Popular Types of Mops
By Laura Serino
, last updated February 18, 2011
When it comes to organizing your cleaning arsenal, one of the most important items to have on hand is a good mop, and there are a few popular varieties that would work well in your home. Depending on the types of floors in your home, or based on your cleaning needs, there are several different types to consider. Mops are broken into two separate categories: wet and dry. Dry mops are generally used to pick up dust. The ever popular loop mops in cotton, nylon or synthetic fibers are a good option. These can be used on any wood floor or run along baseboards in a room to pick up dust particles.
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Microfiber mops are another option for collecting dust bunnies. The fibers produce a strong positive charge that attracts dust easily. Due to their strong hold, they also contain dust better than traditional yarn mops, which do release dust once they're lifted off the floor.
Disposable dusters, such as the Swiffer brand, are great at picking up dust for quick clean ups. They're efficient and affordable options, though not the greenest choice.
There are also a number of varieties available for wet mops. The most traditional are sponge mops. The most common sponge mops have a rectangular heads and are great at tackling dirt on tile floors. When wet, their built-in wringer removes excess water before cleaning the floors. These are affordable options and most commonly found at grocery or hardware stores. In order to keep floors clean and germ-free, the mop heads do need to be changed frequently in order to cut down on bacteria on the mop head.
String mops were originally made of cotton loops, but are now found in microfiber or other synthetic fabrics too. These also have a self-wringing feature on newer mops (original models had to be hand wrung). Replacement heads are common. The microfiber heads can often be thrown into the wash and used again and again. String mops are a great option to use on tile floors, especially at getting at grout.
There is also a newer category of self-cleaning wet mops. These mops have a cleaning liquid built in. If you pull the lever to release the liquid, you can run your mop head right over a wet surface, cutting down on drying time and product. These all-in-one mops are a great option if you're trying to streamline your cleaning supply.
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