When choosing dust mops for your business, you have many options. Your dust mop needs will depend on your floor's surface and surface area as well as your cleaning needs.

Dust mops come in many fibers, such as synthetic microfibers, cotton, cotton blends and wool. Microfiber dust mops are generally used for dusting walls and floors. The fibers, thinner than a human hair, act as claws as these lightweight mops glide across the surface. Microfiber dust mop heads can be laundered and easily changed. Businesses tend to use cotton and cotton blend dust mops for all-purpose cleaning. These fibers often look like yarn, and come in looped and cut styles. These can either be laundered or rinsed, depending on the style. For large surface areas, commercial dust mops, which are generally much larger and heavier, are a good bet. Commercial or industrial dust mops come in cotton, cotton blends, micro-fiber, and wool. Cotton and micro-fiber styles can often be laundered as well.

Dust mops consist of three parts, a base, a frame, and dust pads or mop heads. Dust pads can usually be interchanged easily, since they are often attached with Velcro. Dust mop heads come in tie-on and clip-on styles.

Before buying dust mops, consider the following:

1. Dust mop heads come in a variety of fibers and should be chosen according to your cleaning needs, including whether you want to use a wet dust mop or a dry dust mop.
2. Dust mops also come in different weights, from extremely lightweight to an industrial weight.
3. Dust mop heads need to be cared for by being rinsed or laundered, which may determine how many you need.

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

Use a microfiber dust mop for dusting walls as well as floors

Often lightweight and easy to maneuver, microfiber dust mops frequently come with wet and dry dust pads and are perfect for dusting walls as well as floors. Attached with Velcro, microfiber dust mop heads can be easily interchanged. Usually microfiber dust mops are recommended for smooth surfaces and light dusting, although heavier, industrial grade microfiber dust mops are sold as well.

I recommend: Microfiber-Products-Online.com, Inc. sells microfiber frames, mops, cleaning detergents, and mini-dusters, scrubbers, and window cleaners. The Clean Floor Store also sells microfiber dust mops, including an industrial dust mop.Their mops can be used as either a dry dust mop or as a wet dust mop by changing the pad.

Use a cotton-blend dust mop for all-purpose cleaning and a cotton dust mop for smaller debris

Cotton and cotton-blend dust mops have looped surfaces or cut surfaces. Looped surfaces have more surface area to pick up larger debris whereas cut fibers are better for finer particles. Cotton and cotton-blend dust mops also come in a clip- or tie-on style, and cotton-blends tend to be more durable, making these dust mops better suited for all-purpose cleaning.

I recommend: Parish Maintenance Supply Corp. sells a variety of cotton dust mops with looped ends. Monsterjanitorial.com sells cotton and cotton-blend dust mops with cut and looped heads. Clip and tie on styles make it easy to attach the heads to the dust mop frames. For buying by the case, try The Betty Mills Company, Inc.

Use commercial dust mops and industrial dust mops for large surface areas

If you have large surface areas that need periodic or frequent cleaning, consider a commercial dust mop or an industrial dust mop. The largest and heaviest of all dust mops, commercial dust mops and industrial dust mops come in microfiber or cotton or cotton-blend styles. There are also industrial wool dust mops, which don't use chemicals, since the lanolin in the wool attracts dirt particles.

I recommend: Direct Mop Sales, Inc. offers a great collection of closed-looped heavy-duty dust mops in cotton and synthetic blends. SuiteSupply.com bills itself as a hotel supplies superstore, and sells several heavy-duty industrial grade mops. The Slack Mop Company sells a wool commercial dust mop for wood, laminate, tile or vinyl.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If trying a new style or brand of mop for a small store or business, try buying your dust mop cleaning mop components in small quantities first, in order to see how well the product fits your needs.