Sometimes you need more than just wetness to clean your floors. There are plenty of chemical options that you could use to help you get those deep-in stains or grime, but the chemicals aren’t always good for your floors, nor the fumes safe for you. Some chemicals will even prevent you from allowing your pets on them until they’re completely dry. For a tile and hardwood cleaner that won’t hurt floor or family, steam fits the bill beautifully. Steam mops will remove the sticky substances better than nearly any other method and require far less effort on your part to sanitize without harsh chemicals. If you’re lost on where to start in your search for the perfect steam mop for you, though, don’t worry! We did the research for you.
We reviewed dozens of steam mops to identify the best of the best. We looked at steam mops that spin, and large capacity ones that will let you cover more ground. We found stick steam mops and handheld cordless mops; cordless and multi-use. No matter what you’re looking for in a steam cleaner, we have the best one for you.
From the get-go, it was clear that the BISSELL PowerFresh Steam Mop stood out among its peers and the further we researched it, the obvious it was that it had to be our best overall steam mop. It has a variety of mop heads and steam settings as well as a quick start that will let you tackle virtually any mess life throws at you.
In This Article
The 5 Top-Rated Steam Mops
| Editor's Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Steam Mop Overall | BISSELL PowerFresh Steam Mop | 4.2 |
| Best Canister Steam Mop | Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner Multipurpose Heavy Duty Steamer | 4.5 |
| Best Budget Steam Mop | Shark Steam Pocket Mop Hard Floor Cleaner with Swivel Steering XL Water Tank | 4.2 |
| Best Handheld Steam Mop | PurSteam World's Best Steamers Steam Mop | 4.3 |
| Best Cordless Steam Mop | Gladwell Cordless Electric Mop | 4.1 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change
Best Steam Mop Overall: BISSELL PowerFresh Steam Mop
The BISSELL PowerFresh Steam Mop has a variety of pads that will securely fit on the head of this steam mop to match any obstacle you pit it against. For a more robust challenge, it has a scrubby pad and for the more gentle task, there’s a soft, microfiber pad that’s sure to be as forgiving as the most delicate floor in your home. You’ll also be able to customize the level of steam you use for each task – low, medium, or high steam are all just a click away on this mop.
With a 23-foot power cord, you won’t need to worry too much about the cord holding you back from completing your task. You can get started almost right away, too – only 30-seconds for this machine to warm up and build enough steam for you to start and you won’t have to stop as you go – once it’s ready, it’ll go until the water tank is dry.
There’s no messing around with the numbers on this steam mop – they make your choice a no-brainer. Well over 11,000 customer reviews on Amazon have earned this mop an overall rating of 4.2 stars – and that’s no joke!
BISSELL PowerFresh Steam Mop Key Features:
- Includes microfiber soft pad, scruffy pad, 2 fragrance disks, and carpet glider
- 1500 watts of power
- Swivel steering
Best Canister Steam Mop: Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner Multipurpose Heavy Duty Steamer
The Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner Multipurpose Heavy Duty Steamer has a large tank of fifty-four ounces that will allow you to clean more than just your mess, but perhaps several rooms – maybe even your entire home! The carrying handle and extra-long hose (sixteen feet) keep moving it low-effort for you and the six and a half foot hose only adds to its range.
Included with your canister steam mop is an impressive eighteen accessory kit that will make sure this one canister is able to take on any challenge you throw its way. There are ten different cleaning heads, four different pads, two extension wands, and a fragrance disc that will allow you to leave behind a room that smells as fresh as a summer breeze. The versatility of this steam mop is unparalleled with its accessories.
Sitting on Amazon with just under 2,000 customer reviews, this steam mop has an overall rating of 4.5 stars and that’ plenty for you to take comfort in the quality. If you want a canister steam mop, this is very likely the one for you.
Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner Multipurpose Heavy Duty Steamer Key Features:
- Up to 275°F/135°C
- 50 min clean time
- 2-year warranty
Best Budget Steam Mop: Shark Steam Pocket Mop Hard Floor Cleaner with Swivel Steering XL Water Tank
The Shark Steam Pocket Mop Hard Floor Cleaner with Swivel Steering XL Water Tank ensures you’re not just cleaning, but sanitizing your floors with a 99.9% sanitation rate. And the cleaning isn’t just accomplished from one side, either; this mop head will flip for a convenience and versatile clean that requires less struggle on your part to make sure all the nooks and crannies are covered with the steam cleaning.
