What's the best mop or mop-like thing for general household use?

January 25, 2019 7:27 AM

I need some kind of mop over here but in the past I've been less than thrilled with the quality of consumer-grade mops that I've encountered. I think a commercial-grade string mop would be pretty overkill for my needs, but I do want something effective and sturdy, not some cheap plastic thing. I do not want a swiffer. What should I get?

I know that a swiffer is often the go-to solution for light duty mopping these days, but I don't care for the disposability and I don't want to have to buy pads. I would like to be able to just put a bit of good old dish soap in some warm water, maybe a splash of bleach on occasion, and mop my kitchen floor with that.

I'd like a mop that is easy and convenient to use, doesn't get super nasty right away (and which can take easy-to-find replacement heads when it does get gross, rather than having to throw the whole thing out) and which won't fall apart on me. Do you have something like that? What is it?

Help me find my forever mop!

posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The to Home & Garden (24 answers total)

Best answer: I always liked Cuban mops.
posted by infinitewindow at 7:28 AM on January 25, 2019

I love my Libman Freedom Spray Mop. The pads are washable and you can use a rag instead if you don’t want to buy them or don’t have a clean one when you need it. Mine’s been going strong for about six years with no signs of slowing down!
posted by corey flood at 7:49 AM on January 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

Shop for heads is my advice, then pick the handle that will fit it. "Professional" string mops aren't all that expensive or hard to get, nor would I consider them overkill, it's just a normal mop, everyone used them up until this expensive plastic crap took over the market. The main distinction is whether the head has threads or a clamp. You can get handles in wood, aluminum or fiberglass. Here is a nice write up comparing the options. I don't own one presently, but I plan on getting a clamp handle next, because you get a lot more variety and better prices for heads that fit into clamps.
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:56 AM on January 25, 2019 [2 favorites]

So, our apartment has only two moppable areas: a small kitchen and a small bathroom. We've got this Cedar spray mop (which is pretty much the same as what corey flood posted, just from a different manufacturer). It comes with a washable microfiber pad, which we've used in the past (these days, we use the disposable pads), but the nice thing is you can load up the spray container with whatever you want and it'll just work with a minimum of fuss.
posted by Making You Bored For Science at 8:04 AM on January 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

Paño! It’s a squeegee on a pole used to push a rag. Paño means rag. The pole gives you leverage. The squeegee gives you improved surface coverage. The rag means you wash it with your towels. The squeegee and pole means you can unscrew them and lean against a wall to store.

I would go for an 18 inch wide squeegee, but you know your furniture layout.
posted by bilabial at 8:11 AM on January 25, 2019 [2 favorites]

I'm pretty fond of my Libman White Tornado. It's easy to use and clean and an afternoon in the sun fixes the occasional funkiness. My current one is four years old which is a testament either to its longevity or my sloppiness.
posted by firstdrop at 8:34 AM on January 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Get a Cuban mop and use a microfiber towel. Simple and the best.
posted by vivzan at 8:42 AM on January 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

I am a total convert to the O-Cedar microfiber mop and their wring bucket. My local LowesDepot carries the mops but not the bucket. I was reluctant to buy a new bucket and I felt pretty silly buying it from the internet, but it works REALLY well and is not bulky.
posted by desuetude at 8:53 AM on January 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

I have and truly love my Mopnado mop / bucket combo, which is similar to the O-Cedar microfiber mop mentioned above.
posted by tealcoffeecup at 9:11 AM on January 25, 2019

I’ve been using a Clean Team Sh-Mop for years. I have the terrycloth mop heads, and replaced the first set after about 10 years. (I only use the mop in the kitchen.) No waste and if I use both sides of all 3 heads, I don’t have the sense that I’m just moving dirt around.
posted by lakeroon at 9:26 AM on January 25, 2019

We have this Leifheit flat mop and bucket with mop press, and it works exceptionally well. I like that you don't have to get your hands wet. The flat mop is machine-washable and durable.
posted by amf at 9:38 AM on January 25, 2019

Response by poster: I'm gonna try a Cuban-style mop. I feel like a sucker paying $20 for literally two pieces of wood, but the simplicity and lack of plastic is very appealing, and 11 million Cubans can't be totally wrong, right?
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 9:51 AM on January 25, 2019 [2 favorites]

No love for steam mops? I've got a Shark: washable/replaceable microfiber pad, works with just water, needs no bucket. It's good.
posted by clavicle at 9:51 AM on January 25, 2019 [6 favorites]

Appears you've decided, but for others on the fence I'm very happy with the O-Cedar microfiber mop and bucket that desuetude linked above. Heads are washable and replaceable, and I have no complaints so far. Only wash it with other microfiber stuff, to keep its ... microfiberness intact.

