What is an advantage of the hanging drop method verses simple staining? What is a disadvantage? What is an advantage of the hanging drop method verses simple staining? What is a disadvantage? Solution Advantages of Hanging drop method over simple staining: Simple staining includes staining and viewing microorganisms using basic dyes which are attracted to negatively charged microbial cytoplasm materials. However, if microbes are large and if motility is to be studied; staining becomes unnecessary. In these cases, wet mount is prepared i.e. a drop of microbes is directly put on slide and observed. Hanging drop method includes placing a drop of sample below a cover-slip which is when inverted moves through hollowed-out slide. This method is advantageous because it keeps the sample hydrated i.e doesn’t dry out. This is a rapid method and makes it easy to observe especially larger microbes for examining motility. Disadvantages:.