Looking for a real mop

[privado]

Good Luck a never ending search!!

I too kept looking and looking for a Sponge Mop with replaceable sponges for years-

maid slopped water over every floor and damaged every piece of furniture that had wooden legs- removed paint- stain- lacquer etc-recently sent a piece to Barbaras Bazaar - he wanted to reduce price because bottom of legs was color faded!

finally found O Cedar at Home Depot bought replaceable sponges- 6 months later- store no longer carried the replacement sponges %^& back to old mop but better quality

Finally found another mop version at Walmart in Zapopan- that has velcro cloth replacements not sponges- maid finally admitted it was much easier to use on Marble floors in LR & DR but then started using the replacements to polish furniture $#%^&--and cut them in half !!!--- now they no longer have replacements-

so we created a replacement using large cleaning cloths sold in packages and wrapped around base of flat mop-we use it to apply cera also-- she still uses slop mop on tile in kitchen and laundry UGH

[RVGRINGO]

When in Rome, Ladies, when in Rome.........

[Ginger]

We're not in Rome.

[bennie]

so tell me: w/all the progress in mexico (walmart, dominos, malls, DVDs, leaf blowers), why dont they use sponge mops? i would think that they would not want to get their hands near that even w/gloves. is there something we dont know? a secret? btw, sponge mops work well on tiles.

[valbogyo]

Sponge mops, the really good kind, come with abrasive pads and brushes attached so you can use either side for rough spots or the sponge for just mopping. They hold up well on my tile floors. I saw the house cleaner us it one time, then back to the string mop. Some guys saw my sponge mop and used it to clean up the grout mess they had on my outside sidewalk. Had to import a new top, though I have seen them in Guadalajara since.

I bought a steam mop to try. I am hoping it will help improve the results.

I would like to kill the fool that thought off white tiles, throughout the house, were a good idea.

[cedros]

so tell me: w/all the progress in mexico (walmart, dominos, malls, DVDs, leaf blowers), why dont they use sponge mops? i would think that they would not want to get their hands near that even w/gloves. is there something we dont know? a secret? btw, sponge mops work well on tiles.

From my own experience-the sponge on the sponge mops doesn't last near as long here as NOB. Even though my tile floors here seem very smooth they must be a bit rough as the sponge gets chewed up.

[More Liana]

so tell me: w/all the progress in mexico (walmart, dominos, malls, DVDs, leaf blowers), why dont they use sponge mops? i would think that they would not want to get their hands near that even w/gloves. is there something we dont know? a secret? btw, sponge mops work well on tiles.

Is a sponge mop really progress? Are Wal-Mart and Dominos progress?

Is normal household dirt really something so disgusting 'we' wouldn't touch it and 'they' shouldn't want to?

[bennie]

i would assume they would import sponge mops from usa. it is not sanitary to wring out the mop, or touch that. the original poster called mopping a "national pastime"- thats not nice, just my opinion.

[ComputerGuy]

When you actually stop to think about what's coming in on the bottom of your shoes, you probably wouldn't want to wring out the mop either. In fact, to me, spreading that stuff around with a mop is just like adding fuel to a fire. I have to constantly ensure my cleaning lady is refreshing her water and using Blip or Blast or Boingo or whatever, to kill the bacteria.

Back home we have the "three second" rule concerning food that drops; here I have a "no second" rule. But the only difference is one of apparent visuals: horsepoop, dogpoop, dogpea, bugjuice, spit, and on an on... god only knows how heavy car exhaust is... does it get stuck on our shoes, too?

That being said, our skin is pretty tough, and wringing is just something we have to do.

[bennie]

i always have to check to see if maid is changing the water. amonia kills bacteria.

[CSOKI]

# 35

We can add to the list herbicides and pesticides that are liberally used on the streets. And yes ,the particles do stick to your

shoes together with all the other stuff.

[virgogirl]

Oh I love the banter. Let me count the ways.

First, I do agree with More Liana that the string mop is the real mop. However, in my apt, there is no a patio with a drain so cleaning and refreshing the mop and dumping the water is not easy up here in the apt.

Bennie: My comment on mopping being a national pastime is a compliment! A compliment to the cleanliness of Mexican people. They even mop the sidewalks of tile. etc. The daily activity is cultural and a sight I love to see.

I 'm all in agreement with Computer guy about the wringing of the mop with bare hands being a bit gross. I used to do it and I'm over it completely.. I was getting rashes from pinol and tried every salve in the book until i accumulated a large pharmacy over here. So then I was using gloves. Have to haul the water down a flight of stairs. Get more water, rinse mop. Go down the stairs. Get more water, Rinse. Sound like a picnic?????hahahaha

Up here. after I mop the floor looks real dusty. So last night I bought a stringy flat dust mop(60 pesos) at Super lake to use this to dry the floor after string mopping. I don't want a big mop bucket, which I call the ACHTUNG. I don't have any room to store a beast like that.

I will be buying the Ocedar from Gary. I think this will do a beautiful job here as takes less water, gives more control. I have to mop more often now as I have students coming for English. Want it to look nice every day.

Thanks for all the input and banter. I PM'd Gray back for purchase and pickup.

BTW...I really like Super Lake... especially the discount bin where i bought lots of cheap WESTSOY Organic. 25 pesito.

[More Liana]

In our Mexico City 2nd floor (up three flights of stairs (but there is thank god an elevator), planta baja, 1º, 2º, you know) apartment, we dump the mop water into the toilet and hang the mop heads out the cuarto de servicio bathroom window (it opens into the cubo--air shaft) to dry. Not a perfect solution, but...

[bennie]

pinol, clorox is never to be touched by the hands.

[virgogirl]

I hestitate to throw water down shower drain, toilet, or kitchen sink as the water system in this building is jodido and they have done alot of repair to remedy it but it is a fragile deal not to be underestimated for potential problems by doing stuff like that.I used to have a lavadero in the pantry that I used to wash the mop out and then waste water started backing up into it.So they removed the lavadero and capped the wall. It is a structural problem in the drain under the floors so i am very careful and have to throw the dirty water to the street and keep taking fresh buckets down there to rinse the mop and squeeze it out. Also all eyes are on me since I live right in the heart of the downtown business district. At least the place is otherwise good and cheap.

I don't mind all that one a week like religion but for daily touchup dust chasing I'm gonna love my Ocedar I'm getting from Gary.

Thanks for all the suggestions and humor.

T