There may not be a more self-absorbed mop on the market than the Quickie HomePro Automatic Mop & Scrub.
But let’s give credit where it’s due:
Quickie company founder Peter Vosbikian Sr. stowed away on a French cargo ship in 1913 to get out of Armenia ahead of the 1915 genocide and political persecution, according to his biography. A freedom-loving capitalist like that wouldn’t give the world a wimpy mop with no manifest destiny.
In that regard, this latest model from Quickie is a trouper in germ warfare. The packaging warns, “Our homes can become breeding grounds for microbes.”
Yuck! Save us, Quickie.
Quickie Manufacturing says its Microban technology does to mold, mildew and bacteria what Raid does to roaches.
But unless you have a very keen eye for microbes, you have to take it on faith that this pricey product — about 20 bucks at Ace Hardware in Edgewater — is busting up the creepy-crawlies as promised.
Sticker shock aside, how many mops come with a 10- year warranty like this one? Add that to its “cam-action wringer,” a rounded, easy-to- change sponge that comes in dirt-masking blue and is affixed to a sturdy handle fit to help fight off a sasquatch, and this product is a near-winner.
If that’s not enough attention to detail, the hanger is a swivel. Why anyone would need a swivel hook for a mop is a good question, but it is one more amenity to make you feel good about the jacked-up price.
There is one catch. While Quickie’s sponge and handle hold up their end of the bargain, the scrub pad on the mop head is a waste, unless you have a double-jointed spine. Its goofy angle requires turning the mop into a limbo stick on the floor, and the scrubber is more for show than glow.
Pet lovers and hardwood- floor owners also should take note: Quickie’s vaunted warranty is voided if the mop is used with vinegar or ammonia, since those liquids eat away the metal and invite rust.
The HomePro Automatic Mop & Scrub is available at Ace Hardware, Albertsons, Cub Foods, The Home Depot, KMart, Office Depot and True Value Hardware. Joey Bunch: 303-954-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com
