There was a time when the cotton bar mop ruled the roost in Boston restaurants and bars. Cleaning services and commercial laundries alike promoted the bar mop as the best tool for cleaning counters, bars, tables, and food prep surfaces. But there’s a new kid on the block: microfiber cloths.
The introduction of microfiber cloths has created a debate within both the hospitality and cleaning industries. Some of the more old school players refused to part with their bar mops. Those on the other side insist that microfiber cloths are better. We take a neutral position: why not use both?
Bar mops have their advantages and disadvantages. Ditto for microfiber cloths. So it doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing decision. In a bar or restaurant, for example, there are applications for both.
The Basic Cotton Bar Mop
Despite its name, the basic cotton bar mop is not something attached to a stick and then run across a dirty floor to pick up grease and grime. It’s actually a cotton towel. Its name comes from the fact that bartenders use them to mop up spills.
Bar mops have been around for decades. And the properties they bring to bear make them indispensable in Boston restaurants and bars. Here’s why bar mops are still popular despite the emergence of microfiber cloths:
- Absorbency – Cotton is a highly absorbent material. It’s incredibly useful for cleaning up spills. It also gets a bar top looking shiny and new because it doesn’t leave dirt behind. All the dirt gets soaked up with the liquid.
- Durability – Cotton is also a durable material. It stands up to heavy duty scrubbing, greasy messes, and hot liquids. Best of all, it can be laundered with hot water and bleach. Cotton bar mops can handle a lot of tough work and multiple laundering cycles without issue.
- Low Cost – Cotton bar mops tend to cost less than microfiber cloths at the cash register. They have a lower upfront cost. However, they may need to be replaced more often depending on how frequently they are laundered.
Bar mops are still a preferred option for both commercial cleaning companies and the hospitality industry. But microfiber cloths are gaining traction.
A New Cleaning Tool
A microfiber cloth is more or less a new cleaning tool in hospitality. It certainly has its place, which is why commercial cleaning companies tend to employ them more often. Here are their main advantages:
- Cleaning Efficiency – Microfiber cloths can remove nearly all dirt, dust, and bacteria. But they do something else that’s more important: they prevent dirt and debris from being redeposited on the same surface. That is something cotton cannot do.
- Water and Chemicals – Microfiber cloths don’t need as much water or cleaning solution to do the same job.
- Durability – Microfiber cloths are equally durable. They can be laundered hundreds of times, though it’s not wise to use bleach when doing so.
- Streaks – Microfiber cloths are ideal for glass and polished surfaces because they don’t leave streaks behind. That’s important in a bar or restaurant.
Put it all together and there is evidence for using both bar mops and microfiber cloths in your Boston-area bar or restaurant. Use bar mops for those heavy duty, greasy jobs. Leave polishing and other fine work to microfiber cloths.
We are more than happy to incorporate both in our cleaning services. If you ever see one of our cleaning crews around Boston, you’ll notice plenty of bar mops and microfiber cloths in their arsenal. That’s how we roll. We’re always looking for the best tools for the job.