Also I've found it works best if you get the floor really wet with clean hot water, then wring the mop, soak up the dirty water, and wring it again, rather than wringing everything out of the mop before you start cleaning. (This is only for relatively waterproof floors, not wood floors; for the wood floors I use a damp dust mop head that fits onto the same handle.)
posted by telepanda at 10:16 AM on January 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

If you go with microfiber, don’t wash it with anything containing cotton. Lint will wreck your microfiber by covering it in pills. If microfiber sings to you, get plenty so you can do all of them together in one load.

Use plain cotton bar mops if you can’t be that fastidious with your laundry.
posted by bilabial at 11:13 AM on January 25, 2019

I use all kinds of mops for volunteer cleaning duties and always notice the one I use at home cleans so much better - Professional Microfiber Mop.
Used a system similar to the Cuban mop growing up, that worked fine and way better that swiffer, and a great way to use up old rags. But the sturdy aluminum handle and the microfibre linked above really is a step up. Luxury mopping.
posted by The Toad at 11:21 AM on January 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

I use the O-Cedar, it's fine.
posted by praemunire at 11:38 AM on January 25, 2019

I got something that looks very like what The Toad posted at the dollar store. One handle, many choices of heads. YDSMV.
posted by kate4914 at 12:01 PM on January 25, 2019

More a pad than a mop, I love this rubbermaid combo handle and thick pad! So much better than sponges, cloth string types - I've tried them all and for everyday use this is the easiest and really the best. The pad attaches via strong velcro strips. Wet the pad with water and attach to the frame. Spray or squirt cleaner (store bought or make your own with vinegar, dawn and water) on a small area and wipe with the pad - repeat till done. No bucket needed. For multiple rooms, or really dirty floors, just remove the pad and rinse out. I didn't believe it till I used it, but I love this thing! Similar to what The Toad recommends, but larger, heavier duty.
posted by j810c at 1:41 PM on January 25, 2019

I have spent years trying out various mops. They break after a year (if I am lucky), they get grimy and stiff, I could not find the Shark cleaning cartridges anywhere, etc.

I eventually accepted my mother's truism that the best way to clean a floor is get down on your hands and knees and scrub away. Not everyone's solution, but I make it like a gentle yoga class! I use a bathroom rug under my knees and just clean away. I have a small home, and can do the bathroom floor in less than ten minutes, the kitchen takes more time because I have to move chairs out, but I really don't mind it.
posted by rhonzo at 4:24 PM on January 25, 2019 [3 favorites]

Seconding Toad and j810c. Check out "professional microfiber mop". I obtained one because we have very tall and very short people living together and doing chores. Washable heads + adjustable + sturdy = great.
posted by nixon's meatloaf at 4:30 PM on January 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

I’m chiming in to recommend the Professional Microfiber Mop too. The vendor has their own website where you can buy parts ala carte. They have various head sizes, handle types, and pad offerings. The universal joint where pad meets handle makes it easy to steer it around and swivel the head to fit into narrow areas.
posted by jon1270 at 4:00 AM on January 26, 2019 [1 favorite]

I love my Rubbermaid HYGEN commercial mop system. Fancier version of the Cuban mop. I also use it to do my windows.

I bought: 1 stick, 3 heads, 3 microfibers, 1 fringey broom.
posted by gregglind at 8:48 AM on January 26, 2019

Response by poster: I am here to report that the cuban mop has been working admirably and that I have no idea why mops ever had to get more complicated than a T-shaped piece of wood for pushing a rag around. Can recommend.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 1:48 PM on February 22, 2019