Mops are used in both commercial and residential cleaning. There are different kinds of mops for different purposes and needs. When buying a mop, it is often best to consider the size of floor, the type of floor and the type of mopping job to be done.

Wet mops are usually used on hard flooring for spills and cleaning up. The bigger the mop head, the bigger the floor surface it will cover. A wringer pail should do the work of squeezing out the mop and you should not twist the mop in the wringer too much or you will wear the mop out.

String wet mops are usually cotton or cotton blend and have cut ends or looped ends. Cotton is very absorbent, but may shed lint. Cut ends tend to fray faster and are not usually machine washable as they tend to tangle easily. Looped ended mops tend to cover the floor area more evenly and they reduce the chances of mop strings tangling. Looped mops are often more expensive than cut mops but usually last longer as they are machine washable and can be reused many times.

Microfiber wet mops are used for quick cleaning and regular wipe ups throughout the day. They are often blue in color. A microfiber wet mop is made of very thin fiber that is good for getting into small spaces.

Many micorofiber mops are wet mops, but some are dry mops that are not meant to be used with water. Rayon mops do not shed lint as much as cotton mops and have fast-absorbing qualities. Consider using a mop with a wider band if you need to scrub chunkier pieces of grime off of floors. A mop with a narrow band that attaches the mop strands can not usually be used for scrubbing.

Consider buying a sponge mop if you have a small area to mop. A sponge mop eliminates the need for a wringer as most sponge mops have a lever and rollers or a metal plate that squeezes water out of the sponge. Decide which type of wringing action you would prefer using and be sure you are able to find replacement heads for the sponge mop you choose.

A dust mop is used on hard and hardwood floors. A dust mop is usually available in many different widths, so you need to consider room size when shopping for one. You can add a treatment to help the mop pick up dust, but be sure the treatment product is safe for your floors. Dust mops are usually cotton, but can also be rayon and nylon.

Robotic mops, like iRobot's Scoomba, are also being marketed and are advantageous because they can do the work for you while you spend your time doing other things. Robotic mops, however, will obviously set you back a bit. Some robotic mops are being sold for about $400 US Dollars (USD).