We had long been instructing our cleaning crew to change the water in the mopping buckets more frequently, but somehow, the message wasn’t translating into consistent action. Despite ongoing training sessions and repeated reminders, staff were still failing to refresh the water as desired. It became clear to us that more effort was needed, and we began shifting our priorities toward more effective training methods.

Even after investing significant time and resources into training, and mopping routines being followed diligently, we continued to notice streaks and water marks—particularly on dark-colored floors. These visible imperfections highlighted a persistent issue: something was still missing.

While pushing for best practices, we also began testing various new mops and wringers available in the market. We even imported some models from abroad, hoping they might offer better results. That’s when we came across a new range of ergonomic, adaptable wringers. Surprisingly affordable and available in various colors, these wringers were compatible with our existing mopping buckets, eliminating the need for complete replacements.

The wringers were adjustable to four different levels, making them suitable for various mop thicknesses. Our cleaning staff instantly took to them, as they required less effort while delivering better outcomes. We also replaced 90% of our traditional cotton mops with microfiber ones, significantly reducing the need for frequent wringing. Adopting BICSc-recommended color-coded mops for different areas helped reduce cross-contamination and improved the overall quality of cleaning.

Although results had noticeably improved, one persistent challenge remained: helping our crew understand exactly when the mop bucket water needed changing. This time, we aimed for an innovative solution—something visual and easy to grasp.

That’s when I recalled how we used to check water turbidity in ponds using a Secchi Disk. Invented in 1865 by Angelo Secchi, the Secchi Disk is a white, circular plate used to measure water clarity. It’s lowered into the water, and the depth at which it disappears is noted as a measure of turbidity.

Inspired by this, we developed a similar tool tailored for mop buckets: an acrylic turbidity chip.

We placed a small acrylic “Turbidity Cube” with four colored chips—dark green, dark red, white, and yellow—at the bottom of each mop bucket. As the cleaning process continued and the water became progressively murkier, each color began to disappear in sequence: first the dark green, then the red, followed by the white, and finally the yellow. This color-based visual scale became our indicator for when the mop water needed to be recharged.

It worked like magic.

With this simple innovation, our floors started shining brighter, and our cleaning crew developed an intuitive understanding of water quality. Now, before mopping, they check the visibility of the “Turbidity Cube” to determine if the water is still fit for use.

While innovation, automation, and AI dominate conversations about cleaning industry advancement, it’s often small, creative solutions like this that make the biggest difference in day-to-day operations.

I’ve always believed that “one size never fits all,” and that we must constantly unlearn to learn.

About the Author

Abhilash Bandaru is a cleaning expert with over 18 years of experience in Soft Services. He currently serves as a Soft Services Manager at Whitespot Facilities Management LLC, Dubai.