The water tank on this steam mop is 450 ml, which will be more than enough to tackle the spills and stains, though you may need to refill it if you’re planning on doing the whole house. The swivel steering and the absence of harsh chemicals will make this a product you’ll want to use all over your house, too!
There are 5,000+ customer reviews for this steam mop and an overall rating of 4.2 stars on Amazon. Surprisingly enough, though, that’s not the best part – the best part is the cost. You can pick this up for just under $60 – a total steal!
Shark Steam Pocket Mop Hard Floor Cleaner with Swivel Steering XL Water Tank Key Features:
- 2 micro-fiber pads included
- Swivel steering
- 20 ft. power cord
Best Handheld Steam Mop: PurSteam World’s Best Steamers Steam Mop
The PurSteam World’s Best Steamers Steam Mop boasts that it can clean literally everything. Unlike so many, when this manufacturer uses the word literally, they mean it! Not only can you steam messes and stains with the handheld feature, but you’ll also be able to use it as a steam clean machine for anything that can be cleaned with steam – no chemicals and no scrubbing. Steam and wipe with this device and any surface will be sanitized.
You may best love the clothing feature of this steam mop; you can turn the steamer on its side and use it vertically to steam out the wrinkles of your clothing or other fabrics for, not just sanitizing, but to also achieve a fresh-pressed appearance that will ensure you make a good impression.
There is an overall rating of 4.3 stars on Amazon for this mop and when you consider it’s awarded that rating based on over 3,500 customer reviews, you may find that this product will positively leap into your cart.
PurSteam World’s Best Steamers Steam Mop Key Features:
- 11.5-ounce reservoir
- 3 Adjustable steam modes
- 2-year warranty
Best Cordless Steam Mop: Gladwell Cordless Electric Mop
The Gladwell Cordless Electric Mop has a handle that will rotate 180-degrees to make getting your entire flooring a breeze. Its three-inch base and cordless design will also make storing it easier, as it fits in more narrow places and without ever tangling itself into the cord. It will use a dual spray to mist the steam onto your floor and the high powered-dual spin will make sure you’re scrubbing the floors – without you doing any of the work. This is sure to get up hard to lift messes and stains in a way you’ll appreciate.
The handle extends to allow you to fit the mop to your height and your family members to adjust it accordingly, as well. It has a row of LED lights for a conveniently lit path, even in dark corners and the included microfiber pads will be gentle on your floors.
Well over 300 customer reviews on Amazon have earned this steam mop an overall rating of 4.1 stars and we think that’s more than enough to sweeten the temptation of this cordless convenience.
Gladwell Cordless Electric Mop Key Features:
- 1-year warranty
- 2 colors available
- 2-hour charge
Who Should Buy a Steam Mop
A steam mop will give you a lot easier cleaning tasks for any hard surface flooring. If your home is prone to stains and spills that you struggle to get up off the ground, then you should definitely invest in a steam mop. The addition of heat and steam will moisten the stains, making them easier to lift and anything that makes your job easier is a big win. After all, you have plenty of jobs in the home that require your sweat and elbow grease; if you can avoid it by adding in a steam mop, then it’s worth taking into consideration.
Not only will a steam mop make cleaning your home easier, but it’ll also make it safer, too. The standard cleaning products that one would use to remove filth and grime from their floors have so many chemicals that you’ll need to keep your children and pets away from the floor until well after it’s dried. Not to mention, you should also keep these kinds of products behind baby latches, locks, or up way out of reach. The last thing you want is to harm your family trying to keep an effective cleaner in your home. Steam, however, made from hot water. Other than the potential of a steam burn (which isn’t a likely problem, considering the method of application), the steam mop is completely safe for your family. And without the harsh chemicals, more delicate floors won’t suffer, either.
Important Features to Consider
A steam mop should do several things well. Here’s what to consider when selecting a steam mop for your home:
- Cordless. The convenience of a cordless steam mop may be the most important feature to you, but you’ll need to consider the downside, too. Cordless means battery and battery means a time limit. If you plan to use your steam mop for a shorter period of time, then that probably won’t be a deal-breaker – but if your entire home is tile and you plan on cleaning all the floors at once, it may be something you have to weigh carefully. If you use the mop until the battery dies, there’s also a good chance that towards the end of the battery’s life, its power will be diminished, too.
