what is your mopping strategy?

[itsboiledeggsagain]

Mopping is one of my jobs.

I am rarely in the house by myself so it is quite hard to find time to do it. We have a lot of hard floors downstairs - including hall, loo, kitchen and utility - all large spaces. I try to mop weekly and don't walk on it wet (my dsis does apparently! )

I normally mop it all together and work towards the front door or the stairs and either go out or go upstairs for a few hours. Prime times to do it are - on the way to church (always makes us late), bedtime (cba at that time) or if DH is out (would rather drink ).

As it is such a big space it takes at least 20 mins, and I always want to ask mumsnet how others do it.
do you walk on it?
do you mop everything in one go?
do you then just sit in one room without moving for an hour or so?
when do you do it?

If you live on your own or have a cleaner who does it that will not much help so no need to let me know - thanks though

thanks awfully.

Ummm yeah. I just cleaned the dirty bits. 2 DC, one combined living room. So I bought a steam cleaner. It tends to come out either when a cloth doesn't cut it or someone has a birthday or people are visiting. I sit on the sofa once it's done but it takes about 5 minutes max to dry.

I open the kitchen windows and the terrace doors (top flat so always get the best cross winds) and get to work. I use a traditional mop. Spray bleach the particularly 'dirty areas' a few minutes before starting. Leave the mop soaking in dettol or zoflora and boiling water then get to work. I shove DD into the living room whilst it dries in about 20/30 mins.

Interesting. I should have mentioned that I quite like mopping, and ironing. I am generally a slothful housecleaner otherwise and employ a cleaner for the bits i hate like bathrooms

I think mine dries slowly as the house is not overheated - and I suspect the water gets cold before the task is complete.

I can't believe noone else wants to discuss this important topic du jour

Steam mop is the answer - dries pretty quick, even in damp weather.

Do one room at a time then it won't feel like such a mammoth task we're you're banished from the bottom of the house.
Before kids nobody walked on the floor until it was dry. Post kids, it's a battle I don't have the energy for so yes it gets walked on. My philosophy is that at least some of the germs and muck are off it even if there's foot prints.
Also maybe wring the mop out more or use one that spreads less water as mine take about ten minutes to dry. The temp shouldn't make much difference as no matter how hot it was it will cool pretty quickly when on the floor.

Erm... I rarely bother! The only time I get the mop out is when something's been spilled or if it's properly, visibly mucky

If I was to be mad enough to take this job off my husband I would do it after hovering, with boiling water so it dries very quickly, and using a floor cloth on a flat mop thingy.

I dread mopping when it’s too cold to have doors and windows open. I squeeze out the sponge mop as much as I can, but I’m happy to walk on the floors before they dry. Good thing my floor cleaner smells great or I’d never do it.

Big hoover first, then a mop with windows open. It dries in 5 minutes.

Which steam mops do you recommend? We have a 4 month old puppy so the mop is out 3 times a day (footprints).

I love my Vax steam mop, and also my vileda spray mop! Vileda is for spot cleans and the steam mop is for a proper job. No more buckets for me, hooray!

I boil the kettle and use this to clean the floors with. Good for cleaning and it's dry within 10 mins! Sometimes I use two kettles full or top up with hot water from the tap, and use bleach/floor cleaner in the water

ok hotter water.
i like the towel buffing idea too..

i am resisting a steam cleaner as we have enough stuff..

Steam mop, then I throw a towel on the floor, stand on it and proceed to shuffle-dry the high-traffic areas till I get bored.

My DH mops as part of his job and he's a fucking nightmare if I mop the house do it yourself then you condescending arsehole but even I know that if you can't walk on it for an hour you're wetting it too much. What type of floor are you mopping and what are you using to do it? You'll be ruining laminate or real wood flooring by wetting too much, you need hot, hot water, a dash of bleach or antibac floor cleaner and a real mop with figure of 8 movements. Use a proper mopping bucket with the squeejy bit and drain as much water out of the mop as possible and then go for it in smallish sections, the heat will kill germs, even dirty muddy floors should be easily cleaned in this way.

I do it last thing before I go up to bed, ideally if DH is away .... should be doing it now really instead of procrastinating on Mumsnet .

Also, if DH mops it's dry within 5 mins, if I mop it's 10 tops. Even really big spaces should be dry quickly, if the water gets cold you must be tidying/ moving stuff as you go? Don't do that- clean/ tidy then mop through in one go.

Avoidance. Eventually someone else will do it.

It’s scary how flippantly people mix chemicals!

I just do it before bed to be honest it’s the easiest time.

ok too much water in the mop.

we have quickstep laminate.

we use an old fashioned mop and bucket. is there a better tool that is not a steam cleaner? i couldnt get along with a oblong towel shaped cleaner.

i think it goes cold because I dont put that much water in, and it is a big space - approx 1000m sq. So if it starts off hot it will get colder as it goes.

My strategy is my Aircraft.

I love, love, love this floor cleaner and consider it one of my best ever investments.

It cleans the whole downstairs in approx 10 minutes and leaves the floor almost dry. I use it on laminate with no issues because there is no steam or excess water to cause damage.

Several friends have also bought one after seeing it in action. It really is impressive.

I spray the floors after hoovering with vinegar and tea tree mix and then fly around in no time at all with a flat mop. Dries in a couple of minutes. Much quicker than an ordinary mop or steam mop

I never mop the entire downstairs, only one room at a time. I crank up the heating and it's dry after half an hour.