A mop is an indispensable item when doing wet cleaning in the house. Previously, the hostess had no choice, and she had to use the usual design, consisting of two sticks fastened together of different lengths with a rag wound on one of them. Today, the range of these products has become much more extensive, everyone who faces this choice inevitably raises the question of which is better to choose a mop for home. And in this case, it is necessary to understand what fundamental differences exist between all the presented models, and what kind of coating will be removed with its help.
Wooden mop
Options when selecting
The choice of a mop for the house must be carried out, guided by the following parameters:
- the material of manufacture of the main structure, which does not significantly affect the cleaning result, but at the same time greatly affects the practicality and durability of the mop. Instead of ordinary wood, which, as you know, is afraid of moisture, came more durable aluminum and plastic, which not only have good characteristics, but also are very lightweight. But the quality of the material and the assembly of the structure in this case are very important, since cheap models made of thin material will quickly become worthless;
- sizes. In order for the house to be cleaned quickly and simply, the hostess should ideally have two mops - one with a wide nozzle and the other with a narrow one. The first option is more convenient when washing floors in large areas not lined with furniture, and the second will be more suitable for washing under furniture and in other hard-to-reach places;
- functionality, that is, the presence in the design of devices that help wring out the material. When using them, no additional bending is needed, which means that washing the floors will be less difficult.
Well, of course, you need to pay attention to the material of the mop nozzle, the choice of which depends on the type of flooring. Appearance is just as important as cleaning the house with attractive equipment is more pleasant.
Types of Mops
Currently, there are several main types of mops, which differ from each other in the execution of the main structure, as well as in the material and type of nozzle. The main ones include:
- rope mops;
- sponge mops;
- butterfly mops;
- mop flounder.
Each of them has its own characteristics, disadvantages and advantages. All this affects the cost of the product and the duration of the operation. The choice between different types of mops must be carried out based on what kind of flooring in the house, as well as ease of use and ease of care. Guided by these parameters, it will be very simple to choose a good mop.
Rope mop
The rope squeegee is a simple structure of a long handle and a round platform, to which rope harnesses are attached. The latter can be made of either polyester or cotton. This option is the most suitable mop for mopping a floor covered with linoleum.
Rope squeegee without spin mechanism
Detachable thread mop head
Spin Mop
The disadvantage of the rope mop is the inability to remove the nozzle from the material for washing it in the washing machine.But at the same time, very often a round platform is attached to the handle with a thread, which makes it possible to remove the entire nozzle and wash it manually. It is also worth noting that these types of cleaning equipment do not absorb much moisture, so they do not recommend washing the floor with ceramic tiles or marble. For the same reason, it is not suitable for washing laminated flooring or parquet. She is also not able to completely collect animal hair. For greater convenience, it is better to choose a rope mop for the house with a special spin system, which will make cleaning easier and faster.
Sponge Mops
Sponge mops are a handle construction on which the spin mechanism is fixed and a nozzle in the form of a rubber sponge is mounted. In order to wet a sponge, it is necessary to completely lower the water, and then use the squeezing mechanism to release excess fluid. This is very convenient, as the hands remain dry throughout the cleaning process. It is impossible to wash such a nozzle, it is recommended to change it, as soon as it begins to leave stains in the process of mopping.
Sponge Mop
A sponge mop is ideal for mopping ceramic or linoleum flooring. For parquet or laminate, it is better not to use it because of its disadvantage, namely hardness when incompletely soaked, due to which the wooden surface can be easily scratched. In general, each time before using such a mop, it is necessary to lower it into water for at least 10 minutes. During this time, the sponge will accumulate the amount of water it needs and will soak well. But even after that, you can not squeeze it out strongly, since the sponge can just come off, which will require a complete replacement of the nozzle. If the sponge was not completely soaked before use, then it can also break when pressed.
Also, the disadvantages of this type of mop can be called the fact that the nozzle itself is made of metal for greater strength, as well as the extraction mechanism. And since it is necessary to keep the mop in the water for a long time, very soon all the metal elements will be covered with rust, which will lead to their loss of strength. But this type of inventory also has undeniable advantages. The sponge mop very well cleans dust and dirt, absorbs water, and also collects animal hair and hair.
Butterfly Mops
The butterfly mop also has a rubberized sponge nozzle, but its spinning mechanism is slightly different from the previous version. It is carried out from the sides by the type of folding the wings with a butterfly, which is why the mop got its name. The advantage of this type of equipment compared to a sponge squeegee is the compactness of the folded nozzle, so that it can fit in even a small container.
The butterfly mop is also suitable for cleaning the floor of a house, in which it is covered with laminate or ceramic tiles, as well as certain animal species live in it. The nozzle can only be cleaned in running water or a container in which, in addition to liquid, some detergent is added. But most often, no additional steps to care for such equipment are needed, except for the timely replacement of the nozzle with a new one.
Butterfly Mop
Mop Flunder
The design of the mop-flounder is a long handle on which a rectangular platform is fixed with the ability to move in different directions. On the platform, which consists of two parts connected to each other using a special mechanism, a nozzle is attached, which can be made of various materials, the main ones being cotton and microfiber.
Mop Flounder
The mop handle, as well as the platform, can be made of both plastic and aluminum. Moreover, they are durable and wear-resistant. The disadvantage of this type of mop is the lack of a mechanism for squeezing.For every need arising, rinse the fabric nozzle and remove it, lower it into water, squeeze it well and put it on the platform again. The advantage is that the narrow and mobile platform makes it possible to wash floors in any hard-to-reach places.
When choosing such a mop, it is necessary, first of all, to correctly determine the material from which the part in contact with the surface when washing is made. The microfiber mop nozzle is ideal for homes where laminate or parquet, linoleum and ceramic tiles are used as flooring. It quickly and efficiently removes dirt and dust from it, leaving the surface almost dry, and at the same time does not leave streaks. But it’s hard for her to handle animal hair. Cotton is a less versatile material, it does not absorb moisture well, therefore nozzles made of it are mainly used for washing linoleum. Both types of nozzles, both microfiber and cotton can be washed in an automatic machine or manually. In this case, the first option is more durable.
Microfiber Mop Flapper
Cotton mop head
How to choose a mop for a laminate?
As an ideal choice of mop suitable specifically for the laminate, you can call a mop flounder with a microfiber nozzle. She can easily and simply wash the floor surface and not be afraid for the condition of the coating. After such cleaning, the laminate will not swell and there will be no stains and smudges on it.
A more modern and at the same time more functional version of a mop for cleaning the floor of an apartment covered with a laminate, as well as parquet, is a steam mop, which, in addition to cleaning from dirt, dust and animal hair, disinfects the surface. Moreover, when a question arises, how to choose a steam mopare guided by other parameters, namely its power, steam pressure, the volume of the water tank, as well as the type of power source, which can be used as an electrical network or batteries.
Universal Steam Mop
Despite the fact that the cost of steam mops is much higher, they are more functional and ideal for washing all types of coatings, as well as help ease the cleaning of mirrors and glass and even soft upholstery. Using it, you can not be afraid of the possibility of mold or fungus on the surface, since hot steam acts destructively on them. Therefore, given the financial opportunity, it is better to stop the choice on a steam mop, which will become the "first assistant" to the mistress in the struggle for cleanliness and order in the house.
