I consider myself a cleanliness stickler, but the floors are probably my least favorite surface to clean — because when you live with multiple people, it seems like debris magically accumulates. From coffee grinds to food crumbs and wet footprints from the rain, there's a lot of grime on the floor. Cleaning with the best steam mop can help.
Before this mop-reviewing endeavor, I had been using the popular Swiffer Wet Jet for years. Then, one day, I discovered steam mops on CleanTok and knew I just had to get one. But the question was, which one is the best one? I decided to try out five popular steam mops on the market and see how they stacked up next to each other.
While I consider myself the cleaning expert in my house, I needed to consult the real cleaning experts who use these machines daily to hear their thoughts on what makes a great steam mop.
To find out more, I spoke with Jennifer Rodriguez, the chief hygiene officer of Pro Housekeepers. We also referenced advice previously given to Shop TODAY from Dr. Lisa Cuchara, a professor of biomedical sciences, regarding shoe cleanliness in the house.
What to look for in steam mops
There are a lot of steam mops on the market, all with very different uses and features that set them apart from one another. Rodriguez puts it simply when saying, "A great steam mop [has got to be] easy to use and tough on dirt." She continues, "We want one that heats up fast, slides around without a hitch, and doesn’t leave streaks."
She also notes that it is important to find a steam mop that is light — and attachments aren't always the best, as she notes that they can get in the way. When shopping, temperature is also important to Rodriguez as, "hotter steam blasts away grease and germs better" (and she rarely uses chemicals, so the hotter the better).
Our floors see a lot of germs, too — especially if you are wearing "outside" shoes (aka the shoes you wear in public) inside your house. We previously talked to Cuchara about whether or not you should wear shoes in the house, and Cuchara warned that "more bacteria and more diarrheal-causing bacteria is typically found on the bottom of your shoes than on a public toilet seat.”
If you have multiple roommates or family members, that number is multiplied by a lot. Steaming can be a suitable cleaner and disinfectant to combat certain bacteria, so using a steam mop might be a good idea if you're hoping to really clean those floors.
Best overall steam mop
Ease of Use: 5/5 | Versatility: 5/5 | Weight: 5/5 | Longevity: 5/5 | Startup Time: 5/5 | Overall rating: 5/5
Ease of Use: To turn this steam mop on, all you have to do is plug it in — and there are two settings (less steam and more steam) as well as a pause button in case you want to stop mopping without unplugging it. I use the "more steam" function on my floors. Sure, you do have to press the trigger to control the steam, unlike other mops I tested — but it's convenient because you're able to control how much steam you use (instead of cleaning with one continuous amount coming out). This was really helpful, especially when using the smaller attachments. The mop also did a great job of scrubbing tough dirt and debris in one swipe. I was continuously surprised by how much work it did with little effort from me.
Weight: The mop is really thin, so it's able to fit in the nook of my washing machine where I store all my cleaning supplies. It only weighs 6 pounds, which is pretty impressive for it's size. The mop also comes with a wall mount, so you can easily place it on your wall if you lack ground storage.
Versatility: This mop is super versatile because it's basically three mops in one: the regular steam mop, a steam rod and a handheld steamer. The steam rod can easily be taken off the mop base with a step on the back of the mop, so it is hands-free! The smallest steamer is able to be detached from the base and rod with a push of a button. The long steam rod is great for hard-to-reach areas like door frames, cabinets and more. The smaller hand-held device is great for in-depth cleanings like sinks, toilets, showers and more.
This mop comes with seven usable attachments. The attachments include a fabric steamer, a flat surface steamer, a grout tool, a green bristle brush, a red bristle brush, a flat scraper tool and an angle tool for smaller objects. The best part about these attachments is that they have a case that hooks onto the back of the mop, so you never have to be without them.
I used the tools during my Sunday deep clean to get up stubborn gunk from my sink, stove, oven/cabinets and even parts of my washing machine that never get cleaned.
Longevity: The tank lasts me four steam sessions on the floors of my apartment. It's also really easy to refill, as the tank is located on the top.
Startup time: The mop starts powering on as soon as you plug it in and it is ready to go in about 20 seconds. The bottom of the mop also uses steam to evenly coat the mop pad, so you can be sure the pad is getting completely used.
