Cleaning mops range from standard cotton hand mops to steam mops. The market for mops maintains stability in retail for the consumer with homes, apartments and condominiums. Industry, offices and small business owners provide outlets for these products for their use as well.

Common terminology for mops include looped end, cut end, clip style, tie style and microfiber. Looped end mops loop the strands before sewing back, thus providing less fraying or unraveling. The less expensive cut end types attach to a mop band end. Clip style secures itself to a frame with snaps or clips. Tie style, typically in dust mops, secures itself to the handle with ties. Micro fiber mops use pads attached to the mop head with Velcro. When buying floor mops consider the following:

1. Buy mops for industrial use based on size and mop head construction.

2. Look for standard all-around dry or wet mops for general cleaning.

3. Consider steam mops for enhanced sanitation and cleaning ability.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find strength and durability with industrial mops

Each cleaning mop provides durability with wider heads and better construction.

I recommend: Choose a width size of 18, 21, 36 or 48 inches for a high-grade industrial mop kit at Clean Floor Store, Inc. Each kit comes with 2 wet pads and 2 dust pads with 72 inch telescoping aluminum pole. Select a 12, 18, 24 or 36 inch industrial/commercial microfiber mop with discount pricing available at Erie Cotton Products. Contact Pine Castle for their manufactured industrial mops and handles by the case.

Get popular floor mops

These companies offer a wide variety of wet, dry and green mops between them.

I recommend: Get a natural dry wool dust mop good for tile, marble, vinyl and hardwood floors, in industrial size and other sizes at the Slack Dust Mop Company. Go green with recycled material for wet mops at Empire Janitorial Supply Company. Scroll down to “Mopping Equipment” and select from the list that includes wet mop handles, mop heads, finish mops, applicators, handle mops and much more at RBS Packaging, Inc.; order by the case for discount pricing. Select antimicrobial, cut-end, loop and other types of cleaning mops with wholesale pricing at Wholesale Janitorial Supply.

Locate wet mops of all types

Wet mops remain the standard with easy changing clamp style mop handles. Looped end mops rank most common, cut end mops provide lower costs and microfiber wet mops provide quick use.

I recommend: Scroll through several pages for a wide selection of various sized heavy duty and economy wet mops at The Betty Mills Co., Inc. Some mop heads packaged 12 per carton for better pricing. See the selection of 16 to 24 oz. wet mops with screw on heads, pull through, loop end and deck mops at Boyd Enterprises. They also offer wholesale wet mops with handles. Find case pricing on floor finish mop heads for heavy use at AllJanitorialSupplies.com, a division of West Industries.

Buy steam mops for enhanced cleaning

Steam cleaners penetrate into the pores of the surface providing better cleaning and sanitation. These models don't use chemicals.

I recommend: See “Steam Mop” at BISSELL Homecare, Inc., safe for marble, ceramic, stone, linoleum and sealed hardwood floors. Choose a steam cleaner that uses water only with steam levels of 240 degrees at AllergyBuyersClub.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When considering a steam cleaner know that stainless steel boilers last longer than aluminum. The aluminum boiler's construction consists of two parts affixed with screws and gasket. This contributes to potential warping and leaking over time.