A mop is a tool used to clean surfaces such as floors, walls, and tiles. There several different kinds of mops for different types of cleaning and surfaces. The definition from the Princeton WordNet Search for a mop is "a cleaning implement consisting of absorbent material fastened to a handle; for cleaning floors"cleaning implement consisting of absorbent material fastened to a handle; for cleaning floors
Dry Mops
Dry mops or dust mops are used to pick up dry materials like dust, dirt, or sand. A dry mop is usually the first step in cleaning a floor for this reason. Dry mops are typically made out of some type of yarn or other microfiber thread. A dry mop is often a suitable replacement for a broom since it can pick up material rather than just push it around. The best way to clean a mop that has been saturated with dirt is to machine wash it.
Wet Mops
A wet mop is used for the second step of cleaning a floor. With the dry particles of dirt removed, the wet mop is used to dissolve and absorb dried liquids and mud. The mop is dipped in a bucket of cleaning solution and wrung out to remove excess water. The floor is wiped clean and must be allowed to dry.