Dry mopping is also called dust mopping or dustless sweeping, because ideally dust is not stirred up into the air by the action of the tool. It is, however, done dry; no moisture is used.

 

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The head may be a woven fiber pad or chemically treated cloth designed to trap and hold light soils. It is attached to a frame on the end of a pivoting handle long enough to allow the user to stand erect while moving the head over the floor. While the pad materials and the construction used are themselves capable of attracting and holding fine soils, their effectiveness may be enhanced by chemical treatments. Both disposable and reusable heads are available.

Proper use of any reusable dust mop head includes frequent removal of the dust, hair, and fine litter from the material, preferably by vacuuming. If the mop head is simply shaken out, this should be done only outside the home so that dust isn’t put back into the living space.