Archive for the ‘Janitorial’ Category

Dishwashing – 3 Sink Procedure

Janitorial Supplies Michigan Tennessee Wisconsin – Amerisource Industrial Supply

***It is recommended to use proportioners to make sure there is the correct amount of soap and sanitizer in the sink.  You still must test sanitizer to make sure it is within the proper PPM range to be effective.

Sink 1 – Wash

  • Start with 4 oz.of Pink Lotion Dish Soap and fill sink with hot water.
  • Scrape gross food soil from pots, pans, utensils and equipment.
  • Place items in sink and let stand for a few minutes to loosen soil.
  • Wash using a stiff nylon brush or scrub pad.
  • Remove and let excess detergent solution drain back into sink.
  • Drain and refill as often as necessary to keep the water clean.

Sink 2 – Rinse

  • Immerse pots, pans, utensils and equipment in warm CLEAN water.
  • Remove and let excess water run back into sink.
  • Change rinse water frequently.

Sink 3 – Sanitize

  • Fill sink with 8 gallons of warm water.
  • Add 2 oz. of Arrow Sanitizer ARR150.
  • Test with QT-10 paper. Must register 200 ppm.
  • Submerge all items for at least 60 seconds. Change solution regularly.
  • Remove and let air dry.

All Food Contact Surfaces

  • Prepare sanitizing solution. Submerge empty 1 Qt. spray bottle and fill or use ready to use Sani Spray. Test solution with QT-10 test papers. Must register 200 ppm.
  • Spray surfaces to be sanitized. DO NOT contaminate food with spray. Air dry.

CLEANING PATIENT/RESIDENT ROOMS

Janitorial Supplies Michigan Tennessee Wisconsin – Amerisource Industrial Supply

How to routine clean patient/resident rooms

Tools & Materials Needed:
A. Trigger sprayer
B. Dust mop
C. Pump up sprayer and one bucket with wringer
or Two buckets with wringers
D. Wet mop
E. Vacuum
F. Carpet extractor
G. Clean cloths
H. Liners
I. Clean bucket
J. Gloves and glasses

Products:
1. #250 Facility Disinfectant Cleaner
2. #450 Glass Cleaner
3. #197 Bana Oil Dust Mop Treatment
4. #432 Spot, Stain & Odor Remover

5. #463 Liquid Extraction Cleaner

Procedures:

I. Purpose of Cleaning Patient/Resident Rooms

A. Clean and disinfect primary areas.

1. Maintain health of individuals in the facility
2. Reduce risk of spreading infections throughout facility

 II. General Considerations and Basic Procedures

A. Do not bring cleaning cart into the room.

1. Leave in hallway to avoid cross contamination between rooms.

B. Proper sequence of cleaning tasks

1. Clean patient/resident room first.
2. Clean patient/resident restroom after that.
3. Use a separate cleaning cloth for each room.
4. Move from the cleanest items to the dirtiest as you clean.

 C. Proper procedure for cleaning objects - Put on personal protective equipment.

1. For normal objects, spray cleaner disinfectant from a trigger spray bottle directly onto object, wiping clean with a cloth.
2. For electrical equipment, spray the cloth only to avoid electric shock. Examples of electrical equipment include televisions and monitors.

D. For floor mopping, two methods are acceptable.

1. Spray down/mop up method
2. Double bucket method

E. The cleaning and disinfecting power of a solution weakens as it gets dirty.

1. Change rinse water and cleaning solution when visibly soiled.
2. Change at least every three rooms, regardless of visual look.

F. When changing bed linen, always gently fold towards the middle.

1. Lofting or waving the linens in the air can spread bacteria.

 

III. Procedures for Daily Room Cleaning

A. Put on gloves.
B. Clean and disinfect all resident room surfaces using a trigger spray bottle filled with cleaner disinfectant solution and a clean cloth. Areas to clean include:

All horizontal flat surfaces Tables
Over bed table Furniture
Bed rails Chairs
Window sills Phone
Wall switches TV remote
Door facings Thermostat
Door handles

C. Spot clean walls for visible soiling.

D. Waste basket procedures

1. Carefully tie liner closed, lift and place in appropriate trash collection bag in cleaning cart.
2. Dispose of biohazardous waste appropriately.
3. Spray wastebasket inside and out with cleaner disinfectant solution.
4. Wipe dry with a clean cloth.
5. Install new liner and replace wastebasket in proper location.

