People with kids and walking toddlers (read: walking mess), we feel you! Those sticky floors with fresh gum secretly stuck on the side of the kitchen counter or the spilt juice first thing in the morning are enough to make your day 10 times more stressful. Sticky and icky floors are common with kids and babies around and honestly, there is no learning or fun if there is no mess. So rather than keeping your babies held hostages in their crib or your toddler limited to the highchair during snack time, it’s time to up your cleaning game with less time and more efficiency.
Especially when there is a fool-proof way to finally get rid of those sticky floors. So, as you google how to remove glue from floor tiles or proven ways to get rid of dirty floors, this article from Supreme Cleaning is your saviour amidst the foot-grabbing sticky floors. Apart from commercial floor cleaning services, our tips on how to clean floors with several marks and dirt during everyday use contain all the important tips to minimize your cleaning time by half.
Best Way to Clean Floors with Sticky Marks
Sticky floors are common in every household, especially commercial kitchens, garages and washrooms. These sticky marks can catch dirt, dust and germs causing them to accumulate and leave permanent marks over time. If left untreated, sticky marks can ruin the shine and life of your tiled floor.
Therefore, it is important to clean up sticky floors as soon as possible. While we do not recommend you hurt your knees and scrub the floor every single day, especially during a very busy day, we do have some tips and step-by-step guides to easily avoid sticky floors from becoming a big cleaning problem.
Gather the Supplies
The first step to cleaning up sticky floors comprises a supply’s checklist. By gathering the right supplies, you can easily clean the sticky marks as soon as you find one during the cleaning. Here is a simple checklist of items needed for a sticky floor clean-up:
- Broom
- Mop
- Dish soap
- Bucket
- Microfiber cloth
- Warm water
- White vinegar
- Soft-bristle brush
Pre-Cleaning
Start by pre-cleaning the area. If there is a sticky spot in your sight, chances are the spilt liquid dropped elsewhere too. Therefore, the best approach is to remove any furniture, rugs or chairs to perform a complete survey, so you are not greeted by any hidden spots later on.
Sweeping
Before moving towards deep cleaning, start by sweeping the area so there is no dust particles left. This will ease up the process when water is involved as dirt mixed with water can cause the tiled floor to have black marks.
Cleaning Solution
In a bucket, combine equal parts warm water and white vinegar. To increase the cleaning effectiveness of your solution, add a few drops of mild dish soap. While dish soap efficiently removes grease, vinegar efficiently breaks down sticky residues. Vinegar also removes any odour of food spills.
Clean the Sticky Marks
Using your microfiber cloth or a piece of clean towel dip the cloth in the solution and scrub the sticky spots. Don’t use a harsh cloth or a net wool as this can permanently ruin the shine of the tiles. Vinegar itself is acidic in nature which tends to break down the sticky residue while dish soap works to break down any oil particles in the sticky spot. After a while, leave the mixture on the spot for a few minutes (5-7 minutes), and then scrub off once again making the dirt easier to remove.
Scrub Gently
Gently scrub the sticky areas with a scrubber or soft-bristle brush. Additionally, the vinegar and dish soap mixture help to dissolve the residue, making it simpler to remove. To prevent damage, modify the pressure according to the kind of flooring.
Remove Any Residue
To remove the loose residue after scrubbing, use a moist microfiber cloth rather than a cotton one. Additionally, the microfiber material works well to capture debris and leave your floors streak-free.
Mop the entire floor
Use the remaining DIY cleaner to mop the entire floor for a complete and consistent clean. Additionally, mop the entire floor with even strokes after dipping a microfiber mop or cloth into the solution and wringing away any extra liquid.
Rinsing for Floors Free of Residue
Make sure to perform one final mop with fresh warm water as vinegar and mild dishwashing soap can make the floor slippery and also aren’t safe for households with kids. Leave the fan open to let the mopped floor dry completely so there aren’t any shoe marks on the floor.
Causes of Sticky Floors
As soon as you step on your hardwood or tiled floor barefoot, you realize that it is impossible to have this many spills, to make your floor this sticky. While we often blame our pets and kids for the sticky floors and sticky spots now and then, the truth is food spills aren’t the only reason behind sticky floors. Yes, sticky floors are caused by several issues and identifying them one by one can help solve the problem altogether.
Spilled Drinks
Starting with the basic and most common, the number one cause of sticky floors is spilt liquids. This is due to the high sugar content and plenty of other ingredients in these drinks that leave a deep mark once they dry up. Therefore, it is recommended to clean up juices or drinks as soon as they spill.
