Best Steam Mops Reviews & Price Comparison
The modern life is a hectic one. It demands that you jangle several roles and keep tight schedules and deadlines, not to mention showing up for every important social event. These responsibilities leave very little time for catching up with ever-increasing household chores like keeping the house clean. With time, the floor inevitably accumulates dirt, grease, grime, grout, and other disease-causing viruses and bacteria. You could stick to your old, treasured mop and bucket method of scrubbing the floor. As cheap as the method might be, it comes with several attendant downsides that just don’t fit our tight schedules anymore. They are, for instance, time-consuming and energy draining, lack any convenience features and worst of all, are back-breaking with all the bending and having to go on all four to access hard-to-reach and tight spots like before immovable furniture.
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A second and superior alternative is steam mops. They are workhorses that quickly heat up water, converting it into high-pressure steam which them makes cleaning a breeze. Unlike traditional mops that limit you to the floor, steam mops are versatile and adept alternatives perfect for dislodging grime, dirt and other stuck-on debris from wooden and hard floors, tiles, grout, ovens, taps, and windows.
Additionally, you can use them to straighten creases out of curtains, clothes and to suck up all the hairs from your flurry friends that, let to their own devices, could trigger allergies in children.
The beauty of steam mops, at least for the vast majority of them, is that they don’t need to use any detergents or chemicals as conventional mops do to give your house that sparkling clean wash. They simply use the pure and all-natural power of steam and a microfiber cloth to do the heavy lifting. Consequently, they are an eco-friendly, cost-effective and time-saving alternative to the back-breaking traditional mop and bucket method.
In light of their indispensability, you want to exercise an abundance of caution to ensure you buy the model that just meets your cleaning needs. The performance should be exceptional on a multiple of floors and surfaces, whether that is the carpets, hard floor, windows, countertops, or even the bathrooms. Your light in shining armour also needs to be a cinch to use. It should spare you the headache and frustration of frequently revisiting the tap to refill and it should effortlessly pair up nicely with attachments if it comes with any.
It can understandably be overwhelming taking all these measures into consideration and gauging their performance against your expectations. To make it easy and straightforward, we’ll dutifully put together a list of ten high-performance steam mops that features the incredible ease of use, durability, affordable, versatility and convenience. But before that, let’s take a look at the factors to look out for when shopping for a new or replacement steam mop.
10 Best Steam Mops
1. BISSELL PowerFresh Steam Mop
The Bissel PowerFresh 1940, for one, sports simplistic, humdrum physical attributes that belie the beast-like performance. The machine comes with unmatched convenience, ease of use, practicality and power that provides for the effortless and quick deep-cleaning of the grimiest grout and various crevices. Fret not if you have sealed floored because that's another area the steam mop really shines. The steam mop comes with these antimicrobial microfibers that take the effort and time away from cleaning all types of floor surfaces. Its performance stands out especially if you use it to clean hard floors like those made with tiles, marbles, stones, linoleum, laminates and sealed hardwoods.
It comes with several additional features that make its performance and convenience stand out. There is a handy variable steam control with 3-speed settings of low, medium and high, which effectively make it a multi-purpose unit for undertaking various cleaning projects both at the domestic level and even commercially. The rugged construction of the steam mop allows it to withstand the rigours of the trade, irrespective of how expansive the cleaning area is.
Unlike the vast majority of cheap, run-of-the-mill steam mops on the market, it takes just 30 seconds for the heater to warm up meaning that you'll be ready to go just a short while after turning on the machine. The high-temperature steam effortlessly cuts through the accumulation of dirt and quickly cleans some of the toughest and oldest, caked-on grime, thanks to the tough and durable bristles underneath the foot lever. All the features together will leave your home clean and smelling daisy fresh and without even the need to get down on your knees to apply time-consuming, laborious, and ineffective alternatives like using the traditional mop.
For users in search of a steam mop packed to the brim with a host of useful, convenient, and time-saving features, look no further than the Bissel PowerFresh 1940. It comes with a user-friendly design, manoeuvring it around the house is a breeze and has the ruggedness to take on the grout and grime and other pesky dirt. Removing and refilling the reservoir tank is a breeze helps you save time and effort when you undertake the bigger, more demanding cleaning tasks.
