Why Is My Tile Floor Sticky After I Mop?

When you mop the floor, you expect it to be smooth, shining and completely clean, right? So why is my tile floor sticky after I mop, I hear you cry? Well, it turns out there could be a few reasons behind this. We are here to help you work that out – and give you some tips to stop it too.

Why Is My Tile Floor Sticky After I Mop?

There is a very simple reason behind this incredibly frustrating phenomenon, and you can get around it fairly easily.

The stickiness is simply a residue left over from whatever cleaning product you have used to clean the floor.

Sometimes, if they are not properly rinsed away, these cleaners can leave a layer of stickiness that can affect the final result.

Thankfully there is a super simple solution to this sticky problem, and it won’t cost you a single penny.

All you need to do is do a final rinse with some clean water, to remove any residue left over from the cleaning products.

You can either do this using your standard mop, or you can simply wipe a damp cloth over the floors to remove any leftover cleaning product.

Another great tip is to rub over the tiles that you have washed with a dry cloth once you’ve finished. This will remove water marks and bring out the shine.

This little video explains why your floors can often feel sticky after you have washed them:

How Do You Clean Tile Floors Without Them Getting Sticky?

Obviously you want your floors to be clean, and so you will want to be using some sort of cleaning products on them.

But, how to avoid the sticky trap of getting your floors clean but ending up with that irritating, sticky film?

Vinegar is a highly effective cleaning agent, and one that is inexpensive and found in just about every household cupboard.

Just mix 1 cup of vinegar with a gallon of warm water in a large bowl or bucket, stir the mixture around well to combine it.

Use this solution to mop your floors – the vinegar will remove stains and dirt, and any vinegar smell will dissipate very quickly.

Mop again with clean water to remove any traces of leftover vinegar and add a lovely shine to your tiled floor.

You can also use your normal floor cleaning products, and simply do another wipe down with clean water afterwards to remove the sticky film.

Remember not to overdo it on the vinegar; too much can make your floors look a little dull with prolonged use.

You can get around this issue by not skipping the final rinse of your tiles, to remove any traces of leftover vinegar.

Will Vinegar Help With Sticky Floors?

Vinegar is the best cleaning product – it is natural, cheap, and highly effective. And yes, of course, it will help with sticky floors!

The astringent nature of vinegar is what makes it so good at cleaning; it can remove stains, odours, and stickiness.

Vinegar may dull your floors after a long time of using it, but you can negate this by rinsing off the vinegar with clean water.

You may be concerned that your house will smell like a pickle jar if you clean with vinegar, but the smell only hangs around until it’s dry.

If you are worried, you can always add a drop or two of your favourite essential oil to the vinegar solution, but we can promise you that the smell will fade.

What Is The Best Cleaning Solution For Sticky Floors?

You can buy any amount of cleaning products that you like, and go through the supermarket shelves until you find one that you like.

Or you can simply mop with hot water and hope for the best! However, there are a few tried and tested methods out there that we know work well:

• Vinegar water. Mixing white vinegar and water is a very good cleaning method; it removes dirt and stains from your floors without leaving a sticky residue.
• Mild dish washing soap. This is a simple cleaning fluid, that you can easily make at home with warm water and a little soap.
• Washing powder. It’s not just for clothes! Using washing powder to clean your floors is a great hack – it cleans them as well as it does your socks.

How Do You Clean A Sticky Ceramic Floor?

Ceramic floor tiles are a practical and attractive flooring for areas such as the bathroom and kitchen. But, how do we clean them properly?

1. Fill a bucket with hot water, and add half a cup of white vinegar and half a tablespoon of washing up liquid.
2. Rinse out the mop under hot running water to remove any dirt and debris from the last time you used it.
3. Mop the tiles well, concentrating on areas that are extra dirty, sticky, and which get the most foot traffic.
4. Empty out the water, then refill the bucket with clean, hot water and do another pass over the tiles to remove any soap residue that may dull your tiles.
5. Wipe over the whole area with a clean, non abrasive cloth, to remove any water streaks and bring out the shine.

Try not to use too much of the dish soap, as this can leave a sticky residue that will make you feel as if you have to start all over again!

Remember to rinse the area well after you have cleaned it, and never skip the drying step, to avoid sticky floors once and for all.

Final Words

When you clean, you don’t want it to look or feel as if you haven’t done anything, or have it be more of a state than when you started!

Once you’ve figured out the ways to make your newly-mopped floors less sticky, you will be gliding over your polished floor like a fairy!