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Other steam mops to try, tested by the author
Best bang for your buck:
Ease of Use: 4/5 | Versatility: 5/5 | Weight: 5/5 | Longevity: 4/5 | Startup Time: 5/5 | Overall rating: 4.6/5
Ease of Use: This product is pretty easy to use; you only have to control a steam dial to choose how much steam pressure you want to come out of the mop. So once you plug it in, you have to wait until it's making a steam noise — and then you turn the dial to your desired steam. Once you turn the dial, it provides a continuous amount of steam. Since it's constantly coming out, it can be difficult to figure out what the perfect amount is for you.
Weight: This mop was probably the lightest one I tested, coming in at under 5 pounds. It was super lightweight and almost felt hollow, but it was not so easy to store because it did not come with a wall mount (but it can easy be leaned on a wall and fits in small spaces). I will say, because the mop is so light, it can move too easily across the floor, so you have to apply a decent amount of pressure to the bottom to get tough stains out.
Versatility: This steam mop comes with 10 attachments, and the mop separates in the middle to reveal a smaller steam mop handheld device that you can use the small attachments on. The attachments include a regular mop pad, a carpet mop pad (to be used on carpets only), a fabric pad for fabric steaming, a grout attachment, a long steam shot nozzle for small spaces, a big and small bristle brush, an angle tool and a squeegee scraper tool for windows.
All of the small attachments are meant to be used on the handheld tool. I liked all the attachments, especially the squeegee for my windows —but I will say, the attachments did drip a bit, which can be dangerous when using steaming-hot water. The pointy steam-shot nozzle actually blew off one time I was using it, so make sure you hear it snap into place. The carpet steamer did not work super effectively, and I felt like I could do without that attachment.
Longevity: The tank is quite small, but the brand notes that you can mop up to 220 feet before needing to refill the tank. Because you can't control the continuous steam (only the amount of steam that comes out), it does seem like it runs through the tank pretty fast, especially if you have it on a high setting.
Startup time: The mop powers on as you plug it in, but it takes about 30 seconds to heat up and then you have to select the steam amount you want with the dial on the base.
Best for organization:
Ease of Use: 4/5 | Versatility: 4/5 | Weight: 3/5 | Longevity: 4.5/5 | Startup Time: 4/5 | Overall rating: 3.9/5
Ease of Use: As soon as you plug this steam mop in, it starts heating up immediately and you can choose two steam settings (small steam or heavy duty). The machine then pumps the steam through to the pads. The pads are able to attach to Velcro, and they feature a curved angle (which I prefer less because you can get into fewer cracks and tough-to-reach surfaces). While the mop is bulky, the weight works in your favor to have more pressure on the pad. I did notice though that the pad, upon flipping it over after mopping, had way more dirt in one particular spot... so it seems like the pressure might be uneven on the pad.
Weight: This mop is pretty heavy, especially with all of the attachments. However, the wall mount comes in handy since it holds the smaller attachments, too.
Versatility: This option has seven attachments, and it comes with three different steam mop heads for you to use. You can detach the mop handle from the base and attach smaller detail attachments (and smaller pads to use on countertops or cabinets). The first smaller mop head has a 360-degree pivoting head, so you can move it in any direction you want. The other mop head can be used on fabric to steam it.
As for the smaller attachments, there is a squeegee scraper, a grout brush, a small detail brush and a metal grate brush which can be used on ovens and really brittle surfaces. All of these attachments worked great. Still, I wish there was a more focused steam-shot attachment for smaller areas.
Longevity: The tank on this is at the bottom of the handle, so you have to flip the mop upside down to fill it (which isn't idea). The tank does last a couple of mops though, which is a good bonus.
Startup time: Because the mop is a little larger, it takes closer to a minute to be ready to go.
Best one-and-done:
Ease of Use: 4/5 | Versatility: 2/5 | Weight: 4/5 | Longevity: 4.5/5 | Startup Time: 3/5 | Overall rating: 3.5/5
Ease of Use: This mop has a pretty simple setup; you just need to plug it in and then choose from three steam settings after flipping a switch. Plus, the water tank is fully detachable, making it simple to fill.
Weight: This mop is of medium weight, which is good for being able to put pressure on the mop pads.
Versatility: This mop has no frills or attachments, so it's easy to use — but you can only really expect it to clean your floors and that's it. Out of all the mops I tested, this mop head/pad was my favorite because it was easy to attach and a great rectangular shape. You can tell the mop was really good at scrubbing away grime.
