If the bathroom floor appears completely dry, but feels sticky as soon as you step on it, it’s often difficult to understand why. Sometimes it seems the floor hasn’t been cleaned properly and needs to be mopped again. But this isn’t always the case. Excessive cleaners, soaps, or floor polishes can leave a film on the surface after cleaning, making your feet feel sticky even on a dry floor.
Using more cleaner to clean the floor may seem counterintuitive, but this can worsen the problem instead of improving the cleaning. Many floor cleaners contain ingredients that, if used in excess or not mixed with enough water, can leave a sticky layer on the floor. Some cleaners can even create a hazy layer on the surface. Therefore, when cleaning floors, use only the amount of cleaner recommended on the bottle. If a layer of cleaner has already formed on the floor, instead of mopping again with just the cleaner, you can mop with clean, lukewarm water. This can help remove any remaining residue.
Additionally adding too much soap to the mopping water can leave a sticky residue on the floor. Adding more soap may not necessarily result in a cleaner floor. About one tablespoon of dish soap in a full bucket of water is sufficient. If a layer of soap remains on the floor after cleaning, remove the excess soap with a mop or cloth lightly dampened with clean water. This can help reduce any remaining stickiness.
Polishes and waxes used to keep floors shiny can also sometimes cause stickiness. Many floor polishes create a shiny film on the floor. Over time, if multiple layers of polish accumulate, they can trap dust and dirt. This can make the floor surface feel sticky.
Therefore, it’s not necessary to use polish or wax on every type of floor. Especially on modern wood floors, avoid using wax or oil soap unless it’s specifically designed for that type of floor. Oil soap can leave an oily film on factory-finished floors, which can attract dust and dirt.
Mopping Up Dirt or Grease
Sometimes the problem isn’t the cleaner, but the mop and its water. If the mop’s water is already dirty and you continue cleaning with it, you’re simply spreading the same dirt back onto the floor instead of cleaning it. When the water in the mop bucket becomes so dirty that its bottom is not visible, then the water should be changed. Sponge mops also absorb dirt, hence it is important to wash and squeeze them thoroughly when they get dirty. If you use a spray mop or a mop with disposable pads, then keep changing the pads from time to time.