Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Getting ready to mop
• Warnings

Sweeping and vacuuming can keep your hardwood floors fairly clean, but you will eventually have to mop them to remove stubborn dirt and dust. The process may seem overwhelming if you've never done it, but it's actually quite easy to mop a floor and you don't have to be very handy.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Getting ready to mop

1. Mop up to once a week. If your floors get pretty dirty from children, pets, or because they are walked on a lot, you may need to mop them once a week. However, in most homes, mopping the hardwood floors about twice a month is enough.
   • Mopping your floors too often can leave a sticky residue for dirt and dust particles to stick to.
2. Clean and tidy up your mopping supplies. If you used a cloth mop, remove the mop from the stick and throw it away or wash it with hot water and detergent. If you used a traditional strand mop, throw the dirty water in the toilet and hang your mop on a hook so it can dry.
   • It's not required, but it's a good idea to rinse a strand mop with clean water and wring it out well before hanging it up.
3. Let the mopped area dry. When you're done mopping, let the floor air dry for half an hour to an hour. You can open the doors and windows in the room if you want to make the floor dry faster.
   • If streaks start to appear on the floor, soak up the water on the floor with clean towels.
4. Put all furniture and objects back in place. When the floor is completely dry, put all furniture and objects that you previously removed back in their place. If necessary, clean the underside of the chair and table legs and similar furniture with a wet paper towel to prevent dirt and dust from getting on the floor.
   • Reposition furniture and objects as carefully as possible to avoid black marks and scratches on the floor.

Warnings

• Do not use acidic cleaning agents such as vinegar on marble, granite and slate floors.
• Know that you should never mop floor-waxed hardwood floors. The water can drip between the planks and damage the wood.