How to Mop Stairs? – Guides on Cleaning All Types of Stairs

It is essential to clean our surroundings to be clean from dirt and germs. Cleaning of stairs is one way to ensure everywhere in your surroundings is clean. And a clean surrounding takes care of your health even more in these crucial times. The coronavirus can be anywhere, and stairs and railings are some of the public places where it is easier to contract the virus.

Cleaning of stairs should not only be done when the dirt is evident; regular cleaning of stairs should be routine for healthy living. Stairs are made of different materials like concrete, wood, and so on, and these different materials require other cleaning methods.

To make the cleaning more efficient, you would need to mop the stairs after dusting or sweeping. Some of the ways to clean the different types of stairs would be analyzed below. Continue reading to learn more about the kind of stairs peculiar to you.

How to Clean Wood/Hardwood Stairs?

Wood stairs are a common type of stairs because of their longevity. Wooden stairs add a unique class to homes, primarily when they are properly maintained. Wooden stairs are straightforward to clean; you only need to follow the following steps:

Step 1: First thing you should do is remove all items that can disturb the cleaning process, like children’s toys, bags, etc. Then you sweep the stairs with a broom. The sweeping should start from the top to the floor and ensure you stand on a side while cleaning so the dirt doesn’t stick to your feet.

Step 2: After sweeping, the first thing you should do before taking another action is to check what type of sealant is on your wooden stage. Then get a cleaner that is suitable for your finished wood.

Step 3: You should mix your cleaner in warm water and make sure the water is not much because too much water might cause your stairs to swell. Use a microfiber mop or a terry cloth to wipe the stairs with your cleaning solution. The microfiber mop would attract the smallest dirt particles.

Step 4: After mopping the stairs from the top to the floor, allow the wood to dry. And the next step is to polish the wood; polishing the wood does not necessarily have to be done every time you clean the stairs. The best way to apply the polish is with a microfiber cloth and start from the top to the floor.

How to Mop Exterior Metal Stairs?

Metal Stairs are the obvious best choice for outdoor stairs. And the maintenance is not as much as wooden stairs. The steps to clean metal stairs are below:

Step 1: The first thing you need to do when you want to clean metal stairs is to get a microfiber cloth to dust the grim. This process should be done correctly for the result to be adequate.

Step 2: After dusting off the grim with a microfiber cloth, the next step is to get a liquid metal cleaner. Mix the metal cleaner in a bucket with warm water and use it to mop the stairs down. This process is to ensure that every rust is washed off.

Step 3: After mopping the stairs with the mixed liquid solution, you should get a pressure cleaner. Use the pressure cleaner to hose down the stairs, and the shine would be back.

How to Clean Spiral Metal Staircase?

Cleaning spiral metal staircases is similar to cleaning other metal stairs. There are three steps to cleaning spiral metal staircases.

Step 1: The most crucial cleaning process when dealing with any metal stairs is dusting. It would help if you brushed your metal stairs regularly so that too much rust wouldn’t accumulate on the iron.

Step 2: After dusting, you should get a liquid metal cleaner and mop the stairs with a cleaner and water mixture.

It is also essential to clean the metal with a cleaner at least once every two weeks. Also, stay away from cleaning solutions with harsh chemicals.

Step 3: After mopping the mop with the cleaning solution, you should check if there are any more rusts; if any, you can use a metal scraper to get rid of them. When you’re sure of no more rusts, you should paint the stairs with a protective coating. You should also apply the primer first before applying the paint if the primer is not mixed in color already.

How to Clean Outside Wood Stairs?

Cleaning outdoor wooden stairs is similar to cleaning indoor wooden stairs except for a few differences. The steps to cleaning outdoor wooden stairs are as follows:

Step 1: The first thing you need to do is sweep the stairs from the top to the floor.

Step 2: The next step is to use a mop to wash the dirt on the wood because it is an outdoor stair, and the cleaning has to be more thorough. It would help if you used a kitchen cleaning liquid.

Step 3: After mopping the stairs with the cleaning solution, you should use a pressure cleaner to rinse it off. Then use a dry cloth to dry it and allow it to dry for 2 to 3 days.

But if there are algae on the stairs, you shouldn’t use a pressure cleaner as it can destroy the wood. It would help if you used a small knife to scrape the algae off the wood. Then use oxygen bleach mixed in warm water to clean the surface and allow it to dry. Then scrub it with a brush before rinsing it.

Step 4: After the wood is dried naturally, the next step is to add sealant on the stairs to protect it. Outdoor wooden stairs should be sealed at least once a year to keep them in good form.

How to Clean the Stairs with Rugs/Carpets on?

Some stairs have carpets or rugs on them, and this does not make the cleaning any more stressful except that after sweeping the stairs with a broom.

Step 1: After sweeping the stairs, you should use a vacuum cleaner to vacuum the carpet from top to bottom. Use the attachment to move from the top downwards. Vacuum each step from left to right.

Step 2: After vacuuming the carpet/rug, you need to apply carpet cleaner. You can use a portable carpet cleaning machine the same way you used a vacuum cleaner. But if you’re using your hands to scrub, you should not use much cleaning solution so your carpet would dry off in time.

Step 3: Allow the carpets to dry; it would take around 30 minutes to dry when hand washed. When the rug is dry, begin to mop the stairs with a mixture of wood cleaning solution and warm water.

Step 4: After mopping the stairs, clean with a dry cloth and allow it to dry naturally before polishing the stairs. And then you can spread the carpet on the stairs again.

Tips on Mopping Stairs for Effective Cleaning

There are some general tips you should note when mopping stairs generally to make the cleaning complete. Steam mops are one of the best mops to clean stairs, but you should always consider if the material of your stairs can withstand the steam so you won’t damage the stairs. Some of the other tips are as follows:

• Clean the sticky handrail

The handrail of any stairs is usually one of the dirtiest parts of the stairs. You should clean the bar thoroughly with a mixture of water and a cleaning solution.

• Look the corners

Microfiber cloths are recommended when cleaning stairs because there are always some corners on the stairs that mops might not reach but holding a microfiber cloth would make it easier to clean every corner.

• Remove scuffs and wears

It is also essential to remove scuffs and wear them on the stairs before cleaning because the dirt you would be cleaning from the stairs might damage the clothes. The best thing is to remove clothes and other properties before starting the cleaning.

• Protect the wood

Wooden stairs require a higher level of caution when cleaning than metal stairs. You need to protect the wood; that is why it is recommended to seal the wood regularly. And also, when using liquid solutions, you should make the fluid adequate and not too much as the water might weaken the wood.

Conclusion

You should do the cleaning of your stairs regularly, but it still relies on some other maintenance like checking the safety of the stairs regularly, especially for metal stairs.

It goes hand in hand; when the stairs are clean and sound, it will serve the purpose properly. It would help if you also were careful because different types of stairs require other cleaning methods, and using the wrong way might lead to improper work or damage to my stairs material.