Looped-End vs Cut-End Wet Mops: Yarn, Headband and Handle Guide
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If you launder your mops, buy looped-end: DMSI's cut-end wet mops are not machine launderable, so they only make sense when you replace heads instead of washing them. For yarn, cotton blend has the lowest up-front cost, rayon needs no break-in period and colored synthetic blends shorten cotton's, antimicrobial blends add bacteria resistance, and microfiber gives lint-free mopping with more surface friction. Then match the headband to the handle: narrow 1-1/4" bands fit bar-style and quick-release handles, 5" and 9" wide bands fit gripper handles, and bolt-style mops need a bolt-fitting handle.
Looped-end vs cut-end wet mops
Cut-end mops have open yarn ends and are sold by weight. DMSI stocks them in 16, 20 and 24 ounce sizes in cotton blend, rayon blend and blue blend yarn, each with a narrow, wide or bolt-style headband, plus a green blend cut-end mop. The Cotton Blend Cut-End Wet Mop has the lowest up-front cost. Rayon blend cut-end is also used for economical wax application.
Looped-end mops are sized medium, large and x-large and are built to be laundered. Tailbands hold the yarn together: on DMSI's microfiber mop they reduce tangling in the laundry, and the double tailbands on its antimicrobial mops give a wider surface span and even coverage. Some looped-end yarns can go in the washer loose, and some should go in a laundry net:
- Launder without netting: Premium Blend Economical, Premium Blend Antimicrobial, Rayon Blend and Industrial Laundry Style.
- Netting suggested: Cotton Blend and Colored Blend.
- Not machine launderable: every cut-end mop.
Yarn types compared
| Looped-end wet mop | Yarn and build | Sizes, headbands, colors | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton Blend | Balanced cotton blend, single tailband | M, L, XL; narrow or wide; bolt in M and L | General mopping at the lowest up-front cost |
| Colored Blend | 30% more synthetic fiber than cotton yarn, single tailband | M, L, XL narrow or wide; M and L bolt; blue, green | More absorbency and durability than cotton |
| Premium Blend Economical | Premium blend yarn, single tailband, not pre-shrunk | M, L, XL; narrow or wide; blue, white, green, orange | Balanced pickup and retention, color coding |
| Rayon Blend | 100% long-staple synthetic fiber reprocessed from plastic reclamation | M, L; narrow, wide or bolt | No break-in, bleach and mildew resistance, green cleaning, wax |
| Premium Blend Antimicrobial | Antimicrobial agents, preshrunk, double tailbands | M, L; narrow or wide; blue, white, green, orange | Programs where bacteria resistance matters |
| Industrial Laundry Style Antimicrobial | Synthetic antimicrobial fiber plus a second form of bacteria protection, preshrunk, double tailbands, date coded | M, L, XL; 9" headband; blue, green | Bacteria resistance, chemical resistance, faster drying |
| Microfiber Rough Floor | 100% continuous filament microfiber sewn into tubes, tailbands | M, L; narrow or wide; blue, green, orange, white, gray, red | Lint-free mopping on rough, textured and anti-slip floors |
| Hybrid Microfiber String | 4-ply yarn: 2 plies continuous filament microfiber, 2 plies antimicrobial staple fiber | M, L; narrow or wide; blue, green | A familiar string mop with added microfiber |
Microfiber vs cotton, rayon and blends
Cotton blend is the cheapest way to put a mop on the floor, but cotton yarn needs a break-in period. Colored synthetic blends shorten that break-in and add absorbency and durability; on DMSI's premium blend mops, the colored versions contain more synthetic fiber than white. Rayon blend needs no break-in and resists bleach and mildew better than cotton. The Rayon Blend Looped-End Wet Mop launders without netting, works for all wet mopping including wax application, and is made from fiber reprocessed from plastic reclamation for green cleaning programs.
Microfiber is the step up for lint-free work. The Microfiber Rough Floor Looped-End Wet Mop uses 100% continuous filament microfiber, which absorbs well and adds surface friction compared with traditional yarn, so it's the pick for rough, textured and anti-slip floors.
Antimicrobial wet mops
DMSI makes two. The Premium Blend Antimicrobial Looped-End Wet Mop adds antimicrobial agents to premium blend yarn and comes preshrunk with double tailbands. The Industrial Laundry Style Antimicrobial Wet Mop goes further: a synthetic antimicrobial fiber with a second form of bacteria protection, a 50% reduction in drying time compared with cotton blend mops, more chemical resistance, and a heavy 9" fabric headband that reduces wear in the laundry and adds scrubbing without damaging floor finish. Both launder without netting.
Sizes, headbands and which handle fits
Not every looped-end yarn is made in x-large, so check sizes on the product page. Headband width decides the handle:
| Headband | Handle that fits |
|---|---|
| Narrow, 1-1/4" | Plastic Bar Style or Quick Release |
| Wide, 5" | Plastic Gripper |
| 9" (Industrial Laundry Style) | Plastic Gripper |
| Bolt style | Wood Wet Mop Handle, Bolt Fitting Style |
The Plastic Gripper handle and Plastic Bar Style handle are made from heavy nylon plastic resin for durability and bacteria resistance. The Quick Release handle lets you change mops without touching the mop head. All three come on an extendable aluminum handle (up to 72"), a 60" wood handle, a 60" fiberglass handle in yellow, blue, red, orange, green or gray, or as the head only. The bolt-fitting wood handle uses a metal female threaded insert and is made for bolt-style mops only.
For floor finish, use a dedicated finish mop. DMSI's Nylon Looped-End Finish Mop is 100% continuous filament nylon, so no fiber lint is left in the finish.
How to order
- Wet mops are sold individually or by the dozen (pack of 12). The Microfiber Rough Floor and Hybrid mops also come in bulk cases of 35 (medium) or 30 (large).
- Handles are sold individually or by the dozen; head-only hardware is sold individually.
- The 24" x 36" nylon laundry net is sold individually or 25 to a case.
- No minimum order on stocked products, with bulk case pricing listed on the site.
- Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within the contiguous 48 states; flat $15 under $100.
- In-stock orders ship within 24 business hours, and orders placed before 2:00 PM Central on a business day usually ship the same day. Most ship FedEx Ground and arrive in 1 to 3 business days.
- Qualified businesses can request free samples. Unused products can be returned within 30 days.
Not sure which headband your handles take? Call 866-475-8667 or email info@directmopsales.com. Family-owned DMSI was founded in 2007 by Mike Julo Sr. after about 30 years in mop manufacturing and ships from Atchison, Kansas.
FAQ
Can cut-end wet mops be machine washed?
No. DMSI's cut-end wet mops are not machine launderable. If you launder, buy a looped-end mop.
What handle do I need for a 5-inch headband wet mop?
A gripper-style handle. DMSI's Plastic Gripper handle fits 5" and 9" wide headbands. Narrow 1-1/4" headbands go on the Bar Style or Quick Release handle.
Do looped-end wet mops need a laundry net?
It depends on the yarn. Premium Blend Economical, Premium Blend Antimicrobial, Rayon Blend and Industrial Laundry Style mops launder without netting. Netting is suggested for Cotton Blend and Colored Blend.
What is the best wet mop for textured or anti-slip floors?
The Microfiber Rough Floor Looped-End Wet Mop. Its continuous filament microfiber is lint-free and adds surface friction compared with traditional wet mop yarn.