Mop and broom product attributes

Mops and brooms are a family of heads, handles and frames that have to fit each other, and supplier data rarely says how. Wet mop heads are sized by nominal dry weight, such as #24 or 24 oz, while dust mops and brooms are sized by width. Headband width decides which handle clamp a head fits, and broom heads connect by threaded or tapered tips. A single "size" field cannot carry all of that.

Construction details change how a product performs and how long it lasts. Cut-end and looped-end mops behave differently in laundering, tailbands reduce tangling, and yarn ply and fiber blend affect absorbency. Broom bristles can be flagged or unflagged, resin-set or staple-set. Microfiber has its own fields, including weight and split ratio, and a rated number of launderings is only meaningful with the wash temperature it assumes.

Color is often a facility color-coding choice, so the same item is sold in several colors that must stay separate SKUs with their own part numbers and GTINs. Buyers ordering replacements need the head size, band type, handle fit, color and case pack to be explicit fields rather than words buried in the description.

The mops & brooms attribute template

18 candidate fields in 5 groups, ordered the way a record gets built: identify the item, capture its specifications, then record fit and the evidence behind any claim. 8 are marked Core: without them the item cannot be identified or filtered. Example values show the expected format only; they do not describe a real SKU.

Identity

Which exact item, variant and pack this record describes.

Check before use: Preserve leading zeros and punctuation, validate against the manufacturer record, and check the GTIN check digit and packaging level before linking.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Case Pack / Selling UOM case_pack_selling_uom	Text	Core	12 each per case
Manufacturer Part Number manufacturer_part_number	Identifier	Core	LE-24-BL-W5
GTIN-14 / UPC gtin_14_upc	Identifier	Core	10012345600804

Technical specifications

Measured or rated values that must travel with their unit and test conditions.

Check before use: Store the number and unit separately. Convert only when the source unit and test conditions are known.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Nominal Dry Weight (Head Size) nominal_dry_weight_head_size	Number · oz	Core	24
Sweep Face Width sweep_face_width	Number · in	Core	24 (push broom)
Trim Length trim_length	Number · in	Buyer decision	3 (broom bristle trim)
Rated Launderings rated_launderings	Number · cycles	Buyer decision	200

Selection attributes

The type, material and option choices buyers filter and compare on.

Check before use: Map supplier wording to a governed vocabulary only after checking the source text and which variant it applies to.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Product Type product_type	Controlled list	Core	Looped-end wet mop head
Fiber / Bristle Material fiber_bristle_material	Controlled list	Core	Cotton/synthetic blend
Yarn End Type & Tailband yarn_end_type_tailband	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Looped end with tailband
Yarn Ply yarn_ply	Controlled list	Buyer decision	4-ply
Bristle Flagging & Stiffness bristle_flagging_stiffness	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Flagged, medium stiff
Color / Color Code color_code	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Blue
Bristle Set Method / Metal-Free bristle_set_method_metal_free	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Resin-set, metal-free

Fit & compatibility

What the item mounts to, mates with, replaces or works alongside.

Check before use: Keep model and series qualifiers. A similar-looking part is not a verified fit until a source says so.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Handle Connection / Tip Type handle_connection_tip_type	Controlled list	Core	3/4 in threaded tip (brooms)
Headband Type & Width headband_type_width	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Wide band, 5 in

Evidence & compliance

Listings, standards, classifications and origin claims that need a document behind them.

Check before use: Link the manufacturer document or label with its edition or date. Never copy a certification from a neighboring SKU.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Food Equipment Certification food_equipment_certification	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	NSF/ANSI 2 (food-service line)
Country of Origin country_of_origin	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	United States

Normalize supplier values

The same value arrives in many spellings. Map each raw string to one governed value, and keep the raw text beside it so a reviewer can see what the supplier actually wrote.

Often missing from supplier files

These fields are commonly absent from price lists and basic feeds, even though the information usually exists in a datasheet, label or installation manual. Treat an empty value as a request for evidence, not as permission to fill it from a similar model.

• Rated Launderings and Maximum Wash Temperature
• Handle Fit / Headband Compatibility
• Microfiber Weight (GSM) and Split Ratio
• Bristle Set Method (resin-set vs staple-set)
• Post-Consumer Recycled Content

Questions the record must answer

Buyers and counter-sales reps choosing mops & brooms ask questions like these. Each one needs a specific field, sourced for the exact variant.

• Will this head fit the wide-band mop handles we already use?
• How many launderings will these heads last, and at what wash temperature?
• Is the same push broom available in red for our raw-meat prep areas?
• Does this broom head take a standard 3/4-inch threaded handle?

From supplier file to record

1. Resolve identity first. Link the supplier SKU, manufacturer part number and packaging identifiers without merging distinct variants or pack sizes.
2. Extract with the source attached. Pull values from rows, tables and datasheets, keeping the raw text, unit and page or row reference.
3. Map to your classification. Assign the ETIM, ECLASS, UNSPSC or internal class your company licenses, and keep the supplier's original terms.
4. Review, sync and watch. Hold conflicts and safety-related values for a category expert, write approved values to ERP or PIM, and recheck when the supplier sends a new file.

For the full method, see how to build a category attribute template and the category catalog gap audit.

FAQ