covered by a cloth or mesh sheet, to improve its resistance to wear from heavy scrubbing. The sponge is then attached to a handle mechanism which can compress the mop head, by means of rollers or a pivoted flat perforated blade. For consumer-grade sponge mops, the mop mechanism may be made of either plastic or metal. For heavy-duty or professional use, the mechanism is usually made of a corrosion-resistant metal such as stainless steel, and the mop head is often rubber or premium plastic foam. For clean room environments, a stainless steel handle and mechanism are preferred, along with a mop head made of a foam which has been formulated to minimize shedding of small particles. For use in microbiological labs, mops are made of materials which can be sterilized by autoclave or by ethylene oxide treatment. Cloth mop A cloth mop (also called a "Cuban mop") is a simple T-shaped wooden handle, around which is wrapped a sturdy cloth towel. Its advantages are low cost and easy replacement of the mop head, which can simply be washed by hand or tossed into a washing machine. Handles and mounting A mop handle consists of a long piece of wood or metal tubing fitted with a specific attachment for the mop head. The handle can be attached the mop head by means of: clamp hanger (with strands doubled over the hanger) plastic claws (attached to the strands) pouch (as with many professional flat mops) screwing (as with the classic yarn mop) Velcro (as with many professional flat mops) Gallery See also Floor buffer Floor scrubber Mop dog References External links Cleaning tools Domestic implements