Cleaning the floors might seem like a pretty self-explanatory chore, but it turns out you could actually have been doing it wrong this whole time. Experts say you should mop high-traffic areas in your home – think hallways and living rooms – at least once a week as dirt and germs can accumulate quickly. But cleaning properly is just as important and cleaning frequently, and fortunately one expert has revealed how you should really be mopping your floors.
Cleaning expert Georgia, who is known to her 169,000 TikTok followers and @cleanwithgeorgiia, says the first important step is to vacuum your floor before mopping, to avoid spreading any debris around.
Georgia explains that one common mistake is the direction people mop in. Many homeowners seem to believe that mopping against the grain of their floor is the best way to tackle the dirt, but this isn’t true.
She said: “You’re actually doing more damage than good and the debris and dirt is going to get stuck in the little cracks.”
Georgia tells followers to go with the grain, as this way they ensure a “much better finish”.
Once you’ve finished working on your floors, there is still another step to be followed: cleaning the mop.
Georgia explains that she soaks her mop in bicarbonate of soda before putting it in the washing machine on a hot cycle.
She said: “If you don’t do this, all that dirt that you’ve gotten off the floors is just going to get stuck on the mop and when you think you’re cleaning the floors next time, you’re just pushing the first everywhere.”
Another common misconception is to do with the temperature of the water in the mop bucket. According to cleaning brand Vileda, many people think you need to mop with boiling water, though this isn’t true.
It explains that grease and oils in the floor can react with boiling water and soften, which means they are just being spread around while you mop.
The best way to know what temperature water you should be using is to follow the instructions on the floor-cleaning product you use.
In addition to mopping with the grain, you should consider mopping in a figure of eight motion, which will help you actually pull up the dirt, rather than just spread it around.
Vileda said: “Mopping in an ‘8’ shape whilst pulling the mops towards you means you’re collecting the dirt rather than dispersing it, so you’re using your mop most effectively to get the best clean.”
