Cleaning floors: this is how you should mop the floor

1. Use the right tools

What do I need to clean the floor?

To clean all the floors in your home, you’ll need the following tools:

• Broom with soft bristles

• Dustpan and brush

• Vacuum cleaner

• Bucket

• Flat cloth mop with handle kit, scrubbing brush or mop

• The correct cleaning products for the type of floor

Where can I get professional cleaning equipment?

If you want to clean large areas thoroughly, you could consider hiring professional cleaning equipment. Such equipment is available from retailers like OBI and Jumbo as well as specialist cleaning companies (links not available in English).

You may also be able to borrow cleaning equipment from friends and family. Alternatively, you can try sharing platforms such as Sharely, which also have equipment available for hire at a low price.

2. Do things in the right order

No matter the type of floor, it’s always important to clean in the right order.

Step 1: move packing boxes and other items out of the way so you can clean your floor.

Step 2: sweep the floor with a soft broom or vacuum it to remove loose dirt.

Step 3: prepare a bucket of mopping water and the appropriate cleaning product. Please note: not all cleaning products are suitable for all types of flooring. If in doubt, get advice from a specialist retailer or contact your landlord.

Step 4: open your windows before damp mopping to make sure the floor dries quicker afterwards.

Step 5: dip your cloth or mop in the mopping water. Wring it out well and wipe the floor. Rinse out the cloth or mop regularly and change the water when necessary. Using dirty mopping water or too much cleaning agent will cause streaks.

Tip: always start at the back of the room and mop towards the door. This helps you avoid making footprints on your freshly cleaned floor.

3. Cleaning floor tiles

Method

To clean tiles, you usually only need to add a few squirts of washing-up liquid or all-purpose cleaner to your bucket of water. Before you start, check the floor for any stubborn marks or stains and clean them with a soft brush or sponge – rough brushes or metal scouring pads can leave unsightly scratches. Let the stains soak for a few minutes. After that, you can mop the floor.

Bicarbonate of soda can be used to clean dirty tile joints. Just mix the powder with a little water and scrub the paste into the joints, before rinsing with warm water. Baking powder has the same effect, but because of the starch it contains, it can create a breeding ground for mould.

You can also use a steam cleaner to clean tiles. Caution with natural stone slabs: marble, slate, sandstone and terracotta tiles are sensitive to acidic cleaning agents.

Cleaning kitchen and bathroom tiles

You can clean kitchen and bathroom tiles just like any other floor tiles. You can use hard soap to remove stubborn grease stains from kitchen tiles. Just leave it to soak for a few minutes then wipe it with a cloth. 

A bit of descaler or vinegar in your mopping water helps remove limescale from bathroom tiles. But be careful: vinegar can make plastic sealant brittle, so don’t leave the vinegar and water solution on for too long. Never use vinegar on natural stone as it will damage it.

4. Cleaning laminate flooring

Method

Laminate is made of fibreboard, paper and adhesive, and is very easy to clean. When vacuuming beforehand, just make sure you use the correct attachment to avoid scratching. 

Plain water is usually enough to clean laminate flooring, but make sure you wring out the cloth or mop thoroughly beforehand. If the floor is too wet, the water may penetrate the joints causing the fibreboard to swell. This is why you shouldn’t use a steam cleaner either. Never use scouring or bleaching agents or solvent-based cleaners. They will damage the surface.

5. Cleaning parquet flooring

Method

Avoid using a vacuum cleaner on parquet flooring. Use a soft brush instead to avoid scratching. When damp cleaning, don’t use too much water and never use a steam cleaner. If the floor becomes too wet, the wood will swell.

Use the right type of cleaning product. Parquet flooring is either oiled, waxed or varnished/sealed.

• Sealed and varnished parquet flooring: use special varnish soaps and cleaning products. You can remove isolated stains with a mixture of water and ammonium chloride.

• Waxed and oiled parquet flooring: use special parquet cleaners. Some cleaners also contain substances that maintain your parquet flooring.

6. Cleaning PVC or vinyl flooring

Method

PVC or vinyl flooring is relatively easy to clean. However, don’t use too much water and never use a steam cleaner. A steam cleaner will make your floor too wet. The water will enter the joints and the PVC tiles will swell.

Refrain from using aggressive and abrasive cleaning agents or solvent or bleach-based products. They can damage or discolour the surface and make it dull. Instead, to clean dirtier floors, pour a little vinegar, mild general purpose cleaner, soft soap, glass cleaner or special vinyl or PVC cleaner in your mopping water.

7. Cleaning cork flooring

Method

After sweeping, clean cork flooring with a lint-free cloth or a damp mop. Use lukewarm water with a bit of vinegar and wring out your cloth or mop well before cleaning. Excessive moisture will damage cork flooring. 

Cork can’t be cleaned with universal cleaners such as soft or hard soaps. Microfibre cloths and hard brushes are also unsuitable for sealed cork flooring. They will damage the surface, leading to grey discolouring.

8. Cleaning marble

Method

Only use warm water together with a neutral cleaner, alcohol cleaner or special natural stone cleaner to clean marble. Always mop in the direction of the stone structure. Afterwards, you can use a special stone care product to protect the flooring.

Beware of common household cleaners: most contain acids. This degrades the marble and makes it dull. Soaps contain surfactants. These accumulate in marble and collect dust and dirt. Oils and fats will penetrate the stone and collect dirt and dust. Scouring agents and sponges are an absolute no-go as well, as they will scratch the surface.

9. Cleaning fitted carpets

Method

It’s important to vacuum carpets regularly. You should also clean up stains as quickly as possible. Avoid rubbing the dirt deeper into the carpet. If water isn’t enough, you can use a special stain remover. Bicarbonate of soda also helps with stubborn stains.

Just sprinkle it on the stain, add warm water – a spray bottle is useful for this – and then leave it to soak for a few hours. For a deeper clean, you can use a special carpet cleaning machine. You can hire one from the places mentioned above as well as from various pharmacies and chemist’s/health and beauty stores.