

And keep in mind that most steam mops alone likely won't whiten dirty or stained grout lines. Steam mops are generally safe to use on sheet vinyl, ceramic and porcelain tile floors, however, it is always a good idea to check with your flooring brand to be sure using steam won't void your floor's warranty. ✔️ Think about what type of floor you're cleaning.

But first, there are some things you'll have to consider. It may be, especially if you want to clean your floors without chemicals. And since the pad gets tossed or washed when you're done, steam mops are neater and easier to store than messy, drippy string or sponge mops.

Then, you either toss the disposable cloth or wash and reuse the pad. As the steam penetrates and softens the grime on your floor, the pad picks it up and traps it. Steam mops work with a reusable microfiber pad or a disposable cloth attached to the head that helps disperse the steam across the floor. There are no separate cleaners to buy and store and no heavy buckets to fill and empty. And the fact that they kill germs can give you peace of mind that your floors are really clean for these family members.Ī steam mop is an all-in-one system. Steam mops can also provide a deeper clean in homes where kids or pets like to play and lie on the floors. Just pass them slowly over areas you want to sanitize - for 20 seconds or 15 passes - to give the steam time to do its job. Unlike just about every other type of floor mop, steam mops reach temperatures high enough to kill germs and bacteria on hard surfaces. Or, if you just want to cut down or eliminate some of the cleaning products in your home, switching to a steam mop is an easy fix! Any special features, like scrubbing brushes or handheld attachments, are also evaluated.Ĭonsider switching to a steam mop if you have a busy household with lots of foot traffic and need to wash your floors often, as it will streamline your cleaning routine and save you from having to buy and stock up on floor-cleaning formulas. For mops with reusable pads, we launder the pads multiple times to make sure they continue to perform after washing. In our last test of 17 steam mops, that added up to over 1,000 forward and backward mopping strokes! We time how quickly the floor dries after cleaning and how easy the mops are to fill, use, clean and store. We allow these stains to set and dry for 14 hours then pass the mops across them until clean or we reach a maximum of 30 strokes, whichever comes first. For steam mops, we time how quickly they heat up, measure how much steam they produce and assess how thoroughly they remove dried-on sticky foods and beverages, like orange juice, cola and spaghetti sauce, and greasy messes like salad oil, along with regular dust and dirt from ceramic tile and vinyl test floors. When we test steam mops in the Good Housekeeping Cleaning Lab, we base our tests on industry-standard protocols established by ASTM International, an industry group of appliance engineers and technical experts. We launder the reusable pads and check special features, like scrubbing brushes or handheld attachments. We time how quickly the floors dry after cleaning and how easy the mops are to fill, use, clean and store. When we test steam mops in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, we time how quickly they heat up, measure how much steam they produce and assess how thoroughly they remove dried-on sticky foods, greasy messes and regular dust and dirt from ceramic and vinyl floor tiles.
#HAND HELD BROOM AND DUST PAN PLUS#
Plus many convert into handheld models with an assortment of brushes and other attachments to clean moldy grout, greasy grill grates and dirty windows and even de-wrinkle fabrics. As an added benefit, because the steam is so hot, these mops can sanitize germy areas like bathroom floors and pet spaces in a way that other floor cleaners like vacuum cleaners, regular mops, robot mops and hardwood floor cleaners just can't. Instead of traditional chemical cleaners, steam mops turn plain water into hot steam to dissolve grime, remove tough, dried-on stains and zap everyday dust and dirt with the help of washable, reusable microfiber pads, so there's nothing to toss or dispose of. We also answered frequently asked consumer questions about buying and using steam mops, and explained why you should trust Good Housekeeping's product recommendations.įor sparkling clean floors without the need for cumbersome buckets, floor cleaning products or, worse, hands-and-knees scrubbing, a steam mop could be the answer you are looking for. This article was updated in July 2022 to replace previously untested models with reviews of newly tested models from Black & Decker and Euroflex.
