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{{Short description|Cleaning tool made up of coarse strings}}
{{Other uses|MOP (disambiguation){{!}}MOP|Mops (disambiguation)}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2016}}
[[File:T W stewart 1893mop.jpg|thumb|upright|T. W. Stewart wet mop from 1893]]
A '''mop''' (such as a '''floor mop''') is a mass or bundle of coarse strings or yarn, etc., or a piece of cloth, sponge or other absorbent material, attached to a pole or stick. It is used to soak up liquid, for [[floor cleaning|cleaning floors]] and other surfaces, to mop up dust, or for other cleaning purposes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mop – Definition of mop by Merriam-Webster |work=merriam-webster.com |url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mop}}</ref>
==History==
The word (then spelled ''mappe'') is attested in English in 1496, but new refinements and variations of mop designs have been introduced, from time to time. For example, [[United States|American]] inventor Jacob Howe received US patent #241 for a mop holder in 1837<ref>{{US patent|241}}</ref> and Thomas W. Stewart (US patent #499,402) in 1893.<ref>{{US patent|499,402}}</ref>
In her book ''Maggie's Memories'', Margaret Wadkin (late of [[Hickling, Nottinghamshire|Hickling]], near [[Melton Mowbray]] in England) describes the use of a mop nail for constructing homemade mops from old pieces of cloth during her village childhood in the early 20th century;
{{Blockquote|text=The mop nail was made by the blacksmith (if there are any still around, they will be antiques). This nail was several inches long with a point at the end and a flat head a couple or so inches wide. We would stand the nail on its flat head, cut pieces of old material into squares and push over the sharp end of the nail and when enough fix a piece of leather, then push the sharp point into the mop stale or handle. There was a knack of twisting these mops over the wrist to swish away surplus water, every woman could use one of these useful mops.<ref>''Maggie's Memories: Childhood Memories of Hickling''. Privately published memoirs.</ref>}}
==Types==
[[File:After Wikimania 2018, Cape Town (P1060093).jpg|upright|thumbnail|A classic string mop leaning against a waste receptacle]]
[[File:Janitor's bucket with mop.jpg|thumb|upright|A Spanish-style mop, as designed by [[Manuel Jalón Corominas]], in a [[bucket]] with its wringer]]
Many different proprietary designs are available, but the classic string mop design is also still widely used.<ref name="Maker">{{cite web |last1=Maker |first1=Melissa |title=Everything You Wanted to Know About Mops but Were Afraid to Ask! |url=https://cleanmyspace.com/mops/ |website=Clean My Space |publisher=Clean Digital Productions Inc. |access-date=2022-03-14 |date=28 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="McCallum">{{cite web |last1=McCallum |first1=Beth |title=11 Different Types Of Mops For Any Kind Of Floor |url=https://ohsospotless.com/types-of-mops/ |website=Oh So Spotless |access-date=2022-03-14 |date=26 March 2020}}</ref>
===Dry mop, dust mop===
A '''dry mop''' or '''dust mop''' is designed to pick up dry, loose contamination such as dust, earth, and sand from the surface of the floor. It consists of yarn and/or [[microfiber]] and can be used as a first step in cleaning a floor.
Professional dry mops consist of a flat sheet of microfiber textile or sheets with a surface of looped yarn, usually about {{Convert|15|cm|0|abbr = on}} wide, and comes in variable lengths (usually {{Convert|30|-|100|cm|0|abbr = on}}).
The dry mop can in many instances replace a [[broom]] and has the ability to hold a limited amount of dust, sand, and debris within itself. The heads of dry mops are often removable and can be washed and replaced when saturated with dust.<ref>{{cite web |title=Choosing the right mop for the job |url=http://www.clean4less.co.uk/choosing-the-right-mop |website=Clean4less Janitorial Supplies |access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref> Another option is using a [[vacuum cleaner]] to suck surface dust away from the mop; however, this is much more limited in its effectiveness.
Single-use dry mops are also available and widely sold.
===Wet-mop, moist-mop===
A '''wet mop''' or '''moist mop''' is, in professional cleaning, used as in the second step in the cleaning of a surface. The wet mop is swept over the surface to dissolve and absorb fat, mud, and dried-on liquid contaminations. Professional wet mops consist of a flat sheet of microfiber textile or a sheet with a surface of looped yarn (which might contain microfiber as well), usually about {{Convert|15|cm|0|abbr = on}} wide, and come in various lengths (usually {{Convert|30|-|100|cm|0|abbr = on}}).
<gallery widths="75px" heights="200px">
File:Mop for wet use, looped microfiber, velcro back, 60 cm.jpg|Flat wet-mop (pre-moistening), [[Loop (knot)|looped]] microfiber with [[Velcro]] attachment on back
File:Mop for wet use, looped microfiber, velcro back, 60 cm (back view).jpg|Flat wet-mop (back view of previous mop)
File:Mop for wet or dry use, open end microfiber, looped yarn edge, velcro back, 60 cm.jpg|Flat mop for dry or wet (pre-moistening) use, open-end microfiber with looped yarn edges, Velcro attachment
</gallery>
===Mops for pre-moistening===
[[File:Mop, manual pre-wetting of mops in bucket.jpg|thumb|upright|Manual pre-moistening of wet-mops in bucket]]
Professional flat mops are made for pre-moistening. Mops are pre-impregnated with an ideal amount of water mixed with an appropriate amount of detergent. This means that the cleaner does not need to bring any additional water on the cleaning trolley. This ideal amount is often recommended by the manufacturer in terms of weight percentage of water per weight of the dry mop, for example "175% water per weight of the dry mop".
