How To Get Rid Of Stickiness After Mopping

Mopping all your floors only to step back and realize there's a new, unwanted stickiness to contend with can upset anyone. Don't let that tricky tackiness get the best of you! Check out our savvy guide on how to bid farewell to those sticky floors and enjoy a gleaming home.

What causes your floors to stick like glue post-mop?

Although a bummer, a sticky floor is not something to break your head over. After you know why it happens, you'll be better prepared to fix the issue and prevent it in the future. Check the main culprits:

• Grimy water and mop. Dirt builds up on your mop and in the water. When you don't replace the water, the dirt spreads through the floor with every sweep.
• Too much cleaning solution. Overdoing it with the cleaner beyond what the label suggests means it won't mix well with water. This oversaturation transforms into a sticky mess once your floor dries.
• No rinse. While it's not always a must-do, neglecting to rinse your floor means any leftover grime from the mop session stays put, making your floor sticky.

How to deal with stickiness in ceramic, vinyl, or stone floors

Whether you're dealing with vinyl, natural stone, or ceramic floors, the remedy for stickiness is almost as simple as the culprits themselves. Just follow the guidelines below to avoid returning to a grimy floor.

Disclaimer: If you've got hardwood floors, skip to the next section for specific advice.

Step #1. Make sure your tools are clean

To get rid of the dirt, your tools need to be dirt-free, too. So, give your mop a good rinse under the tap. As your mop bucket can also collect grime, give it a quick refresh with clean water until it's dirt-free.

Step #2. Fill the bucket with warm water (or a cleaning solution)

As stickiness after mopping is usually caused by dry, dirty residue, it can easily be removed using warm water.

If you feel the stickiness is too much, you can boost the cleaning power. However, don't opt for your usual cleaner; instead, toss in ½ tablespoon of dish soap in the bucket of water.

Step #3. Spot clean

Sometimes, you'll find areas where the stickiness concentrates. Focus on those zones first to prevent the excess dirt from spreading to the rest of the floor. Use a cloth dampened with water (or the soapy solution) to remove them.

Step #4. Mop and rinse

Now, get to mopping as usual, but don't forget to give your mop a little rinse every now and then. The magic here is in maintaining cleanliness, so swap out the water the moment it starts looking like a dirt pool. Finally, let your floors air dry.

What about hardwood floors?

Although you can pretty much follow the same routine to clean your hardwood floors as the rest of the floors, there are a few crucial things you need to do to avoid damaging them. Take a look:

• Hot water is a no-no: High temperatures are harmful to wood. So stick to cold water in your mop bucket to sidestep any unwanted damage.
• Amp up the cleaning power: Since cold water plays second fiddle to warm water, throw in a tablespoon of mild dish soap to compensate.
• Wring your mop right: Make sure to wring out your mop until it's just a tad damp. Too much water can turn your wood floor into a swollen, misshapen nightmare.

Shine Bright Cleaning Services will leave your floors sparkling!

At Shine Bright Cleaning Services, we can take over all your cleaning chores so you can relax! Your floors will be spotless, and your whole house will shine. Let our cleaning experts do the dirty work for you so you can have more free time. Get your cleaning estimate now!