazy and get all unnecessary items (furniture, lights, flower pots, etc.) out of your way. This does not require much time and effort, but it will help to restore cleanliness and order much more efficiently than “washing with obstacles”.
When you have finished cleaning, wipe the floor with a clean, dry cloth to get rid of excess water that can warp some floors.

Having dealt with the general rules of cleaning, let's talk about the care of various floor coverings.

How to wash different types of floor coverings?

Painted floor is easy to maintain, but requires regular cleaning. In rooms where dust and dirt quickly accumulates, for example, in the hallway and kitchen, it is recommended to wipe it daily.

Mini-survey

What distinguishing feature do you understand that the surface in the kitchen or bathroom is thoroughly disinfected?

On a pleasant smell from the surface of

, shine on the surface of

in a characteristic sound during friction with a finger on a surface of

by the absence of spots on the surface

0 Voice (s)

Unpainted floor It is enough to wash once a week, but the process must consist of several stages. First, wash the floor with warm soapy water, scrubbing the most soiled areas with a brush if necessary. Then rinse the surface with clean water and wipe dry, preferably using a piece of burlap or other cloth with a similar texture.

Floors covered with linoleum can be cleaned regularly with a damp cloth. For a more thorough cleaning, use warm soapy water or special detergents.

The most environmentally friendly and durable type of flooring is Parquet . Wash such a floor only 1-2 times a year, using cool water, so as not to damage the coating. But you will have to wipe the parquet with a damp cloth several times a week.

Keep floors covered with over laminate is much easier as it does not need to be polished or waxed. However, just like parquet, laminate flooring requires care. To maintain cleanliness, wipe it regularly with a slightly damp cloth and dry thoroughly, otherwise excess water will soak into the flooring and may cause the laminate boards to swell and warp.

The least whimsical type of flooring is a tile that is not afraid of water and detergents. The tiled floor can be cleaned with soapy water or water with the addition of ammonia.

Fleet the floor with a broom, before proceeding with a wet cleaning
, painted floor, as well as parquet and laminate, need
tiles - this is the least whimsical and easy to care about the type of flooring

how to wash floors correctly, efficiently and quickly?

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10 Apr.

It would seem that the most uncomplicated stage of cleaning the apartment is washing the floors. What subtleties, difficulties and, moreover, secrets can be here? However, someone's floors are constantly sparkling clean, and in some houses dust clods constantly gather in the corners, someone spends 15-20 minutes on this activity, and for someone it's a whole day's work. Therefore, in order for the cleanliness of the floors in your house to become a normal and familiar state, you need to follow a few tricks.

Floor cleaning in different areas of the apartment.

You should remember some nuances of cleaning floors in different parts of the apartment:

In the kitchen area, as in the most polluted space, before wet cleaning, be sure to thoroughly sweep all small and food debris. If necessary, before washing the floor thoroughly, soak dried or greasy dirt on the floor surface.
Before washing the floor in the bathroom, the entire surface must also be swept with a broom or a vacuum cleaner. Since the bathroom floor accumulates the most hair and wool (if you have a pet), you need to collect them before washing. Otherwise, your entire mop will be in tangled tufts of hair and wool, and subsequently cleaning it will be another “pleasure”. After washing, be sure to wipe the bathroom floor dry so as not to slip and injure yourself on a slippery tile floor.
Cleaning the hallway or hallway is the final stage of cleaning the floors in the house. The area at the front door is also quite polluted. And in order not to transfer street dust and dirt to the living quarters of the apartment, take up mopping there at the very end.

Follow the link to see how much it costs general cleaning of an apartment in Kyiv with washing floors and other surfaces.

Floor cleaning equipment