September 2019

Everywhere you look there’s a different type of mop, but it can be confusing trying to work out what the best type is for each job.

Good old dirt spreaders

String mops have been around for many years and while materials and fitting types have changed, the principle remains the same – the material absorbs the detergent which it transfers to the floor and is spread around the surface. The detergent dissolves some of the soil and the mop spreads dirty water and detergent fairly evenly across the floor to dry to an even looking dirt and detergent film. Gross eh? Yes, it is – to be fair if you use a dual bucket system with clean water/detergent in one side and wring it out on the other side, you have a lot better system than the single bucket one. Even so, string mops are not good at lifting soil off the floor and permanently removing it.

What’s the difference between a string and a flat?

Flat mops, made of standard mop materials, get a better even pressure on the floor than a string mop and are easier to manoeuvre, however apart from that, they still possess most of the disadvantages of a string mop. Flat mops that go with buckets are examples of this type.

Microfibre flat mops are a different story though. The action of the microfibre will cut the soil off the floor way better than a string mop, then holds the soil in the pile of the mop for removal through the laundry process. This gives completely different performance to a string mop and actually cleans the floor without leaving residue all over it. We must admit that this concept takes a bit of getting your head around because you’re actually removing the soil and washing it out through the washing machine. For this reason, you need quite a few mops to cover a large area but then, once these are washed out, you can reuse them next time for cleaning, so it’s ultimately a more sustainable system than using string mops and detergents.

Make it an ergonomic breeze

If you enjoy lugging around a wringer bucket full of water with a heavy string mop that hurts your shoulders with repeated use, then you’re probably one of very few. In comparison, a commercial quality microfibre mop used for the right purpose is a breeze to push, you can stand straight upright and it just glides across the floor. With the right training you can do this all day without fatigue.

Not for all floors though

As a rule of thumb, mopping is for relatively smooth surfaces only. There are specialist flat mops available for non-slip floors as found in some showers, but they are very specific for that particular surface. Beware of rough surfaces such as resin floor toppings found in the food industry, as often a mop isn’t the best way to clean this. We suggest that wet scrubbing and water rinsing is more effective in this application.

Using the right tool makes your life so much easier

With multiple different soil types, floor and wall materials and wet or dry environments, it makes a huge difference by matching up the best mop for each application. You also need to bear in mind the width of mops available, as it’s surprising how much faster a large area can be cleaned by increasing mop width by just 15cm. Where to from here? Simply fill in your details in the form below and one of our team will be in touch to help you find the best option for your situation.