This seems pretty sturdily built for something made out of hard plastic. (I still wouldn't push the limit of the fold-out hooks, however. For reasonably light items, like dustpans, featherdusters, mini-umbrellas, and the like, the hooks are perfectly up to the task.)
The springs that push the handle-slot rollers inward are stronger than those I've seen in similar holders, and the rubber lining seems quite grippy. I've used the slots to hang brooms, sponge-mops, and lobby dustpans with larger-diameter handles, and Swiffer tools with smaller-diameter aluminum handles. It takes a *little bit* of force to get them seated, but once they're there, they stay put.
The quality and length of the six supplied screws are adequate. Although I'd feel more comfortable with screws that are 1/4" longer for studs, the supplied screws are long enough to work for either studs or anchors.
I would say the supplied anchors are less than ideal. I used them for one of the two holders I got and would have regretted it if the center pair of screws weren't sunk into a stud. I recommend getting better anchors (e.g., the heavier-duty dark-gray bullet anchors with a flange at the top) at a hardware store. (And while you're at it, you could get screws that are 1/4" longer for stud mounts, or maybe somewhat better-quality stainless-steel screws all around..)
A well-designed drilling template would probably have sped up installation by around 15 minutes per holder. As it was, after locating a suitable stud and determining the desired height, I had to:
* Drill one hole for the top center screw
* Sink the screw
* Use a level to level out the holder
* Tighten the screw and tweak the holder's levelness
* Use my hand to keep the holder immobile
* Mark the outline of the bottom center screwhole with a pencil
* Loosen the top screw and rotate the holder out of the way
* Drill a hole for the bottom center screw
* Rotate the holder back into position and sink and tighten both center screws
* Mark the outlines of the remaining four screwholes with a pencil
* Remove the two center screws and take down the holder
* Drill holes and sink anchors for the four remaining screws
* Mount the holder a final time, with all screws
A clear plastic template thick enough not to slide under a level, with holes for marking the screwholes and (optionally) pairs of guide lines to help center the holes within the margins of a stud) would have sped up the process. Even an opaque cardboard template, if accurately cut and punctured, would have been helpful.
Required/recommended tools and supplies:
* Studfinder
* Pencil
* Spring-loaded centerpunch (for accurate drill starting points)
* Drill and (for the anchors) a finely graduated set of bits
* Level
* Hammer (for the anchors)
* Bar soap (to lubricate screw threads for screws going into studs)
* # 2 Phillips-head screwdriver or long # 2 Phillips bit (clearance is marginal for short bits)
Design-wise, the slots are close enough to make hung items pretty crowded, and I had to forgo using one slot on each of my two holders. With the right selection of items and very careful arrangement, all of the slots could probably be used. An added benefit to making the holder longer, with more widely spaced slots, would be that you could sink both of the outer pairs of screws into studs for a sturdier and stronger mount. (It wouldn't work for every application, but for those where it doesn't, you could just mount the center screws to studs, as with the current model.)
All in all, this is a pretty good mop and broom holder. Even though I can spot ways it could be improved, it works well and I have no real gripes. I'd recommend it.
Lonie Stewart
Alyssa Keller