Findings from our survey with over 500 end-use decision-makers revealed that disposable mop pads are gradually being adopted at the expense of re-launderable mop pads. Almost two-thirds of the respondents said that they would be somewhat or very willing to switch to disposable mop pads. The market segments with the highest willingness to switch are industrial facilities, office buildings, and schools.
As prices for these pads are slowly falling, end-user decision-makers are starting to understand the true costs and limitations of re-launderable mop pads. Generally, there is only somewhat confidence that re-launderable mop pads are truly clean or sanitized when taken off the shelf. On the other hand, disposable mop pads are valued for their convenience and ease of use. In fact, about two-thirds of those who acknowledged their willingness to switch cited effectiveness and/or lower price point as the main reasons to do so.
Another category that is expected to grow at a faster rate is diamond floor pads. Some of the main drivers behind this change are the adoption of low-maintenance floors and the move toward reducing or eliminating floor finish and coating chemicals, as noted in our recently published Janitorial and Housekeeping Cleaning Products USA. Manufacturers are developing floor pads optimized for water-only usage and the ever-increasing range of floor surfaces that are being introduced.
Overall, end users have relatively little loyalty to specific brands. Therefore, manufacturers and distributors need a better understanding of what products or supplier attributes please or displease customers. For instance, manufacturers seeking to steer customers toward disposable mop pads will note that the perceived high price is a block.
The upcoming edition of our Floor Care Pads and Tools USA will provide a comprehensive assessment of the various types of floor pads, mop pads, cleaning carts, and other tools used to clean industrial and institutional settings. The study will include direct feedback from end users on usage patterns, product preferences, and frequency of cleaning. It is also designed to be used as a companion report to our Janitorial and Housekeeping Cleaning Products USA study, wherein floor care chemicals are profiled.
