The Best Steam Mops to Eliminate Grime and Finally Attain Perfectly Clean Floors

Get your hard floor surfaces looking spotless with a powerful steam mop!

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Image: SharkNinja

Top Product: Bissell Powerfresh Deluxe | $100 | Amazon

When my editor handed me this assignment, I was truly amused. What is a steam mop? I’d never even heard of one, let alone knew what to do with it. So I got to work, extensively researching all the contenders for the best steam mop I could find online, learning how and when to use it, and of course, figuring out exactly what it is, to begin with.

What Is a Steam Mop Anyway?

The best way I can describe a steam mop is a Swiffer, except with a cord. Instead of a reservoir filled with a chemical solution, it’s filled with water. When you plug the mop in, it quickly heats and disperses 250-degree steam into the mop head. Then you use that to easily clean the floor.

Why Use a Steam Mop?

Here’s the thing: Unlike a regular mop or the old hands and knees method, you don’t use any soap or solution with a steam mop. According to The Spruce, it’s actually not for deep cleaning at all, contrary to my first impressions. This mop is used for maintenance or for killing bacteria after you’ve deep cleaned. The steam makes washing your floor easy if you choose to do it often. It’s perfect for rainy or snowy days, a lot of little ones running around, or just keeping those stubborn floors spotless.

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Most people don’t actually need this mop. Since this doesn’t need any soap, it is a good option for folks who have a chemical or sent sensitivity or prefer to keep household chemicals to a minimum.

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How to Use a Steam Mop

If you’ve never used a steam mop and feel a little intimidated, know that there’s no need to worry. Using it is simple. First, be sure to sweep up the floor to minimize the dirt. Then, grab a couple of mop pads. They’re super easy to clean and can be dropped into the washing machine. Nte that most steam mop manufacturers state that their mops can be used on all kinds of floors. However, cleaning experts recommend reserving them for stone, tile, and carpet.

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Best Overall: Shark Steam and Scrub All-in-One S7001TGT

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Graphic: Juliana Clark

Scrub and sanitize like no one else! The Shark Steam and Scrub All-in-One S7001TGT mop provides a powerful combination of steam and rotating pads. As a result, this tool can provide 150 scrubs per minute, creating a smooth and effortless cleaning experience.

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Note that this product is specifically designed for hard floors, including marble, tile, stone, and hardwood. Plus, it comes with three cleaning modes, a headligfht, swivel steering, an upright lock, and 22-ft. power cord.

Best Consumer Reports Pick: Bissell Powerfresh Deluxe

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Image: Bissell
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A Consumer Reports-approved steam mob, Amazon reviews of the Bissell Powerfresh Deluxe are shining stars as well. The 4.6- out of 5-star rating with over 6000 reviews speaks for itself. One of those reviewers, Erin B. Morrigan writes, “All I can tell you is, I actually feel legitimate love for this inanimate object. I have steam cleaned my entire house in the last 24 hours and I cannot believe how dirty everything actually was!! Even things I thought had been cleaned well.”

Best for Hardwood Floors: Shark Steam Mop Deep Cleaning S1200

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Graphic: Juliana Clark
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The Shark Steam Mop Deep Cleaning S1200 provides a 99.9% chemical free floor sanitation. The removable XL water tank is easy to fill, and the product as a whole is super lightweight and compact. Note that this product has an 18 ft. power cord, so you have a ton of space to deep clean.

It also comes with a limited one year warranty

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This story was originally published by Chaya M Milchtein on 10/21/2020 and updated with new information by Juliana Clark on 09/02/2021.