Homeowner Forum / Cleaning / August 2006

as the person who first sent you down this path, i must object to you
abandoning your bucket after the very first try!!!

here are some ideas:

1: they're actually intended to go with string mops rather than a vileda
(hm, i see you've noticed this), so the problem might be that the vileda
doesn't become narrower during the squeeze like a string mop does, and be
forced out the rollers more or less by diminishing girth (you know how
they're quite thick at the join & peter out towards the ends? - this makes
them more likely to pop out through the rollers more easily, i would think).
so, did you try not squeezing so hard? you really should be able to control
the rollers to some degree, so that you're not forced between the two
options of full-squeeze or open, you should be able to get a looser or
harder squeeze for what you want, and quite easily (i used to use ours when
i was a kid & could control it perfectly well - so you really _don't_ have
to be muscular nor especially well-coordinated, although it does take some
strength if you're squeezing the mop hard to make it as dry as possible. you
can try less hard but do it twice, but at any rate, for a committed mopper
such as yourself, you'll be arnold schwartetc in 3 days anyway. )

2: you need some practice.

3: you're hopelessly uncoordinated (this group can't help with that one,
sorry ;-)

4: the bucket's just rubbish. not as a concept (obviously), but maybe it's a
dud brand or by some misfortune, the one you got was the only dud in the
pallet :-) try pushing the pedal to get control over the roller distance. if
you can't do it reasonably easily, take it back. they don't just bang open &
shut, they come together and you should be able to stop the pedal at any
point. also (i hope i'm not being utterly patronising!!!!!) do be sure to
stand on the sticking-out bit, won't you. <g>
kylie
sounding like a mopping obsessive..!

Thanks to your advertising, Ace Hardware just jumped the price to $27.

I used to mop a lot and found that kind of bucket ideal.  I don't mop
much these days, but I have borrowed a wringer bucket like that from a
relative and it worked as well as ever. When that bucket wasn't
available, I had to borrow a much more expensive Rubbermaid bucket with
a lever squeezer.  It didn't wring as well.

I think you're putting too much weight on the lever.  Most of my weight
goes on the other foot, the one that holds the bucket down.  As I
recall, I press the lever with my toe while my heel rests on the floor.

I'm not familiar with your mop.  A good string mop works well with a
roller wringer and will leave a floor almost dry.

we ARE creatures of habit. huh?  ;)

vileda makes a good product. offspring of o cedar... WHICH makes our
lives easier. ;)

wringing issues. aaaaah.  

today the bucket wringer went back and i KNEW i had to mop.

while i was at the store yesterday, i ran to the auto department.  they
had a bundle of 8 microfiber towels for $4!!!!!   this SAME bundle would
cost me $16 in the cleaning department!!!  

i guess if your focus is CLEANING then you must already KNOW the value of
the microfiber... and if your focus is mechanical soundness... then you
must be lured by a low price!!!!

it felt WRONG!  so, KNOW that you can buy a microfiber hand towel for a
fraction the cost in the auto department.  (eyes rolling!)

i bought the bundle and washed them up.  i threw them all in the sink
filled with hot water and a bit of fabuloso. i then mopped my entire
house of hard surfaces tossing the towels into the washer as i got new
ones. (using only clean water each time).  

i pinned the microfiber towels over the microfiber pad using clothes
pins. the towels are less bulky and easier to wring by hand.  when i used
them on the pergo i added a step.  they need to be very nearly dry for
that task.  the wringer didn't work and i REFUSE to spend what they WANT
for a decent one!

i hand wrung the towel... (but not to the point of making my hand claw-
like) and laid it on top of a bath towel (on the counter).  then...  i
ran over it with the rolling pin!  PERFECT!

it was the perfect combination of wet AND dry. i didn't spend a DIME and
the hubby was TICKLED at the ingenuity.  he's an engineer.... so
problems-solving skills are an odd turn-on. ;)

i'm gonna keep my eye out for a cheap wringer. but for now... i'm happy.  
hell, i may mop again in the morning. ;)

btw... the pads for the mop are about $11. 50 cents for the towel is so
lovely!!!