9 Facts About Floor Mopping that Will Make Your Hair Stand on End
There has been a tremendous amount of focus on the importance of facility cleaning since the pandemic started, and we do not see that changing in priority any time soon. With custodial staff pushed to complete more frequent cleanings to combat infectious disease spread, the speed in which jobs are completed and the level of clean achieved have become critical tasks.
Out of all their routine cleaning tasks, the reality is that floor cleaning takes the most time for custodial staff to complete. We have found that most often decisions around what floor cleaning equipment is used are made without understanding the facts.
With over 50 years’ experience in the commercial cleaning business, we’ve learned a thing or two about how to help facility managers and building service contractors stay ahead of their efforts in maintaining safe, healthy and clean environments when it comes to floor and surface cleaning. The following 9 facts about floor mopping may surprise you and ultimately, may have you reconsider the floor cleaning tools you are using, especially as expectations of routine cleaning evolve due to the pandemic.
9 Facts About Floor Mopping:
- Chances are you are cleaning with dirty solution. Traditional floor mopping puts the dirt from the floor into the bucket then back to the floor again. The use of a single cavity bucket limits proper floor cleaning because the solution is contaminated with the soiled rinse solution. Dual bucket floor mopping systems not only prevent cross-contamination, but they are also significantly lighter when full because only half of the bucket is filled. Cleaning buckets should also be fitted with quick release valves for wastewater dumping to prevent awkward lifting into sinks.
- Cotton string mops are full of germs. Compared to a traditional cotton mop head, microfiber mops can reduce bacteria by 96 percent. Microfiber flat mops paired with dual compartment buckets are an effective way to clean for health and sanitation. Together, they prevent surface and mop head re-soiling. The dense microfiber blend promotes deeper penetration for cleaner surfaces.
- “Cheaper” cotton string mops are costing you. While microfiber mops can cost up to three times the price of traditional cotton mops, they last for significantly more washings (some up to 500) and maintain effectiveness much longer. Microfiber technology affords durability and effectiveness that maximizes the ROI within the first 150 washings.
- Of all the tasks janitors perform, floor mopping is among the most dangerous. Mopping is the second-leading cause of cleaning-related injuries: These types of injuries result in significant financial loss to organizations in time, production efficiency, and worker’s compensation. If floor cleaning is a key service in business operations, it’s imperative to consider how to keep your cleaning staff safe. With the selection of the right commercial cleaning tools, you can reduce or remove the possibility of repetitive motion injuries with appropriate, ergonomically designed floor mopping tools for the task at hand.
- Cleaners have a 10lb weight attached to the end of their mop. The most common sizes of wet string mops weigh between 16 and 24 ounces; these mops can triple in weight when wet. Variations of the cotton string mop are still being used throughout the cleaning industry, despite advancements in materials. This is especially concerning because a wet string mop can weigh up to three times its dry weight, making it extremely hard on the wrists, hips, and back. Add a bucket of solution that can tip the scales at 40 pounds and suddenly floor cleaning becomes a herculean task. In comparison, a 24-inch microfiber mop frame and handle with a damp mop pad attached weighs just over 2 pounds.
- Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSIs) lead to an average of 18 lost work days per injury. Most of a custodian’s time is devoted to floor care, providing lots of opportunities to develop repetitive stress injuries (RSI) – the second leading cause of cleaning-related injuries. The term RSI encompasses injuries that affect bones, muscles, nerves, and tendons due to overuse. This can be incredibly costly for organizations, and dangerous for custodians.
- People don’t all wear the same size shoe, but they are forced to use the same size mop. Mops with telescoping handles are ideal for cleaning processes because they enable the user to customize the tool to their appropriate height. If the handle is not suited for the worker, their hands cannot be correctly positioned to properly move the cleaning tool, which leads to awkward posture and ultimately causes high static shoulder muscle load.
- Floor mopping takes up 35–40% of the working time in most cleaning jobs. Microfiber mops are versatile, easy to clean and have longer life cycles than other mop materials in the marketplace. If the user is properly trained with the S-motion mopping technique, microfiber mops can quickly cover expansive areas with significantly less repetitious motion to the hips. Reduced weight also puts less strain on the worker’s back and prevents fatigue over time.
- You could be cleaning twice as better. An independent study done by Sitemark concluded that the Unger OmniClean removed twice as many microbes from the floor compared to standard floor cleaning solutions. The Microfiber mop head, along with the unique onboard scrub board and horizontal wringer, are proven to be more effective tools at producing cleaner floors than any other traditional mop bucket system available.
The combination of features in the latest floor cleaning technology provides dramatically faster cleaning with less strain, stress, and effort than the traditional floor mopping systems currently available. The type of mop and how your cleaner is using the equipment are important factors to consider getting the job done well and efficiently.
What Floor Cleaning Professionals Recommend
When choosing a floor mopping system, there are benefits to every type of mop. Although the upfront costs might be a bit higher, when you consider these facts, in the long run investing in the latest commercial floor cleaning equipment is going to be the most economical, safest and most effective option when compared traditional systems.
Want to See How Floor Cleaning Professionals are Using the Unger OmniClean for a Faster, Safer and Cleaner Experience? Learn More About Unger OmniClean