Race between mopping systems

While the Kentucky mops and socket-mops are slowly disappearing into the margins, it is becoming clear which flat mop systems stand a chance in the race for world domination. The systems in which flat mop wings are fixed with two rings are already fewer in number. And the systems with three rings, pockets and velcro are gaining in importance.

The further professionalisation of cleaning focuses, on the one hand, on improving effectiveness and ergonomics and, on the other, on reducing time spent and environmental impact. This stimulates the development of mop systems that do not require the constant lugging of full buckets of clean water, little or no chemical use and little muscular strength. Mopping is no longer heavy, messy work. All mop system candidates now in the race will really make the job better and easier. I expect the best chances of winning are with the Velcro mops and the mops with pockets, but make up your own mind...

Basically, there are only three flat mop systems: with pockets, with wings and with Velcro. Each of these three approaches has different appearances and advantages.

Mops with pockets

The wings with which mops are attached to frames come in different variants. With two rings, with three or without any rings at all. The advantages and disadvantages of these attachment methods are largely the same: you attach the mop firmly to a break frame in such a way that the mop can remain attached to the frame when pressed dry in a wringer. This makes these mops very suitable for cleaning with a lot of moisture. A bucket with a wringer is therefore indispensable in order to benefit from the mop's advantages. The materials used for these mops can usually retain more moisture. Microfibre is possible (thanks to the capillary action of the fibres), but cotton is also often used.

This system includes not only the classic pocket mops, but also the new Click'M C variant from Greenspeed, with one large pocket and magnetic closure.

Mops with wings

This system covers all break frames with clips with two or three pins and clips without pins. For example, the Filmop Speedy (2-pin), TTS Wet System Light, Greenspeed Triko, Unger Smartcolor (3-pin) and the Vileda Ultraspeed Pro (no pins). It should be noted that most of these holders also fit pocket mops and that the holders with two pins are becoming less available.

Mops with velcro

Mops with Velcro work super fast: fastening is the easiest of all types. And these mops, too, work with little moisture. For smaller surfaces, the cleaner can even manage with just one mop and possibly a spraying handle. Or a mop and a spray bottle are taken along on the interior round to "just get a few dirty spots off the floor". For larger surfaces, a dirty mop will also be changed regularly for a clean one. Taking it off the holder is easy, but it has to be done by hand. This is unpleasant if you have worked with a lot of moisture and dirt, but in the normal, drier use of these mops, it is not so bad. The most commonly used materials for these mops are microfibres and combinations of microfibres with nylon scrub fibres. And where hygiene counts the most, the polypropylene or microfibre disposable mop is preferred.

All manufacturers have one or more velcro mop frames in their product range.