I'm not sure if I should admit this or not, but here goes... I have never in my life scrubbed a floor. Mopped, yes of course, I have mopped my floors many times, and may I just add that my floors are mostly pretty clean because I sweep them with a hard bristle broom before mopping. But since it's spring and I've kind of always wanted to try this (probably because I watched the Cinderella movie too many times as a child), I decided to try it myself and blog about it. The majority of our house downstairs has laminate floors, and they don't need scrubbing. Our bathroom floor is a shiny tiny tile floor that I simply wipe clean along with the rest of the bathroom. But our kitchen floor is a lovely uneven slate floor. It's probably about time that it has a 'deep clean'. So I'm on a mission to find out what all the fuss is about scrubbing on your hands an knees, and will it really leave my floor cleaner, undamaged and sparkling?
Before we get started, let me just say that even my Martha Stewart Homekeeping Handbook mentions that scrubbing is not something that needs to be done on a regular basis... phew, I almost started feeling guilty. Secondly, never scrub a surface that cannot handle being waterlogged, or is prone to scratching (eg. wood, laminate, vinyl).
Some people claim that scrubbing a floor on your hands and knees is therapeutic, and having literally just finished I can kind of agree, but I'm more impressed with the amount of calories I must have burnt doing that - bring on a slice of Easter cake!
Let's get started with the supplies, and of course, please do let me know if I have got any of
this wrong, I am after all just a novice at this.
You will need:
- Floor scrubbing brush
- Knee pads or a kneeling cushion (even if you are young and spritely, knees are sensitive things - I used an old cushion that I popped into a plastic carrier bag)
- 6 or 7 drops of dish soap in a bucket filed with a gallon of hot water.
- A second bucket filled with clear water
- Absorbent sponge, an old towel or a big floor cloth
- Starting in a corner and working your way towards the entrance of a room, dip the scrub brush in the soapy water and scrub floor in a circular motion paying particular attention to grubby bits and grooves.
- Dip the scrub brush in the bucket with plain water before re-dipping it in the soapy water to repeat step 1 as you move along the floor.
- When you've covered all of the floor surface, rinse both buckets and fill one with fresh clear water. Roughly go over the floor surface again using long circular strokes, dipping the scrub brush every so often.
- Use an absorbent sponge, old towel or a floor cloth to mop up excess water to allow the floor to dry quicker.
So what's the verdict? I'm pleasantly surprised how quick it was (okay, so my kitchen is quite small), and that I didn't feel at all like Cinderella, boo. The kitchen floor does however look cleaner for it, but once again, I don't think this is a task I would add to my weekly cleaning routine (I love my mop too much), but it sure was a great spring clean task. Now, with a stronger back and a distinct lack of guilt I can go have an extra Easter egg for my effort.
xxx
PS: I might just share my new favourite recipe with you on Monday - the best Steak Salad ever!!! Yum.
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7 comments:
uneven slate floor here in my house as well - i like the look of it but its a nightmare to clean - i must have some sort of evil slate that just shreds mops and anything similar :-( i do use the spray on dettol floor cleaner then a brush on mine!!! ive had a fun week trying to get ground in grout off some of the tiles that look really bad but had to use a really awful chemical solution and it still didnt work - ive covered it up with the rug again LOL
have a lovely easter!!!
lesley x
Steak salad.... ooohh I want the recipe!
Victoria x
Blimming heck...scrubbing floors!
Relax young lady!
Thank you for popping in....lovely of you!xxx
I like the look of the slate floors, but cleaning was my first concern with all the unevenness! The only floor that I occasionally clean on my hands and knees is the slightly textured tile and grout in my entry way. Oh, yes I also attack the area in the bathroom where the hairspray settles. Nasty stuff that is!
Blessings,
Lorilee
I'm one of those on my knees floor person. My knees are so arthritic and sore that I keep thinking I should get a mop but all that does is push the dirt in the corners so since I only have a bath and kithcen I struggle on my hands and knees. It makes me feel good too!!
After reading your comments, I though why not give it a go and I have to say I am so glad I did. Our bathroom floor is tiled and in the past has only ever been mopped (with boiling water and meths) it has always looked clean, but now it gleams! I am a complete covert thank you so much!
Hi Denys,
So glad you found the post helpful, and that you now have a gleaming bathroom floor!
x
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