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Okay, so a mop bucket is just a thing you use with a mop to clean your floors. It holds water and cleaner. Some have cool stuff like a wringer, wheels, and places to keep clean and dirty water apart.
**Types of Mop Buckets**
* **For Home:**
* Usually small and light.
* Might have a wringer.
* Good for quick cleanups.
* **For Stores and Stuff:**
* Big – like, 3 to 9 gallons or bigger.
* Made for tough jobs.
* Usually has wringers, wheels, and things to stop splashes.
* **Wringer Types:**
* **Press Down:** You push the mop into the wringer. Works best for string mops.
* **Side Squeeze:** Has a handle on the side to squeeze the mop. Easier to use and less tiring.
* **Spin:** Uses a pedal (or handle) to spin the mop dry. People like these for home.
* **Flat Mop:** Long, skinny buckets for flat mops. Usually has a wringer built in.
* **Two-Part Buckets:** One side for clean water, one for dirty. More clean.
**What to Look For**
| Thing | What it does |
| :----------- | :------------------------------------------------------ |
| Wringer | Squeezes water out of the mop |
| Wheels | Moves easy, esp. when full |
| Splash Guard | Keeps water from spilling |
| Handle | For carrying |
| Drain Plug | Makes it easy to dump out dirty water |
| Lines | Helps you mix the cleaner right |
| Tough Stuff | Lasts longer |
**What They're Made Of**
* **Plastic:** Light, doesn't rust, cheap. Good for home and work.
* **Steel:** Strong, doesn't rust, lasts. Usually at stores.
* **Metal Wringer Frame:** Squeezes better. For big jobs.
**Mops That Work with Buckets**
| Mop | Bucket Type |
| :----------- | :---------------- |
| String Mop | Side or Down Press |
| Loop-End Mop | Same as string |
| Flat Mop | Flat mop buckets |
| Spin Mop | Spin bucket |
| Microfiber | Depends |
**How to Use a Mop Bucket**
1. Fill it with warm water and cleaner.
2. Dip the mop.
3. Wring it out.
4. Mop the floor, rinse and wring the mop a lot.
5. Dump the dirty water when you are done. Rinse the bucket and mop.
6. Let them dry so they don't get gross.
**Keeping it Clean**
* **After You Mop:**
* Rinse the bucket & wringer.
* Get rid of hair or fuzz.
* Let it dry.
* **Once a Week:**
* Clean with bleach stuff.
* Look for cracks or loose stuff.
**Tips:**
* Don't leave dirty water – yuck.
* Keep it out of the sun.
* Change the wringers or mop heads when they wear out.
**Be Safe, Be Clean**
* Wear gloves when the mop water is dirty
* Use new water often
* Use different colors for different spots (kitchen vs. bathroom)
* Clean with germ killer if you used it somewhere gross (hospital, bathroom)
**Picking the Right Size**
| Room Size | Bucket Size |
| :--------------- | :------------ |
| Small Rooms | 1- 2.5 gallons |
| Medium Rooms | 4-6.5 gallons |
| Big Rooms/Stores | 8+ gallons |
**Think About:**
* How often you mop
* What kind of floor you have
* What kind of mop you have
**Other Stuff You Can Use Instead**
* Spray Mops – Has a tank built in.
* Steam Mops – Uses steam, no cleaner stuff.
* Robot Mops – Cleans for you.
* Foam/Sponge Mops – Some have wringers built in.
**Types of Mop Buckets**
* **For Home:**
* Usually small and light.
* Might have a wringer.
* Good for quick cleanups.
* **For Stores and Stuff:**
* Big – like, 3 to 9 gallons or bigger.
* Made for tough jobs.
* Usually has wringers, wheels, and things to stop splashes.
* **Wringer Types:**
* **Press Down:** You push the mop into the wringer. Works best for string mops.
* **Side Squeeze:** Has a handle on the side to squeeze the mop. Easier to use and less tiring.
* **Spin:** Uses a pedal (or handle) to spin the mop dry. People like these for home.
* **Flat Mop:** Long, skinny buckets for flat mops. Usually has a wringer built in.
* **Two-Part Buckets:** One side for clean water, one for dirty. More clean.
**What to Look For**
| Thing | What it does |
| :----------- | :------------------------------------------------------ |
| Wringer | Squeezes water out of the mop |
| Wheels | Moves easy, esp. when full |
| Splash Guard | Keeps water from spilling |
| Handle | For carrying |
| Drain Plug | Makes it easy to dump out dirty water |
| Lines | Helps you mix the cleaner right |
| Tough Stuff | Lasts longer |
**What They're Made Of**
* **Plastic:** Light, doesn't rust, cheap. Good for home and work.
* **Steel:** Strong, doesn't rust, lasts. Usually at stores.
* **Metal Wringer Frame:** Squeezes better. For big jobs.
**Mops That Work with Buckets**
| Mop | Bucket Type |
| :----------- | :---------------- |
| String Mop | Side or Down Press |
| Loop-End Mop | Same as string |
| Flat Mop | Flat mop buckets |
| Spin Mop | Spin bucket |
| Microfiber | Depends |
**How to Use a Mop Bucket**
1. Fill it with warm water and cleaner.
2. Dip the mop.
3. Wring it out.
4. Mop the floor, rinse and wring the mop a lot.
5. Dump the dirty water when you are done. Rinse the bucket and mop.
6. Let them dry so they don't get gross.
**Keeping it Clean**
* **After You Mop:**
* Rinse the bucket & wringer.
* Get rid of hair or fuzz.
* Let it dry.
* **Once a Week:**
* Clean with bleach stuff.
* Look for cracks or loose stuff.
**Tips:**
* Don't leave dirty water – yuck.
* Keep it out of the sun.
* Change the wringers or mop heads when they wear out.
**Be Safe, Be Clean**
* Wear gloves when the mop water is dirty
* Use new water often
* Use different colors for different spots (kitchen vs. bathroom)
* Clean with germ killer if you used it somewhere gross (hospital, bathroom)
**Picking the Right Size**
| Room Size | Bucket Size |
| :--------------- | :------------ |
| Small Rooms | 1- 2.5 gallons |
| Medium Rooms | 4-6.5 gallons |
| Big Rooms/Stores | 8+ gallons |
**Think About:**
* How often you mop
* What kind of floor you have
* What kind of mop you have
**Other Stuff You Can Use Instead**
* Spray Mops – Has a tank built in.
* Steam Mops – Uses steam, no cleaner stuff.
* Robot Mops – Cleans for you.
* Foam/Sponge Mops – Some have wringers built in.