Tidy Habits Busy Lives

… simple straightforward solutions for your home

Cotton Mop and Swiffer
Clean Cleaning Basics 

Pros and Cons of Cotton Mops and Swiffers

Sonia
Image

If your house is as busy as mine, with people in and out tracking in dirt and spilling stuff on the floor, you probably have to mop, a lot. But, when you need to break out your mop, what type is the best for the job?

Choosing a mop can be a little confusing, as there are a variety of choices, and it can depend on the job you are doing, so let’s shed a little light on the subject.

Two of the most popular choices for cleaning around the house are cotton mops and Swiffers. Let’s have a look and compare “the good, the bad, and the muddy” to see which one would be the right choice for your cleaning needs.

Cotton Mops

Mops are not what they used to be. Even the common cotton mop has evolved. The first mop used to consist of long thick cotton “strings” on the end of a stick, but nowadays, mops have a new hairdo.

You can pick between a dry (yes, there is a dry cotton mop) or a wet mop. With the dry cotton mop (also called a dust control mop), you use mineral oil on the fibers. Be sure to allow some time for the mineral oil to cure; this will prevent streaking or having an oil film left on the surface.

Dry mops are made to get soil and debris off the floor, walls, and ceilings without kicking up dust.

Wet mops are designed to be used with a bucket to remove dirt from surfaces. There are a few different styles, such as Kentucky which you use for rougher surfaces, typically used in commercial cleaning.  And, your basic household mop.

Cleaning up big spills is where a cotton mop shines, or should I say leaves a shine, as they are very absorbent. They are also a better choice if you need to use bleach or other acidic chemicals for cleaning.

Cotton mops are more economical than other mops, as they cost less and last longer, as long as you treat them right. Make sure you wash them out after every use and dry them properly, or you will have to replace your mop faster than you think.

They are also better for the environment than mops that use disposable cloths, which might need to be replaced several times in one mopping.

There are downsides to using traditional cotton mops; they tend to leave streaks and can scratch or damage certain floor surfaces such as hardwood and marble. And even if you are using a disinfectant in your bucket of water, believe it or not, that chemical tends to bond more to the cotton strands than the floor.

Finally, because a cotton mop uses more water, it can take longer to dry, which may lead to a slipping injury when the kids are running around the house.

Pros:

  • Less expensive
  • Very absorbent
  • Environmentally friendly

Cons:

  • Less sanitary
  • Leaves streaks
  • Longer to dry

Swiffer

For quick everyday cleaning a Swiffer does a very good job, especially for those harder to reach areas. It picks up dust and grime from the floor while disinfecting the area, which is an excellent tool for parents with little ones that are still crawling around on all fours.

It is easy to use, simply attach the dry or wet Swiffer cloth and mop the floor, and you can forget the bucket of water. Well having said that, you should vacuum before you Swiffer to get rid of the bigger dust bunnies.

Besides the convenience of setting up a Swiffer, it is also compact and lightweight. It also takes up very little space in the closet. If you live in a small space, this is something you can appreciate.

A couple of the drawbacks of Swiffers is that they are not great for big spills; they just can’t absorb that much liquid.

Also, there are some warnings against using Swiffers on laminate or marble flooring due to the high alkaline level in the cleaning pads. It is best to check the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions for your flooring, as a cautionary measure.   Swiffers don’t work very well on vinyl floors, as they tend to leave a sticky residue behind.

There is also an environmental and cost issue with using so many disposable cloths for cleaning.

Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Suitable for day-to-day use
  • Compact
  • Disinfects very well

Cons:

  • Not good for larger messes
  • Can damage some types of floors
  • Environmentally unfriendly
  • Not the most cost-effective

So as you can see, both cotton mops and Swiffers have their pluses and minuses, and the one you choose will depend on what you are in most need of.  I  have both. When you have a teenager and a messy husband, you need all the help you can get keeping the house clean!