Choosing The Right Mop

Mop Features

Mops have some key characteristics that can turn troublesome cleaning tasks into a breeze. These characteristics can have a huge impact on the end result and time it takes to carry out each clean - so it's important that you're always on the look out for these features to make mopping as easy as can be.

Mop Size

An important feature to look out for when buying mops is the size of the head. Size can be defined by three main measurements:

• Length of Yarn: This has an impact upon the amount of floor that can be covered before rinsing. The longer the yarn, the more water and dirt can be absorbed within a larger surface area.

• Width of Mop Head: The width of the mop head has an impact similar to that of the length of the yarn. A wider head is able to clean larger surfaces areas with each pass, but may be less effective for small tasks.

• Absorbency in Ounces: This measurement is usually presented in fluid ounces, and generally, the wider the head and longer the yarn, the more liquid can be absorbed. Absorbency will also differ with the material of the yarn.

These factors should be considered when purchasing a mop head, as areas that need a deeper clean, such as your back-of-house, are likely to require a much larger, more absorbent head.

Mop Material

The material used to make a mop's yarn can have an impact upon the best ways to use each mop. The materials used with a mop head each have their own benefits, and excel in specific cleaning tasks.

• Cotton Yarn: Cotton yarn is ideally suited to cleaning areas that rarely come in contact with heavy dirt of grime - such as your front-of-house. Cotton tends to have less durability than other material blends, but still comes with its benefits. Cotton has excellent absorption of smaller particles - such as dust and fine-dirt.
• Polycotton Yarn: Polycotton yarn (a mixture of polyester and cotton) provides excellent durability throughout many uses, whilst allowing you to pick up fine dust and dirt.
• Polyester Yarn: Polyester yarn tends to offer better durability than polycotton, but at a cost to its ability to collect smaller dirt particles. This makes it ideal for cleaning large areas that come into regular contact with large amounts of dirt of grime - such as your kitchen floor.
• Polyester and Viscose Yarn: This material is a common blend used with mop heads. Whilst being cheaper than most other materials, this blend still provides a high absorption rate and can be used throughout most of your premises.

Types of Mop Head

Prairie Kentucky Mop Head

The prairie Kentucky mop head is most commonly used because it absorbs a great volume of water. It is easily identified by its long-life, white fibres and is perfect for everyday cleaning of large spaces because its long, porous fibres can cover a greater surface area than other mops. You can also remove the head easily for washing and even use this mop for laying floor polish.

• Thick, highly absorbent polyester yarn
• Colour-coded sockets
• Interchangeable handle

Syntex Kentucky Mop Head

The syntex Kentucky mop head uses pre-shrunken syntex fibres which absorb grease and oil, making it ideal for kitchen and food preparation areas to clean up food and beverage spillages. One of the main advantages of this mop is that is does not rot. Some other mops deteriorate over time, leaving fibres behind on the floor which can leave a bad impression. The rotting can also create an unsavoury smell, which is why they're often thrown away. However, syntex mops don't suffer from this problem, so they're best used for dropped food and liquid spills.

• Built-in scourer on underside removes stubborn marks on floor
• CHSA accredited
• Pre-shrunk syntex material does not rot or hold on to unpleasant odours

Twine Kentucky Mop Head

The twine Kentucky mop heads use a thinner, more durable cotton yarn which is often preferred for its longer life and superior quality. The twine head is more effective on rough or uneven surfaces as its long cotton fibres make it better suited to laying down and picking up water. So, for instance, if there has been a liquid spillage on uneven stone flooring, this mop would be the best choice.

• Coloured ribbon for colour-coded cleaning
• Highly absorbent twine
• Long fibres save on amount of wringing

Stay Flat Kentucky Mop Head

The stay-flat Kentucky mop head features a ‘stay-flat’ band to ensure that the yarn covers a greater surface area for faster, more effective mopping. Looped ends on a mop also allow greater liquid retention and create less ‘linting’. Linting occurs when loose fibres from the mop are left behind after cleaning. This is perfect for cleaning reception areas and entrance halls where presentation is arguably as important as hygiene, as loose fibres left on a clean floor can look unattractive and spoil the impression of cleanliness which you’re trying to achieve.

• Little or no linting (fibres left behind after mopping)
• Highly absorbent qualities
• Longer yarn makes it better for cleaning larger areas

Mini Looped Syntex Mop Head

The mini looped Syntex mop head is a smaller, more manoeuvrable mop which is very durable, and machine washable (up to 200 washes) which prevents bacteria and unpleasant smells. This mop head also employs a unique syntex looped hollow fibre which boasts efficient dirt removal thanks to the stay-flat band, which covers a wider surface area, giving greater consistency and ensures any loose specs of dirt are picked up in one sweeping motion.

• Rot-free, hygienic fibres
• Colour-coded
• Machine washable

Biofresh Socket Mop Head

The Biofresh socket mop head contains an antibacterial agent called triclosan which is spun into the yarn to stop bacteria growth and unpleasant smells. The head is also machine washable (up to 200 washes) and features an equal mix of synthetic and cotton. Although washable, the advantage of using this mop is the ‘biofresh’ element as the mop will smell fresh even after heavy use, which stops any unpleasant smell wafting towards a restaurant or reception area where people may notice it.

