Microfiber Mopping Systems: Safety and Economics Win Out Over Tradition
Microfiber mopping systems are becoming more widely used by building service contractors due to the ease of use and better cleaning performance. Why are cleaning companies choosing microfiber mopping systems over traditional mops and methods? There are a variety of economic and safety reasons for the switch.
It use to be that you would need to get down on your hands and knees to scrub floors with a pail and water or use the traditional sponge mop which requires constant wetting and drying. Today, however, microfibers have become the norm. Microfiber mopping systems weigh less than string mops when wet, require less liquid to clean, and microfiber pads can be laundered several hundred times before replacing them. All this adds up to less fatigue for the cleaner, better productivity and money savings.
Microfiber mopping systems versus traditional
- Microfiber mop heads are extremely absorbent, holding six or seven times its weight in water, which means it can hold enough water to get the job done, yet doesn't drip like the traditional wet mop. Because the mop head needs less water, floors dry more quickly because they're merely damp, not visibly wet. Floors cleaned with microfiber mopping systems typically dry in 1/3 the time of traditional mopping systems. This makes for a much safer floor, resulting in fewer slip/fall accidents.
- Instead of continually rinsing and wringing, the soiled microfiber mop heads are replaced with clean pads, which help to eliminate cross contamination. All the dirty pads are then washed and readied for re-use. Each mop pad can be washed and re-used hundreds of times. Traditional mop heads cannot hold up to repeated washings and need to be replaced more often.
- Another safety feature of microfiber mopping systems is that they are ergonomically friendly for users. The mop handles are very light-weight, and the mop heads swivel, so there is no need to use awkward movements and postures while mopping. The handles also have adjustable lengths, so each user can adjust the length to match their height. Cleaners today will find microfiber mopping systems less tiring because there is much less lifting, moving, dumping, and rinsing needed; which is the case with most traditional methods.
- Microfibers are much more effective at cleaning because the net like surface will attract, trap and hold dirt it until it is time to launder. Because microfibers are extremely small compared to the standard mop head, they can get into the hard to reach areas, corners, and crannies that the traditional mopping system will not.
- There is also a huge economic savings in chemical usage when making the switch to microfiber mopping systems. Disinfectants and cleaners can be used with microfiber mopping systems and require very small amounts compared to other traditional mopping systems.
Simple method that can be used to incorporate a microfiber mopping system to your cleaning program
There are many microfiber mopping systems you can choose from to fit your particular cleaning needs. The standard microfiber flat mop is constructed of heavy duty aluminum frames and has telescopic handles. There are also all-in-one microfiber bucket-less mopping systems available that eliminates the need for traditional mop buckets.
- Begin by filling a charging bucket or any larger clean plastic container (big enough to fit pads up to 18”) with water. Add a small amount of cleaning solution to the water if needed. Make sure your bucket or container has a lid and a handle for easy transporting
- Place a number of microfiber mop pads into the water (or solution) to soak. When ready to mop, wring out a mop pad, drop it flat on the floor and attach to the mop head (microfiber mop pads and heads use Velcro to attach to each other).
- To change the mop head, simply turn the mop upside down, remove the soiled pad, place it in a bag on the cart, and replace with a fresh pad from the plastic basin.
- At the end of the shift, the soiled microfiber pads are cleaned and dried for re-use.
If you're like most residential cleaning companies, you're looking for ways to save money and provide safer working conditions for your workers. Incorporating a microfiber mopping system into your cleaning program will help to save your company money on expensive mop buckets, mops and mop heads. You will have reduced labor costs and worker fatigue. Even better is the fact that you'll see fewer slip/fall accidents, and fewer lifting and ergonomic injuries to your cleaning staff.
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