E. Hard floor care Procedures

1. Reposition all furniture into its correct room position.
2. Dust mop floor.
3. Damp mop floor with a Facility Disinfectant Cleaner.
          a. Use either the spray down/mop up method or the double bucket method.
4. Be sure to reach under the bed and other furniture with your cleaning mop.

F. Carpet Care Procedures

1. Vacuum carpet in all traffic lanes daily.
2. Clean spots immediately upon discovery using a carpet spotter and a blotting cloth.
         a. Extract spot with a clear water rinse and second blotting cloth.

IV. Additional Procedures for Weekly Resident Room Cleaning

A. Damp disinfect dust the room from the top down.

1. With a trigger sprayer of cleaner disinfectant, spray directly on clean cloth.
2. Clean specified areas with the treated cloth.
3. Rinse the cloth in a bucket of clear water frequently.
4. Respray the cloth from the trigger sprayer and continue to damp dust.
5. Cleaning from the top down, damp dust the following areas:

Tops of doors and frames
Ceiling vents and lights
Tops of light fixtures
Ceiling corners
Curtain rails
Venetian blinds
Top of television
Picture frames
Air conditioner vents
Electric cords
Cove molding
Heat registers
Floor registers

B. Wash the windows and glass surfaces.
C. Wipe down and disinfect the upper mattress surface, especially the seams.
D. Vacuum the curtains surrounding the bed and the window curtains.

 V. Additional Procedures for Monthly Resident Room Cleaning

A. Carpet cleaning

1. Vacuum carpet.
2. Get moveable furniture out of the way.
3. Prespray carpet with a Spot, Stain & Odor Remover.
4. Extract using Extraction Cleaner or use clear water in the extractor.
5. Be sure to get under the bed and furniture when you clean.

Autoscrubber Equipment Maintenance

Janitorial Supplies Michigan Tennessee Wisconsin – Amerisource Industrial Supply

Autoscrubber Equipment Maintenance

Automatic Scrubbers

  1. Battery-operated power equipment, like an automatic floor scrubber, needs special care and maintenance. See owner’s manual before proceeding.
  2. Tese units compare in price to that of compact automobiles. Because of that, they should be treated with utmost care and according to manufacturer’s instructions.
  3. It is advisable to grease the casters once every week. Oil all moving parts, such as the control bars, squeegee control rods, pressure points and hinges once every month.
  4. Make sure that each drive wheel tire is inflated to the recommended tire pressure. Unequal tire pressures can adversely affect the total operation of the machine.
  5. Drive brushes should be removed and cleaned after each use. The drive brush mechanism needs to be adjusted and lubricated according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  6. The squeegee assembly should be adjusted and lubricated. The reversible squeegee blades also need regular cleaning and adjusting.
  7. An automatic scrubber has a solution tank, a recovery tank, and filters that should be flushed and cleaned on a regular schedule.

Battery Maintenance

  1. When working with batteries leave the battery compartment covered up and work in a well ventilated area. Do not wear rings, because they can become welded to metal wrenches if a live terminal is accidentally touched.
  2. Check the fluid level in the battery cells at least weekly. The battery caps are easily removed by pressing the ends of the white plastic extensions.
  3. Check the electrolyte status of each battery cell with a hydrometer every 15 operating hours.
  4. Periodically, check all battery cable and wiring for signs of damage or wear. Replace as needed. Once a month, remove all batteries from your machine. Clean all batteries, battery tray, and battery compartment with a solution of baking soda and water.
  5. On the bottom of the battery compartment cover is a battery wiring diagram. Follow this diagram when you put the battery wires on the terminals. To prevent corrosion, apply a film of grease or Vaseline to battery lugs and bolt studs. Do not reverse connections when servicing or replacing the batteries.

