Most people mop in a way that moves dirty water around rather than removing it.
- Sweep or vacuum first. Mopping over loose dirt just smears it.
- Use two buckets if possible: one with clean solution, one for rinsing the mop.
- Start at the far corner and work backward toward the door.
- Use a figure-8 motion rather than back-and-forth – it lifts dirt instead of pushing it.
- Rinse and wring the mop frequently. Dirty mop water leaves floors looking dull.
- Allow floors to dry completely before walking on them.
Less solution is better. Excess water damages wood floors and leaves streaks on tile.