Scrub Mop Floors First, Don’t Just Wet Mop (Explained)
Keeping floors clean is an important part of maintaining a healthy home. However, many people make the mistake of just using a wet mop to clean their floors. While wet mopping does remove some dirt, it often just spreads grime around. For truly clean floors, it’s important to scrub floors first before mopping.
Scrubbing floors loosens and lifts dirt, grease, and residue from the floor surface. This allows you to capture all that built-up grime with your mop rather than just pushing it around. Taking this extra scrubbing step makes a huge difference for cleanliness!
Why You Should Scrub Floors Before Mopping
There are a few key reasons why it’s important to scrub floors prior to wet mopping:
1. Loosens and Lifts Dried-On Grime
Scrubbing uses friction and cleaning agents to break down stubborn dirt and residue stuck to flooring. Brushes, microfiber pads, or scrub sponges all help scour off this grime so it can be removed.
2. Removes Surface Stains and Discoloration
Thorough scrubbing also lifts stains that can discolor flooring over time. Scuffs from shoes, spills, and high-traffic patterns can become stained into the floor. Scrubbing helps remove these stains so floors look like new again.
3. Improves Results of Mopping
After scrubbing, floors are prepped so mopping can remove all the lifted dirt and debris much more effectively. Without scrubbing first, mopping fails to capture all the built-up grime on floors.
Floor Scrubbing Tips and Tricks
Scrubbing floors takes a bit more time and effort than mopping alone. But it delivers superior cleanliness. Here are handy tips for scrubbing tile, vinyl, wood, and other flooring:
Use the Right Scrubbing Tools
Scrub brushes – Stiff bristle brushes are ideal for scrubbing textured flooring like tile, grout, stone, and vinyl to lift grime from crevices.
Microfiber pads – For smoother floors like hardwood, laminate, and resilient vinyl, opt for microfiber scrub pads that can conform to the floor shape.
Scrub sponges – Sponges work for lightly scrubbing floors in good condition without heavy staining or buildup.
Scrub machine – For large areas, use a floor scrubbing machine to reduce effort and finish faster.
Thoroughly Sweep or Vacuum First
Remove loose dirt, debris, and pet hair by thoroughly sweeping or vacuuming floors before scrubbing. This prevents spreading loose grime around while scrubbing. It also allows cleaning agents to focus fully on breaking down stuck-on stains and buildup.
Use Warm Water and Cleaner
Warm water helps cleaning agents dissolve residue better. An alkaline floor cleaner also helps saponify grease and grime. For wood floors, stick to wood floor cleaners only.
Let Cleaners Soak In As Needed
For floors with heavy soil buildup or staining, allow cleaners to soak for 5-10 minutes so they can fully penetrate and dissolve the grime before scrubbing.
Scrub Heavily Soiled Areas First
Focus on high-traffic zones around entryways, hallways, and doorways first since they harbor the most grime. Scrub these areas extensively before moving on.
Rinse Properly After Scrubbing
Remove all dirty water and cleaning residue completely. For tile floors, use a wet/dry vacuum to suck up dirty water. With wood floors, rinse several times with minimal water to prevent warping or water damage.
Step-By-Step Process For Scrubbing Floors
Now let’s walk through the full process for scrubbing different types of floors:
Scrubbing Tile and Grout Floors
Supplies Needed
- Stiff bristle scrub brush
- Grout brush
- Alkaline tile floor cleaner
- Bucket & scrub pad holder
- Wet/Dry vacuum
- Rubber gloves & knee pads
Step 1 – Sweep and Vacuum
Sweep floor to remove loose debris. Then use vacuum to get dirt from crevices and corners. Remove any furniture or rugs as well.
Step 2 – Mix Cleaner Solution
Fill bucket halfway with warm water. Add alkaline tile floor cleaner and stir. Check label for proper dilution ratio.
Step 3 – Soak High-Traffic Areas
Apply solution liberally on areas with heaviest soil and stain buildup. Let soak 5-10 minutes so grime can dissolve.
Step 4 – Scrub Entire Floor with Stiff Brush
Dip brush in solution. Scrub entire floor using firm pressure in circular motions to lift dirt from tile and grout crevices.
Step 5 – Heavy Duty Grout Scrubbing
Use a specialized grout brush to rigorously scrub stained or dirty grout lines. Ensure grime is fully lifted.
Step 6 – Rinse Away Residue
Use wet/dry vacuum to suck up dirty water. Rinse with clean water 2-3 times until water runs clear. Let floor fully dry.
Scrubbing Vinyl and Resilient Floors
Supplies Needed
- Microfiber floor scrub pad
- Alkaline vinyl floor cleaner
- Bucket & scrub pad holder
- Rubber gloves & knee pads
Step 1 – Sweep and Vacuum
Sweep then vacuum floor fully to remove any loose dirt or debris first.
Step 2 – Mix Cleaner Solution
In bucket, dilute vinyl floor cleaner concentrate with warm water based on label instructions.
