Skip to content

Top Navigation

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAYS
  • ENTERTAINING
  • HOME
  • GARDENING
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING
  • WEDDINGS
  • SHOP
  • DIY
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS
  • LIFE
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Pin FB

Explore Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 7 Things to Do in the Morning to Be Healthier and More Productive

      7 Things to Do in the Morning to Be Healthier and More Productive

      Kick-start your day by making habits out of these mood-boosting tips. Read More
    • Should You Refrigerate Bananas?

      Should You Refrigerate Bananas?

      It's one of your favorite fruits, but does it belong on the counter or in the refrigerator? Read More
    • This 3-Ingredient Homemade Weed Killer Uses Vinegar to Safely Remove Pesky Growths from Your Garden

      This 3-Ingredient Homemade Weed Killer Uses Vinegar to Safely Remove Pesky Growths from Your Garden

      A few easy-to-find ingredients are all you need to create a powerful formula that squashes weeds. Read More
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    Our 20 Most Popular Recipes for Summer

    Our 20 Most Popular Recipes for Summer

    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Cooking How-Tos
    • Baking
    • Menu Planning
    • Food News & Trends
    • Wine
    • Mastering the Holiday Meal
    • What's for Dinner
    • All Recipes
  • HOLIDAYS

    HOLIDAYS

    See All HOLIDAYS
    The Most Patriotic Flowers for the Fourth of July, According to Symbolism

    The Most Patriotic Flowers for the Fourth of July, According to Symbolism

    Show your love of country by displaying these varieties on America's birthday.
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Passover
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
  • ENTERTAINING

    ENTERTAINING

    See All ENTERTAINING
    How to Start Entertaining Friends and Family More Regularly

    How to Start Entertaining Friends and Family More Regularly

    Make gathering with loved ones a priority.
    • Seasonal Entertaining & Decorating
    • Baby Shower Ideas
    • Dinner Party Ideas
    • You're Invited
  • HOME

    HOME

    See All HOME
    We're Putting Up Walls Again—Is the Open Floor Plan on Its Way Out?

    We're Putting Up Walls Again—Is the Open Floor Plan on Its Way Out?

    We asked the experts to weigh in on this popular home design concept.
    • Home Design & Decor
    • Paint Colors & Palettes
    • DIY Home Projects
    • The Well-Kept Home
  • GARDENING

    GARDENING

    See All GARDENING
    A Month-by-Month Hydrangea Care Guide

    A Month-by-Month Hydrangea Care Guide

    Confused about when to do what to your favorite flowering shrubs? We have you covered.
    • Container Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Houseplants
    • Landscaping
    • Vegetable Gardens
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    How to Wash Pillows

    How to Wash Pillows

    They're an essential element of a comfortable bed, so keep yours fresh and in their best shape ever with these expert-approved tips.
    • Cleaning
    • Storage & Organization
    • Laundry & Linens
  • WEDDINGS

    WEDDINGS

    See All WEDDINGS
    Who Pays for What for the Wedding?

    Who Pays for What for the Wedding?

    Get the traditional rules for who pays for the wedding details.
    • Real Weddings
    • Wedding Party
    • Wedding Planning & Advice
    • Wedding Ceremony & Reception
    • Wedding Jewelry
    • Dresses & Style
    • Wedding Beauty & Wellness
    • Wedding Registry
    • Wedding Showers & Parties
    • Love & Marriage
    • Wedding Travel
  • SHOP
  • DIY

    DIY

    See All DIY
    How to Melt and Reuse the Leftover Wax from Candles

    How to Melt and Reuse the Leftover Wax from Candles

    Our easy melt-and-pour method saves the last bit of this home essential.
    • Dyeing
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Kids' Crafts
    • Knitting
    • Paper Crafts
    • Sewing
    • Rescue & Revamp
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    Can Rice Water Really Encourage Hair Growth?

    Can Rice Water Really Encourage Hair Growth?

