You can clean your floors with a cloth and a bucket of lukewarm water mixed with a cleaning solution of your choosing. Keep in mind that you will have to get on all fours and use elbow grease to get them squeaky clean.
If you’ve recently moved into a new place or simply don’t have a mop at hand, don’t worry! You can still clean your floors without a mop.
In my experience, it’s best to clean your floors by hand. I avoid mops because cleaning by hand works better. Mops usually push the dirt into the corners, so I have to finish the job by hand either way.
I understand that not everyone likes cleaning by hand, so if you have a broom, you can wrap a microfiber cloth around it and use it to scrub your floor.
Below, I will share more easy steps on how to clean floors without a mop in no time, so dive right in!
What’s The Best Way To Clean Floors Without A Mop?
The best and easiest way to clean floors without a mop is by getting on all fours and manually scrubbing them. It’s also the easiest way!
All you need is a bucket of water, a sponge or microfiber cloth, and a cleaning solution. When cleaning my floors manually, I also use kneeling pads for extra comfort.
Further, no matter what you use (commercial floor cleaner or regular dish soap) make sure you add a small amount. Using too much can result in a sticky floor.
If you don’t want to get on your hands and knees, you can also use a broom wrapped with a clean microfiber cloth. When I’m not in the mood for crawling on the floor, I either use a broom with a cloth around it or my feet.
The ladder works only for spot cleaning messes. Spray a cleaning solution onto the mess, then with your clean cloth over it use your foot to remove the stain.
If you decide to get on all fours and get the job done by hand, follow the next steps for the best results.
Step 1: Put Away Unwanted Objects
First of all, make sure you remove anything that might get in your way when cleaning your floor such as kids’ toys, furniture, rugs, etc. That way, you will get complete access to all parts of your floor so you can clean it easier and better!
Step 2: Vacuum Or Sweep The Floor
If you notice a layer of dust on your floor, sweep or vacuum it first. You can use a damp paper towel to remove the dust if it’s minimal. Make sure your floor isn’t covered in dust, hairs, or other debris that might affect your cleaning.
Step 3: Pick Your Cleaning Products
You can use either a brush, microfiber cloth, or sponge. I prefer a brush for scrubbing off stains, but when I’m not dealing with any tough stains, I usually use a microfiber cloth or sponge. Or a combination of both.
As for the cleaning solution, I prefer commercial cleaning solutions because they get the job done. And they’re affordable and easily accessible. The type of cleaning product you pick will depend on the type of floor you have.
Step 4: Mix The Cleaning Solution
Follow the instructions on the package for the ration and mix your cleaning solution with water. If you opt for a cleaning solution that doesn’t need any water, you can apply it directly to the floor.
If you don’t have a floor cleaner at hand and you need to clean your floors asap, you can make a homemade floor cleaner with warm water, bleach, and laundry powder. Mix 1/3 cup of bleach, 1 gallon of water, and 1 teaspoon of laundry detergent.
There’s a wide range of recipes for homemade floor cleaners online and they all include things you already have at home such as baking soda, dish soap, vinegar, rubbing alcohol, lemon juice, etc.
Step 5: Clean Your Floor Manually
Once you have your cleaning mix ready, pop on your kneeling pads and clean the floor with your hands. You can use a commercial floor cleaner or plain vinegar diluted with water.
Dip the clean microfiber cloth or sponge into the cleaning mix, squeeze it so it doesn’t drip, and scrub the floor with it. Some people also use Dettol or other disinfectants for better results.
Whether you use a microfiber cloth or sponge, don’t forget to wash and rinse it throughout the process. Otherwise, you might contaminate the whole surface and spread dirt everywhere.
As I already suggested, you can also use your feet in the cleaning process if you’re feeling tired or lazy. Spread or spray cleaning solution directly on the floor, add your cloth on top of the affected area and wipe the floor using your feet.
Keep in mind that the “feet cleaning method” won’t be effective if you’re planning to clean a whole room. It only works for spot cleaning like removing coffee or juice that has been spilled over the floor.
Step 6: Use Your Broom As A Mop
If you’re not comfortable getting on all four and scrubbing the floor like Cinderella, add a damp cloth around the handle of your broom and go with it.
It’s one of the oldest and easiest ways of cleaning floors. Although it’s time-consuming and a bit tiring, it’s still effective. The best part? You can burn calories while cleaning!
Use the bucket filled with a cleaning solution to rinse the cloth frequently and replace the water every time it gets too dirty. Otherwise, you’re going to return the dirt back on the floor and end up with a poorly cleaned and possibly contaminated floor.
Step 7: Let It Dry!
Once you’re done, let your floor dry and keep your kids and/or pets out of the room. Wet floors can get dirty more easily, so avoid stepping over them if possible.
After 1-2 hours, if you still notice hairs or debris, you can either vacuum the floor one last time or wipe up any remaining debris with a wet paper towel or microfiber cloth.
Extra Tip: Consider Investing In A Wet Vacuum
I love cleaning my floors by hand, but a girl gets tired sometimes, so I seriously consider buying a wet vacuum. I’ve heard great things about wet vacuums.
Apparently, they can help you clean your floors without a mop in no time. They provide all the efficiency of standard vacuums with the method of wet cleaning. This means that stubborn stains or dirt will be gone within minutes and you don’t have to do a thing!
Simply turn on your wet vacuum, select the wet cleaning option, and go back and forth over the floor as you do with a regular vacuum cleaner and enjoy a clean floor without much effort. It’s a very simple and easy cleaning tool that doesn’t cost a lot!
How Do You Clean A Floor Without A Mop?
If you don’t have a mop on hand, you can use a bucket of water, your usual cleaning solution, and clean your floor by hand.
If you’re dealing with stains or spills, you can even include your feet in the process.
Spray a cleaning solution to the affected area, top it with a microfiber cloth and use your foot to clean up the mess.
Other cleaning methods include using a broom wrapped in a damp microfiber cloth, a wet vacuum, etc.
What Is The Best Thing To Use To Clean Your Floors?
It depends on the type of floor you have. You can either use a mop, broom wrapped in a wet microfiber cloth, handheld brush, wet vacuum, or even your hands and feet.
As for the cleaning solution, you can either buy a commercial floor cleaner or make your own. Recipes for homemade floor cleaners usually include common household products such as plain vinegar, baking soda, bleach, rubbing alcohol, lemon juice, etc.
FAQs On Best Way To Clean Floors Without A Mop
How Do You Hand Wash A Floor?
Before you hand wash your floor, it should be free of any debris that might get in your way. Once that part is done, dip a clean cloth in a bucket of warm water and cleaning solution and start scrubbing.
Can You Mop With Only Water?
You can do it, but don’t expect a squeaky clean and disinfected floor afterward. Science has proved that diluted chemicals can effectively break the sticky bonds that keep oily soils on floors.
How Can I Disinfect My Floors?
You can disinfect your floors with a DIY floor cleaner. Mix 2 cups lukewarm water, ¼ cup rubbing alcohol, 1/8 teaspoons of mild soap, ½ cup white vinegar, and a couple of drops of lemon juice. Use this solution to clean and disinfect your floors.