Step 3 – Soak Stained Areas
Spray extra cleaner solution on stained, dingy, or worn areas. Allow 5-10 minutes of dwell time before scrubbing.
Step 4 – Scrub Entire Floor with Microfiber Pad
Attach microfiber scrub pad to holder. Dip in solution. Scrub floor using circular motions applying moderate pressure.
Step 5 – Rinse Residue Away
Rinse thoroughly 2-3 times with clean water until water runs clear. Allow floor to fully dry.
Scrubbing Hardwood and Laminate Floors
Supplies Needed
- Microfiber floor scrub pad
- Hardwood floor cleaner
- Bucket & scrub pad holder
- Soft terry towels
Step 1 – Vacuum and Remove Furniture
Thoroughly vacuum then remove any furniture, rugs, or items sitting directly on floor.
Step 2 – Mix Cleaner Solution
In bucket, dilute hardwood floor cleaner concentrate with warm water based on label ratio.
Step 3 – Soak Stained Areas
Use extra spray solution to soak stained or discolored areas. Allow to penetrate for 5-10 minutes before scrubbing.
Step 4 – Gently Scrub Floor
Attach microfiber pad to holder. Dip in solution. Gently scrub entire floor using light pressure along grain.
Step 5 – Rinse and Dry
Rinse several times with minimal water using soft terry cloth towels to prevent water damage. Entire floor must be completely dry before replacing furniture or rugs.
After Scrubbing Floors
Once floors are fully scrubbed and rinsed, here are final steps for getting them ready again:
Inspect and Repeat Scrub As Needed
Inspect floor closely under good lighting after drying. Re-scrub any remaining stained or dingy areas until floor has uniform appearance.
Wet Mopping
Now that grime has been loosened, use a clean mop and floor cleaner solution to wet mop floors. This helps capture any last traces of dirt to leave a sparkling clean floor!
Finish Edges and Corners
Use a small hand brush dipped in solution to carefully scrub along floor edges, corners, and tight areas that are hard to reach. Rinse and dry completely.
Apply Finish If Needed
For surfaces like wood, laminate or vinyl, apply a fresh coat of protective floor finish or sealant after deep cleaning for renewed luster and stain resistance.
Replace Furniture and Mats
Put back any furniture, area rugs, or mats once floors are completely dry. Use furniture cups and rug pads to prevent new scuffs and stains.
FAQs About Floor Scrubbing
Should you scrub floors before or after mopping?
Always scrub floors first before mopping. Scrubbing loosens up all the built-up grime so your mop can remove it more effectively. Mopping alone often just pushes dirt around.
How often should you scrub floors?
Scrub floors deeply every 1-2 months. For high-traffic areas like entryways, kitchens and bathrooms, scrub every 2-4 weeks to prevent heavy soil and grease buildup.
Is hand scrubbing or machine scrubbing better?
For small floors, hand scrubbing with a brush allows you to apply pressure in needed areas. For larger floors, a floor scrubber machine saves time and effort while still lifting grime.
What is the best floor scrubber machine?
Some top-rated floor scrubber models include the Bissell Spinwave, Oreck Orbiter Floor Machine, Hoover FloorMate SpinScrub, and McCulloch Heavy Duty Floor Scrubber. Compare based on floor type, size, scrubbing power, efficiency, and budget.
Can you use a Magic Eraser to clean floors?
Magic Erasers work well for spot cleaning floors. But for a full floor, the melamine foam tends to shred apart quickly. Use stiffer brushes and scrub pads instead for whole-floor scrubbing.
How do you disinfect floors naturally?
Mix a non-toxic disinfecting solution using essential oils like thyme oil, oregano oil, tea tree oil or clove oil mixed with water and castile soap. Scrub floor with mixture and allow to sit 10 minutes before rinsing.
Why is my mop water dirty even after scrubbing floors?
If mop water comes up dirty even after thoroughly scrubbing floors first, it likely means grime and sealants have penetrated pores and crevices in the flooring. This requires deep cleaning those penetrated areas to fully lift out.
Can you scrub and wet mop wood floors?
For wood floors, sweeping then damp mopping is generally recommended rather than wet scrubbing which can damage wood. For periodic deep cleaning, use gentle low-moisture scrub methods only when truly needed.
Conclusion
Scrubbing floors first before mopping might take a bit more work. But it delivers far superior cleanliness compared to just pushing around dirt and grime from mopping alone.
By using the right tools, cleaners, and techniques for your floor type, scrubbing lifts up that stubborn grime that hides in crevices and stains over time. This allows your mop to easily capture all that lifted dirt.
Following this complete floor cleaning process of vacuuming, scrubbing, rinsing, and mopping keeps floors looking beautifully clean while extending their lifespan as well.
The small time investment needed to thoroughly scrub floors pays off for years down the road. So break out those scrub brushes and get scrubbing for healthy floors!