- Comes with a scrubber
- Has a wide head for quick and efficient mopping
- Very portable design
- You can wash the machine pads
- Comes with fragrance discs for refreshing the place
- Has a high-capacity and easily removable 440 ml water tank
- Runs for at least 14 minutes on the lowest setting
- A little heavy
2. O-Cedar Microfiber Mop
Even though it’s an inexpensive model, it is still more than an adequate replacement for the traditional mop and bucket method of cleaning the house, minus all the back-breaking bending and kneeling, of course. There is minimal difference in performance between the stream mop and its other high-placed counterparts on the market. What it does, it does best. Considering that it goes from plug-in to steam in just 20 seconds and that it sports adjustable steam settings, we recommend that you reserve it for giving those hard, sealed floors a quick and thorough cleaning. Keep in mind that it’s rated for use even on those tough floors like hardwood, laminate, linoleum, tile and ceramic. Essentially, there isn’t a floor type or surface you can’t clean with the O-Cedar in your hands.
It is a safe alternative to chemical-based cleaning methods. It neither corrodes your floor, leaves unsightly dark spots all over the place nor exposes you and your loved ones to any dangerous cleaning detergents. Instead, and this is why we just could not pass up the steam mop, it comes with a microfiber pad that quickly and effectively absorbs all the dirt, dust, and bacteria. Therefore, if are working on a budget but need an exceptionally squeaky clean floor, don't hesitate to give this stream mop the serious consideration it deserves.
The O-Cedar mop has its fair share of downsides but they are not a deal breaker. The first is the absence of an attached scrubber and scrubber pad. Also, you get a viewing window or indicator light to help you monitor the water level. While the steam mop is a basic, budget-friendly choice, these features would have helped make life easier for the user.
In all, it is an ideal choice for users on a budget but want the best performance their money can accord them. The steam mop goes from plug to steam in only 20 seconds and comes with adjustable heat settings, much like its top-model counterparts do. It offers the user fast-cleaning action and is easy to control and manoeuvre, especially with its ergonomically designed handle and lightweight and ergonomic design, into hard-to-reach spots. And in addition to being affordable, it also has a generous 12-month warranty to give the user peace of mind and the confidence they need to clean their floors.
- Tall people will find it easy to use
- Setting it up takes a few seconds
- There is a snap-on attachment for carpets
- You can rewash the mop head
- It’s environmentally friendly
- Cleans and sanitizes effectively even without using chemicals and detergents
- Lacks a long power cord
- Head swivels limitedly
- You can’t monitor remaining water level
3. Shark Professional
It comes with a unique steam pocket technology that uses pads with two cleaning sides. Consequently, you will be cleaning and sanitizing the same at twice the speed and efficiency compared to someone using a traditional single sided steam mop. The technology has manifold advantages. In addition to enabling you to clean faster, with minimal effort and more efficiently, it also provides for a faster drying time. To these add the advantage that comes with a quick-release mop head. The feature allows you to effortlessly and thoroughly clean expansive areas and those that require detailed cleaning. Unlike the previous steam mop, though, it takes an extra ten seconds to go from plug-in to steam even though it offsets the delay by providing a 99.9 percent sanitization on all types of floors without having to use any chemicals.
The construction and engineering also aim to make your work as easy as possible. At 4.85 pounds and dimensions of 12-inches by 5.9-inches by 51.2-inches, it is one of the lightest and most compact steam mops on the market. It also comes with swivel steering and the handle sport an ergonomic design to make it easy to manoeuvre into awkward and hard-to-reach spaces like corners and below furniture. The ergonomic design of the handle enhances comfort and ease of use and ensures you don't suffer hand strain or fatigue and because it is long enough, you don't have to bend so much as to risk back pain.
Additional features that stand out include the large reservoir tank that holds enough water to enable you to cover large swaths of the floor quickly and with minimal interruptions. Also, there is a sufficiently long warranty that covers the repair or replacement of parts and components that either malfunction or are defective. You therefore no longer have to shy from going all the way with the mop.