Mops for pre-moistening are flat sheets of (often microfiber) textile, usually about {{Convert |15|cm|0|abbr = on}} wide, and come in variable lengths (usually {{Convert|30|-|100|cm|0|abbr = on}}). Mops for pre-moistening are fastened on a handle with a flat pad mount with the aid of Velcro or a pouch on the mop, in which the pad on the handle fits.
Pre-moistening can be done with a special washing machine, or by hand by simply folding and packing the mops tight in a container and pouring the measured amount of water over them. The mops will then need about 5–10 minutes for the liquid to distribute evenly in their tissue before use. This offers some advantages:
* The cleaner does not have to bring a heavy [[bucket]] of water when mopping the floor, but simply carries an appropriate number of mops. This means the weight of the equipment can often be kept lower.
* The risk of over-wetting the floor and leaving puddles is reduced.
===Hot mop===
The hot mop (or steam mop) follows a similar concept to a [[Iron (appliance)|steam iron]]. After adding water, the water is heated to make it exude on top of a floor, which can then be cleaned without using a cleaning solvent. These can work best on surfaces where a regular mop would also be used, such as bare floors, hearths, and laminate.
===Microfiber mop===
Microfiber mops are constructed of a blend of [[polyester]] and [[polyamide]] fibers which are "split" and formed into a single fiber. This blend consists of 70–90% polyester that serves as the scrubbing and cleaning fiber and 10–30% polyamide which performs as the holding and quick drying fiber. This blend is usually expressed as a ratio on the label of the mop, e.g. an 80% polyester and 20% polyamide blend would be labeled as "80/20".
===Sponge mop===
[[File:Chinese Mop Peking 02.JPG|thumb|Two sponge mops, one of which is covered]]
Sponge mop heads are constructed with a cellulosic, rubber, or plastic foam block, usually attached by crimping a metal clip on one side. Sometimes, the foam mop head may be covered by a cloth or mesh sheet, to improve its resistance to wear from heavy scrubbing.
The sponge is then attached to a handle mechanism which can compress the mop head, by means of rollers or a pivoted flat perforated blade. For consumer-grade sponge mops, the mop mechanism may be made of either plastic or metal. For heavy-duty or professional use, the mechanism is usually made of a corrosion-resistant metal such as [[stainless steel]], and the mop head is often rubber or premium plastic foam.
For [[clean room]] environments, a stainless steel handle and mechanism are preferred, along with a mop head made of a foam which has been formulated to minimize shedding of small particles. For use in microbiological labs, mops are made of materials which can be sterilized by [[autoclave]] or by [[ethylene oxide]] treatment.<ref>{{cite web |title=Roll-O-Matic CE "Clean" Sponge Refill with Microfiber Lamination |url=https://ce.vileda-professional.com/CE-Roll-O-Matic/Roll-O-Matic®-CE-“Clean”-Sponge-Refill-with-Microfiber-Lamination/p/Roll-O-Matic_CE_Clean_Sponge_Refill |website=Vileda Professional |publisher=FHCS GmbH |access-date=2022-03-14}}</ref>
===Cloth mop===
A cloth mop (also called a "Cuban mop") is a simple T-shaped wooden handle, around which is wrapped a sturdy cloth towel. Its advantages are low cost and easy replacement of the mop head, which can simply be washed by hand or tossed into a washing machine.<ref name="Hand">{{cite web |last1=Hand |first1=Justine |title=The Cuban Mop: The Near Perfect Cleaning Tool You've Never Heard of (and How to Use It) |url=https://www.remodelista.com/posts/cuban-mop-how-to-use/ |website=Remodelista |publisher=Remodelista, LLC |access-date=2022-03-14 |language=en-us |date=26 December 2018}}</ref>
==Handles and mounting==
A mop handle consists of a long piece of wood or metal tubing fitted with a specific attachment for the mop head. The handle can be attached the mop head by means of:
* clamp
* hanger (with strands doubled over the hanger)
* plastic claws (attached to the strands)
* pouch (as with many professional flat mops)
* screwing (as with the classic yarn mop)
* Velcro (as with many professional flat mops)
===Gallery===
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px" mode=packed>
File:Mop, three different mop handles.jpg|''Mop handles'' From left: Classic yarn mop handle made of aluminum (thread mount), unadjustable aluminum handle for Velcro attached mop (50&nbsp;cm), unadjustable aluminum handle for Velcro attached mop (60&nbsp;cm), scale included for reference.
File:Mop, classic yarn mop and handle (detail of threads).jpg|Detail of mop mounting piece (blue plastic) and mount
File:Mop, velcro mop and handle.JPG|Velcro attached mop with mount
File:Deerma spray mop.jpg|[[Xiaomi]] Deerma spray mop
</gallery>
==See also==
* [[Floor buffer]]
* [[Floor scrubber]]
* [[Mop dog]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{Commons category inline|Mops}}
{{Cleaning tools}}
[[Category:Cleaning tools]]
[[Category:Domestic implements]]