Cotton mops are a great item to have at home if you want to keep your house spick and span. They clean away all the dust and dirt leaving your house absolutely clean. It is important to know how mops are made so that you can choose the right one.
A Cotton mop is an essential household tool which keeps the house clean. You can find a few in every house. Mops are of various types but the broader classification puts them into two groups: wet and dry.
The wet ones are those used in bathrooms and kitchen, basically for all wet cleaning purposes. It is important to dry the mops before storing to increase their longevity. Dry mops are used for daily dusting of furniture and other items and do not require any kind of maintenance.
Mops are also made of different materials. Although cotton mops are the ones that are widely available, there are also synthetic mops, such as the microfiber ones.
How are cotton mops made?
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Mops are essentially made of three components – the mop head, a middle attachment and the handle.
A mop head is the main part of any mop. A mop can do without a low quality handle but the mop head should be of top class quality. Most cotton mops are made of yarn which is attached to a carrier substrate. This part is rigid which keeps the mop head in shape.
Mops made of 4-ply 100% cotton yarn are the ones most effective and long lasting. The dry mops made of such cotton yarn can hold dust effectively.
The attachment that attaches the mop head to the handle is also an important feature of a cotton mop. This part is normally made of either plastic, steel wire or metal. This is the part which attaches the swivel to the handle and the mop head.
Swivels are parts which help the mop move under beds or other such items. However, not all mops have a swivel but most people prefer a swivel mop.
Wet mops also have the same makings except that the frame is coated with zinc to protect from any kind of rust caused due to water. Wet mops need to squeeze out water which is made possible through double hinged plates or rollers. Most mops have a lever which when pulled up will make the plates or the rollers move and squeeze out all the water.
Quality of mops:
Do not purchase a mop simply thinking that it is ‘just a mop’ and needs no thought. Mops are made of different materials and not all kinds work for everyone. Whenever you buy a mop, look into the specifications, the material, the thickness of the yarn, the quality of the strings etc.
The market is flooded with mops. You even have the spin mops where the mop head spins to squeeze out the water whenever you pull the lever. These are the new variety of mops and quite popular as well.
Taking care of mops:
- Just like any other household item, mops also need care. Wet mops should be dried every time after use and before storing. A mop left wet can lead to growth of bacteria and emit a bad smell.
- Mop heads with strings need to be trimmed occasionally. This will increase the life of the mop.
- It is advisable to wash your mops regularly to clean out all the dirt and grime. It is an important practice as otherwise mops will not fulfill their purpose well.
- Lastly, replace old mop heads whenever they wear out.
Cotton Mops and synthetic mops are simple daily equipments but of great necessity. So be careful while picking up one.
