As a professional cleaner, I am always looking for better ways to clean things. I am always trying to keep up with the latest technological developments so I can clean more effectively and efficiently.
During the last couple of years there has been a major shift away from natural fibers to synthetic fibers in the cleaning industry. I myself, have traded my cotton terry cloths for microfiber cleaning cloths with excellent results. And now, I am almost completely switching to microfiber for my mopping as well.
Because I am very meticulous when it comes to cleaning (both in quality and efficiency), I am always experimenting with different tools and techniques. Because floor cleaning is so important in the cleaning process (I always got the most comments, good and bad, about the floors) I tried out many different mopping systems.
The sponge mops were light and easy to transport, but they just were not very effective when it cam to making the floors really clean. The sponge head simply does an inferior job at picking up dirt. Then there are the string mops. These hold a lot more dirt, but they are a pain to wring out and they also need to be hung up to dry which can be inconvenient. Now, keep in mind, that I still use string mops for some purposes, but they are not practical for smaller jobs. Cleaning bathrooms and break rooms in offices or someone's kitchen floor doesn't require lugging around a mop bucket and wringer.
The other disadvantage of the string mop is that they leave floors too wet. This isn't a problem with commercial building with tile, but definitely is a concern with hardwood floors and other surfaces more vulnerable to moisture. However, one of the biggest drawbacks to string mops (and sponge mops) is their lack of sanitation. These mops can harbor a lot of bacteria, and even grow mold spores.
The microfiber mopping system eliminates all these problems. However there are a few tricks to mopping efficiently. Using a spray bottle will not saturate the microfiber head enough and you may struggle to push the mop around when it quickly dries. Also, you may add too high a concentration of cleaner using a spray bottle.
I recommend filling a five gallon bucket ¾ way full of warm water and then adding your floor cleaner to this. Take the microfiber head off and submerge it in this solution. Wring it out with your hands and put it back on your mop. Start mopping until you feel the mop getting dry and re-submerge and wring out again.
If you are cleaning a surgical facility (or just want to take the sanitation level up a notch) then you might try this technique instead: Roll up several mop heads into tubes and place them in the bucket with your water and cleaner. Take out clean new heads from the bucket one at a time, wringing them out and using them on the floor. When they get dry and/or dirty place them into a different container. That way dirty heads are not coming into contact with your cleaning solution. Much more sanitary than using a string mop!
There are a few different microfiber mopping systems out there. I currently use a Rubbermaid Flow flat mop.