Battery Charger

  1. When actively using an automatic scrubber, you will use a battery charger to re-charge the batteries. With the charger unplugged from the electrical wall outlet, find the main connector that is marked “Connect To Charger.” Firmly push the two connectors together. When laying the charging cables across the batteries, be careful not to allow the metal parts of the connectors touch any battery terminals. Set the battery charger control according to the rate of current desired. After charging, remove the charger plug from the wall outlet and disconnect the charging cable. Reconnect main battery terminals.

Garbage Bag – Liner Information

Janitorial Products Michigan – Amerisource Industrial Supply

Helpful Formulas & Information

Mils vs. Microns

  • Mil – A unit of measurement in thousandths of an inch. (i.e., .001 = one thousandth of an inch or 1.0 mil). Generally used to designate the thickness of LLDPE products.
  • Mic – Short for micron, one thousandth of a millimeter. Generally used to designate the thickness of HDPE products.

For the EXACT conversion:

  • Mils to Microns: (Number of Mils) x 25.4 (i.e., .75 mil = 19 microns).
  • Microns to Mils: (Number of Microns) / 25.4 (i.e., 14 microns = .55 mil).

For the APPROXIMATE strength equivalents:

LLDPE & Blends HDPE
.4 – .45 mil
.6 – .75 mil
.75 – .95 mil
.95 – 1.1 mil
1.1 – 1.5 mil
1.5 – 1.8 mil
Premium Super-Hexene
6 micron
8 – 10 micron
10 – 13 micron
13 – 16 micron
16 – 18 micron
16 – 25 micron
no comparable equivalent

Formula for determining proper bag size:

  • Measuring instructions to determine the proper size bag for any receptacle:
For a round receptacle:
Width of bag required = Diameter of receptacle x 3.14 / 2
(Diameter = the distance across the top of the receptacle)
Length of bag required = 1/2 of the diameter + height of receptacle
+ 4″ to 6″ for overhang
  For a square or rectangle receptacle:
Width of bag required = Length of two sides
Length of bag required = 1/2 the smallest side + height of receptacle
+ 4″ to 6″ for overhang

Kitchen & Food Prep Area Cleaning

Janitorial Supplies Michigan Tennessee Wisconsin – Amerisource Industrial Supply

Cleaning Products:                                                          
Heavy Duty Degreaser – AIS234 or AIS248                      
Sanitizer – ARR150 or ARR151                                            
Glass Cleaner – AIS42004                                                    
Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish – #170                               
Neutral Cleaner – #242                                                         

Tools & Materials
Bucket with wringer
Clean buckets (2)
Wet mop
Clean cloths – Microfiber
Trigger Sprayer
Hand held brush 
Broom
Dust pan
Trash Liners
“Wet Floor” signs
Rubber gloves & safety glasses
Paper towels
Hand Soap

Procedures:

  1. Put on gloves and glasses. Put all food away prior to any cleaning operation.
  2. Check levels in all hand towel and hand soap dispensers and refill as necessary.
  3. Using a trigger sprayer filled with diluted cleaner/degreaser and a clean cloth, clean all kitchen surfaces
    1. Outside of oven, hood, refrigerator and counter tops.
    2. All doors into and out of the kitchen.
    3. Walls behind prep areas and where necessary.
    4. Towel and soap dispensers
    5. Faucets and cupboard handles.
  4. Wash windows/mirrors using glass cleaner and a clean, dry, lint-free cloth.
  5. Wipe Stainless Steel surfaces with Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish. Wipe or spray on and wipe off with a clean, dry cloth.
  6. Push all litter toward the door using a push broom.
    1. Avoid using a sweeping motion. Use only as a collecting tool.
    2. Pick up with dust pan and dispose in trash.
  7. Waste receptacle treatment:
    1. Twist and tie top of the liner closed. Lift out liner.
    2. Spray receptacle inside and out with sanitizer solution.
    3. Allow to air dry or wipe dry with a clean cloth.
    4. Reline with a new liner and place in original position.
  8. Place “Wet Floor” signs. Mop floors following the Floor Care Cleaning procedures for either finished or
    1. unfinished floors. Note: Polished floors should only be cleaner with a neutral cleaner. Unfinished tile floors or
    2. quarry tile should be cleaned with a dilute solution of Cleaner/Degreaser.

