Also, try not to let liquid pool on the floor, which can warp it and cause streaks. After mopping, rinse your mop in fresh, clean water and wring it out so it's just damp. Go back over your floors to rinse away any remaining cleaner to prevent buildup of film or residue.
You can also use Pine-Sol® Original Squirt 'N Mop®. It's safe for wood and hard nonporous surfaces like ceramic and porcelain tiles, and also sealed granite. You can apply this product directly from the bottle over a 3' x 3' area and start mopping.
At this point, your floor should now be quite clean, with little or no detergent residue left. But for an extra cleaning step, you can mop over the entire floor a final time using nothing but fresh hot rinse water. If your rinse water gets at all dirty or sudsy, you will know the final rinse has been necessary.
No rinsing required, except on rubber or asphalt tile. For extra tough jobs, use full strength and rinse immediately. For painted surfaces, test a small area first. Not recommended for use on unfinished, unsealed, unpainted, waxed, oiled or worn flooring.
Your Cleaner/Water Ratio Is Off
Too much water means that the cleaner won't penetrate and cleanse the dirty floors like it's meant to. On the other hand, if you use too little water and a higher concentration of cleaner, the cleansing materials will stay on top of your wood floors after they've dried.
Benefits of Using Pine-Sol®:
Pine-Sol® Multi-Surface Cleaner is an EPA-registered disinfectant that kills germs and bacteria (Salmonella choleraesuiius and Staphylococcus aureus). So you can trust that it'll do a whole lot more than simply brighten floors. Use on a wide variety of hard, nonporous surfaces.
Believe it or not, there are a few types of flooring that cannot be cleaned with liquids, so you better not get them wet! In addition to this, it's generally fine to clean floors with just water, if the surfaces in question are only slightly dirty (a bit of dust or some light soiling).
Allow the mop to completely dry.
To prevent bacteria growth make sure the mophead is dry before storing it away. To do this, start by wringing the mop out as much as you can. Then place the mop head outside on a clothesline; sunshine will naturally kill bacteria and mold.
Dilute ⅛ cup of Pine-Sol in a half-gallon of water and wipe down the surfaces with the mixture. You may need to soak extra-grimy pieces for several minutes or use a toothbrush to remove tougher stains. Be sure to dry everything off before use.
Pine-Sol is not safe for pets. Original Pine-Sol became popular in the 1950s and used pine oil as a base. Though the company has changed its formula and stopped using it as the main ingredient in recent years, lots of products still contain some amount of the essential oil today.
If you're pressed for time, simply sponge down the sink with Pine-Sol® full strength. You can even splash a bit down the drain to refresh your garbage disposal with your favorite Pine-Sol® scent.
Wood soap cleaners can be used with water and a damp mop to both clean and restore small amounts of oil to the wood, and products with a range of oil-restoring abilities also exist. Eventually, however, oil is re-applied to the floors to restore their finish.
Pine-Sol Multi-Surface Cleaner – Yes, Pine Sol on vinyl floors is a fine option; however, use sparingly with water. Do not oversaturate your vinyl floors with too much water, use just enough to disinfect the floors.
To avoid leaving residue behind on tile floors after cleaning, don't skip the rinsing step. You'll need to thoroughly rinse your bucket and microfiber cloth or mophead as you work across the floor in sections. It also helps to dry the floor with a soft, clean cloth versus letting it air dry.
In a large bucket, mix two to three tablespoons of dish soap with one gallon of warm water. Dip your mop and wring it over the bucket, then gently mop the surface of your floors. Rinse your floors afterward with just water on a damp mop, then wipe up any standing water.
How Often to Mop the Floors. High-traffic areas need the most frequent mopping. For most families, high-traffic areas include the entrance, kitchen, bathrooms, and hallways. Any high-traffic areas in your home should be wet mopped once a week.
But as a rule of thumb, you should mop your floors at least once a week—especially in areas that are more likely to get stains from drips and spills, like the kitchen and bathroom. “Of course, you need to vacuum or sweep the floor before mopping,” explains Leiva.
Vacuum, dust or wipe with a lightly dampened mop – never use soap-based detergents, as they can leave a dull film on the floor, and avoid over-wetting. Don't use wax polish either, as this will make the floor slippery. To remove marks and stains, use a dilute solution of water and vinegar.
Air dry. There's no need to rinse your vinegar-mopping solution from your floors.
With Pine-Sol All Purpose Cleaner, you only need one cleaner to fight dirt, grime and grease. EPA registered to disinfect and kill 99% of germs on most surfaces throughout your home, Pine-Sol gives you 4X cleaning action and a great, long lasting scent.
Using Dish Soap as a Mopping Solution
Here are two different recipes to try: Mix 1/4 cup mild dish soap and 3 cups warm water. Mix 1/4 cup dish soap, 2 cups vinegar, 2 cups warm water, and 1/2 cup lemon juice.