Buyer's Guide Table of Contents (Click To Expand)
We all want clean floors, but who wants to get on their hands and knees and scrub manually? If you’re looking to avoid achy knees and a creaky back, a steam mop might just be your best option. Let’s not forget that proper steam mops are able to conquer bacteria better than anything else either. With the best steam mop, you can have a clean floor in no time, and without spending nearly as much effort to get it sparkling.
Steam MOp | Summary |
|---|---|
Bissell PowerFresh  | Clean your house the easy way with the Bissell PowerFresh. This well-known name in floor cleaning will keep your floor fresh with various adjustable settings to choose from. |
Shark Steam Pocket Mop  | Use your Shark Steam Pocket Mop to get those tough messes with just a little steam. Push your mop along and you’ll be done in no time. |
Shark Genius Hard Floor Cleaning System  | You can send the steam wherever you want it to go with the Shark Genius. Direct the steam to the tough spots to clean with ease. |
O-Cedar Microfiber Steam Mop  | Lightweight and powerful: that’s the O-Cedar steam mop. This mop is made to work with ease, requiring just a little push for you to get your floor clean. |
Bissell Symphony  | With the Bissell Symphony, you can clean your floor without much effort. Adjust it to your needs to get your floor cleaned in no time. |
Pur Steam 10-in-1 Steam Mop  | Pet owners love the Pur Steam mop with its durable cleaning and lightweight use. Mop up more than just pet hair with this tough little steam mop. |
Light-n-Easy All in One Steam Mop  | If you’re looking for something easy to use, look no further than the Light n Easy. Adjustability and strength makes this Steam Mop one of the best. |
Our Picks For The Best Steam Mops:
Pros:
- Easy-to-use swivel steering
- Can stand up on its own
- One tank can handle a whole floor
Cons:
- Durability can be improved
More About The Bissell PowerFresh
The whole point of using steam mops is to get your floors cleaned and sanitized. What makes the Bissell PowerFresh even better is that it cleans without using any harsh chemicals. It eliminates germs with only a pass, but don’t forget how well it handles sticky messes with the tough easy scrubber. With just a little pressure, your floor will be completely cleaned in no time. Just swivel your mop where you need it to go, thanks to that swivel steering and long power cord. With only 30 seconds, it’s ready to use.
Choose from high, medium, or low steam based on your needs. The Bissell is made to work for you, with everything you need to get your floors cleaned with only a few passes.
Related Content:
- Best Mop For Tile Floors (Learn More)
- Best Mopping Robot (Learn More)
RElated Products | |
|---|---|
Shark Cleaning Sanitizing Removable  | SIMBR Detachable Cleaner Function Swiveling  |
BISSELL Spinwave Powered Hardwood  | Bissell PowerFresh Handheld Scrubbing  |
Pros:
- Long 20-inch power cord for easy portability
- Heats up very quickly within 30 seconds
- Dries very quickly
Cons:
- Some people have trouble pushing it
More About The Shark Steam Pocket Mop
Yet another big brand in the steam cleaning world: The Shark Steam Pocket Mop. This will turn ordinary water into heated steam to get rid of all the dirt that your ordinary mop will leave behind. Just plug in that 20-inch power cord, which has a quick release that makes it easy to use. In only 30 seconds, your water will be heated. Mop over your floor to get natural steam that is meant to dry almost immediately on your hardwood floors.
Pump the handle 5 to 10 times to get the steam ready to go. You can use those 2 microfiber pads to lift dirt without a mop or a bucket. Thanks to the comfortable handle, your hands won’t even strain after you’ve cleaned your entire floor. Use your mop on all of your hard floor surfaces to get those tough messes.
RElated Products | |
|---|---|
Shark Cleaning Sanitizing Removable | SIMBR Detachable Cleaner Function Swiveling |
BISSELL Spinwave Powered Hardwood | Bissell PowerFresh Handheld Scrubbing |
Pros:
- Easy to assemble out of the box
- Works on all types of flooring
- You barely even need to scrub
Cons:
- Water can drip at times
More About The Shark Genius Hard Floor Cleaning System
This Shark Genius has 3 settings for you to choose from, depending on how you would like to clean your floors. Place it down on the floor and make use of those double-sided dirt grip washable pads. You can clean your floors and keep cleaning them with the same pads without spending an incredible amount of money replacing them.
Don’t forget the extra little features the Shark Genius includes too. There’s the mop head — the Genius head — that will channel the steam to directly where you want it to go, so you can get tough spots. There’s also the Steam Blaster technology, all made to clean even the most difficult spots on your floor.