Broom Brush Selection Guide

Janitorial Supplies Michigan Tennessee Wisconsin – Amerisource Industrial Supply

 Surface textures and types of dirt vary throughout a facility, so choosing the correct broom and brush construction is important for maximum cleaning effectiveness. Amerisource’s brooms and brushes offer a complete range of blocks and fill types to clean virtually any surface.

 There are three main components to a broom and brush;

  1. Block
  2. Handle
  3. Fill, Trim or bristles

 Blocks

     

Blocks are the holder for the trim or bristles and where the handle fastens to use the broom or brush.  The main construction materials for blocks are structural foam, plastic and wood.  Structural foam and plastic resist cracking, splitting, warping and rotting and helps prevent bacteria growth.  All blocks started out as wood and are more popular for larger sizes of push brooms. 

 Staggered hole pattern prevents gaps in fill material for better performance. Dense fill leads to longer brush life. Flagged tips pick up fine dust and dirt particles. Flared ends allow access to corners. Stiff coarse fill is better for rough surfaces and larger debris.

 Handles

 

There are many different handle materials, wood, plastic, fiberglass and steel.  The most common handle and block connecting system is a screw hole in the block that accepts a threaded handle.  Another common brush handle is a tapered handle that wedges into the block.  There are other connection systems that clamp the handle to the block or utilize a proprietary connecting system.

 For larger brooms of 24” to 36” a brace is recommended to help take pressure of the handle connection to the block.  For smaller brooms and brushes a clamp brace is sufficient to holder the handle securely in place.  For the larger brooms a large outrigger brace offers better stability during sweeping.

 

Fill

Broom trim material fall in two categories natural and synthetic.  Natural materials are horsehair, palmyra and tampico.  Synthetic materials are nylon, polystyrene and polypropylene. 

 

Horeshair

Very durable with a naturally flagged tip; good shear/break resistance. Will not scratch smooth or highly polished surfaces. Not for use on oily or wet surfaces.

Palymyra

Medium to highly stiff fiber from the Palmyra Palm provides durability and good bristle recovery. Can be used wet or dry.

Tampico

Soft to medium stiff fiber from the Agave plant. Durable and retains shape after continual use. High resistance to heat, alkali, solvents, and acid. Can be used wet or dry.

Nylon

Very durable with excellent abrasion resistance, shear/break strength, and bristle bend recovery. Will not stain, discolor, or absorb odors. Can be used wet or dry and is resistant to alkalis and most solvents.

Polystyrene

Extremely durable. Excellent bristle bend recovery and shear/break strength. Resistant to water, oils, and solvents. Not for sweeping compounds or oily surfaces.

Polypropylene

Very durable with good abrasion resistance and shear/break strength. Will not stain, discolor, or absorb odors. Resistant to solvents, acids, oils, fungus, and bacteria growth. Can be used wet or dry.

Metal – Brass, Stainless Steel or Tempered Steel

Provides a high degree of abrasion and wear resistance. Good bend recovery. Best for aggressively removing residue from metal parts or brick work. Brass fill will not rust and is less abrasive than steel fill.

Combination

Fills can be combined in a block to take advantage of the benefits of the different fill choices.  The most common combine an outer layer of flagged or medium bristles with a coarser center to sweep heavier debris.

