Series 2 - Historical exploration of our main cleaning materials

The mop

is another very essential cleaning tool that is needed significantly to capture residual dust on floor surfaces after a round of sweeping and an initial dust trapping/capturing with the dust rag or napkin or duster(different terms , meaning same thing). The mop is said to be categorised into two types- wet mop and dry mop. The wet mop is known to require the involvement of a solvent (liquid) solution - consisting of 💧 water and a detergent or other cleaning reagent for effective cleaning and dust absorption. Through the process of thorough rinsing or washing if very soiled and proper drying, one is able to maintain the wet mop. The wet mop head is made of mostly cloth materials or sponge material and its body frame consists of the stick handle- wooden or metallic in nature. On the other hand, the dry mop- characterized by the flat head of strings connected by a swivel (which enables a more flexible motion and reach to areas with limited access than the wet mop) It is known as the dust control mop and used most primarily for dust trappings. Unlike the wet mop, the dust control mop (a.k.a dry mop) requires an initial simple process of just shaking at a selected area outdoors. If very soiled or extremely dirty, it should be washed in soapy water manually or in a machine (if the mop head is detachable). Depending on the degree of dirt, the dust control mop head can be soaked overnight to achieve a cleaner outcome. It is said that treating it with dust mop oil preserves the mop and enables more effective dust trapping on the dry mop/dust control mop head.

Did you know that,

(according to google), the mop is a patented invention of social history and very much a part of the evolution of household wares. Africa once again on the map! 😁Google shows us that an African American inventor- Thomas W. Stewart was awarded Patent number: 499,302 on the 13th June 1893 for the invention of the mop. Stewart's deck mop, made of yarn, was found to be well used for household and industrial cleaning. Afterwards Peter Vosibikan invented the sponge mop that used a level and metal strip technology to press against the wet mop to squeeze dry. Basically, it gave mopping an automacy as a result of the installed water self-expelling features. This eliminated the health and safety hazard that arose from bending over to wring the mop repeatedly. Over the years, the mop has evolved due to the many modifications to it- making it more adaptable to and more effective in the execution of different cleaning chores. So..., expect to see mop heads in not just cloth material or yarn but also cellulose, fibre and so on...😁😉