How to Damp Mop Floors – The Best Method for Mopping
Set up your mop bucket and mop wringer. Fill the bucket with COLD water and add the correct amount of detergent.
- Place the mop wringer onto the mop bucket.
- Place “Wet floor signs” at easy-to-see locations near the entrances into the area being cleaned.
- Use a putty knife to remove gum and other foreign matter.
- Use the dust mop outfit to remove dust and surface soil.
- Set equipment in area where work will begin. When mopping a room, start at the farthest corner and work backward toward the door. Keep the double bucket outfit on the un-mopped portion of the floor where it cannot be tripped over.
- Immerse mop head into your cleaning solution and wring out lightly by placing the mop into the wringer and pressing down, removing excess water. After mopping a sufficient amount of floor space, place the soiled mop into the wringer and wring out the soiled mop. The WaveBrake system or Unger double bucket system incorporates a separate “dirty water compartment”. If using either one of these systems, the soiled water will NOT contaminate your cleaning solution. It is independent of your cleaning solution compartment.
- When mopping a hallway, first mop the floor along the edge of the baseboard. The mop head should just touch the baseboard while mopping that portion of the floor. When mopping a room, place the mop head along the perimeter wall and proceed to mop the floor, dragging the mop in the direction of the baseboard. Mop the open floor area by moving the mop side to side in a figure eight motion. Overlap each stroke as you move back. Frequently flip the mop head as you work. This helps eliminate the re-depositing of soil from the mop.
- Clean your equipment and store the equipment and supplies.
When damp mopping, remember to:
- Always use COLD water, never HOT.
- Keep your back straight. Do not twist your spine.
- Bend at the knees, not your back.
- Use your arm muscles to move the mop in a figure eight pattern.
Download Printable How to Damp Mop Floors (pdf)
Supplies & Equipment
- Dust Mop Outfit
- Double Bucket Mop system or WaveBrake bucket & insert bucket filled with COLD water
- Medium PT-2000 or similar size
- Wet floor signs
- Neutral floor cleaner; Blue Lightning / Green Magic / Rinse Free
- Putty knife or similar tool