Article: A fresh cauliflower will be pure white and will be wrapped in crisp, bright green leaves. In particular, you should pay close attention to the base of the cauliflower. Regardless of how dirty or dingy the top looks, the base should be as white as possible. The color of the base is the best indication of how fresh the vegetable is. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ec\/Steam-Cauliflower-Step-1Bullet1.jpg\/v4-459px-Steam-Cauliflower-Step-1Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ec\/Steam-Cauliflower-Step-1Bullet1.jpg\/aid3206490-v4-728px-Steam-Cauliflower-Step-1Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"485","licensing":"<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>License: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/">Creative Commons<\/a><br>
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<\/p><\/div>"} The floret tops along the outside of the head should be fairly compact. If they are loose, or if there are wide gaps between the tops, this could be an indication that the cauliflower has already started to go bad. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ec\/Steam-Cauliflower-Step-1Bullet2.jpg\/v4-459px-Steam-Cauliflower-Step-1Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ec\/Steam-Cauliflower-Step-1Bullet2.jpg\/aid3206490-v4-728px-Steam-Cauliflower-Step-1Bullet2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"485","licensing":"<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>License: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/">Creative Commons<\/a><br>
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<\/p><\/div>"} Use a sharp knife to cut off the green leaves surrounding the head of cauliflower. Cut the leaves off as close to the base of the stem as possible. Note that the leaves can be cooked, too, as long as they are fresh. They are especially useful for vegetable stock, but they could be cooked down and used in stews, roasted, or eaten raw in salads. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b0\/Steam-Cauliflower-Step-2Bullet1.jpg\/v4-459px-Steam-Cauliflower-Step-2Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b0\/Steam-Cauliflower-Step-2Bullet1.jpg\/aid3206490-v4-728px-Steam-Cauliflower-Step-2Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"485","licensing":"<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>License: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/">Creative Commons<\/a><br>
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<\/p><\/div>"} To make removing florets easier, cut off the large stem just before the point at which it divides into individual florets. The stem could also be saved and used for vegetable stock. Technically, this step is only optional. You can remove individual florets from the cauliflower without first removing the excess stem, but doing so will be much more difficult. Turn the head upside down so that the cut stem end faces up. Use your sharp kitchen knife to cut each individual branch or floret off. Slice the floret off at the point where the floret stem meets the central stem. Cut them from the central stem at a 45 degree angle. Take the time to trim away and discolored parts of the cauliflower. Brown or otherwise off-color cauliflower will not taste as good and will lack many of the nutrients that fresh cauliflower has. Note that small baby cauliflowers can be cooked whole. You do not need to cut them into individual florets. You can use the florets as they are now, but if they are still somewhat large, they might take longer to cook. Use your knife to trim the florets down into smaller pieces. They should be about the same size as you would expect frozen florets to be. Cooking cauliflower for a shorter amount of time means preserving more of its nutrients. Place the cauliflower florets in a colander and rinse them under cool, running water. Pat dry with clean paper towels when done. Dirt and debris can get caught in between the floret clusters and stems. If you spot any dirt, gently scrub it away with your fingers. Your fingers should usually be sufficient; a vegetable brush should not be needed.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Choose a fresh cauliflower. Cut off the leaves. Trim down the central stem. Cut individual florets from the central stem. Trim large florets further. Wash the cauliflower.

Most steam mops have removable fabric pads that are easy to clean and maintain. Make sure the mop head is cool enough to touch, and remove the pad. Then wash it on a normal cycle with every-day laundry detergent/ Try to put your mop pad in with other loads of laundry so that you aren't washing it by itself. This is more environmentally friendly, and also less harsh on your mop pad. Clean the tank or reservoir of your steam mop by emptying it out and wiping it down with a damp dish towel or rag. Change out dirty cloths as necessary to avoid re-soiling the inside of the tank. Use a dry towel or rag to wipe down the whole surface of your steam mop after every use. This helps wipe away built-up debris, and wicks away any moisture left behind after mopping.
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One-sentence summary --
Wash the pads in the washing machine after every use. Wipe out the reservoir. Clean the surface of your mop.