Regularly mopping your tile floor is needed to keep your floors clean and also protect them from damage.
Allowing dirt and dust to accumulate on the floor surface can cause scratches and etches that can ruin your floor’s shine and make the floor look even dirtier.
But without knowing how to mop tile floors without streaks, your undamaged tile floors may still look dirty qt the end of every mopping session.
To avoid leaving behind film on tile floor after mopping, you need to use the right technique as well as the correct cleaner in order to achieve a clean, streak-free floor.
Read: Do steam mop damage tile floors
How to Mop Tile Floors Without Streaks
Table of Contents
To prevent the appearance of streaks on your floor after mopping, there are certain procedures you need to follow when you are cleaning your tile floor.
Here’s how to mop tile floor without streaks.
Eliminate Dust and Debris From The Floor
The first step of action to take when cleaning your tile floor is to remove any accumulated loose surface dust and debris. You can use a vacuum cleaner or a broom to do this.
Read: Should you dust or vacuum first
Use the Right Mop
The right mop for cleaning your floor depends on the type of tiles you have installed in your home.
It is important that you find out the best mop to use on your type of tile floor; this is to avoid any damage that may result from using the wrong mop.
Once you get the right mop, you will also need a mopping bucket; it is recommended that you get a separate bucket for dirty water and ensure to change the soapy water in between cleaning.
Remove Stains
When you are done mopping your floor, check to see if there’s any persistent stain left behind; if any, use the appropriate cleaner to remove such stains.
Clean Up Soap Residue
Soap residue is one of the reasons why streaks are left on your tile’s floor after mopping, so in order to avoid that, you need to clean up every soap residue on the floor after mopping.
To remove soap residue on the floor, use vinegar or a mild multi-purpose cleaner.
Dry the Floor
After mopping, do not allow your tiles to dry on their own; this will only cause the emergence of streaks, which we don’t want. So use a clean cloth or dry mop to dry the floor after cleaning.
How To Prevent Streaks On Floor After Mopping
The appearance of streaks on the floor after mopping can be a great killjoy as it indicates that your cleaning project was not properly carried out.
This, however, can be averted when you know how to prevent streaks on floor after mopping.
It is important that you make use of the right cleaning tools as well as the correct cleaning technique if you desire to achieve a streak-free floor.
Here’s how to prevent streaks on floor after mopping
Remove Loose Surface Dirt
Regardless of the type of flooring you are cleaning, mopping your floor while there’s loose dirt present on the surface can cause great damage.
It also makes the floor dirtier and more difficult to clean as the dust and dirt on the floor surface create a big mess when wet.
Even if the floor isn’t visibly dirty, still take the time to sweep or vacuum the loose dirt on the surface. When cleaning a small area, you can use a small dust mop or broom.
Start cleaning from the furthest point in the room and work your way towards the room’s exit. When using a broom or dust mop, you will need a dustpan and whisk broom to scoop up the dirt after sweeping.
Read: Difference between wet mopping and dry mopping
Chose the Right Cleaning Chemicals
There are a ton of different cleaning chemicals available in the market, so it is crucial that you choose the right one for the floor type you are cleaning.
You can find a wide variety of cleaning solutions for specific hard floors like wood, vinyl composite tile, marble, terrazzo, ceramic, and cement.
To achieve a spotless and streak-free floor, you need to choose the right cleaning solution and also ensure to mix it to the proper strength for your cleaning needs.
Creating a mixture that is too weak will make it difficult for the dirt to be removed from the floor and might also leave behind dirt streaks on the floor.
Using a cleaning chemical with a very high concentration can also leave behind streaks of chemical residue on the floor.
So refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for the cleaning chemical on the suitable floor surface and correct mixing ratios. If still in doubt of the cleaner’s ability, you can test it in an inconspicuous spot on the floor before using it.
Read: How to clean matte porcelain tile
Choose the Right Mop
Using the right mop is also very important in the avoidance of streaks on your floor; keep in mind that all mops are not created equal, and there are several types of mops made for various cleaning applications.
To clean large areas, it is best to use cotton string mops, then use self-wringing sponge mops and microfiber cleaning pads attached to a steam cleaner for residential spaces, such as a kitchen or dining room.
Read: How to clean a mop
Follow the Right Mopping Technique
Your ability to mop your floor smoothly and evenly is a major factor when it comes to avoiding streaks on a floor.
Regardless of the type of mop you are using, ensure to divide the floor into small, usually no bigger than five by 7 feet, and completely clean each section before moving onto the next.
Start cleaning from the furthest point in the room and work your way towards the room exit; this will prevent you from getting locked into a corner.
When using cotton string mops, ensure to swing it from side to side in an overlapping figure-eight pattern. This technique helps to ensure even coverage of the floor.
When using push-pull mops, scrub the floor in an up-and-down pattern to loosen dirt but remember to finish with a downward pulling motion; this will pull dirt and debris towards the room’s exit.
Frequently rinse your mop as you clean to avoid introducing more dirt to the floor and remove solid debris that can sometimes lurk in cracks and crevices that evades pre-sweeping and vacuuming.
Do Not Air-Dry Your Floor
Although certain floor types do just well when allowed to air dry, if you are trying to prevent streaks on your floor, you need to dry your floor yourself, preferably with a clean cloth or dry mop.
This will remove any excess moisture and soap residue that causes streaks when allowed to dry on the floor.
Read: 10 best spray mop review
Conclusion
This article discusses how to mop tile floors without streaks, so you can achieve a shiny and clean-looking floor.
There are different reasons why there might be streaks on floor after mopping, but with the right cleaning technique and cleaning tools, you can prevent this from happening.
