Comparison of Tile Floor Mops
Tile floors are among the most widely installed floor coverings on the market. They are produced in a variety of materials and styles. Cleaning is essential to keeping tile in good condition, and mopping is the best way to keep it clean. For this job, there are two primary options: wet mops or microfiber, a more advanced material that is used wet or dry. Does this Spark an idea?
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Wet Loop vs. Microfiber
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Wet mops are a traditional product that has been used in the home for years. They are most frequently manufactured in cotton, rayon or a combination of the two. A sponge mop also falls into this category but is manufactured with sponge material. These products are easy to use, widely available and inexpensive. Microfiber materials have been on the market for more than two decades, but in recent years have grown in popularity around the home. These products, including the Swiffer line of products, are used dry to pick up dust, or wet for tougher stains. They tend to have a higher initial cost, but because they have a longer lifespan and use less water, they make up for it in the long term.
Hygiene
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Standard wet mops require large amounts of water for cleaning, and if not dried completely, provide an ideal situation for mold, mildew and bacterial growth. Since tile is grouted and naturally porous, it is more prone to having problems with this type of growth. Standard mop heads are not usually washable or designed to be put in the dryer. Washing and drying the mop head between uses greatly reduces the chance of bacterial and fungal growth. Microfiber heads are more desirable for tile floors as their design makes them more hygienic and washable. Since the washing process includes fabric softener, microfiber material is softer and less likely to scratch tile than wet loop mops. Finally, since microfiber mop heads and pads are replaceable, there was little, if any cross-contamination between rooms.
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Cleaning Ability
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The threads used for traditional wet mops are thicker than those used for microfiber mops. This kind of construction means they are less effective at deep cleaning and cleaning around indentations and imperfections. The threads used in microfiber are usually less than the thickness of a human hair, making them better suited for cleaning pores and between tiles. A microfiber mop is usable dry to remove dirt and dust or wet for regular mopping jobs.
Weight
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Standard mops tend to weigh more than their microfiber counterparts, meaning they are less ergonomic for long cleaning jobs. A 2002 case study published at sustainablehospitals.org concluded that microfiber was a better overall choice than wet mops for two reasons, the first being their lighter weight. On average, microfiber mops weigh about 5 lbs. less than a wet loop or sponge mop, which reduces repetitive motion injuries.
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References
Resources
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