Brushes

Brushes are similar to brooms is selecting the best combination of block handle and fill.  The key differences is in the style of the blocks.  Brushes can have seperate handles that screw or attach to the brush such as deck, window and truck wash brushes or the handles are built into the brush such as wire brushes and pot and utility brushes.   Hand brushes are designed to fit ergonomically in your hand for optimal cleaning and less fatigue.  There are a number of other specialty brushes designed for specific purposes such as bong brushes, bowl brushes, radiator and detail brushes etc…  There is a brush designed for every cleaning application.

Laundry Products

Janitorial Supplies Michigan Tennessee Wisconsin – Amerisource Industrial Supply

   

 

 

COMMERICAL LAUNDRY PRODUCTS

 ONYX LAUNDRY BREAK DETERGENT

Heavy duty liquid cleaning agent designed for tough laundry problems.  It is based on alkalinity builders and soil suspending agents.  It emulsifies greasy soils and keeps them suspended to prevent soil redeposition.  Designed for use with automatic dispensing equipment.  Requires the use of a neutralizing agent.

 TOPAZ NEUTRA-SOFT

Balanced blend of softening and neutralizing agents. Neutralizes the alkaline detergent residues and water hardness minerals. Softens linens and clothing and reduces wrinkling.  Eliminates static cling and leaves laundry smelling fresh and clean.    Designed for use with automatic dispensing equipment.   

 OPAL LAUNDRY DESTAINER

Super concentrated formula designed specifically for institutional laundries.  Very effective at removing the toughest laundry stains and odors.  Can be used on most natural and synthetic bleach safe fabrics.    Designed for use with automatic dispensing equipment.

 ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS AVAILABLE

  1.  LEMON FRESH POWDERED DETERGENT
  2. NON-CHLORINATED LIQUID SANITIZER
  3. NON-CHLORINATED POWDERED BRIGHTNER AND STAIN REMOVER

                      

 

Skin Care Basics – Stockhausen

Janitorial Supplies Michigan Tennessee Wisconsin – Amerisource Industrial Supply

 Step One – Before Work – Products with BLUE labels

Protect your skin by applying a barrier cream

  • Protects skin from contamination and allows for easier cleaning
  • Oil based for Grease and Oil - Travabon
  • Water based for Oils and General Grime – Stokoderm

Step Two –Cleaning after work - Products with GREEN labels 

Clean your skin after work is performed and skin is soiled

  • Use product to clean hands – apply to dry hands, add water and wash hands
  • Select appropriate product to do the job
    • Light duty cleaners & Sanitizers – Refresh Foam, Estesol
      • Light to moderate dirt and grime
    • Industrial – Solopol, BlueForce
      • General soil levels to moderate oils
    • Heavy duty cleaners – Kresto, Kwik Wipes
      • Heavy amounts of soil oils & greases
    • Specialty for Paint, inks and dyes – Cupran & Reduran

 Step Three – Conditioning – Products with RED labels

Condition your skin after cleaning to prevent chapping, chafing and eczema

  • Keep skin in tact by rehydrating and repairing after cleaning – Stokolan,
  • Heal the hands with medicated conditioners

 How to decide which system to use?

  1. What are the skin care circumstances and do I need all the steps or only parts
    1. Incidents of skin irritation, eczema and dermatitis in the plant will indicate requirements
  2. What soil and conditions are in the plant
    1. Choose the product in each of the categories above that best fit the amount and type of soil
    2. D’limonene cleaners may be a natural solvent but they are a skin irritant
      1. Read the MSDS Section V Health Hazards reads… “May be irritating to skin and eyes. Skin contact may cause slight redness.  Contains a potential skin sensitizer.”  The MSDS goes on to instruct if there is contact with the skin, “wash affected area with copious amounts of soap and water.”
  3. Cost in Use of the soap system
    1. Cost per ML
    2. Usable ml per container – Container ml less waste Left in the container that cannot be dispensed due to dispenser system efficiency
    3. Refill time per unit – How long does it take to refill the dispenser
    4. ML of product dispensed per push
    5. The average number of pushes per hand wash is 2 times
  4. Are there GREEN alternatives

 

