For many years, I’ve experienced the fall blues: Days are shorter, nights are longer, and the air is chillier. Energetically, it feels like a season of shedding; trees lose their leaves, routines slow down, and nature clears out the old to prepare for the new. Fall also means more cooking at home for me, which translates to more things inevitably ending up on the kitchen floor and me having to mop it up frequently. Recently, I was at my sister’s place and noticed her mopping ritual that stopped me in my tracks. I knew I needed to adopt it.
What Is My Sister’s Mopping Ritual?
My sister starts mopping from the westernmost point of her home and moves east, envisioning stagnant or heavy energy leaving her space. Then she mops again, this time from east to west, imagining the energy she wants to welcome in.
What Happened When I Tried My Sister’s Mopping Method
I have laminate flooring in my kitchen, so I don’t usually use a bucket of water when I mop. Too much moisture can seep underneath and cause damage (definitely not renter-friendly). Instead, I typically reach for my Swiffer PowerMop, which sprays cleaning solution directly onto the floor as I go. To adapt my sister’s ritual, I transferred a bit of Florida Water into a spray bottle. First I mopped with my Swiffer as usual and once that dried, I misted the floor with a few pumps of the Florida Water spray directly onto the floor and mopped again (this time without the Swiffer cleaning solution). I started from west to east and then finished from east to west, just like she does.
The double pass cleaned my floors even deeper, and I felt calmer. The citrusy, slightly floral scent lingered long after the floors dried, and the whole ritual felt grounding and intentional. If you try it, just be mindful of your flooring type and finish; Florida Water contains alcohol, which can dull certain surfaces like untreated wood. For sealed floors, though, the scent alone makes the entire home feel refreshed and renewed.
