A reader writes: “We cannot get the microfiber mop heads clean (after three washings) so have gone back to using the old fashioned mop bucket and cotton mop heads. Now the customer is complaining that the floors are dirty. Any suggestions would be appreciated.”

If the mop heads are not coming clean your staff is not laundering them correctly since this should not be an issue. It is about the process and I do not know their steps in the process. What type of detergent are they using? Are you using a washing machine or dump/rinse in a bucket? Did they over-soil the mop heads originally or did they allow them to dry out and become stained before laundering them? Are they mixing them with other fibers?

There is no excuse for using dirty water and/or mop heads in an account. Something is wrong with your system. The formula I share is D (floor) + D (mop) + D (solution) = Dirty outcomes. You have to have clean mops and clean solution, which requires correct laundering as well as using the correct approach. This may be a simple training issue with whomever is washing the mop heads or it may have to do with how long a time it is between laundering. There are proven cleaning products and methods that can be applied once the process is identified.

Remember that the longer a mop head is allowed to dry out after heavy use, the greater the chances that it will be stained. Certain chemicals may also damage the fibers causing them to lose color or appearance. Even if the mop head looks dirty, it should be easy to test by simply wringing it out in clean water. If the rinse water is clean then that means the mop head should be OK. If it rinses out dirty water then that means it was not cleaned correctly but obviously can be cleaned. Your vendor should be able to help them.

Your comments and questions are important. I hope to hear from you soon. Until then, keep it clean...

Mickey Crowe has been involved in the industry for over 35 years. He is a trainer, speaker and consultant. You can reach Mickey at 678-314-2171 or CTCG50@comcast.net


posted on 9/12/2016