    This buzzy ingredient is a star player in many new-age hair care products.
    • Beauty
    • Health & Wellness
    • Live Well
  • LIFE

    LIFE

    See All LIFE
    • Family
    • Pets
    • Travel
    • Net Worth
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. marthastewart.com
  2. Cleaning & Organizing
  3. Mopping Basics That Everyone Needs to Know

Mopping Basics That Everyone Needs to Know

By Alexandra Churchill Updated February 28, 2020
Skip gallery slides
Pin
ft_floorcare01_m.jpg
Martha shares her best tips for sparkling floors.
Start Slideshow

1 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
ft_floorcare01_m.jpg

Even with the best precautions, dirt will undoubtedly find its way into your home. And once it does, the best remedy is a good mopping. While cleaning is an endless cycle—and floor care the most relentless—a little vigilance goes a long way. But before you begin mopping at random, develop a plan to maximize your efforts. To help you do so, Martha has shared some of her best mopping tips, culled from her book, Homekeeping Handbook: The Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home ($27.40, amazon.com). Ahead, she shares her best mopping advice, from the types of mops you need to know about to the best ways to tackle the chore itself—plus, she speaks to how often you really need to clean your floors, room by room.

Of course, sparkling floors begin with the correct tools. Start by selecting a mop—and be sure to inspect its coordinating mophead accordingly. Look for eco-friendly, machine-washable options that can be easily cleaned, and then stock up on other essentials, like floor detergent and a bucket (be sure to choose one that speaks to the shape of the mophead). The preparation work doesn't stop there: Before you begin the mopping process, give your surfaces a thorough once-over with your vacuum. Removing dust, debris, hair, and other large particles is the next step towards clean floors (skipping this step negates the hard work that follows!).

When you are ready to begin mopping, consider your method. Set yourself up properly by beginning at the back corner of the room and work backwards—this ensures that you don’t walk directly onto an area that you've already cleaned. Ahead, more of Martha's best mopping tips, including the rest of her methodology.

1 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Choose the Best Tools

simple white mop
Credit: Getty / ContemporAd

Sparkling floors begins with selecting the best-possible mop. We prefer Libman's Wonder Mop, which can tackle virtually any surface, including vinyl, wood, linoleum, laminate, marble, stone, and ceramic tile. Its Microfiber GRIPSTRIPS lift stubborn dirt with ease, while the power wringer helps remove excess water. Best of all? The head is machine washable—which makes it an eco-friendly addition to your home—and composed of antibacterial material.

As for the other tools to add to your floor cleaning arsenal? Purchase a plastic bucket (choose one that is best suited to your mop; round buckets are more common, but a rectangular option will better accommodate a sponge mop), rubber gloves (to protect your hands from dirty water and soiled mop heads), and light-duty nylon scrubbing pads (these are useful for removing scuff marks that a mop can't budge).

  • 12 Pretty Tools for Dirty Household Jobs

2 of 10

3 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Mop Frequently

woman mopping living room
Credit: Getty / fizkes

High-traffic areas, like kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and entryways, require weekly mopping. Infrequently used rooms, such as formal living areas or guest rooms, can be mopped every other week, or even once a month, so long as they're vacuumed once ever seven days (this will remove dust and grit). An all-in-one mop is an easy way to touch up floors in between cleaning sprints. It will allow you to whisk away kitchen spills or muddy foot or paw prints without going to the trouble of dragging out a bucket.

3 of 10

Advertisement

4 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Care for Your Supplies

cleaning closet
Credit: Getty / Rick Lew

Keeping your mop impeccably clean is essential, since even a little bit of leftover soil can result in a sour smell or breed bacteria. To keep yours in good shape, rinse the mophead thoroughly in a bucket of clean, hot (but not boiling) water immediately after mopping. If the mophead is easily detachable, you can rinse it in a utility sink, instead (to avoid spreading germs, never rinse mopheads or other tools used for cleaning in the kitchen sink).