   Stockhausen Foam
  29932
Cost per case  $50.00
Units per case 6
Cost per Unit  $ 8.33
ml’s per unit 800
waste per unit 25
usable ml’s per unit 775
Refill time per unit min 0.2
Labor Rate per Hour  $15.00
Cost per unit to refill  $ 0.05
cost per ml  $ 0.0108
ml’s of soap p/push 0.40
cost per push  $ 0.0043
Avg. # pushes p/wash 2.00
Cost per  wash  $ 0.0087
# of washes p/case 5812.5
# of washes p/dollar  116

Dust Mop Basics

Dust Mopping 101

The regular use of a dust mop will control dust which saves time and money while promoting a healthy environment. Routine dust removal will eliminate abrasive dust particles that ruin your floor and its finish. Dust mopping will protect your floors, help save you time and drastically reduce your labour cost for stripping and refinishing floors. Dust mops are an important factor to developing a floor care program. Marino offers quality dust mops in various sizes, designed for top performance.

There are several important factors to consider when choosing a dust mop. Use the guidelines below to choose the best dust mop for your floor care needs.

General Dust Mopping

The three main categories of mops are disposable, standard and launderable.  Disposable mops are the most economical and are used and throw away once they fall apart.  They can be slip on style or Velcro based.   Standard mops are generally constructed of cotton and have cut ends for general mopping.  Launderable mops come in many styles and are generally looped and reinforced to withstand multiple washings.  This may reduce the effectiveness of the mop in removing and holding dust from the floor surface.

Mops can be constructed of many different fibers.  The least expensive are constructed of cotton.  Other common materials are cotton blends, synthetics and microfibers.  These materials add cost and benefits to the mops durability and performance.   Mops can come in many different colors.  This can be used to specify mops for certain areas of a facility reducing the risk of cross contamination.

Some dust mops can be laundered.  Cotton cut end mops are generally not launderable. The launderability of a mop is based on the number of commercial washing and drying cycles it can withstand before the construction of the mop is degraded or the performance declines. Synthetic and blended fiber mops have the highest levels of launderability.

The durability of a mop is a measure of how long it will perform before needing to be replaced. Synthetic and blended fiber mops are the most durable.   Looped and twisted mops prevent or reduce snagging and are more durable than cut end mops. Mops with antimicrobial fibers have greater durability because they inhibit the bacterial growth that causes mop odor and discoloration.

Dust pick up is the ability of a mop to remove dust and dirt from the floor surface. Blended fiber, synthetic and microfiber mops have the highest degree of dust pick up. 

Choose mops with high dust pick up and durability. If laundering is available, launderable mops will be the most economical choice. Twisted loop mop heads with reinforced stitching and slip-on/slide-off backing offer the best performance and launderability.  Synthetic fibers can also offer static pick up characteristics that assist in picking up and holding dust particles.  Microfibers are an excellent cost effective choice for dust mopping material.

Mop Construction Features

Twisted and Looped mops are highly effective at capturing dust and dirt. Premium twisted loops are less prone to snags, frays, and unraveling during cleaning and laundering. This construction reduces fraying and de-plying for better durability and longer product life, more effective than cut-end mops.

Cut end mops are economical construction for general purpose dusting.

Backing Styles & Frames

 

Snap On  and Velcro

Snap-On Wire Dust Mop Frames and Handles make removal of used dust mops easier and cleaning more efficient. The handle has jaws that snap on the middle bar of the frame.  The less popular handle and frame combination is a clip on style where pins on the handle clip into holes on the frame.

Microfiber dust mops and some disposable mops have Velcro backings that utilize a Velcro pad holder.  The disadvantage of this style is the Velcro wears out over time and needs to be replaced on the pad holder.

Slip-on backing decreases setup time and increases product durability. Mops that use half-tie backing are less cost effective that those that use slip-on backing due to damage from torn ties.

Reinforced backing with double-needle stitching at key “wear” points increases product life.