Cleaning Supplies
Some Cleaning supplies may leave sticky residues on your flooring if they are not thoroughly washed or wiped off. Due to the chemical content, these supplies need to be washed off or cleaned off with a clean cloth, so they don’t remain on the floor. These residues build up over time and produce a sticky surface. Remember to rinse your floors well after using any cleaning agents.
Using the Wrong Cleaning Supplies
Like using too much of cleaning supplies, sticky residues may result from using cleaning solutions that are not appropriate for the type of flooring you have. A sticky surface could be the result of certain cleaners leaving behind a layer that draws dirt. Always use the cleaning supplies that are suggested for the type of flooring you have.
Moisture and Humidity
Sticky floors can be a result of high humidity, particularly in damp places. Moreover, dust and filth may adhere to the floor surface due to interactions with the humidity. This problem can be avoided by making sure there is enough airflow while cleaning and by quickly fixing leaks.
Old Floors
Flooring finishes may deteriorate or wear down over time due to regular use or abrasive cleaning methods, making the floors tacky or sticky. Such floors are quick to catch dirt and even after cleaning, they easily get dirty. If it’s been a while since your floors were refinished, it is wise to get them polished.
Dirt Particles
Sweeping and moping are an integral part of regular cleaning as they prevent dirt particles from accumulating and leaving permanent marks. This dirt, dust, and grime can build up over time in high-traffic areas, particularly in kitchens and houses with pets or outside access. The dirt and moisture may combine as people walk over with dirty shoes, resulting in a sticky mess.
How to Keep Floors from Sticky Spills
For sticky floor cleaning in restaurants, we recommend hiring a professional restaurant cleaning service as no amount of regular scrubbing or mopping can get rid of a full day of spillages. Also, with a professional restaurant cleaning service, you can be assured that your restaurant is up to the hygiene standards and safe for the people coming in. As for home-based sticky floor cleaning, Supreme Cleaning Group offers moderate cleaning too besides some of our best tips to prevent your clean tiles from becoming sticky over time.
Keep a Designated Area for Food
Keep your chair and baby chairs around the kitchen counter and sit together as a family to have meals and drinks. This will generate an image of a designated dining area to your kids, and they are more likely to keep the spills and food drops to one place making it easier for you to clean.
Regular Mopping and Sweeping
The above-mentioned mopping solution isn’t just good for sticky floors, but it is a remedy to restore the natural shine of your tiles. Occasionally, use the magic solution to mop the floors and avoid sticky marks from sitting for too long.
Floor Cleaners
There are several floor cleaners in the market intended to the desired job. For immediate solutions to sticky spills like juices, and drinks use store-bought floor cleaners. Spray the cleaner over the spot and use a microfiber cloth to get rid of the problem immediately.
Place Floormats
Floormats in and out of the door aren’t just to welcome or say goodbye to your guests but their purpose is to keep the dust out as much as possible. Use floor mats on both sides of the doors with dust-catching materials to ensure minimum dirt enters the house. Also, keep the inside home footwear separate from outside footwear ensuring your floor is safe from any germs and harmful particles for the kids.
Conclusion: Regular Maintenance – A Way to Avoid Sticky Floors
Households that aren’t maintained are more likely to catch dirt and dust particles that turn into sticky floors. To make sure that your floors are always shining and don’t reach the stage of stubborn sticky spots, it is advised to get them cleaned, polished and maintained on a regular basis. Cleaning services like Supreme Cleaning Group offer extensive home cleaning with proper supplies and methods. These maintenance cleaning at affordable costs increase the life of your household and keep your homes clean and safe for pets and family members.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vinegar Good for Sticky Floors?
Yes, Vinegar with its acidic nature, helps in removing sticky marks and sticky dust particles from the floor. Using Vinegar too much may impact the shine of your floors, hence it is important to use it by mixing in equal parts of water to minimize the harshness.
Can I use vinegar on all types of floors?
While vinegar is effective on many surfaces, it’s not suitable for all types of flooring. Avoid using it on natural stone, unsealed wood, or laminate floors. Always check the manufacturer’s recommendations first.
Are Sticky Floors Permanent?
Unless your floor is too old or tiles have lost their natural shine, sticky floors are not permanent and can be cleaned. Make sure to perform regular cleaning so the sticky marks dont become permanent.
Do you Offer Cleaning for Sticky Floors?
Yes, as a part of our deep cleaning services for kitchens and households, we perform deep cleaning of kitchen floors that includes using specialized cleaners for sticky marks.
How often should I clean my floors to prevent stickiness?
Regular cleaning—at least once a week—can help prevent sticky floors. If your floors are frequently exposed to spills or high foot traffic, consider more frequent cleaning.
