Floor cleaning without a mop was welcomed in Soviet times and was considered a sign of a hardworking, clean housekeeper. They even nicknamed the mop “lazy,” as if hinting that those who use it obviously lack the will to put their houses in order. But times have changed, and with them customs. Now you rarely see a woman who washes floors with her hands. Moreover, the wooden mop has almost turned into a museum exhibit, and modern, ergonomic and practical devices are used to clean it. However, many readers are interested in the question: does the quality of mopping suffer? Perhaps it is better to act the old fashioned way, armed with a bucket, rags and your own physical strength?
Hand washing the floor
About 40 years ago, washing the floor by hand was not as difficult as it is now. At least because the majority of the population huddled in tiny Khrushchev apartments, dormitories and communal apartments, where the number of square meters per family was limited to several tens. Now, per inhabitant, an average of 20 m2, and this is only taking into account living quarters (without a corridor, kitchen, bathrooms, a balcony and a pantry).
Preferring the “manual” method of wet cleaning, women also proceeded from practical considerations:
- Firstly, in those days there were no powerful vacuum cleaners capable of completely collecting dust. Sweeping a broom, I had to leave a lot of small debris and dirt on the floor, which at first glance were invisible to the eye, but when hit on a rag they immediately became visible. Manual washing made it possible to more accurately control the degree of contamination of the rags and not "smear dirt".
- Secondly, painted wooden floors were popular. They were not made of perfectly even boards, so more dust was collected at the joints. It was difficult to wash it, just wiping the floor with a mop, it was necessary to take a rag in hand.
- Thirdly, the only mop known at that time - from two sticks fastened in the shape of the letter “T” - it did not seem possible to wash the space under the cabinets, beds and other low furniture.
Nowadays, it makes sense to wash the floor manually only in one case - when you need to wipe away strong local contaminants (for example, wash spilled jam).
Clean Mop
Professional cleaners never wash the floor by hand and, nevertheless, achieve perfect cleanliness. The secret is simple - they select a mop according to the degree of pollution and the type of flooring. The same parameters should be followed when buying a mop for home use.
Wooden
It is found in homes less and less, as it is being replaced by modern cleaning gadgets. Suitable for washing wooden floors, tiles and linoleum. It is not worth using it on parquet and laminate - a poorly wrung rag leaves a lot of moisture, which is why these floor coverings deteriorate.
Is cheap
Durable
Eco friendly
Heavy
Makes a lot of noise
Not functional enough
The rag must be wrung out manually
Rope
It consists of two parts - a pen, which can be made of any material, and a nozzle in the form of many ropes or ribbons connected to each other in the middle. As a rule, a special bucket with a spinning device is bought with it. Suitable for all types of floors that are not afraid of moisture.
Low price
Maneuverability
The nozzle can be washed, disinfected
Simple spin
Poor cleaning quality
Not suitable for houses where furry pets live (wool sticks to ropes)
Spinner often breaks
With sponge nozzle
It consists of an aluminum handle with a lever for spinning and a sponge nozzle. Before washing, the nozzle must be soaked for 15–20 minutes in a bucket of water. It collects wool well, does not spray water. Not recommended for parquet and laminate floors, as there is a risk of scratching them.
Absorbs moisture well
Comfortable
Inexpensive
Leaves stains
Not maneuverable
The nozzle has to be changed often
With microfiber nozzle
At the moment, this is the most popular type of mop. It consists of a handle, a rectangular platform and a special microfiber nozzle, which is attached to the platform with Velcro. Suitable for any flooring.
Since there are many models of such mops on the market, you can choose the most suitable construction at a cost - with a mechanical extraction, with a spray lever (when pressed, the nozzle is moistened with water that was previously poured into the compartment intended for this purpose) or the usual one - remove and rinse in this case, the nozzle must be manually.
A wide variety of models for every taste and budget
Excellent maneuverability
Leaves no stains
Good for cleaning dirt
Light weight
Durability
With frequent use, the nozzle wears out very quickly.
Relatively high price
Steam
Something like a vertical vacuum cleaner. Allows not only high-quality cleaning, but also disinfect the floors with steam. Suitable for all surfaces, including carpets, sofas and armchairs.
Comfortable
Multifunctional
Takes up little space
No extra water tank needed
No need to squeeze the nozzle
High price
Due to the high temperature of the steam, there is a risk of burns
Is it true that you need to add special products to mopping water if you use a mop, and you can even wash it manually with clean water?
To use detergents or not is a personal matter of every housewife, regardless of the method of washing she has chosen. It should be borne in mind that there are substances in the composition of washing liquids and gels that neutralize static electricity and fight against microflora, which is harmful to health, so you should use them at least when washing the corridor and bathrooms.
Is it true that if you wash the floor with your hands, then the coating will last longer?
Not true. The coating wears out and is damaged during operation - when you walk on it, drop something, move furniture. In addition, each coating has its own care requirements that must be observed.
When mopping floors, your back will not get tired, your arms and legs will not hurt. And you will save time - the most precious resource. Trying to clean up manually, you get the opposite effect - the cleaning will be delayed, and the body will rebel against unnatural physical activity. It cannot be said that an apartment after such a marathon under the motto “back to the past” will be cleaner - is it worth it to put more effort into achieving a similar result?