How to choose cleaning equipment: mops, trolleys and cloths

Cleaning floors and surfaces comes down to three choices: the mop (cotton or microfibre), the frame and handle suited to the width of the room and, for several rooms or several operators, a trolley with buckets and wringer. For shared areas such as offices or schools, the 40 cm mop is the most common (nearly all the examples in the collection are); on large floors you move up to wider frames, up to 55 cm and beyond. Cloths, brushes and scrapers complete the set for glass, corners and caked-on dirt.

The types

• Mops and mop heads: in cotton (loop or pocket style, such as the Classic cotton pocket mop 40 cm) or in microfibre (such as the Premium MF loop and pocket mop).
• Frames and holders: hold the mop; there are frames for pocket mops, loop mops and cloths. The holders fit on telescopic poles or fixed handles.
• Cleaning trolleys: compact, bag-holder and housekeeping trolleys for hotels and schools, with buckets, wringers and compartments, such as the Brix School.
• Cloths: multi-purpose microfibre for surfaces and glass, in various colours.
• Squeegees, scrapers and replacement blades: for glass and dried residues.
• Brushes, bottle brushes and telescopic poles: for corners, cobwebs and high spots.

How to choose by job

The features to look at

• Material: microfibre holds the dirt and needs less detergent; cotton absorbs a lot of water and stands up very well to washing. For trolleys and buckets: polypropylene for lightness, stainless steel or aluminium for durability.
• Dimensions (cm): mops and frames in the collection range from 25 to 55 cm, squeegees from 25 to over 50 cm. Choose according to the width of the rooms: wider means fewer passes, but also more effort.
• Colour: blue, red, green and yellow are the typical colours for telling zones apart (bathrooms, kitchens, offices), so that the tools do not get mixed up.
• Weight: from 0.1 kg for a cloth to 45 kg for a fully equipped trolley. For a trolley, handling also matters: wheels, handle and overall size.
• Pack: cloths and spares are bought in packs of 2 to 400 pieces.

Common mistakes

• Using the same mop and the same water for several rooms: you spread the dirt instead of removing it.
• Wringing the mop out too little: the floor stays wet for longer and becomes slippery.
• Washing microfibre with fabric softener: it clogs the fibres and reduces the cleaning power.
• Not signalling a wet floor: a sign is needed in walkways.
• Buying the smallest trolley to save money: in larger offices or schools you lose time going back and forth.
• Forgetting the spares: mops and cloths wear out, and keeping a stock avoids working with worn-out rags.

Frequently asked questions

Is a cotton or microfibre mop better?

Microfibre cleans better and uses less water; cotton costs less and absorbs a lot of water, which is why it is used on rough, very dirty floors.

What do "loop" and "pocket" mops mean?

They are two ways of attaching the mop to the frame: loop style, by slipping the frame through the mop's rings, or pocket style, by inserting its ends into the pockets. The frame must be compatible with the mop you choose.

How many mops do I need for one area?

At least two, one in use and one being washed. For premises with several departments or sensitive areas, one mop or cloth for each zone.

Do I need a trolley to clean a home or a small office?

No: a bucket with wringer, a mop and cloths are enough. A trolley pays off when you clean several rooms in a row and carry several products.

All the manual cleaning equipment is in the collection: to configure trolleys and spares for your facility, ask for a quote or advice from the AMES technicians.