How to Clean a Sticky Floor

Tired of mopping your floors only to discover they still feel tacky? We explain the best way to clean a sticky floor step by step and how to keep it like that.

Pets, kids, and late night snacks can all contribute to sticky floors. And then there’s the mystery of why your floors still have that tacky feeling, even after you've mopped them eleventy million times.

If you’re tired of getting your socks stuck every time you walk across a room here are our top tips for how to clean a sticky floor — fast.

We know that regular floor cleaning can be time-consuming, but you can always book a professional, affordable cleaner to keep your wooden floors and tiles silky smooth with Homeaglow.

Why do floors get sticky?

Whether you’ve got tiles, hardwood, faux-wood, vinyl, or linoleum floors, they’re likely to get that nasty, stick feeling at some point. This is most commonly an issue in kitchens.

This can be caused by:

  • The residue left after spilling soda or sweet food on your flooring; or 
  • Incorrect cleaning methods

We find that the most common reason for tacky floors is that they haven’t been cleaned with the right techniques or chemicals.

Cleaning your flooring once is agonizing enough, but when they still feel gummy after you’ve swept and scrubbed furiously? It’s enough to make you snap your mop.

The most common cleaning issues that prevent you from gliding across your floors:

  • Using the wrong type of cleaning chemical
  • Using too much of your chosen cleaning chemical
  • Not diluting your cleaning chemicals properly
  • Spreading the existing stickiness around with your mop
  • Using dirty water
  • Not rinsing and drying your floor after mopping
  • Using a poor quality mop

Now you know what not to do, here’s our step-by-step guide on cleaning a sticky floor successfully.

How to clean a sticky floor in simple steps

Step 1: Choose the right cleaner for your flooring

There are specific cleaners available for every type of floor in your home or apartment and it’s important that you choose the right one for your needs. For example, you shouldn’t use a hardwood floor cleaner for tiles, or a vinyl cleaner for natural wood flooring.

We also don’t recommend a generic multi-purpose floor cleaner, as these can cause sticky residues to be left on some surfaces.

If you don’t want to use harsh chemical floor cleaners in your home, you can easily make DIY solutions that will work just as well.

  • Liquid dish soap. This is great for getting sticky spots off hardwood floors. Simply squirt a few drops into a bucket of warm water and you’re ready to start mopping.
  • Vinegar. We don’t recommend this for hardwood floors, but it’s great for other surfaces. Add ½ cup of white vinegar to 1 gallon of warm water and you’re ready to fight sticky stains and germs.

Pro tip: Vinegar is also great for cleaning mirrors and cleaning oven glass.

Step 2: Ensure your water is the right temperature

Hot water is ideal for removing the stickiness from floors, as it softens residues and caked-on stains, making it a breeze to mop them away.

However, hot water can damage some laminates and vinyls, so if you’re unsure stick to warm water instead.

Step 3: Prepare your cleaning solution

Ensure you mix up your cleaning solution of choice in a bucket that’s big enough to fit your mop.

If you’re using a store-bought cleaner, make sure you read the instructions and dilute the chemicals properly.

Step 4: Sweep and rinse the floor

Sweep or vacuum the floor before reaching for the mop. This will remove dust and dirt that can clog up your mop and make your water dirty.

Once you’ve done this, rinse the floor with fresh water. This can help remove any chemicals from your previous cleaning efforts, and loosen sticky residue.

Again, check your flooring first to see if it can be rinsed safely. If it’s vinyl or laminate, you may want to give it a preliminary mopping with a clean, damp mop instead.

Step 5: Start mopping

Time to mop! Dip the mop into your bucket full of prepared cleaning solution, and then wring it out to remove excess water. 

Mopping in the direction of the wood grain, or any patterns on your vinyl or tiles will give you the best result.

Ensure you rinse your mop frequently and clean the entire floor, focusing on the sticky areas.

Step 6: Keep your water clean

When you notice your bucket of cleaning solution getting dirty, it’s time to replace it with clean water and more floor cleaner. Repeat Step 3.

Make sure you rinse your mop at the same time, before you start cleaning again. This will ensure all your mopping efforts aren’t going to waste. 

Using dirty water and a dirty mop to clean will only move the sticky residues around, instead of removing them completely.

Step 7: Rinse and dry the floor

This is a step that’s often overlooked. Any leftover cleaning solutions on the floor can cause residual stickiness and smears (and you’ve worked too hard to let that happen).

Rinse your entire floor with clean water (or a fresh damp mop) after you’ve finished. Then use soft, lint free towels or a microfiber cloth to dry and polish the floor. Alternatively, you can leave it to dry naturally.

If you notice your floor is still sticky, give it another mop with the cleaning solution, then rinse and dry it again. Sticky residue can often build up over time, but once your floor is totally clean, it will make mopping in the future much easier.

Step 8: Dispose of your dirty water safely

After you’ve finished cleaning your floor, make sure you throw away your cleaning solutions responsibly and safely.

Clean your sticky floor faster with a steam mop

Another effective way to clean a sticky floor is to use a steam mop. Although these can cost a lot for a good brand, they can save you a ton of time and keep your floors hygienic and shiny.

The heat produced by steam mops not only removes annoying residue, it also keeps your family safe from bacteria and other nasty microorganisms that can accumulate in high-traffic areas.

Before you splash out on a steam mop, make sure you read the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure it’s safe for your flooring. For example, some mops aren’t recommended for natural wood floors as they can damage the surface.

How to prevent sticky floors

Now you’ve got all our pro tips for cleaning sticky floors, here’s how to keep them free of residue for longer:

  • Clean up spills as soon as they happen. The faster you wipe away spills, the easier it will be to ensure they don’t turn into stubborn stains.
  • Don’t use cheap detergents. These can leave residue on your floor that is a magnet for dust and dirt.
  • Always follow the instructions on your floor cleaner. Using too much cleaner is one of the most common causes of stickiness.
  • Always clean and rinse your floors with fresh water. This ensures there won’t be any residue left on the floor after you’ve finished.
  • Dry the floor properly after you mop. Walking around on wet floors is a good way to get them all dirty again. Make sure you dry your floors properly before letting family and pets back inside.
  • Keep separate mops for cleaning and drying. Opt for good quality mops that can be used wet and dry to get the best finish for your flooring.

Make cleaning your sticky floors a breeze

Hopefully our cleaning tips will help you prevent sticky floors, or at least, make tackling sticky floors faster and more effective. 

We know that cleaning floors in your home or apartment can take up a lot of time that could be better spent on more enjoyable things. Remember that the Homeaglow team is always available to help out when you need us. Find and book your perfect cleaner online today.

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