Caring for your Dust Mop

  1. At the end of each shift/usage, the dust mops should be shaken out, vacuumed or brushed completely, in order to remove the larger particles from the mop. If treatment is being used, it should be retreated when necessary.
  2. If the dust mop is clean, it should be stored upright in a clean dry area, away from the wall and floor.
  3. If the dust mop is soiled, it should be laundered. We recommend a laundry net be used. Cotton, Hi-Stat, Ferma-Twist and Hi-Static dust mops should be laundered separately.
  4. When laundering use a laundry bag to eliminate snagging in the washer.  You can dry seperately.

Wet Mop Basic

Janitorial Supplies Michigan, Tennessee, Wisconsin- Amerisource Industrial Supply

There are a number of different factors to consider when choosing the best wet mop.

  1. Type of mopping
  2. Style of mop
  3. Launderability
  4. Absorbency
  5. Release
  6. Durability
  7. Mop Construction

Type of Mopping

Wet mops are used for general mopping or floor finish application.  The best general mops have high absorbency, release and maximum durability.  Finish mops should have high absorbency and release as key characteristics.  Other factors important in a finish mop are tailbands and looped ends for better floor coverage consistency.  If laundering is available is available launderable mops will be the most economical choice.

 Style of Mop

Wet mops come in two basic styles string and flat.  String mops are better for pick up spills and mopping heavily soiled floors.  Flat mops are more effecient in light soil areas or for finish application.   Flat mops are made from lint free microfiber material.  The millions of mircopores remove the smallest contaminants from the floor surface.  Finish flat mops are made of nylon material to maximize release and finish clean up.

Cotton Cut End Mop

 

Microfiber Flat Mop

 

Launderability

Launderability is measured by the number washing and drying cycles it can survive before mop failure.  Microfiber mops offer the best launderability followed by synthetic and bleanded mops.

 Absorbency

This is defined as the mops ability to pick up and hold liquids.  Higher absorbency allows for faster floor drying time by minimizing the labor hours required to pick up a spill.  Microfiber, rayon and cotton mops have the highest absorbencies.  Microfiber picks up 8 times its weight in liquid.

 Release

This is the ability of the mop to release liquid during wringing or without.  Mops with high release allow for more effecient wringing and better cleaning solution application to the floor surface.  Rayon and synthetic yarns off the best release of liquids.

 Durability

This is measured by how long the mop will perform before replacement is needed.  Microfiber, synthetic and blended mopps are the most durable options.   Blended mops with antimicrobial treatment have longer lives beacuse they inhibit bacteria growth that can destroy the natural mop fibers in the blend.  For rough surfaces a tube material mop should be used to reduce drag and cutting on sharp edges.  Looped and banded mops are more durable than cut end mops.

 Mop Construction

The key construction features are:

  1.  Size
  2. Headband
  3. Material of construction
  4. Tailband
  5. End Style

Mops come in varying weights generally ranging from 12oz up to 32oz.  The size of the mop affects the amount of liquids that can be absorbed in one pass.  The strength of the users needs to be considered since a 32oz mop can weigh 8lbs or more when wet. 

Bolt On Headband

Headbands are made from PVC mesh or woven material.  There are two sizes 5″ and 1 or 1.25″.  The larger headbands are used with grip

1″ Headband

per or clamp style mop sticks.  The

greater the stitching on the headband the more durable the mop.  Woven material headbands allow for more thorough drying and are used an

d heavily laundered mops.  The bolt on style is used with a screw in handle.

The main mop materials are cotton, rayon, synthetics, nylon and microfiber.  Blended mops allow for combining the characteristics and

Headband 5″

benefits of two or more material to construct the best mop for the application.

Looped Ends-Tailband

Tailbands bind the lower end of the mop strands to allow for greater and more consistent mop coverage.  It also keeps the strands together with reduces strand snags.  Tailbands can be constructed of sewn on material or yarn stitching.  Yarn stitching is more suitable for finish mops.

The two end styles are cut end and looped.  Cut end mops have open ended yarn strands.  They are not suitable for laundering as the strands will unravel.  Looped ends reduces fraying for better durablility and longer life.

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