Sponge softens quickly from dry mode. It is definitely ready for use if it has been left in the pail since start of filling it up with water for mopping. Besides, the sponge can soak up quite a lot of water, it can hold in the water quite well and dry up a bigger area. This mop is light-weight and would not give pressure to your body especially you tend to use it daily in the kitchen or bathroom area. The disadvantage is the release handle to squeeze the sponge. Sometimes the sudden jerking response from release causes water on the mop to splash everywhere. I counter this by releasing the handle only when the sponge is submerged in the pail of water.