Related Content:
- Best Spin Mops (Learn More)
- Best Mops For Wood Floor (Learn More)
RElated Products | |
|---|---|
Shark Cleaning Sanitizing Removable | SIMBR Detachable Cleaner Function Swiveling |
BISSELL Spinwave Powered Hardwood | Bissell PowerFresh Handheld Scrubbing |
Pros:
- Very easy to use
- Kills 99.9 percent of bacteria without any chemicals
- Cleans without you needing to push down
Cons:
- Replacement pads can be tricky to find
More About The O-Cedar Microfiber Steam Mop
You can start using the O-Cedar Microfiber Steam Mop in only 20 seconds. All you need to do is plug it in to get it heated up. Then take a look at your settings, which are completely adjustable depending on the steam level you’d like to use. No matter what steam level though, this mop is made to kill 99.9 percent of bacteria without using any chemicals.
The cleaning isn’t affected by the lightweight quality of the mop either. For those of you who have bad backs, this is the mop for you. It only weighs five pounds, and even has a microfiber pad to make cleaning that much easier. Of course, it’s nice that there’s a snap-on glider to refresh your carpets as well.
RElated Products | |
|---|---|
Shark Cleaning Sanitizing Removable | SIMBR Detachable Cleaner Function Swiveling |
BISSELL Spinwave Powered Hardwood | Bissell PowerFresh Handheld Scrubbing |
Pros:
- Works very well to get pet hair
- Fast and light steam cycle
- Gets spots on your floor with ease
Cons:
- Not as effective cleaning rugs
More About The Bissell Symphony
Use the Bissell Symphony to help you save time cleaning up your floors. You’ll be able to vacuum debris and clean your floors at the same time. Just fill the tank to sanitize using steam on any sort of hard flooring. Simply push the Easy Touch Digital Controls to make it work for you based upon your needs. Even the handle is specially designed with your convenience in mind - it can be adjusted five ways to make your life that much easier.
You have the best steam with this Bissell, once you plug it in. In only 30 seconds, your water will be heated up so well that you don’t even need to scrub. The mop pads are included, and you only need to push the quick release to get the pads off when you’re done.
RElated Products | |
|---|---|
Shark Cleaning Sanitizing Removable | SIMBR Detachable Cleaner Function Swiveling |
BISSELL Spinwave Powered Hardwood | Bissell PowerFresh Handheld Scrubbing |
Pros:
- Includes a grout cleaning tool for tile
- You need virtually no effort to use it
- Can work for up to 25 minutes before needing to be refilled
Cons:
- There have been problems with the heat pump
More About The Pur Steam 10-in-1 Steam Mop
Use the Pur Steam Mop to clean literally everything with just a pass over the floor, making your home cleaner and fresher than ever. You can clean a lot more than just the floors too with the built-in handheld steam cleaner. There’s even a flexible hose that will put all of the cleaning technology literally in the palm of your hand. You have complete control over your cleaning power with this Pur Steam Mop on your side.
This light and maneuverable mop is easy to use, making it one of the best steam mops.It includes three adjustable modes that are meant to cater to your specific needs. Rest assured that it’s completely child and pet safe as well. It will scrub your floor without you needing to do much at all. Use it for up to 25 minutes before refilling again.
RElated Products | |
|---|---|
Shark Cleaning Sanitizing Removable | SIMBR Detachable Cleaner Function Swiveling |
BISSELL Spinwave Powered Hardwood | Bissell PowerFresh Handheld Scrubbing |
Pros:
- Lightweight yet sturdy
- There’s a lot of versatility in this mop
- Works even for your clothes as a wrinkle remover
Cons:
- The steam may be inconsistent
More About The Light-n-Easy All in One Steam Mop
Use the Light-n-Easy Steam Mop to literally do everything all at once. This steam cleaner is made to work on all flooring, and even includes a detachable and separate handheld steam cleaner to work on all types of materials. It’s basically a steam pocket mop. This makes it perfect as a wrinkle remover, upholstery refresher, and deep cleaner for your bathroom or kitchen. Just pick your settings to get it working at 110 degrees.
Your steam mop is made to remove stains quickly and efficiently while drying quickly too. It will work with any type of water you put into it, making it great for any home.
RElated Products | |
|---|---|
Shark Cleaning Sanitizing Removable | SIMBR Detachable Cleaner Function Swiveling |
BISSELL Spinwave Powered Hardwood | Bissell PowerFresh Handheld Scrubbing |
Why Should You Buy A Steam Mop Instead of a Wet Mop?