- Spinning. Spinning mop heads will add to the efficiency and decrease your work. The spinning heads will create a scrubbing effect that required no additional work from you. Combined with the steam, your hard to remove messes are as good as gone with this style of mop. Additionally, the spinning heads will work to buff and polish your floors, as well, so if you want that luster and shine for your floor, this may be your best bet.
- Canister. A canister may not be as portable and convenient as a steam mop, but the versatility and power are undeniable. With a bigger body, the canister vacuums boast bigger motors and bigger water tanks, making it up to a long-lasting, difficult job. If that’s a regular need in your home, then this may be the solution for you.
- Clothes steaming. A big perk of steam mops that may appeal to you is a double-purpose steam mop that is able to be used to seam your clothing as well. This will usually come in the form of an attachment, so if most likely to be a feature of a more robust steam mop, like an upright or a canister, but you may be able to find a stick or handheld that are up to the task, as well. Just make sure you’re not using the same head on your clean clothes as you are on your dirty floors.
- Tank capacity. It goes without saying that the bigger the job, the more water needed for your steam mop. A canister will likely have the largest water capacity, but the bulk will prevent you from some jobs. As long as you don’t mind the time spent refilling the water tank, then the smaller steam mops like the stick will still hold a lot of appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a steam mop and how does it work?
A steam mop is a mop that uses steam to clean your floors, instead of the chemicals and detergents that most other mops use. Steam will kill the bacteria and disinfect your floors while using the steam and water vapors to loosen hard stuck-on stains and will allow you to use less of your own strength scrubbing to remove them. The steam will be created by heating water from the reserve, then it will be released through a jet directly above the head of the mop; sometimes the jet is within the head itself. The head will usually be covered with a microfiber pad to catch more of the dirt and debris.
What floors can you use a steam mop on?
You can use a steam mop on most hard surface floors. You’ll have the best results with laminate, tile, and hardwood floors, as they’ll be the most likely to be unaffected by the heat and moisture. A word of caution, though: you won’t want to use this on unsealed wood floors, as they will absorb the moisture and warp and possibly even mold and rot. And, though it may be obvious, we should mention that unless specifically stated in the steam mop’s instructions, don’t use it on carpeted floors.
Do steam mops leave floor wet?
No, a steam mopping will not leave your floors wet like a traditional mop process. They may, at most, be damp, but you can expect the floors to be completely dry within just a few minutes. The steam will release vapors that can moisten stains and loosen them, but the majority of the water will be gone by the time it reaches your floors. This is, naturally, dependant on how much attention and steam you apply to each specific spot; that is, if you have a hard-stuck stain and you apply steam over-generously, then you can expect the floors to be a bit damper than if you just use it as a quick pass over.
Can you put vinegar in a steam mop?
Vinegar can be an effective cleaner and adding it to a steam cleaning process can amplify your results. It’s also a chemical-free addition that won’t harm your pets or children if you use the floors right after application. You may not love the smell, and that is something to consider, but the safety of your family may outweigh the smell, which can be mitigated by masking it with other smells. Vinegar is highly effective on laminate, tile, and stone floors. However, you do not want to use it on hardwoods – even sealed. The addition of vinegar will allow you to break down stuck-on grime and stickiness, but it will also break down the finish of the hardwood floors.
Of course, no matter what the model or brand of a steam mop, you’ll need to check its specific instructions and details to make sure that adding vinegar to the solution won’t harm the mop itself.
Other Steam Mops We Reviewed
We looked at 20 other steam mop. Even though they didn’t make our 5 best steam mop list, they’re the best of the rest and each is still a great option for your home. The information you’ll need to compare each one is included with the listing.
Spinning Steam Mops
Homitt Electric Spin Mop Power Floor Scrubber
With spinning heads, you’ll easily be able to polish your floors and remove any and all stains.
Key Features:
- 4-5 hour fast charging
- Cordless
- Lightweight; 2.8 lbs
Cost: $80
Oreck Commercial ORB550MC Commercial Orbiter Floor Machine
This steam mop offers a thirteen-inch cleaning path so you can divide your room by a foot to see an approximate number of passes you’ll need to tackle each room.
Key Features:
- 5.4 amp motor
- Robust; 24 lbs
- 50′ power cord
Cost: $270
This cordless steam mop will allow you to go wherever you want with it, without even considering the plug.
