Crystal Cleaning Knows a Thing or Two About Mops

While we have yet to claim the Clearwater Mop as an actual “thing,” Crystal Cleaning does know a thing or two about mops. We want to share our knowledge to help you purchase the right mop for your home or business. Because, you know, mop connoisseurs exist, and mop differentiation is actually a thing.

KENTUCKY MOP

Kentucky mops, sometimes known as Yankee Mops, are most commonly used in commercial spaces. However, that doesn’t mean the residential homeowner should abandon this specialty mop. First off, Kentucky mops feature a linear fitting and, therefore, can accommodate a much larger mop head. A reinforced frame makes this mop ideal for larger, more open spaces. Provided you have a mop bucket, the Kentucky mop is relatively easy to use and can clean over 15 square feet at a time.

Secondly, you must purchase the correct wooden handle to accommodate the Kentucky mop’s unique 54″long handle with a mechanical clip fitting made of steel. The wrong handle size will not work with a genuine Kentucky mop. However, improvements in the design now accommodate other materials like aluminum and plastic. This flexibility in materials allows for the use of color-coding, a process that is much more difficult with wood and steel. Also, using alternatives to steel removes the chance of rust and extends longevity. Plastic coated steel tends to be more hard-wearing than aluminum, which poles’ will bend if too much pressure is applied.

TRADITIONAL or SOCKET MOP

The traditional socket mop head, sometimes referred to as a Dolly mop, is precisely that: a simple round fitting designed for a plain round handle. Wooden handles are suitable when you need an everyday fit. However, you can use a handle with a screw fitting. Also known as “Abbey” handles, these handles offer a better grip than a standard push in round handle. They can be color-coded as well, as some are plastic.

It’s also worth noting that wood handles are prone to splitting that can cause splintering. They can also stay damp longer, thus harboring bacteria or mold, which is unsafe.

EXEL MOP

The Exel mop fitting system uses a smart push-fit design, with a round shaft with three ribs. This different system makes securing and removing heads quite simple. The socket on the mop head is plastic and provides a perfect match for the handle.

One of the reasons that the Exel system is so popular is that the mop heads’ will accept other handles. If you have a handle with a screw thread, screw it on as usual. The handle will cut its thread into the Exel socket because the plastic is moderately soft. The Excel socket can even use a plain wooden handle (15/16″ diameter) as the Exel socket will grip. Overall, we do recommend that you fit an Exel head to an Exel handle. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to install any other head type to an Exel handle.

Which Mop to Choose?

In next week’s post, we will go into further detail about mop head variety and color-coding. Once we cover those topics, we will provide you with a quiz to see which mop would be the right one for you.