Why are floors still dirty after mopping? (2023)

Why do my floors always seem dirty?

Floors can look or feel dirty for a number of reasons. Dirty hard surface floors are usually caused by the environment, an overuse of chemicals, and a large volume of traffic. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to keep your floor looking and feeling cleaner for longer.

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.

Without a clean sweep or vacuum job, mopping a floor covered in dust, dirt, and hair simply spreads the debris around.

To ensure there is not film build-up left behind the floors should be followed with a quick plain water rinse and a quick-drying to eliminate the chance of filmy residue left on the floors.

Floors can look or feel dirty for a number of reasons. Dirty hard surface floors are usually caused by the environment, an overuse of chemicals, and a large volume of traffic. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to keep your floor looking and feeling cleaner for longer.

The flat head microfiber mop. That's right! It's time to toss out every other floor mop you have ever owned and you'll soon know exactly why! This floor mop is what the pros use in almost every case and there's many reasons why.

For heavily soiled floors, you'll likely have to mop twice. The first time, wet the entire floor (don't flood it, just get it good and wet). This will loosen the dirt and any sticky goo. Mop around the edges first, then move to the middle of the floor, using overlapping, figure-eight strokes.

For best results, mop your high-traffic areas no more than once a week. Other areas that see less foot traffic can be cleaned once a month, or (prepare to put your feet up) even once a quarter. Too much mopping can wear down the seal on your floors or oversaturate them with water.

Should you sweep before mopping? Mopping isn't a one-stop shop for cleaning the floors. You should always sweep, dust mop or vacuum to remove large pieces of debris and stray hair. Mop in sections.

What is better than mopping?

Autoscrubbers offer a better way to clean hard surface floors. With features like pre-sweepers, automatic cleaning solution dispensers, and vacuums, the technology cleans more completely and much faster than a mop. Autoscrubbers also leave surfaces dry, cutting the potential for slips and falls.

A common concern about mopping is its effectiveness. A dirty mop will just move the filth around the house and not clean the floors. However, a clean mop and good mopping technique will effectively remove grime and germs from the floor.

Mops do a better job of agitating build-up so they can easily wipe it away with either a cleaning solution or water. Depending on the type of cleaner that you use, mops can also remove 99.9 percent of bacteria and common household germs; steam mops accomplish this with water alone.

Mop Frequently

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.

Using excess water

A common mistake is thinking that wet is clean! On the contrary, when cleaning a floor, you should try to use the least amount of water possible! After dipping the mop in the bucket, wring it out until it's almost dry!

The best thing you can use to clean your floors is cold water and vinegar. Cleaning vinegar is safe for all floors (except marble or stone floors). It helps keep them clean, prevents them from getting sticky, and kills any bacteria harboring there.

Try combining complementary scents, like chamomile, lavender and vanilla or a mixture of different citrus oils. A blend of rosemary, lemon and lavender also yields a yummy aroma, as does wild orange with peppermint. Start small with just a few drops at a time and work your way up to more.

Clean Professional No-Rinse Floor Cleaner is designed to clean a variety of finished floor surfaces to the shine. This product removes tough, ground-in dirt without leaving a dulling residue. It is great for use in restaurants (front of house), salons, medical/dental offices, schools, daycares, offices and churches.

Leaving the job half done: After damp mopping or waxing a hardwood floor, the job should be finished with a good buffing to prevent streaking. Simply use a dry microfiber mop to buff the finish and ensure a shiny floor.

There's no need to rinse your vinegar-mopping solution from your floors. Keep in mind that your floors should be drying very quickly if you've wrung out your mop sufficiently.

Why sweeping and mopping should not be done at night?

Sweeping at night is bad luck

“In ancient times, when there was no electricity, brooming at night with minimal lighting might also sweep away expensive items like rings, earrings, and chains out of the house,” he says.

When performed regularly and thoroughly with the right tools, dust mopping saves time and money. It helps maintain high gloss while extending the life of your floor program, since proper dust mopping will remove the fine abrasive soils that grind and wear on your floor finish.

Microfiber flat mops paired with dual compartment buckets are an effective way to clean for health and sanitation. Together, they prevent surface and mop head re-soiling. The dense microfiber blend promotes deeper penetration for cleaner surfaces.

Many professional cleaners suggest vacuuming first before mopping. Especially if your interior floor is hard surfaces, vacuuming will make it easier for you to sweep and mop later. Some would instead follow the process of dusting, sweeping, and vacuuming first before cleaning.