When engaging in cleaning services, Bristol professionals need to know how to mop thoroughly and quickly, without doing themselves an injury in the process. As mopping is second only to hauling garbage when it comes to causing cleaning-related injuries, it’s important to balance the desire to mop in a hurry while getting a good clean with the needs of one’s body. In order to achieve a perfectly clean floor while not overly straining your back, wrists, and hands, adhere to the following mopping guidelines:
Those performing cleaning services Bristol based and elsewhere, should receive proper training prior to mopping or performing any other janitorial work.
- While mopping, never hold the mop shaft so far in front of your body that you’re forced to bend over while mopping. You’ll put added strain on your back and wrists, not simply from bending, but because mopping this way forces a person to grip the mop too tightly.
- Use a mop that is right for your height—many traditional mops were designed for tall male users, so if you are on the shorter side, double check to make sure you are using an adjustable, ergonomic mop that will work with your height.
- Use proper mopping methods. Those who provide cleaning services, Bristol professional advise, should use either the “figure-eight” mopping method or the side-to-side, then front-to-back mopping method. These techniques are taught to cleaning professionals because they keep the mop handle close to the body while also delivering a powerful, thorough clean.
- Don’t try to cover too much area with just one swing of your mop. Many people do this because they believe it will get the job done faster, or it feels like they are cleaning the floor more thoroughly, but it’s actually not beneficial in any way. It delivers a less efficient overall clean while forcing your back to twist far too much in trying to twirl the mop to make it cover such a large area. Instead, cover a sensible amount of ground using one of the mopping methods discussed above.
- Take frequent short breaks to rest and stretch. Pretty much any form of repetitive motion is hard on the body, so to avoid injury from mopping it’s vital to cut some of that repetition by taking frequent, short pauses to do something else with your body.
- To get a more thoroughly clean, wet mop rather than damp mop. Make sure your mop is thoroughly loaded with cleaning solution, and let the solution do the work, rather than scrubbing harder with a mop that is only damp.
- Change mop heads frequently to ensure you’re mopping with a clean head. Mopping with the same mop head for a month is a sure way to cause yourself—and your back—extra work (and the same goes for using a head in a very dirty area, then proceeding to mop another area with it). Similarly, make sure you are mopping with clean solution.