Hang the mop to dry in a well-ventilated area. Most importantly, do not set mops on the floor or put them in closets while damp. The quicker a mop dries, the less likely it is to become malodorous. When your mophead has reached the end of its lifecycle—indicators of this are stained fibers or a permanent odor—dispose of it appropriately. When shopping for a new one, be sure to choose an option that’s machine-washable (and launder it about once a month).

  • When to Replace 10 Household Items You Use Every Day

4 of 10

5 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

How to Mop: Step One

man vacuuming room
Credit: Getty / Maskot

Before mopping, sweep or vacuum the floor to remove grit, hair, and other large particles. Removing the everyday accumulation of dirt first makes the task of mopping less arduous. Be sure to blot dry any wet areas before sweeping or vacuuming; otherwise, you'll dirty the floor further by spreading the grime.

  • The Golden Rules of Vacuuming

5 of 10

6 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

How to Mop: Step Two

ml812n_1298_mop_wood.jpg

Fill a bucket with warm water (unless your floors are waxed; in this case, you should use tepid water) and a small amount of cleaner—generally, a squirt or two is sufficient. Using too much can leave behind a residue, which will make floors look dull.

6 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

How to Mop: Step Three

woman mopping kitchen
Credit: Getty / SolStock

Start in the corner farthest from the entrance and work your way backwards, towards the door. Keep the bucket on an unwashed portion of the floor. Immerse the mop in the bucket, remove it, and wring it out well. No floor benefits from copious amounts of water, which can seep between cracks and under baseboards, causing serious damage. A mop that's too wet will also merely swish the dirt around, instead of lifting it off the floor—and will leave water marks as it dries. You'll know you've wrung the mop sufficiently if the mopped areas dry almost immediately.

  • 10 Household Cleaning Supplies You Can Make Yourself

7 of 10

8 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

How to Mop: Step Four

woman mopping kitchen corner
Credit: Getty / Rawpixel

Begin mopping along the edge of the baseboard in back-and-forth strokes. Move to the open area of the floor, overlapping the back-and-forth strokes as you work. Make two passes over each area—once to wet and to spread the solution, and again to remove it. If you don't pass a second time, detergent may remain, leaving the floor sticky and cloudy. Remove any tough scruff marks with a light-duty nylon pad (be sure to keep separate pads for floors and dishes). If you can't get into tight corners without hitting baseboards, wipe them by hand with a damp cloth.

8 of 10

9 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

How to Mop: Step Five

woman mopping with blue mop
Credit: Getty / urbazon

After several passes, immerse the mop in the bucket, wring it out, and continue. If you're working with a two-sided sponge or string mop, turn it frequently to avoid redepositing soil onto floors. As soon as your bucket becomes murky, replace it with fresh water—but never dump dirty water down sinks, where it can spread germs and contribute to clogs. Flush it down the toilet, instead. When you've finished, mop again with clear water to remove any cleaning-solution residue. If the room is very large, mop and rinse the floor in sections.

  • 12 Things You Never Clean (But Really Should)

9 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

How to Mop: Step Six

man scrubbing floor
Credit: Getty / Pattanaphong Khuankaew / EyeEm

You shouldn't have to get on your hands and knees to scrub a floor manually—only spaces that have been neglected for some time require this. Luckily, frequent mopping will make this task unnecessary.

10 of 10

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Alexandra Churchill

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 10
    2 of 10 Choose the Best Tools
    3 of 10 Mop Frequently
    4 of 10 Care for Your Supplies
    5 of 10 How to Mop: Step One
    6 of 10 How to Mop: Step Two
    7 of 10 How to Mop: Step Three
    8 of 10 How to Mop: Step Four
    9 of 10 How to Mop: Step Five
    10 of 10 How to Mop: Step Six

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Martha Stewart

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Customer Service
    • Media Kit
    • Martha's Blog
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • FAQ
    • Corporate
    • International
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMartha Stewart is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Martha Stewart. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.marthastewart.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Mopping Basics That Everyone Needs to Know
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.