Abstract: A drying apparatus has a support frame mounted on a handle. A drying spool is rotatably mounted on the support frame and has a web of liquid absorbent material which is incrementally scrolled from the drying spool onto a take-up roller during use of the apparatus. A user grips the handle on the support frame to move the apparatus back and forth over a wet floor surface with the web in contact with the floor surface to dry the floor surface. Indexing means is provided for incrementally advancing the drying web from the drying spool to the take-up roller to advance the wet web onto the take-up roller. On the forward stroke the web is held immobile to dry the wet floor surface as it is pushed over the wet floor surface. On the reverse stroke the indexing means releases the take-up roller to wind the wet web portion onto the take-up roller and pull a dry portion of web from the drying spool at the start of the next forward drying stroke.