Top of the mops – new innovations in manual cleaning systems

The mop - one of the most utilised products in the cleaning industry, thanks to its simplicity, versatility, and convenience as a daily cleaning tool. It’s a product that has withstood the test of time. Robert Scott has been making mops since 1925 and is the largest mop manufacturer in the UK – producing, on average, half a million mops per week. Here Alastair Scott, sales director at Robert Scott, discusses the advantages of manual mopping systems, new innovations and the importance of choosing the right mop for the task at hand.

When we talk to customers about ‘traditional’ mops, we generally mean socket mops made with cotton-rich yarn. With traditional mops you have a convenient choice between disposable, semi-disposable and reusable mops - depending on the fabric type. Wherever possible we recommend reusable products to help reduce environmental impact. Disposable mops will also drive costs up as they require the constant replenishment of mop heads. However, they are still required in certain situations where what’s being cleaned needs to be disposed of immediately.

Most manual mops are light, easier to use and simpler to move than machines so they’re ideal for quick response cleaning such as spills and accidents. When you add obstacles such as stairs and furniture into the equation, manual mops make even more sense and there’s a range of different solutions available for cleaning from small spaces to large floor areas.

Thanks to advances in mop technology, reusable mop systems are much longer lasting and better for capturing dirt and germs. For example, the washable Hygiemix mop is a cost-effective solution that’s made using cotton, viscose and polyester to create a robust mop that can be washed and reused time and again.

The introduction of microfibre mops and flat mop pads mean that these mops can lift 99% of germs without using any cleaning agent - they also have a static electric charge to capture dust. Microfibre is a fantastic fabric for mop systems as it’s even more absorbent than cotton and can hold up to seven times its weight in water. It’s also fast drying so is ideal for using with spot cleaning or quick response tasks.

Mop fabrics are also now available with antibacterial additives such as the Biofresh mop that inhibits the growth of bacteria and odours within the mop. A similar but more powerful option is the microfibre Nano-Ag flat mop - which includes a silver additive that works in the same way. Both products are designed to be washed and reused many times without any loss of performance.

When it comes to advances in sustainability, most of Robert Scott’s mops are now made from 100% recycled fabric sourced from waste textiles that we manufacture into CHSA accredited mops in the north west of England. We’ve also developed a patented Refill mop comprising a reusable plastic socket and clip, along with a replaceable mop refill. When the mop reaches end-of-life, the user can recycle the fabric refill and reuse the plastic socket.

To make the most of a manual cleaning system, it’s critical for businesses to carry out a cleaning audit of their environment and the needs of their team to ensure suppliers can provide the solution that will deliver cost-effective, superior cleaning results while also saving time for end users.

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