If you have sticky floors, every footfall can be irritating. Fibers from your socks may stay behind on the material, creating dullness and a rough texture that captures dirt and debris. You might even hear a noise every time you peel your foot up from the floor. 

Your strategy for how to clean sticky floors depends on the reason that the surface is tacky in the first place. The method is different for cleaning sticky spills vs dealing with a compromised finish.

Dealing With Sticky Spills

Maybe you spilled soda on the floor and didn’t clean it well enough. Food and beverage products that contain sugars and oils are notorious for leaving sticky residue. 

The best way to prevent this from happening is to clean spills immediately. Use a cleaner that’s designed for your flooring surface and effectively breaks up grime. Make sure that you clean the area thoroughly to get rid of the slick film that oils and other foods can leave behind.

If the stickiness is coming from an old spill, you’ll need to use more elbow grease to remove it. Follow the steps below for a basic method for how to clean sticky floors:

  • Fill a bucket with hot water.
  • Add the recommended amount of cleaning solution that’s safe for your floors.
  • Dip a mop into the solution.
  • Wring out the mop until it’s slightly damp.
  • Use gentle pressure to scrub the sticky spot off of the floor.
  • Remove cleaning residue with a clean, damp cloth.
  • Dry the floor completely.

Basic Method for Removing Stubborn, Sticky Stains from Flooring

If a regular mop doesn’t do the trick, you might need to use more pressure or a different cleaning tools to remove especially gummy stains. Use the gentest option first so that you don’t damage the finish on your flooring. 

Some steps that you can try include the following:

  • Use a rag instead of a mop; applying direct pressure with your hand may help to disperse the stain.
  • If your flooring is waterproof, leave a damp cloth over the stain for 10 to 20 minutes. The sticky substance should wipe clean more easily when it’s moist.
  • Try rubbing the spot with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser or similar product. This works like an eraser and may pick up especially clingy stains. Go easy on this step. Rubbing too hard can damage the finish on certain types of floors.

Why Are My Floors Sticky After Mopping?

Sometimes, there is no clear cause for your sticky floors. You didn’t spill anything on the surface. In fact, you clean your floors regularly. Yet the entire surface feels sticky, grabbing your socks as you walk across it. If this is an issue for you, it can get worse immediately after mopping.

This type of stickiness is usually caused by the following factors:

  • Failing to rinse all of the cleaning solution residue with fresh water – Cleaning solutions work by encouraging water to bond with dirt particles. Therefore, they function best when they’re completely rinsed off. If you leave cleaning product residue on the floor, it will dry to a sticky finish that captures additional dirt and debris.
  • Allowing cleaning solution to dry on the floor – Just as soap leaves behind scum if it dries in your bathtub, cleaning solution dries to a filmy residue on your floor.
  • Using the wrong type of cleaner – Chemical cleaners can interact negatively with waxes and other finishes. Make sure that you opt for a cleaning product that’s intended for use on your type of flooring.
  • Applying too much cleaning solution – Floor cleaning products are usually so concentrated that a little goes a long way. If you use too much, you’ll have trouble rinsing it off completely, and it can build up over time.
  • Mopping with dirty water – If you don’t replace your cleaning solution frequently as you mop, you’ll end up putting dirty water back on the floor. As the soap and dirt particles dry, they’ll create a sticky film.
  • Your mop is dirty – Dirt and grime stick to your mop head if you don’t wash it thoroughly. If your mop is looking dingy and ragged, consider replacing it with a clean one.

Clean Your Floors With Vinegar

The acidity of vinegar works well for breaking down stickiness on the floor. You can mop your floor with a vinegar-and-water solution to solve the problems caused by faulty cleaning methods or spot clean with the mixture.

Learn how to clean sticky floors using the vinegar method below:

  • Combine equal parts vinegar and water in a bucket, bowl or spray bottle.
  • Apply the solution to the flooring using a damp rag or mop.
  • Alternatively, you can spray the floor with the solution. Let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes, and wipe it off with a cloth dampened with fresh water.

Avoid leaving moisture on a floor that can’t handle the dampness. You don’t want to let water sit on a hardwood floor for 15 to 20 minutes. Instead, rinse and dry the floors immediately after applying the vinegar. If they’re still sticky, repeat the process.

Dealing With Sticky Polyurethane

Polyurethane sealants can feel sticky if they’re not applied correctly. Some issues that can cause polyurethane finishes to feel tacky include:

  • Failing to let the product dry fully between coats
  • Failing to thoroughly stir the polyurethane before applying it
  • Applying polyurethane when the environment is too hot or humid
  • The layers of polyurethane were applied too thickly
  • You applied polyurethane over an old layer of varnish or wax

Once the polyurethane has been applied, you might think that there’s no way to fix the tackiness. But you have a few options.

If the finish is new, give it some more time to cure. Some experts say that if you can still smell the polyurethane, it has not cured completely. Avoid walking on it until the odor goes away and it’s hard and dry to the touch.

Running a dehumidifier can reduce moisture in the air and on the surface of the floor. This can be especially helpful during warm, humid weather.

Dampening a rag with mineral spirits and running it over the polyurethane can get rid of surface tackiness. However, you’ll need to wait a few days for it to dry before walking or placing furniture on it.

If none of these approaches work, you might need to refinish your floors. The best way to do this is to strip and sand them before reapplying the sealer. You might be able to apply a different sealer over the sticky polyurethane. However, this should be left to the experts. If you use the wrong product, it can make the stickiness worse.

Prevent Sticky Floors In the First Place

Using the proper installation, finishing and cleaning methods for your flooring is the best way to prevent tackiness in the first place. Clean your floors daily using a vacuum or broom to get rid of loose debris. Mop the floors periodically, following the instructions on the appropriate cleaning product. You’ll need to do this more frequently in high-traffic areas.

Dedicate one mop to be used with cleaning solution and another to be used for drying the floor. If you use a mop with cleaning product residue on it to dry your floors, you might make the problem worse.

Published by flooring.admin