which mop?
"Mopping" is an essential part of floor care. Here's a guide to selecting the right mop for the job
String Mop
Traditional string mops are good for heavy duty cleaning and are used with a bucket or trolley system
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Great absorbency
- Good scrubbing power
- Ideal for high traffic floors
- Good for spills/mopping up liquids
Cons
- Difficult to dry
- May leave linting behind
Mop Sweeper
Mop sweepers or dust mops are designed to be used dry to catch dust, dirt and other debris on the floor without the need for water.
Pros
- Available in large widths (up to 80cm)
- Great for interim cleaning
- Sweep up debris before it can leave marks
- Generally long life
- Great for high foot traffic areas
Cons
- Not for mopping liquids
- Not for removing stains
Flat Mop
Features a microfibre pad that traps dirt. Ideal for daily cleaning. Some versions feature an onboard tank for spraying water/detergent without having to use a separate bucket
Pros
- Ideal for daily cleaning
- Use minimal water
- Trap dirt well
- Replaceable pads
- Great in corners
- Easy to store
Cons
- Microfibre pads must be cleaned/replaced
- Not great for tackling stubborn marks or stains without pretreating
- Need specialised wringer/Difficult to wring out
Steam Mop
A floor cleaner that uses just water to clean and disinfectant hard floors and carpets without the need for additional chemicals.
Pros
- Kill germs, bacteria & mites
- No additional cleaning detergents needed
- Removes scale & stains with ease
- Can used on carpets & textiled coverings
- Adjustable steam flow for different floors
- Ideal for allergy sufferers
- Can clean much more with accessories
Cons
- Can be expensive depending on the model/features
- Cannot be used on certain floor coverings
Dustermaster Mop
The dustermaster/masslinn system are a great way of maintaining finishes and controlling dust in between deeper cleanings.
Pros
- Control dust
- Maintain polish/finish for longer
- Ideal for daily cleaning
- Suitable for high traffic floors
- No water is needed as cloths are oil impregnated
Cons
- Masslinn cloths need to be replaced frequently
- Cannot be used on certain floor coverings