How To Clean Up A Sticky Floor?

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Sticky floors are an irritating business. You walk into a room, and you feel there’s something wrong. Then, you take one step, and your fears are confirmed. It is even worse when you leave behind a trail of sticky mess everywhere you go.

That’s something that no one wants to have in their home, so in this article, I’ll be giving some practical tips through which we can un-stick ourselves from this situation.

What Causes a Sticky Floor?

First of all, different kinds of mess require different types of cleaning methods to achieve maximum effect.

Before we start cleaning, let’s talk about some possible reasons why your floor is sticky in the first place. Usually, one of three things can cause your floor to be sticky:

1. A liquid spill, such as soda or fruit juice
2. Cleaning in an incorrect manner
3. Built-up residue mixed in with moisture

How to Clean a Sticky Floor

Now that we know what causes a sticky floor, we can look at how to fix it.

Liquid Spills

When it comes to liquid spills, the most common cleaning equipment tools you’ll need are:

1. A mop
2. Water
3. Floor cleaning agent
4. Paper towel/cloth rag

For the most part, liquid spills aren’t complicated as long as you wipe them up straight away.

The easiest cleaning solution is to quickly mop the liquid with a towel before it dries and soaks into the floor. That should solve the problem before it starts becoming a real headache.

That way, there’s no need to use chemicals or try to dry the mop before cleaning a spill that could have led to a sticky floor.

Another simple but more intensive way to clean a liquid spill is to wring out your mop between each sweep thoroughly. By washing out the spilled liquid from your mop, you ensure it won’t spill back to the floor.

Along with syrups of any kind, it’s difficult to remove even with multiple mopping attempts. However, the liquids that spill onto the floor will sometimes still feel sticky, even after being immediately wiped by a towel or mop. This is especially true for sodas, which are notoriously stubborn due to their high sugar content.

A simple yet effective tip regarding these stickier situations is to use hot water with your mop. It will dissolve any sticky substance more efficiently than cold water ever could.

Again, this doesn’t require any special cleaning agents like ammonia. You only need to boil some water and pour it into a bucket for your mop to soak in. All that’s required at this point is to stick to the job at hand, as it’ll still need multiple cleanings to eliminate the residue.

Another solution would be to use special cleaning agents. When doing this, ensure that the chemicals you’re using are compatible with your type of flooring.

For wooden floors, one good product is Bona Floor Cleaner. As for ceramic tiled floors, Aunt Fannie’s Floor Cleaner is an excellent choice. Don’t use detergents, as they contain components that will leave a sticky residue after cleaning.

When you use a cleaning agent, make sure that you check the recommended amount indicated on the package. Once you do that, we can begin.

1. First, pour the cleaning product into a bucket of water
2. Next, allow the cleaner to dilute into the water
3. Now, soak a mop in the water-cleaner mixture
4. Mop the spill.
5. Repeat as many times as required
6. Finally, mop the solution with clean water to remove any traces.

Cleaning In The Wrong Way

Ironically, the cleaning process is one of the greatest culprits causing a sticky floor. This is mainly caused by using too much cleaning product or not allowing the cleaner to dissolve in water before use. The result would be that the cleaning agent you just used will be left behind as sticky residue.

The most effective way to remove residual cleaner is to use a product with a different pH level than the one left on the floor. For example, an acidic cleaner will remove an alkaline one, and vice versa.

Another mistake in cleaning is using dirty water to mop. You might start your cleaning with a clean bucket of water, but as you wring out the mop, it gets murkier and murkier. One might think using dirty water to clean is counterproductive, but that may slip your mind.

This is when the problems start, as the grime you’ve removed gets back on the floor. Combine that with the fact that you’re now mixing dirt and moisture and have a sure recipe for a sticky floor.

Replace your cleaning water once it’s too murky to see the bottom of the bucket.

However, there may be cases where you had already used the dirty water, which ended up making the floor even worse than before. To fix it, do the following:

1. First, wring out the mop.
2. Next, pour the dirty water in your bucket into a toilet, then flush.
3. Pour some warm, clean water into the bucket.
4. Soak your new water on the mop and start going over the sticky area.

Built-Up Residue and Moisture

The simplest and quickest solution to cleaning a sticky floor caused by accumulated dirt and moisture is to use warm water and a mop to remove the dirt, making the stain easier to remove. However, the most effective way to remove dirt is to regularly sweep or vacuum any residue from the floor before mopping it.

That mixture of moisture, dust, and grime makes the floor sticky. As such, preventing these things from mixing from the start means you won’t have to deal with a sticky floor. You might feel that this feels like making twice the effort, but it will make your life much easier.

Wrapping Up

Sticky floors are a genuine inconvenience. Hopefully, with the tips in this article, cleaning a sticky floor will be quick and painless. Or, even better, try to avoid them entirely. After all, keeping stains and smudges from happening is far better than cleaning them up.