Abstract: Plungers and cleaning implement assemblies are described. The plungers include a handle having a tapering portion and a grip and a plunger member attached to the handle opposite the grip. The plunger member has a handle engagement portion configured to securely engage with the handle, at least one compression rib, a contact rib having an increased wall thickness section, wherein the increased wall thickness section of the contact rib is greater than a wall thickness of the at least one compression rib, and a plunger rim defining an opening to an internal cavity defined by the plunger member. The plunger member has a non-circular geometric shape in profile taken in a plane normal to an axis through the handle.