Mop for rough slate floor

[CherryogDog]

Most of my downstairs is slate floor which is "rough".
It's hard to clean, because the mop snags on the edges.
I don't clean it that often, just sweep/vacuum. DP (despite my grumbling), walks about on it with muddy boots. The dried mud sweeps up OK, but he's been working in clay this week, and there's white marks everywhere.
We're both past the age where we can go down on our knees to scrub it.
So looking for reccs for a bristly sort of mop that won't snag.
Once it's properly clean it will be sealed.
I'll add pics, it's not my actual floor but it's the same stuff.

I think one of the old style cotton ones a micro fibre one will be useless

We have a floor like this and we don't mop it. We hoover a lot and if there's visible crud like food it gets sponged off. Alternatively you can coat the slate in a slightly shiny treatment that will seal it and make it much easier to keep clean. Ruins the character though.

@rwalker I've got a Vileda string mop, it's a mix of cotton and micro fibre.
I think I might struggle to wring an old fashioned cotton one out but I can try.
@mambojambodothetango I've lived here for 8 years, I've probably mopped it about three times.

Maybe one of those rubber bristle brooms to clean it and old fashioned heavy cotton mood to dry ?

Mop head

Sorry I hear what you say about cotton mop.
a good bucket with a large enough draining bit helps

Ha ha ! If you Google mop head scrubber there are a number of useful looking items

@limetrees32 thanks, that looks promising!
I'll probably dry it the way my parents did, push an old towel round with a broom!
Then I'll leave it for another few years 😁

I have similar floors and you want a scrubby type broom, use it with mop bucket snd scrub without getting on your knees! Then mop to lift up dirty water.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Handled-Scrubbing-Brush-Wooden-Bristles/dp/B0146W5JG2/ref=asc_df_B0146W5JG2?mcid=71b05ba2dfa0354081462ed3149982a2&hvocijid=5650291616025925452-B0146W5JG2-&hvexpln=74&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5650291616025925452&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9222618&hvtargid=pla-2281435177378&psc=1&gad_source=1

I have similar problems with my floor
Cotton mop head used weekly but it still needs scrubbing
I don't do it as often as I should

I use a deck brush/deck scrubber

It's basically a scrubbing brush on a stick

I have been known to vacuum sitting in a chair when my back has been very unhappy. If you have a wheely chair, try it that way.

If you need more oomph, might this be a useful size for you? Not too unwieldy? muddyfaces.co.uk/shop/products/yard-brush

Then just go over it with your ordinary mop

Thanks for the recommendations and ideas for scrubby mops, I do have a rubber squeegee broom, and a stiff yard broom.
But I still have the problem with mopping up the excess water with my mop, because of the snagging.
So (when I get round to washing the floor 😳 ) I'll dry it with a towel on a broom.

I started a thread last year in this exact situation

I have a squirty mop and also an oxo scrub mop, I also have a robot vacuum which I use a lot.

My tiles are white and thr floor never looks fully clean. I hate them.

White tiles sound like a nightmare to keep clean!
Is the squirty mop one with a sponge underneath?
Does it wear out on the rough bits?

I used to work for commercial cleaners, and this is how the professionals do it. To get the floor really clean - and you will have to if you want to seal it - then the best way to do it is to flood it with water and the cleaning product of your choice. Lithofin products are good. Ever noticed how clean the floor is after a washing machine or dishwasher flood? Same principle. Anyway, sweep or vacuum to remove as much loose dirt as possible, as water plus dirt = mud. Then protect adjacent areas, with old towels or similar, then flood the floor with diluted cleaning product. Scrub it about a bit and let it sit for 10 -15 minutes. Scrub it about a bit more and then remove with a wet and dry vacuum, rinse with plenty of water, then remove that with wet vacuum. Repeat as necessary until the floor is clean. You can work in sections if the whole floor will be too much for you, but then of course the job will take much longer.

I have a large kitchen diner with an African slate floor and it got to the state that it never looked clean except hands and knees scrubbing.

After advice from a tile specialist I really scrubbed and cleaned the floor (especially grout lines). Followed by an application of Lithofin Slate Seal this has worked out amazing as it stops the permeability of the surface.

I was reluctant to apply this as it says gloss and at first it did look really shiny 😨but after a week or so it dulled down and wipes over so much better and dries much quicker.

It was very hard work but worth it.

I’ve e got riven limestone. I spray it with elbow grease spray and then rinse it off with a mop, changing the water frequently. I just use a cheap mop and change it every month or so. Sealing it won’t make it any easier to keep clean unfortunately especially if you have someone walking on it in outdoor shoes

@Autumn1990 it's the mop that I have a problem with, as it keeps snagging on the edges of the tiles.
It's a Vileda microfiber and cotton string mop.
I might try one of those sponge mops that have the squeezer thingy on the handle, whatever they're called.

I’m currently using an Addis Made for Life and it’s not snagging

OP - no it doesnt snag but doesnt really do anything effective