Mopping your floors for hours only for them to end up sticky can be quite frustrating. Cleaning is already a hard and annoying task on its own, so the least you could get is a clean floor with no residue. After all, that’s the main goal of mopping!
Thankfully, it’s easy to identify why your floors are sticky all the time, even if you’ve just mopped them. And with the right knowledge, you can fix this problem and make sure it never happens again. Here’s a complete guide to sticky floors, why they get sticky, and how to solve this issue.
What Makes Floors Sticky Anyway?
There are two main reasons your floors may get sticky. The first one is pretty obvious. Usually, any kind of flooring gets sticky if any liquid other than water is spilled on it.
In that case, the best way to go about cleaning it is to be thorough. Mopping up the spill once will likely not be enough. Make sure that you go over the spot as many times as necessary until the area isn’t sticky anymore.
However, if your floor is sticky even after mopping, but nothing was spilled, the problem lies somewhere else. Perhaps the cleaning process itself is the reason your floors feel icky!
Yes, the thing you do to remove spills and stains is more often than not the reason the floor gets sticky. It may not seem like it, but there’s a lot to consider when cleaning floors. And getting one thing wrong can lead to messy results.
The Basic Steps to Follow
There are two main steps you should follow to properly clean your floors: vacuuming and mopping. Many people have trouble figuring out which one to do first, though.
The short answer is: vacuuming always comes first. There are two layers of dirt that you will have to tackle. The first layer, on the surface, consists of things like dust and hair. Since this layer is rather loose, you’ll want to get rid of it first by vacuuming.
Since mopping involves liquid, i.e., water and a bit of detergent, it should be pretty obvious why it comes second to vacuuming. In short, throwing a mop over the loose layer of dirt will create a mud-like mess. And spreading that mess all over the floor is sure to bring unsatisfying results!
If you want to learn more about this, I have an entire article dedicated to the ultimate dilemma — mopping vs. vacuuming first.
Why Floors Are Sticky Even After Cleaning
If you’ve followed the steps outlined above, yet your floor still ends up sticky, there’s something else at play. But don’t worry — identifying the cause is easier than you might think. Here are a few possible problems you might be facing and how to fix them.
You’re Using the Wrong Cleaning Agent
Cleaning products are made for specific types of materials. Using a hardwood cleaner on linoleum is obviously not going to work as you planned, and vice-versa.
Pay close attention when choosing cleaning agents. Make sure the packaging clearly states that it’s appropriate for the material your floor is made of. There are plenty of choices for any material, whether it’s wood, linoleum, or something else.
However, if you have different types of floors in each room, you might not want to buy a specific product for each one. So, one of the safest choices is to opt for a multi-surface cleaner. That way, you can clean every room in one go without having to switch products.
You’re Using Too Much Product
If you’re sure you’ve got the right product, but your floors still end up sticky, there might be another issue. Namely, it’s important to properly dilute the cleaning agent with water. Otherwise, it will leave a sticky residue that’s going to be even harder to clean.
Getting rid of the residue that comes from the product itself will definitely be tough. After all, you can’t remove a chemical with itself.
Prevention is, therefore, the key when it comes to this issue. Usually, you can find instructions on how to dilute the product on its label. I recommend that you follow those instructions closely.
However, if that doesn’t work, you can make a mixture using a 1:10 product-water ratio. So, for every capful of product you add, ten capfuls of water should follow. This mixture should ensure that your floor looks shiny and new after you finish mopping.
You’re Using Dirty Water
Another aspect that can bring unsatisfying results is the water in the mop bucket. Even if there is enough cleaning product in it, wringing the mop is going to get the water dirtier every time.
Therefore, remember to empty out the mop bucket when the water becomes visibly dirty. Also, make sure that your mop is never dripping when you’re using it, as this can also result in some sticky residue.
How to Clean a Sticky Floor
So, with the above-mentioned tips in mind, let’s see how you should clean a sticky floor:
- Start by vacuuming the floor. Be thorough and make sure there’s no loose residue left, like animal hair, dust, etc.
- Get a clean mop and warm water. For really sticky or dirty floors, you can use hot water.
- Add an appropriate amount of cleaning product to the water. Remember the 1:10 ratio: for one part of the product, add ten parts of water. Also, make sure the product is appropriate for your floor.
- Submerge the mop in the mixture and wring it. Make sure the mop is not dripping with water when you go to use it on the floor.
- Begin cleaning the floor. You should move backward as you mop from one end of the room to the other. That way, you won’t step on the parts that you’ve just cleaned.
- Wring the mop multiple times along the way. Do this to avoid dragging the dirt from one area to the other.
What’s Next?
When you’re done, rinse the floor. Empty the mop bucket and refill it with clean water. Then, mop the floor with plain water to make sure there is no residue left from the cleaning product.
Once you’re all done, remember to let the floor dry. Stepping on it while it’s wet will get you back to square one. Still, if you don’t want to wait, you can use a dry mop or cloth to dry the floor yourself.
In case there’s still residue, repeat the process, starting from step 2. You can add a little bit of ammonia or vinegar. This mixture will get rid of anything that may have been left behind.
Following these steps is more than enough to get rid of any stickiness. Although it may seem like a tiring process, it’s definitely worth it. And if you do it right, you’re going to have much less trouble cleaning your floors in the future.
Steam Mops: The Alternative Fix for Sticky Floors
If you don’t want to go through the hassle of mopping, there’s another solution to the problem of sticky floors. While it’s more costly, it’s less time-consuming, and it’s sure to get rid of any residue.
Steam mops are a great replacement for regular mops since you can use them to steam-clean both floors and carpets. The hot steam is also an incredible disinfectant, as steam is known to kill almost 99% of bacteria.
You might be wondering how a steam mop works. It’s quite simple, actually.
Steam mops have reservoirs that you can fill with water. They heat up the water to about 248 degrees Fahrenheit. The steam is then soaked up by the microfiber pad under the steam jets, which draws dirt off the ground.
The main advantage, in this case, is that steam mops never leave any residue behind. Therefore, it’s impossible for your floors to remain sticky after using one.
There are plenty of different steam mops available on the market, such as this one. There are even multifunctional options, like this 10-in-1 steam cleaner from PurSteam.
- Cleans Literally Everything! Nobody likes cleaning! But...
- Child & Pet Safe - Best steam cleaner for tile &...
- Light And Maneuverable. 3 Adjustable modes help you...
- Multifunctional Household Tool - Safe to use on any...
Regardless of extra functions and other assets, whichever one you pick should get the job done. Despite being more expensive, a steam mop is definitely the more convenient fix for sticky floors. Can you use a steam mop on laminate floors?
No More Sticky Floors!
As you’ve discovered, plenty of work goes into maintaining a nice, clean floor. Even before you start mopping, there’s clearly a lot to take into account!
When in doubt, always remember the five crucial tips for cleaning your floors: vacuum first, use the right product, wring the mop often, be thorough, and remember to rinse the floor.
A clean floor can greatly improve the appearance of your home, as well as your mood. With the tips included in this guide, you should have everything you need to keep your whole abode fresh. From now on, make sure you give your floors the proper treatment!