Longevity: This tank holds a lot, so I was able to use it for three-ish mops before needing to replace it. The mop also comes with "steam water" which is a unique cleaning solution to help get the grime off of the floors. I found it worked pretty well and smelled very nice, too.
Startup time: The mop takes about 30 seconds to heat up.
Best reliable steam mop:
Ease of Use: 4/5 | Versatility: 2/5 | Weight: 4/5 | Longevity: 5/5 | Startup Time: 5/5 | Overall rating: 4/5
Ease of Use: This Shark mop has no power setting; it just starts up as soon as you plug it in, and then you can choose from three settings by pushing a button. I always use the "scrub" function because it's the most heavy-duty and has a lot of heat.
Weight: This mop is pretty light, but it comes with no wall mount and it does not stand up on its own. Therefore, you will need to find a place where it can sit upright.
Versatility: This mop does not come with any attachments, but it does its job well and is able to clean the floors with no problems. The mop pads do stain easily, though.
Longevity: The tank lasts a couple of scrubs, but it's located in a hard-to-reach spot in the back of the machine — so you'll need a funnel to put the water in.
Startup time: This mop heats up instantly and is ready to go in 30 seconds.
Editor's note: This steam mop is currently out of stock, but we'll keep tabs on availability.
Frequently asked questions
Heat is the key factor in getting a deeper clean with steam mops. Rodriguez notes, "Hotter steam blasts away grease and germs better. We like mops that pump out solid heat so we’re not stuck scrubbing forever."
The answer is, it depends on what you are looking for. If you just want a steam mop, then no, but if you want an all-in-one tool that can tackle multiple messes on multiple surfaces, attachments are great.
Rodriguez likes "a handheld steamer’s clutch for couches or grout, and a scrub brush rocks for stuck-on gunk." She continues, "Maybe a squeegee for windows, too."
You can use both, but most machines are made to use just water (which is suitable for cleaning).
Rodriguez says that steam "keeps things green and safe for kids or pets." She continues, "But if we hit a nasty, sticky mess, we might toss in a little cleaning solution to kick it up a notch."
I prefer both, too — it just depends on what I am cleaning.
You can use steam mops on sealed hardwood, ceramic tile and linoleum. However, if you have more delicate flooring made with unsealed hardwood, laminate or vinyl, steam mops will cause heat or moisture damage.
Anything sticky is great for a steam mop to get up since the heat helps bring the mess up from the floor. Liquid messes are great for steam mops, as well as any smaller food-based mess. I have also used steam mops to clear up scuff marks from shoes and wall stains.
How we tested the steam mops
I, Annie Shigo, tested the steam mops by first dirtying my floors a ton — which meant I needed to make a big mess. I wanted to mimic dirt from outside, so I used a pot of coffee and dry coffee grounds and spilled them onto the floor. They took about three hours to dry completely.
Once dried, I sectioned off five areas of the mess with tape that would serve as the boundaries for each mop test area. I then heated up all the mops and went over each area once to see how one swipe did with the stain, and then after that, I went over the stain again to see how many swipes it took to completely clean it.
After testing the mops this way, I continued to use the mops as normal (like I would on my kitchen and bathroom tile floors). Therefore, they were tested on both hardwood and tile. I tested all the attachments for the mops on my kitchen, bathroom and common areas to see how well they worked.
I rated the steam mops based on four key factors and then scored them on a scale of 1 through 5 determining the following:
- Ease of use: Is the steam mop easy to power on? Are there a lot of buttons or settings to navigate before using it?
- Weight: Is the steam mop super heavy or light? Is it lightweight enough to hang on the wall?
- Versatility: Does the steam mop come with attachments? How well do the attachments work?
- Longevity: How long does the water tank last? Do you have to refill it constantly?
- Startup time: Does it take long to heat up before using?
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Why trust Shop TODAY
Annie Shigo is an editorial assistant who started reviewing and testing products to write about in 2023 in the beauty, tech, fashion and cleaning space, so she knows how to tell what works and what doesn't.
Shigo is also a very tidy person and really tries to find the best gadgets to keep her space the cleanest it can be.
Meet the experts
- Jennifer Rodriguez is the chief hygiene officer at Pro Housekeepers. She is very knowledgeable in all cleaning practices and has years of experience in the field.
- Lisa Cuchara is a Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Quinnipiac University.
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