Key Features:
- Dual motor
- LED headlight
- 300ml Water Tank
Canister Steam Mops
COSTWAY Multipurpose Steam Cleaner
This powerful canister steam mop will tackle those hard set messes and still have enough water and power to handle the rest of the home, too.
Key Features:
- Up to 226 °F
- 16′ power cord
- 1.5 L water tank
Cost: $150
McCulloch Canister Steam System
The 12.5 amp motor will give you plenty of power to tackle any task you have in mind for this steam mop canister.
Key Features:
- Steam Rate: High 31 g/min; Low 15 g/min
- 20 versatile accessories
- 18′ power cord
Cost: $170
McCulloch MC1385 Deluxe Canister Steam System
This steam mop will work on virtually any surface to steam mop and sanitize your home.
Key Features:
- 34″ hose
- Lightweight; 3 lbs
- 15′ power cord
Cost: $200
Pure Enrichment PureClean XL Rolling Steam Cleaner
With a 1.5 liter water tank, you’ll spend less time refilling the tank and more time actually using it.
Key Features:
- 5-year warranty
- 18-piece accessory set
- 16′ power cord
Cost: $130
SIMBR Steam Cleaner and Steam Mop
This one steam mop will work as a steam cleaner to also tackle your upholstery and carpets, too.
Key Features:
- 1.1 L water tank
- 13.12′ power cord
- 13 accessory set included
Cost: $90
Steamfast Multi-Purpose Steam Cleaner
With this steam canister mop, you’ll be able to naturally clean all your floors without exposing them or your family to harsh chemicals of other cleaning mops and canisters.
Key Features:
- 1500 watts of power
- 45 oz water tank
- 15 versatile accessories included
Cost: $120
Wagner Spraytech SteamMachine Multi-Purpose Home Steamer Steam Cleaner
With the forty ounce boiler tank on this steam canister, you’ll get approximately 35-45 minutes of operation before you need to refill.
Key Features:
- 17 accessories included
- 290°F high-temperature steam
- 1500 watts of power
Stick Steam Mops
Bissell PowerFresh Slim Hard Wood Floor Steam Cleaner System
With purchase of this steam mop, you’ll have six mop heads included as well as two different mop pads for the most customization possible.
Key Features:
- On-board storage kit
- 3-in-1 steam mop
- 4 packaging options
Cost: $150
You’ll be able to get to work fast with this steam mop; it takes only 30 seconds to generate steam.
Key Features:
- Odor-eliminating fragrance disks included
- 1500 watts of power
- SmartSet steam control
Cost: $90
With a steam trigger and an easy-lift water tank, you can operate the swivel head with washable microfiber pads comfortably.
Key Features:
- 1-year warranty
- 17.1 ox tank capacity
- Steam in as little as 30 sec
Cost: $60
You’ll have so many washable replacement pads and head covers with this steam mop, you won’t need to worry about what to use for any surface.
Key Features:
- Lightweight; under 9 lbs
- 1300 watts of power
- Steam in 30 seconds
Cost: $160
This steam mop includes a vibration function that will scrub effectively with no extra effort on your part.
Key Features:
- 1100 watts of power
- Includes 2 mop pads
- 4-Steam control settings
Cost: $110
LIGHT ‘N’ EASY Multifunctional Steam Mop
This steamer works as well as a handheld as it does a stick, making it perfect for nearly any task steam attacks.
Key Features:
- Up too 212-degrees F
- 1-year quality assurance
- 3 steam settings
Cost: $110
With a Smart 2.0 Sensor, this steam mop will automatically release steam as you move it and shut down when stationary to avoid damaging your floors.
Key Features:
- 20′ power cord
- Steam in as little as 20 sec
- Quick-release cord
Cost: $70
With an energy-saving shut-off, you won’t have to worry about wasting water as it turns to gas, nor the unnecessary power used by your steam mop in order to heat the water.
Key Features:
- 1500 watts of power
- 15.2 oz water tank
- 25′ power cord
Cost: $95
You can put this steam mop away without damaging your floor by removing the included microfiber pad and washing it separately.
Key Features:
- 22 x 8 x 14 in
- Only distilled water recommended
- Up to temperatures of 110°C
Cost: $200
You can use this steam mop on virtually any floor-type and with its 10 included accessories, you’ll be able to customize each task.
Key Features:
- 180-degree rotating head
- 20 min continuous use
- 450 mL water tank
Cost: $55