It is an epitome of everything a homeowner and professional cleaner needs in a steam mop. It has a huge water tank that translates to fewer interruptions and the dying up time is very impressive. The steam mop also features a user-friendly and durable construction and comes with the time and energy-saving Shark steam pocket technology that coupled with the machine's head quick release feature makes for effortless and straightforward use, even in tight and confined spaces. Plus, it's a versatile choice with up to three steam setting for the ultimate cleaning experience. However, it does not come with additional attachments. Still, it's an ideal choice for any homeowner who just wants to remove all the dirt, grout, and grime from their house.
- The pads clean on both sides for longer and much quicker
- Sports an intelligent steam control system
- Using it is a cinch
- Has a long 20-foot power cord that enhances your reach and portability
- Has a large reservoir tank for prolonged cleaning
- Does not come with attachments
- A little bit expensive
4. Light ‘N’ Easy 5-In-1
Cleaning is an honestly onerous, time-consuming and labour-intensive endeavour and anyone telling you otherwise is straight up lying to your face. Consequently, the aim of steam mops is to take the time and effort away from the exercise and the Light ‘N’ Easy mop is no different. It’s a powerful and versatile machine that drastically cuts the time and effort you would otherwise invest in the effort if you were to use the traditional mop and bucket. In addition to working as a steam mop, it also functions as a carpet cleaner, a steam cleaner, a handheld garment steamer window, and mirror and glass cleaner. Patently, it’s an economical choice that helps you save on space and money.
It does not come with any of the negative aspects plaguing the traditional mop and bucket method of cleaning. Because it is lightweight and compact, with physical dimensions standing at 11.8 inches by 6.8 inches by 46.4 inches, and an accompanying weight of just 6.3 pounds, manoeuvring the steam mop into tight and hard-to-reach spots is akin to taking a walk in the park: very easy.
The diminutive dimensions enable you to access often ignored spots like below couches and the TV stand. The weight also won’t burden your hands or joints and neither will it cause hand fatigue or strain. As for versatility, you have the freedom of choosing the most suitable stream mode from a choice of three. This allows you to customize the settings in accordance with the nature of your flooring and how intense you want the cleaning to be. If you want to preserve your hardwood finish, and we bet you do, you may want to use the lowest steam settings.
The 11.5-ounce water tank carries a decent amount of water to provide for between 20 and 25 minutes of thorough cleaning on low setting. Activating the higher setting cuts that time range by half. An additional advantage to going with the Light ‘N' Easy mop over its competitors is that its design eliminates the need for using any detergents, expensive or otherwise. Tap water is just enough.
The performance gives you your money’s worth. In addition to an exemplary floor and surface cleaning performance, it is ideal for giving your clothes, windows, glasses, and even the upholstery a thorough, germ-killing cleaning. It easy to use as all you need to get to work is just tap water. It features a durable and robust construction and is surprisingly lightweight and compact and takes the least storage space in the garage and the trunk of the car, in case you want to travel with it. And unlike a mop, it has adjustable steam levels, meaning that it’s a versatile steam mop for the busy homeowner. Cleaning has never been easier, quicker, and more efficient as it is with this mop.
- Goes from plug-in to steam very quickly
- Very manoeuvrable
- You can adjust the steam settings
- Has a surprisingly low price in spite of premium features and performance
- It’s compact and therefore takes up minimal storage space
- Arrives with just a few selected accessories
- Lacks a manoeuvrable head
5. H2O X5 Mop 5 in 1
Most steam mops are just that: steam mops. The H2O X5 Mop 5 in 1 is a delightful and economic exception. In addition to giving your floor and other surfaces a thorough cleaning and sanitization, it’s also an ideal choice for cleaning windows, refreshing the carpet, steaming laundry, and scrubbing the floor. It’s a multi-functional unit that saves you money and space you’d otherwise forego for storing all these different machines. Irrespective of how you plan to use the H2O, it promises you remarkable performance.
Users looking for a hassle-free performance with fewer disruptions will love the fact that it comes with a large capacity 400ml water tank. The high capacity translates to fewer disruptions when you’re mopping a large area, which in turn helps you expend minimal effort and time on the cleaning exercise. On the lowest stem setting, the mop easily provides you with up to 30 minutes of non-stop steaming time. Couple that with its 6m long power cord that allows you to reach the furthest corner of the living room or patio without having to change power outlets. You’ll simply be moving the steam mop as you advance the line. And if you’re an elderly member of the society or are lacking in significant upper body strength, you'll greatly appreciate the lightweight and compact design of the mop.
