The 5 Best Steam Mops of 2023, According to Experts
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Keep floors (and more) gunk-free and sparkling clean with these expert-approved steam mops.
Food & Wine / Reese Herrington
Cooking and cleaning go hand in hand. Once you’re done preparing your meal, it’s time to break out the cleaning tools to remove the spills and crumbs that have scattered across the countertops and kitchen floor. The easiest and most effective way to clean your floors is by using a steam mop — goodbye to pesky spots and stains.
“Steam mops have a boiler mechanism that turns water into steam; the steam created is then pumped out of a cleaning head,” says Allison Hogan, cleaning product manager for Black+Decker. The steam loosens grime, grease, and dried-on stains, and depending on the temperatures your steam mop reaches, it also removes bacteria for optimal sanitization.
To help you find the right steam mop for your needs, we rounded up the best models on the market based on their performance, design, and overall value. Keep scrolling to learn more about the steam mops we recommend and why.
Bissell 1940 PowerFresh Scrubbing & Sanitizing Steam Mop
Best Overall
Pros: This wildly popular model can clean and sanitize hard floors and includes a flip-down scrubber for sticky messes.
Cons: The fragrance disks can be a bit overpowering.
If you’re looking for one steam mop to fit all your needs, this is our favorite model. You can switch between high, medium, and low steam settings depending on your messes and move quickly and easily with the swivel steering. The flexible head is incredibly helpful when you have messes that have splashed in what feels like impossible-to-reach places.
The steam mop comes with two pads: a soft one for everyday messes and a firm one for a deep clean. What’s more, you can use the flip-down scrubber on the back side of the mop for sticky, dried-on spots and even on grout. If you love the smell of a freshly washed kitchen, you can buy de-mineralized scented water, which comes in several scents and is more about leaving a fresh smell behind rather than cleaning any more deeply.
Price at time of publish: $93
Cord Length: 23 feet
Weight: 6 pounds
Tank Capacity: 16 ounces
Adjustable Steam: Yes
Floor Type: Sealed hardwood, ceramic, linoleum, granite, and marble floors
Related:The 15 Best Kitchen Cleaning Tools of 2023
PurSteam 10-in-1 Steam Mop
Best Value
Pros: This affordable option works on everything from steaming your clothes to freshening up pet areas.
Cons: It can be fiddly to refill the water spout area.
Is your kitchen already crowded with far too many gadgets? This all-in-one steam mop is an excellent option since it has many uses beyond steam cleaning your floor. Not only does it serve as a quality steam mop, but it can also be used as a handheld clothes steamer and window squeegee. And of all the models tested, this one seems to be the most versatile in terms of floors you can use it on — from hardwood floors to hardwood, vinyl, tiles, ceramic, and carpet.
To use the device on wrinkly shirts or dirty windows, simply detach the handheld unit from the mop at the press of a button and choose one of the included nozzles to use for your specific task. Best of all, this model boasts a longer steaming time with up to 25 minutes of heat on the maximum setting.
Price at time of publish: $79
Cord Length: 15.9 feet
Weight: 2.2 pounds
Tank Capacity: 12.8 ounces
Adjustable Steam: Yes
Floor Type: Hardwood floors, vinyl, marble, carpet, ceramic and porcelain tiles
Bissell PowerFresh Vac & Steam All-in-One Vacuum and Steam Mop
Best Splurge
Pros: This model vacuums and steams simultaneously and is easy to use.
Cons: It’s not suitable for vacuuming carpeted floors.
Instead of sweeping before you mop, this model allows you to remove loose debris and tough stains at the same time thanks to its two-in-one design. You can easily switch from suction (aka vacuum) to steam to high steam at the flip of a switch. This is ideal for kitchen floors where crumbs collect alongside sticky residue and maybe even pet food and hair. It’s important to note that though it has vacuuming capabilities, it’s only suitable for sealed hard floors, not carpets or rugs.
It comes with a soft mop pad and a scrub mop pad to tackle all kinds of messes, and they can be tossed in the wash after each cleaning session to be reused time and time again. To remove the pad, simply push the foot pedal and the mop tray will release. Another thing we love is that when you are done cleaning, you can collapse the handle for easy storage.
Price at time of publish: $186
Cord Length: 25 feet
Weight: 9.7 pounds
Tank Capacity: 12.8 ounces
Adjustable Steam: Yes
Floor Type: Sealed hardwood, ceramic, linoleum, granite, marble
Shark Steam and Scrub Hard Floor Steam Mop
Best for Hardwood Floors
Pros: This model is designed for sealed hard floors and won’t lift off the finish even when scrubbing.
Cons: It doesn’t work on as many floor types as some other models do.
If the majority of your floors are hardwood, you’re probably faced with the challenge of keeping them clean while not destroying their expensive finish. This Shark steam mop is an excellent choice, as it’s designed to tackle dirt and messes on sealed floors. It also has a more advanced design than nearly all the other steam mops out there.