Ease of Use
Scrubbing tile floors is one way to get them clean, but it's a lot of work. If you have any kind of hard floor, you can no doubt relate. Hands and knees type scrubbing also really wears on your muscles and joints. Regular wet mops and buckets can clean hard flooring, but they tend to be unwieldy and messy. Steam mops are lightweight, easy to maneuver, and make very little, if any mess to clean up. In short, a steam mop is all around easier to use than traditional methods.
An Impressive Clean
Part of the draw of a steam cleaner is that it not only cleans, it sanitizes. Steam has been shown to kill 99.9% of germs and bacteria. Steam mops also clean floors more thoroughly, and can clean grime out of tough areas that other mops miss (i.e. the grout on tiles). Whereas other wet mops leave a bucket of dirty water, steam mops keep dirty and clean water separate by way of a separate water tank for each, using only clean water to steam your floors.
Post-steam mopping, your hard floors also dry faster. This is a huge bonus for busy areas.
Keep Chemicals Away From Home
Steam is an incredibly efficient cleaner; in fact, it's so effective on its own that you don't need to use chemical cleaners. With so many concerns about how chemicals affect not only our health, but our environment, steam cleaning is an eco friendly solution. Steam mops are an especially sound option for families with children and pets. There's no need to worry about chemicals getting into the wrong hands.
What to Look For in a Steam Mop
Steam Heat
Some steam mops have multiple steam settings, while others run at a single high heat. While many floors can handle a steam mop with a single setting, some floors don't take full powered steam cleaning without damage. Depending on the type of hard flooring in your home, either will be a good option. Just make sure you know what level of heat is safe for use on your floors. If in doubt, it's better to find a steam mop with adjustable levels, and start at the lowest setting.
It's also worth looking at how long it takes to heat the water. A long heat up time can be frustrating as you wait to clean. Most good steam mops can heat up in less than a minute.
Cleaning Pads
Steam mops come with a variety of different mop pads. While the materials can also vary, it's easiest to sort them by whether a mop pad is disposable or reusable. For example, just about any microfiber steam mop is going to use washable, reusable mop pads. In fact, the majority of reusable mop pads are made of microfiber, or a similar soft and absorbent material. Many flat steam mops use disposable cleaning pads, which you replace with each use.
Both types have their advantages; where disposable pads are easily changed, reusable mop pads can go right in the washing machine. Both types also have some disadvantages, so the choice often comes down to preference.
Maneuverability
A clunky mop is not a huge help. That's why size and weight are some of the biggest factors in a mop's maneuverability. Look for a lightweight mop with a slimmer design to minimize effort on your part. Steam mops that have a rotating head are easier to maneuver, so if it's included, that's a significant bonus. Also pay attention to the handle. Steam mops that feature a telescopic handle make it easier to reach low, out of reach areas. They are also more comfortable for users with a variety of heights.
Tank Capacity
The water tank is often overlooked, but it's an important consideration when buying a steam mop. The larger the water tank, the longer you can clean without stopping to refill the tank. If you only have hard flooring in a few areas of your home, a smaller water tank shouldn't be an issue. However, if your home has large areas floored with hardwood or tile, a larger water tank is pretty much a necessity.
Steam Mop Proper Care and Maintenance
Use the Right Water
It's tempting to fill your water tank right from the tap, but that can lead to mineral build up in your steam mop. Using distilled or purified water helps to keep the inner components of your steam mop clean. Not only that, it greatly extends to the lifetime of your steam mop.
Clean Scale and Deposits
Over time, your steam mop can accumulate some scale and deposits from water. It's important to clean it out when it builds up. You can use an appropriate descaling product, or make your own mixture of 1:1 vinegar and water.
Keep Fresh Pads
If your steam mop uses disposable pads, make sure you have extras on hand. If you run out, you won't be able to mop. If you use reusable pads, make sure you keep a clean set in case you have a mess. Powdered detergents aren't usually suitable for mop pads, so use a gentle liquid detergent. If you see oily stains or stuck gunk on your mop pads, use a dish soap to wash them by hand before sticking them in the washing machine.
Store it Properly
Store your steam mop with care. Having a set area to store it prevents accidental damage, not to mention it's much more convenient. Many steam mop owners prefer to install a hook on a wall and hang their mop from the handle. Some steam mops actually come with a wall mount, which is another efficient way to save space and store your mop.
Conclusion
There are a lot of steam mop reviews on the market, so make sure you research when you're looking at getting one. Beyond mop reviews, it's important to consider the manufacturer's reputation. We've provided you with the information you need to know to choose the best steam mop for your home, and how to keep it in great shape for years to come. The only thing left for you to do is say goodbye to scrubbing, and pick out your new favorite tool: your steam mop.