Apart from sparing you the strain of several pounds, it's also compact and can reach tight and awkward spots around the house, helping you get rid of an exponentially growing colony of bacteria that’s a ticking time bomb. Such exceptional reachability is further aided by the innovative head design of the mop that can pivot a full 360 degrees. Manoeuvring the steam into these tight spaces and carrying or dragging it from one room to another is pretty effortless as it comes with a carpet glider. All these features denote a feature packed, easy-to-use, affordable and convenient steam mop that will make quick and short work of all the stuck-on dirt, caked-on grime, and other debris littering the house.
The steam mop comes with a few downsides you need to be conversant with before committing your money. Compared to other units on our list, it leaves more water on the floor meaning that your floor will be unusable for a few minutes after you clean it. Secondly, power cord has a stiffness and thickness that just makes it cumbersome to drag around the house and it also complicates storage. Lastly, the steam mop could go with a bigger water tank. While 400ml is enough for average sized houses, it's not ideal for large houses with multiple rooms.
For users looking for powerfully performing, effective, efficient, and easy to use steam mop, we recommend not looking further than the H2O. It packs an immense amount of cleaning power and gives you access to those hard-to-reach spots with its swivelling, triangular head and portable design. With just a few passes and no chemicals or expensive detergents, you'll be leaving your floor and other surfaces sparkling clean and devoid of any disease-causing germs and virus. It goes from plug-in to steam in just a few seconds and it’s a cinch to use. With the H2O X5, you’ll never ever consider going back to your old, traditional mop ever again.
- Comes with a wide assortment of attachments making it a versatile choice
- Has a manoeuvrable and swivelling head for extended reach
- Easily and quickly produces steam after plugging in
- Easy to use
- Leaves the floor a little dry
- The power cord is hard to wrap up for storage
- Small tank necessitates frequent refilling
6. Hoover WH20200
The WH20200 has a plethora of convenience and performance features and specs that make greatly appealing to the vast majority of professional cleaners and homeowners in need of a quick and effective cleaning solution. The steam mop’s patented TwinTank System, for instance, makes it a versatile choice as the user has the freedom of choosing between using steam along to clean and sanitize their home or to use the brand’s SteamPlus Cleaning Solution. While the former is just as effective, it nevertheless lacks the deep-cleaning capability of the latter, meaning you'll take relatively longer to get off the same dirt the patented method eliminates in a heartbeat. Choosing between the two is not even a complex endeavour. The cleaner has an easy-to-use Solution Control dial for quickly and easily selecting the cleaning method you prefer.
As you would expect, using and maintaining it is a breeze, and is a far cry from the work that’s attendant of using the conventional mop and bucket method. Filling the machine’s two tanks is not a struggle as it is with cheap, run-of-the-mill steam mop variants cluttering the market. With this model, you can remove the two tanks to quickly refill them with tap water or the Hoover SteamPlus solution for a thorough, quick and effective cleaning and sanitization.
Like other high-end steam mops on the list, this model also comes with a triangle swivel mop head that allows for easy manoeuvrability into tight and awkward spaces like those around furniture, baseboards and crevices. The 30-foot long power cord is also partly responsible for facilitating the extensive reach of the steam mop. It saves you time and effort by eliminating the need to constantly unplug. These features, together with the fact that the steam mop has a steam ready indicator helps the user complete finish all their cleaning and deodorization efforts on time, with minimal effort and as efficiently as possible.
Additional features that may sway the hearts of sceptical but enamoured readers include the machine’s 24-month warranty, the machine washable and subsequently reusable cleaning pads and the docking tray for protecting delicate floors in-between uses. To these add the standard lightweight and compact features and the ergonomic design of the handles to enhance usability and comfort. Round up all these features and it becomes a little hard to understand how it still features such a pocket-friendly price.
Patently, the Hoover Steam Mop comes with unbeatable features. It produces a deep-cleaning steam after just 30 seconds of plugging. In addition to steam, you also have the option of cleaning different items with the brand’s equally effective SteamPlus solution alone. It has a sufficiently long 30-foot power cord and features a lightweight and compact design that pairs well with its triangle swivel head to give you access to tight and hidden spots you can't access with the traditional mop. For a hassle-free, quick, and effortless cleaning, go with the WH20200.
