Mopping Do's And Don'ts - SheKnows

Skip to main content Skip to header navigation

by Sarah Kelsey

Plus Icon

Sarah Kelsey

Plus Icon twitter.com/@sarahkelsey Follow

optional screen reader

Sarah's Most Recent Stories

• Irregular Periods Explained: The Most Common Reasons Your Period Is MIA
• How Light Bladder Leakage Pads Can Help With Urinary Incontinence
• The 10 healthiest vegetables and how to cook with them

View All August 31, 2010 at 10:53pm EDT Share

• Share on Facebook Share on Facebook
• Share on X Share on X
• Google Preferred Google Preferred
• Share to Flipboard Share to Flipboard
• Share on Pinterest Share on Pinterest

Plus Icon

Floors get dirty, fast. Because they’re tread upon by children, guests, pets — you name it — they’re rife with germs and can stain easily. That’s where proper mopping comes in. Here are a few floor-cleaning do’s and don’ts to help you make the most of your time spent mopping.

Do:

• Clear the area before you start mopping. There’s no point in cleaning the floor if you have obstacles such as large pieces of furniture in the way.
• Cordon off the area before you start mopping. Why let people dirty up the floor while you’re still cleaning it?
• Do a light sweep of your floors before mopping. Mops are great for getting up germs and dirt, but they don’t necessarily sweep away large chunks of grime or dust.
• Follow instructions. If you’re using a cleaner to wash away dirt and grime, be sure to mix the product with the right amount of water. Too much water, and the product won’t disinfect; too little, and the cleaner could strip your flooring of its natural sheen or leave behind a slimy residue.
• Clean your mop’s bucket. Wet buckets can be rife with germs and, if you leave them damp, may start to smell (which means the next time you use your mop, it’ll smell, too). Rinse your bucket with a mixture of water and vinegar after every use.
• Make a mopping plan. Never start mopping in the middle of a room. Work your way from one wall to another or from door to door so you can seal the room off to traffic until the floors dry.

Don’t:

• Mop hardwood floors. The water from the mop can warp the flooring.
• Forget to care for your mop. Clean it regularly to rinse it of dirt and dust. Use vinegar to clean away germs in the mop’s strands. Washing your mop will also ensure it doesn’t deteriorate because of bacteria buildup. Store the mop upside down so excess water can drain from the mop’s top.
• Dump mop water down your sink. Mop water is full of germs and dirt, so the worst thing you can do is to dispose of it in a place where you’re apt to drop a toothbrush. Dump it into a toilet or down your shower drain instead.
• Leave the air conditioning on if you’re mopping. Opening windows will increase airflow and circulation, which will help your floors dry faster.

More housecleaning tips:

• 10-Minute home cleaning tips
• 5 Fast cleaning fixes in 5 minutes or less
• Create a weekly cleaning plan

optional screen reader

Tags

• clean house
• cleaning
• cleaning tips
• flooring
• house cleaning
• housecleaning
• how to

More Stories from Parenting

Parenting News

1 in 3 Teens Are Sexting. Here’s What Parents Need to Know Now

15 hrs ago by Ysolt Usigan Parenting News

Addictive Social Media Habits in Early Adolescence Linked to Mental Health Issues in New Study

17 hrs ago by Beth Greenfield Parenting News

Is It OK to Be Friends With Your Teen? Experts Weigh In

22 hrs ago by Raven Snook Plus Icon What to Buy

This Giraffe-Shaped Thermometer With a 10K Waitlist Is Now 20% Off (Plus Other Unique Sick-Day Essentials)

February 11, 2026 by Taylor Lane Parenting News

At the Winter Olympics, a Mom and Her Teen Son —Both Skiers — Are Set to Make History

February 11, 2026 by Beth Greenfield More Stories Sign Up

Never Miss a Thing

The stories you care about, delivered daily.

Email Address Subscribe Sign Up By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Icon Link Plus Icon

SheKnows is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2026 SheMedia, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by WordPress.com VIP

optional screen reader

Our Sites

• Art in America
• Artforum
• ARTnews
• Billboard
• BlogHer
• Deadline
• Flow Space
• Footwear News
• Gold Derby
• IndieWire
• Robb Report
• Rolling Stone
• SheKnows
• Soaps
• Sourcing Journal
• Sportico
• StyleCaster
• The Hollywood Reporter
• Variety
• Vibe
• WWD

SheKnows Close the menu

• Parenting Expand the sub menu
  • Gen Z Voices
  • Parenting News
  • Kids
  • Baby Names
  • Motherhood
  • What to Buy
• Health Expand the sub menu
  • Health News
  • Reproductive Health
  • Children’s Health
  • Love & Sex
  • Nutrition & Fitness
• Food & Recipes Expand the sub menu
  • Recipes
  • Cooking Tips & Trends
  • Entertaining
• Living Expand the sub menu
  • Home & Garden
  • Beauty & Style
• Entertainment Expand the sub menu
  • Entertainment News
  • Celebrities
  • Culture
  • TV & Movies
  • Books & Music
• Special Series Expand the sub menu
  • How to Raise Adults
  • The Bold Pursuit
  • Digital Issues
  • The Black Maternal Health Crisis
  • Black Mind & Body
  • SK Conversations
• Shopping Expand the sub menu
  • Shopping Guides
  • Ultimate Gift Guide Presented by Walmart
• Videos Expand the sub menu

ad