Whether you have a “shoes on” or “shoes off” household your floor sees a lot of action. From debris tracked in from outside, to crumbs from lunch, and even dust that just seems to appear out of thin air. Floors are one of the hardest parts of the home to keep clean. Sweeping is a daily chore that helps keep your floors clean. However, for those stickier and tenacious stains you need classic mop.
Mops nowadays come in many different shapes and sizes. So which one is the best? The answer there is it depends. Let’s go through some of the types of mops and when is the best time to use them.
Flat Mops: Flat mops have a flat head that has an, often, removable pad. It can be removed to clean or replace. Flat mops are increasingly popular especially with the entrance of Swiffer WetJet into the cleaning market and the benefits are obvious.
Benefit 1: It can be cleaned easily in a washing machine or replaced altogether depending on the type you get.
Benefit 2: It doesn’t need a bucket and is very light and portable making it suitable for everyday use.
Disadvantage: It is not a good option for getting those really caked in spots and those old spots that need a little more work.
String Mops: We are all familiar with the string mops. The image might remind you of breaking your back and cracking your knuckles to wring out the dirty water you’ve just mopped up. Despite this unpleasant image the string mop still has its benefits.
Benefit 1: They are extremely inexpensive and can be easily found at any local store.
Benefit 2: They allow you to get into corners easily and scrub tough stains thoroughly.
Disadvantage: These mops are hard to keep clean and tend to fall apart quickly which means they need to be replaced often.
Sponge Mops: Sponge mops are similar to flat mops except the head piece is a sponge. They often have an attachment that squeezes excess water out of the sponge. This can be a good option for many reasons.
Benefit 1: They work particularly well on uneven floors such as: tile, mosaic, stone, etc.
Benefit 2: You can get a closer scrub than another type of mop might get you. The sponge allows for good scrub potential.
Disadvantage: Although useful, sponges can harbor a lot of bacteria since they can hold water for so long.
Steam Mops: Steam mops show us the innovation in the mop world. Steam mops are electronic and have a tank for water that is heated up allowing the mop to let out steam. It combines the design of a vacuum with that of a flat mop. But like all the others there are pros and cons.
Benefit 1: It has a reusable mopping pad that allows for easy cleaning and replacement if necessary.
Benefit 2: The steaming option means that this is a great option for cleaning and disinfecting.
All in all, keeping a clean home is all about having the right tools so choose the right mop.