Mopping and Sweeping Floors Bend your knees and maintain a straight back while using the mop ringer to keep your spine in a neutral position. Avoid lifting heavy mop buckets; instead, use a hose or floor drain for water drainage.
Hold the mop close to your body to avoid overreaching, which can lead to strain in your shoulders and back. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart to maintain balance and move with your body, not just your arms, to avoid strain on your upper body.
Use the 'S' pattern You always want to mop in an 'S' pattern regardless of the type of mop you're using -- this allows you to focus on a specific area at a time without flicking water and debris everywhere.
Put one hand at the top of the handle the other hand on the lower grip. At this point the handle should be almost vertical; this will ensure that you're keeping your back straight. Begin working the mop side to side in almost a figure eight motion while twisting the handle to keep the leading edge of the mop in front.
Mopping is characterised by high static shoulder muscle load7, 8), repetitive movements of the upper extremities4, 7) and awkward postures of neck, shoulder and back6, 7, 18).
Yes, household chores can count as exercise. Activities like mopping, gardening, and vacuuming can burn calories, improve cardiovascular fitness, and engage various muscle groups.
Keep the mop water clean by changing it frequently and ensure the mop is also clean before you begin. Use distilled water if possible and dry the floor with a clean and dry mop pad or towel to prevent streakiness.
Keep your back straight when sweeping to avoid bending and straining your back. Step back and forth, or to the side to move the broomstick. Put one leg on the ledge or a stool to avoid bending and straining your back.
If you're looking to speed up your mopping routine, ditch the old-fashioned mop in favour of a spin mop. These innovative cleaning tools use your own water supply to wring out any excess liquid quickly. They allow you to scrub away dirt and grime without wasting bucketfuls of water in the process.
The biggest and potentially most costly mopping mistake, according to cleaning experts, is using too much water on moisture-sensitive floors like hardwoods and laminates. "Excess water can warp your hardwoods and cause your laminates to bubble," says Melissa Homer, the chief cleaning officer for Microfiber Wholesale.
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 every seven days to remove dust and grit.
Start mopping by working your way backward by starting in the furthest corner of the room and working your way towards the exit, so that you don't walk over the freshly cleaned area. Use a figure eight motion to clean. You do this by creating an imaginary number 8 with the floor cleaning mop.
Dip your mop in the bucket of water and detergent, then wring it out. The mop should be damp but not sopping wet since too much water can damage the floor. Mop a section of your floor, such as five or six square feet, moving backward to prevent tracking. With sponge mops, mop in straight lines.
Cleaning at night is often associated in many cultures with chasing out good vibes and blessings from the house. For instance, it's said in Hinduism that doing any kind of nighttime sweeping or mopping will enrage Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wealth, and force her to leave the home.
Sitting with your legs folded underneath your body and the tops of your feet on the floor—sometimes called “seiza”—is considered one of the best positions because it helps maintain proper spinal alignment, Dr. Cavanaugh explained.
Keep your upper arms close to your body, as if they were attached to your side, and move the handle by moving your feet. This technique will limit the turning and twisting of your spine. Keep proper posture of the spine and move through your legs.
Always use smaller, shorter strokes. Not only will these be more precise, but they also won't make a mess in the process of sweeping. Trying to go too quickly with big strokes will end pushing dust and debris around the room.
To improve body alignment when standing, move most of your weight to the balls of your feet, bend your knees a bit, and line up your feet with your shoulders. Raise your head and pull back your shoulders, with your arms hanging loosely and your stomach pulled in. Align your earlobes with your shoulders.
Mop around the edges first, then move to the middle of the floor, using overlapping, figure-eight strokes. When one side of the mop gets dirty, turn the mop over to the clean side. When both sides are dirty, wash the mop in the bucket; otherwise, you'll be spreading dirt around instead of removing it.
While sweeping and dry mopping is great for pre-wet mop prep and rounding up dirt, wet mopping gives you a deeper clean that will help preserve the integrity of your floors for years to come.
Mopping plays a big role in keeping floors clean. Traditional mopping is one of the best ways to clean a variety of flooring. A thorough weekly mopping combined with a powerful cleaning solution provides deep cleaning that a floor needs to stay clean.
Mop the Floor
Dip your mop into the cleaning solution and wring it out so it's damp but not dripping wet. Start mopping in sections and work your way across the room while applying gentle pressure and make sure to cover all areas, including corners and edges.
If you are using a mop that has not been cleaned properly, it can spread dirt and grime instead of picking it up, leaving streaks on your floors. To prevent this, it's important to regularly clean and sanitize your mop and change the water when it gets dirty.