You Don't Need A Mop To Achieve Squeaky-Clean Kitchen Floors

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Are your kitchen floors in need of a good scrub, but you don't own a mop? Or do you simply dread the whole rigmarole of finding the mop, prepping the bucket, and cleaning everything up? The good news is you don't need a mop at all! You can achieve clean kitchen floors with just a broom and a towel (or even a large rag).

The whole concept is similar to using a Swiffer, but requires some MacGyvering. Grab an old kitchen towel or rag, wet it with soapy water in the sink, and wring out any excess liquid. Lay your towel flat on the floor, place your broom over it, and voila! You have a brand new mop. Now push your makeshift mop around the floor, scrubbing back and forth on any extra dirty sections. To make the process smoother, wrap the towel around the broom head and secure it with clothespins. Bear in mind that you may need to reposition your towel or broomstick occasionally to maximize the clean fabric available.

This towel-and-broomstick strategy helps you spring-clean your kitchen with less hassle. Since you don't need a bulky mop and bucket, you'll save precious storage space. Plus, it saves you the time of having to fill a bucket and detach and clean a mop head. You can just throw the towel or rag into the wash when you're done. Whichever mopping strategy you choose, make sure not to make the simple kitchen cleaning mistake of going in the wrong direction. Start with the uppermost surfaces and make mopping your final task.

Using a broom and towel to clean kitchen floors may seem unusual, but it's commonplace in countries like Italy, where families have used this cleaning hack for decades. People in Europe and Latin America also use a T-mop, or Cuban mop, which uses a similar mechanism. You wrap a cloth around a wooden, T-shaped stick to create a "mop head," then use it (dry or wet) to clean the floor. It's simple and lightweight, making it easy to store in small kitchens. (And with this T-stick with Magic Microfiber Reusable Cloth, you can easily mop the floor (or sweep the ceiling), then pop the provided cloth straight into the wash.)

If you're really into minimalistic kitchens, you can settle for a cloth and some physical effort. Grab an old towel or rag and dampen it with soapy water. Lay it flat on the floor and stand over it. Clean, bare feet are best if you don't want to transfer more dirt to your towel. Using a skiing motion, glide over the floor section by section, using your weight to scrub it clean.

Finally, if you really want to get into those nooks and crannies, you can hit the floor with a sponge. While this method reminds us of an old-school punishment, it might be the most thorough. However, if you're just spot-cleaning some crumbs, a lint roller can easily clean your kitchen. When done, toss the used lint paper straight in the trash.