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Keeping in Touch:  Mopping It Up - The Tried "n" True Way  |
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Desiree
Farmgirl in Training
48 Posts
Desiree
USA
48 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 06 2009 : 5:30:19 PM
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In the mid 70’s, while in high school, I had a few housekeeping jobs. One of the houses I cleaned was that of a elderly lady. On the first day of work she gave me instructions on what to clean and a few supplies. When it came time for me to clean the kitchen floor I inquired as to where a mop might be. She handed me a bucket and rag, then said, “I don’t have a mop. Just use your hands and knees“. I was somewhat surprised, but had washed floors that way at home before. Getting down on your hands and knees with a rag may get the floor real clean, but it’s not convenient, like the mop.
Last week, I was using a “modern type” wet sponge mop to clean my kitchen floor. It uses a reusable cotton cloth, which stretches over the head like a bottom bed sheet. The thought crossed my mind, as it had many times before, “This mop is not doing its job. I need to buy a good string cotton mop“. The original mop was made out of yarn by Thomas Steward who was awarded a patent for his invention in 1893. Manufacturers these days try to improve the mop with new technology and materials.
There are different purposeful and “time saving” mops for every type of floor. Mops with handles made of wood, plastic or metal. Mops that have sponges, rollers or non-woven materials for cleaning. There are micro fiber or cotton disposable covers for mops. There is even a mop that has a container that sprays liquid onto the floor and comes with a owners manual. Others have devices to squeeze liquid from the mop head after rinsing. (I like this feature.)
Consumers can be enticed to purchase a certain mop because of catchy words on the packaging like, “erase and magic.” (I haven’t seen a floor become “magically” clean yet.) These different mops work in there own way, but do they clean any better than the tried and true cotton string mop. I say, “they don’t.
When trying to purchase replacement heads for a these “designer” type mops, a hassle seems to arise. Either, the store doesn’t carry the brand or style anymore, or they’ve replaced the model of mop I have with a new and improved one. When the string mop head gets soiled, just remove it from the attachment on the handle, toss in the clothes washer to clean and hang out to dry.
My next wet floor cleaning device will be the tried and true, environmentally friendly, durable and reusable cotton string mop with a removable head for washing. I am also thinking about purchasing a bucket with a wringer, or maybe I should just squeeze and twist that mop head to tone my biceps. As with any mop, it may be necessary to get on your knees with a rag for that extra bit of cleaning. Happy Mopping!
Simple Living With Nature........Farmgirl #157
www.beyondagarden.blogspot.com
www.beyondagarden.etsy.com
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jun 06 2009 : 10:17:00 PM
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Hi Desiree!
I love cotton headed string mops! They have some really nice ones that you twist the handle to ring the mop and it is actually very efficient. I am not a fan of dirty water running up my arms as I try to wring out the mop! LOL I also grew up scrubbing floors on my hands and knees. I remember in particular one day I decided to really squeeze the Dawn bottle over the floor. It made lots of suds and I had a soapy skating rink in the kitchen for a while until my mom came up to see what the noise was about (I kept skiddin into the cabinents). It took me 3 hours of rinsing that floor before it was soap free again!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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Desiree
Farmgirl in Training
48 Posts
Desiree
USA
48 Posts |
Posted - Jun 07 2009 : 07:25:55 AM
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Alee,
I love your story! I can just picture the scene in my head. It makes me smile.
A few years ago I tried one of those mops with a built in twist handle. The cotton strings kept getting tangled and were a mess after some use. Maybe there is a new and improved one!!!!!
But that type of mop is lighter and easier for those small spills and spaces. Does any one else have a mop story?
Desiree
Simple Living With Nature........Farmgirl #157
www.beyondagarden.blogspot.com
www.beyondagarden.etsy.com
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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lacisne88
True Blue Farmgirl
1181 Posts
Chelsey
Lake Stevens
Washington
USA
1181 Posts |
Posted - Jun 07 2009 : 9:44:49 PM
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Wow! You're right. It seems so strange to me that manufacturers keep coming out with new takes on the old ways to do things. Usually, these "new and improved" items turn out to be a disappointment. Why can't they leave our things alone and not fix what isn't broken? People nowadays are just so lazy, and they want the easy way out of anything. It's really sad, they don't now how good it feels to do something by hand, or the hard way. There is a satisfaction for me when I do the dishes by hand, although I don't do this all the time because it does take a lot of time, it is nice to know that you can do it and appreciate the work.
Wow!! I am just blabbering on. The just really hit home for me. I am a 21 year old college student and I live in a sorority. I have noticed that most of my sorority sisters, and other classmates for that matter, just want to do everything the easy way and are sooo dang lazy! They don't pick up after themselves and they don't take pride in hard work. Ughhh!!! Ok, I'm done ranting :)
Chelsey
Farmgirl Sister #283
http://farmgirlpleasures.blogspot.com/
http://aminiatureworld.blogspot.com/ |
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Desiree
Farmgirl in Training
48 Posts
Desiree
USA
48 Posts |
Posted - Jun 09 2009 : 2:45:14 PM
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Chelsey,
There are still a bunch of hard working "college students" around like you. My assistant at work is a wonderful girl who is a hard worker and dependable. My son is also, (but not always at home. HA!!)
Farmgirl work is good for us................
Simple Living With Nature........Farmgirl #157
www.beyondagarden.blogspot.com
www.beyondagarden.etsy.com
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Edited by - Desiree on Jun 09 2009 2:48:39 PM |
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marcy jo
True Blue Farmgirl
453 Posts
Marcy
Wawaka
Indiana
USA
453 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2009 : 1:54:27 PM
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I have had almost every cheap style of mop out there and had to throw them out when they wore out! Which was always! I have gone back to using a rag and a bucket like mom made me use and my floor is cleaner and the rag lasts longer!!! There's something about doing it the old fashioned way that just works better!
Marcy #257
http://marcysmarket.blogspot.com |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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Keeping in Touch: Mopping It Up - The Tried "n" True Way |
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Mopping It Up - The Tried "n" True Way