The rotating power steam pads deliver more than 150 scrubs per minute, so you don’t have to exert yourself for a deep clean. There are also LED headlights, which can be a mixed blessing since they reveal all the hidden dirt and stains around the house but ultimately help you clean under furniture and in dark corners. This is a really beautiful machine and a powerhouse but might be too much steam mop for anyone with a smaller space. Also worth noting is that this model comes with four washable pads, which sounds like a lot of extras, but less so if you consider that you need to use two at a time.
Price at time of publish: $180
Cord Length: 22 feet
Weight: 7.8 pounds
Tank Capacity: More than one cup of water, but it’s not specified
Adjustable Steam: Yes
Floor Type: Hardwood, marble, tile, and stone
Related:The 6 Best Cordless Vacuums of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
Bissell 15441/A PowerFresh Pet Lift-Off 2-in-1 Scrubbing & Sanitizing Steam Mop
Best with Attachments
Pros: It comes with 13 attachments, making it the most versatile model on our list.
Cons: It’s heavier and harder to store than other options.
Bissell wins again with this versatile steam mop, featuring 13 different attachments. In addition to steaming floors, it works as a fabric steamer for furniture and pet beds, a grout tool for dirt and grime in bathrooms, a scrub brush for buildup on kitchen appliances and sinks, a window squeegee for glass surfaces, and so much more.
Just because it has all these other functions, doesn’t mean its steam-mopping capabilities aren’t enough to purchase this gadget. It only takes 30 seconds to heat up and cools down in less than 20 seconds, allowing you to handle the pad right after you’re done. It’s very effective on sticky spots and stains, and like most models, includes soft and scrubbing pads. Keep in mind that it weighs 10 pounds if you need to haul it up or down stairs.
Price at time of publish: $145
Cord Length: 25 feet
Weight: 10 pounds
Tank Capacity: 12 ounces
Adjustable Steam: Yes
Floor Type: Sealed hardwood, ceramic, linoleum, granite, marble, above-floor cleaning
Our Favorite
Our best overall pick is the Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop. There’s a lot to love about this steam mop, including the fact it comes with two microfiber pads for different types of messes and that you won’t have to wait long for the steam to heat up. Simply plug in the mop, allow it to heat up for 30 seconds, and it’s ready to go. The generous water tank also means that you can tackle a large space without having to constantly refill.
Factors to Consider
Floor Type
When shopping for a steam mop, it’s crucial to take into account the type of floor you’ll be using it on. I tested one steam mop on a vintage linoleum kitchen floor and the corners of the tiles popped up within hours. Read the specifications carefully to see if the steam mop is made for hardwood floors, tiles, and sealed or unsealed finishes. And then to be on the safe side, test on a small, inconspicuous corner before tackling the entire surface.
Tank Capacity
If you have a small space, you probably don’t have to worry too much about the tank capacity, so even an eight-ounce tank should be fine. If you’ll be cleaning an entire house or larger rooms though, you want a steam mop with a large tank size so it doesn’t have to be refilled constantly. Pro tip: Empty the tank between uses to avoid leaks in your closet or storage spaces.
Attachments
Most standard steam mops come with a base, a mop head, and a handle. If you’d like to tackle things like the nooks and crannies in your kitchen or the grout in your bathroom, look for models with attachments like multiple nozzles that often attach to flexible hoses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do steam mops work?
“Steam loosens dirt and grime, which the mop pad then wipes away,” Hogan says. For the most part and depending on the model, “all you have to do is plug in the product and turn on the boiler to heat up the water (this typically takes less than 30 seconds on most models).”
What types of floors can you use a steam mop on?
Most steam mops feature very specific instructions on how they should be used. “You can use a steam mop on sealed hardwood floors, tile, and stone,” Hogan says. She also shared some other applications possible with steam mop accessories:
Squeegee and Pad: Glass, shower door, and windows
Small Brush Attachment: Around faucets and tight corners
Grout Brush Attachment: Sealed grout lines for tough dirt and grime
Copper Brush Attachment: Grill grates
Is mopping or steaming better for floors?
“Steam mops are a great cleaning option for efficiency seekers and those who love the satisfaction of a deep clean,” Hogan says. And if you or a loved one has mobility issues or arthritis or similar, a steam mop can make it a lot easier to keep their space clean. “Like most powered cleaning tools, steam mops take a lot of the manual effort out of cleaning that you would experience with traditional mopping,” she says. “A benefit of steam mops is that you can often achieve germ kill with just water, eliminating the need for harsh chemicals, making these tools a convenient and safe choice for consumers.”
Most importantly, read the instructions carefully. Some steam mops can actually stain wood surfaces if you add cleaning products, and some are specifically made only to be used with limited surfaces. Using your steam mop in a way it's not intended could damage your floor’s finish.
Our Expertise
Former bakery owner Rachel Weingarten determined the best steam mops based on her hands-on experience with testing out various steam mops to clean up far too many kitchen messes. She also consulted with cleaning experts for product recommendations and helpful insights on how to choose the right model and how to use steam mops properly.
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