Mopping is hardly a favorite task. But progress does not stand still, and new inventions come to the aid of cleaning. Microfiber floor mop is designed to facilitate the process of mopping and at the same time save the family budget. How she succeeds and why it is time to throw away the old rags for a long time - read on.
What is microfiber?
This is a synthetic fabric consisting of polymer fibers (polyamide and polyester), which undergo appropriate processing in order to possess the desired properties. After all, a variety of items are made from microfiber.
We all know that synthetics do not absorb water well. But if, in the process of making a web, its fibers are split into the finest threads (16 times thinner than a human hair), then the fabric will have excellent absorbent properties. This will happen due to the fact that it has acquired a porous structure: the surface volume at the same area has increased significantly. For the same reason, microfiber dries quickly: after all, moisture is not absorbed into its fibers, but is delayed between them. It is used for sportswear that absorbs sweat perfectly and remains dry, bedding, cleaning products, etc. If the fibers were not split, then such a fabric will repel moisture, and waterproof clothes are sewn from it.
Microfiber cloths most often consist of 80% polyester and 20% polyamide. Due to the fineness of the fibers, there are thousands of micro-hooks per square centimeter of this unique canvas. They have a positive charge and attract dust with a negative charge, like a magnet. Therefore, microfiber rags often do not require the use of detergents. They are very durable - easily withstand up to 100 washes in the machine.
Mop Components
Forget about the primitive wooden T-stick with a rag wrapped around it. A useful invention is a modern mop with microfiber (a photo of the entire assembly is presented below).
It consists of:
- Handles are usually telescopic, with varying lengths. It is made of plastic or more strong and durable (but also more expensive) aluminum.
- Rags for rags. It can also be plastic or metal. The rag can be attached to two wide strips of Velcro or with clips. The frame is movably attached to the handle, it can be rotated around its axis and the angle of inclination can be changed, which makes it easy to clean even hard-to-reach spots.
- Microfiber nozzles.
The latter are of different types. For example, in the form:
- in the form of a narrow long rectangle;
- in the shape of a small triangle;
- in the form of a brush with cut strips of microfiber.
For the intended purpose, rags are only for dry or wet cleaning or suitable for both types of cleaning.
Depending on which surfaces are best used, the nozzles are smooth, fluffy, covered with small loops or large villi, different in thickness and color.
Ready-made solutions
If this is your first microfiber mop, it’s easier and cheaper to buy a complete kit right away. It will include a handle, frame and rag, which are ideally suited to each other. But before making a purchase, ask if all of these parts are sold separately - in case one of them fails and you have to replace it.
Microfiber squeezer with extra spin will make cleaning even easier. Features of its design depend on the type of nozzle. For models with a rectangular rag for these purposes, the frame consists of two parts, which are compressed using the lever on the handle. For options with a nozzle in the form of a large brush, the system is trickier. You will need a special bucket with a capacity for spinning inside, into which you need to lower the squeegee and press its handle. It will begin to spin, and you can remove excess moisture without even wetting your hands. If the bucket is equipped with a pedal, you can press on it, and not on the handle of the mop.
How does a microfiber mop make cleaning easier?
Here are the benefits you get from using it:
- You can do both wet and dry cleaning (which is especially important for expensive hardwood flooring).
- Water does not run off the rag, as microfiber absorbs and holds moisture perfectly.
- The use of cleaning chemicals can be significantly reduced (and this is not only concern for the family budget, but also a decrease in environmental pollution).
- Mop with microfiber does not leave behind a pile and stains.
- It is light and manoeuvrable thanks to a rotating nozzle.
Benefit for health
It would seem, how can a mop with microfiber improve your well-being? It turns out that this is indeed true, and this is not assured by manufacturers at all.
Over the past 15 years, US health facilities have been launching programs to change cleaning methods, namely replacing conventional mops with thick cotton stitches in mops with microfiber nozzles. Here are the arguments they give in their favor:
- Since the mop with microfiber requires much less moisture, it is light and cleaning does not take much effort (compared to moving a heavy wet rag on the floor and constantly re-soaking it). General fatigue, pain in the back and neck, injuries and illnesses caused by uniform movements are reduced.
- A microfiber rag does not need to be twisted and wrung out using force, so hands, wrists, fingers do not suffer.
- After such cleaning, the floor is only slightly moistened and dries quickly, less likely to slip and fall.
- Reducing the use of detergents is also good for health, because many of them irritate the mucous membranes, upper respiratory tract, and skin. In addition, you don’t need to carry a heavy bucket of water and detergent, just a small spray bottle. A microfiber mop makes cleaning faster, easier and more efficient, as noted by both technical workers and doctors, patients.
How to use a microfiber mop
It would seem that this is complicated. But there are some subtleties that you should learn about in advance. So, the sequence of work is as follows:
- Attach a microfiber cloth to the squeegee. Usually it is inserted into special grooves on the frame or attached using Velcro.
- Dip a rag in water or apply a very small amount of cleaning solution if wet cleaning is required. Do not use aggressive detergents, they can damage microfiber fibers. To collect dust, pet hair, crumbs will be enough to hold a dry rag on the floor. Soak the nozzle if you want to remove dirty traces, spilled liquid, stains.
- If you go too far with water, slightly squeeze a rag, it should be barely wet.
- Now you can proceed directly to the cleaning - move the mop on the floor to collect dirt. Add water or cleaning solution as needed. Continue until the floor surface is completely clean. Depending on the area that needs to be treated, the mop with a microfiber cloth may become dirty, it will need to be cleaned.
For thrifty housewives
For the cleaning nozzle to serve you for a long time, do not forget to put it in order at the end of work. Wash microfiber under warm running water to remove dirt, or wash in a washing machine in warm (not hot!) Water. Never use bleach or fabric softener. The first will destroy thin fibers, the second leaves a film on the fabric, which will degrade its characteristics.
Do not wash the nozzle with terry cloths or other products that leave fibers or spools in the water. Otherwise, a microfiber cloth will pull them toward you and then leave marks on the surfaces you are cleaning. Let it dry well, but protect it from excessive heat, because it is synthetics and at high temperature it can melt.
Customer opinion
Do housewives like a microfiber mop? Reviews are mostly positive. Since microfiber is not expensive material, but neat and very effective in cleaning, once using it, no one will return to the usual ragged rags, which strive to crawl at the most inopportune moment. The complaints from buyers are caused only by the plastic parts of the product. Mistresses complain that mops are not strong enough, and telescopic models break at the joints of the tubes. The plastic in the places where the cloth is attached is also short-lived, which is why you have to change the nozzle that is suitable for use otherwise.
Also, when choosing a mop with microfiber nozzles, check to the touch that it has protruding plastic parts that are not covered by a rag and may scratch the floor.
Is it worth saving?
If you decide to purchase microfiber products, you will probably notice a wide range of prices. What causes this?
As always, in response to rising demand, China and Korea began to produce their microfiber household products at low prices. But 70-75% of them use unsplit fibers. How is it that you will be surprised, because such a fabric will not absorb moisture well and therefore is not suitable for cleaning. This is because fiber splitting equipment costs from $ 1 million, while machines for microfiber production simply cost from $ 100 thousand. Therefore, only the largest manufacturers can produce a truly high-quality product. So do not chase the cheapest offer.
In addition, fiber thickness is important. In cheap Chinese products, it is much more than necessary, so the canvas draws dirt and moisture worse.
The cost of the mop itself will be affected by both the material from which it is made and its quality.