• Antibacterial yarn
• Coloured socket and yarn for colour-coded cleaning
• Interchangeable with Clipex handle

Big White Mop Head

The ‘Big White’ mop head is one of the most easily identified because of its thick strips of viscose polyester fibres and plain white appearance. The Big White is able to absorb up to three times its own weight in water and therefore is able to leave floors dryer than a cotton mop straight after cleansing. The main benefit of using this mop is that it is relatively cheap and disposable, making it a cost-effective option if the mop is only used occasionally, and within smaller spaces, for example.

• White hygienic appearance, stays whiter for longer
• Lightweight and easy to handle
• Virtually lint-free

Types of Mop Handle

Jantex Clipex Mop Handle

For our range of mops, a colour-coded universal 'Clipex' handle fits all Jantex mop heads, and are supplied with four coloured clips which can be removed or attached easily in accordance with the colour-coded cleaning system. The prairie Kentucky, Biofresh socket and Big White mops are also compatible with this system.

• Includes colour-coded clips which can be removed or attached in seconds
• Compatible with all Jantex mop heads and several others mentioned above
• Strong, sturdy and handle with a reinforced grip

SYR Mop Handles

We stock SYR mop handles which use a simple interchangeable system which allows you to attach a mop or broom handle in seconds, saving time and effort with no tools or screws required. Built of aluminium, these handles are strong and lightweight, making them easily manoeuvrable. The handles also employ a colour-coded system and are compatible with the following mop heads:

Syntex Kentucky, Stay Flat Kentucky and Mini looped Syntex. The handles are available in blue, red, yellow and green.

• Quickly interchangeable handles
• Compatible with colour-coding system
• Strong and light aluminium construction

Pulse Mops

Pulse mops are able to distribute cleaning chemicals from their heads as they sweep, holding the desired cleaning formula in a reservoir attached to the shaft of the mop. Detergent or cleaning fluid is then dispensed from jets inside the head after activating a trigger on the mop’s handle. These mops are ideal for heavy-duty wet mopping in smaller areas because the chemicals help to break down dirt more effectively than water alone. The pulse system is perfect for use in hospitals, hotels and universities where it can clean specific areas quickly, hygienically and whilst using less water.

• Comes supplied with two microfibre mop heads
• Built-in reservoir holds 600ml of detergent, enough to clean 80 square metres
• Trigger action on handle dispenses fluid easily via 3 jets on mop head

Advantages of Colour-Coded Mops

Colour-coding your cleaning equipment and systems is not only ideal for reducing the risk of injury or illness within the kitchen, but also helps to structure your cleaning tasks. This system is ideal for separating your mops for cleaning different parts of the business.

Industry-Standard Colour Coding

• Yellow Mops: Kitchens & Food Prep Areas
• Red Mops: Washrooms & Toilets
• Green Mops: Public Areas
• Blue Mops: Restaurants & Bars

Article: Our article on colour-coded cleaning contains all you need to know on how to use colour coding to improve your cleaning tasks.

Colour-Coded Buckets

As discussed in the previous section, colour coding your mops is vitally important to reducing the risk of cross contamination and illness or injury within the workplace. However, all cleaning equipment should be colour coded within the same guidelines, and when it comes to mops, colour coding your mop buckets is a must. There are many types of mop buckets; each providing individual benefits that make cleaning easier.

Single Mop Bucket with Strainer

Being the most simple and economical of mop buckets, the single bucket features an ergonomic strainer that allows you to drain dirty water with ease. These buckets come with colour-coded options that can be paired with your mops. The base of the single buckets feature a slanted construction that allows sediment to settle within the holding area, which prevents dirt from staying on your mop head.

These mop buckets are mainly used for small tasks that require lightweight equipment.

Twin Mop Bucket with Central Strainer

Similar to single mop buckets, the twin mop bucket is designed with an easy-to-use strainer that removes dirty water from your mop head. The strainer is placed in the middle of the bucket and can be used to separate clean and dirty water.

These buckets are mainly suited for small-to-medium cleaning tasks, where a high quality finish is required.

Wheeled Single Mop Bucket with Wringer

Featuring ergonomic wheels, these single buckets with wringers are specially designed to make cleaning tasks easier. The wheels allow you to easily move the bucket without the need for heavy lifting. These buckets feature handled-wringers, that allow you to strain your mop head in a simple and efficient way.

These buckets come with colour-coded options that allows you to reduce the risk of cross contamination. Specifically designed for medium-to-large tasks that require you to clean a variety of areas, such as classrooms or hallways.

Wheeled Heavy-Duty Mop Bucket

Heavy-duty mop buckets excel in their ability to be used for a wide variety of tasks, and provide excellent results with each clean. These mop buckets come with a wide variety of major characteristics, such as a large wringer that efficiently strains your mop head with minimal effort. These buckets feature four wheels that offer excellent stability, and allow you to move the buckets without the need for heavy lifting.

Due to the large size of these buckets, most will feature a metal frame that can be used to comfortably push or pull during lengthy cleaning tasks. Perfectly suited to large cleaning tasks, such as mopping halls or canteens.