- Heats up very quickly
- High-capacity twin-tank provides for prolonged and thorough cleaning
- Tanks are easy to remove, refill and clean
- The triangle-shaped head is easy to manoeuvre into tight and awkward spaces
- Uses machine washable microfiber pads
- Moves effortlessly on the carpet, thanks to its carpet glider
- Poor quality trigger lock
- Costly cleaning solution
7. Shark Lift-Away Mop (S3973D)
It is similarly lightweight and compact and weighs just 4.8 pounds, meaning that controllability and manoeuvrability will never be an issue. We provide an in-depth review of the steam mop in the next paragraphs. Don’t worry though; it’s devoid of all the off-putting technical jargon we normally preserve for fellow nerds.
It's an all-rounder that's perfect for cleaning, sanitizing and deodorizing a multitude of surfaces and objects that include but not limited to countertops, curtains, floors. A steam mop is a versatile machine that quickly and conveniently converts to a steamer that is portable and that's easy to use for overhead cleaning. By simply pressing a button, you convert the mop to a portable handheld steamer that provides for the easy cleaning of the already mentioned countertops and curtains, among other above-floor surfaces and objects. Unlike cheap, off-brand steam mops on the market, it releases a burst of steam that it targets at the toughest, most dried-on stains and other dirt, quickly releasing them, leaving your home clean and livable again.
In the same breathe, the steam mop comes with these next-gen grip pads that cover an over twice as far as regular pads, providing twice the cleaning effect. The pads also have a high liquid absorption capacity and will, therefore, leave the floor almost dry, unlike other steam mop models that will require you to allow a drying period after cleaning. As a result, you'll be completing your cleaning chores with ease and within a fraction of the time it would take standard mops.
Of course, it is not a run-of-the-mill lacking in auxiliary features. Attaching and releasing the pad, for instance, can be done easily and quickly, thanks to the touch-free technology steam mop incorporates. The second implication of the feature is that storing the steam mop will be a lot easy as it will take up little storage space with the pads detached. This, coupled with its lightweight and compact physical dimensions, the ergonomic design of its handle, and its exceptional performance make it an ideal choice for commercial applications where time is of the essence.
Similarly, you can vary the speed or pressure of the steam in accordance with the cleaning task you intend to undertake using the provided intelligent steam control settings. Whether it’s mopping, dusting, or scrubbing, the Shark Lift-Away can let you do it all without you having to invest in additional attachments or appliances.
Versatile, affordable, high-performance, easy to use, efficient, and time-saving are some of the ways one can summarize this mop. The steam mop uses the latest, most advanced technology to quickly, easily and efficiently dislodge the toughest and most stubborn stains, dirt, and germs thriving on your floor and carpets. It comes with all the necessary accessories to enable start cleaning, sanitizing, and deodorizing your house within the first five seconds of receiving your package. While the instrumental detachable hand-held steamer feature stands out, it does beat the product's cost-effectiveness. You can never ask for more.
- It's a functional and versatile yet cost-effective steam mop
- Heats up in a paltry 30 seconds
- High capacity water tank
- Arrives with several accessories
- Has a manoeuvrable swivelling head
- Leaves the floor dry and 99.9 percent free of bacteria and viruses
- A little on the pricey side
- Not perfect for above-floor cleaning tasks
8. Bissell Symphony Pet Steam Mop and Cleaner
It sucks away all the dust and dirt before the steamer jumps into action, giving the floor a thorough and quick cleaning. In the third and last stage, the microfiber absorbs all the remnant water, leaving the floor sparkling clean and dry. While the process comes with a few downsides, it is nonetheless a superior and time-saving alternative to using the traditional mop and bucket. The combination of all the different functionalities is a real time and energy saver that will remain unmatched by the various steam mop models on the market. Unlike the latter, it leaves your house free of all pet hair, dried-on debris, and stuck-on dirt, thanks to its ultra-strong suction capabilities.
Considering that the Bissell Symphony comes with a relatively high capacity 12.8-ounce water tank, there will be minimal disruptions as you do your task. A full tank should provide you with a runtime of anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes or an equivalent of two average-sized rooms. The heater, on the other hand, takes a relatively short 30 seconds to adequately warm up. Pair this with the steam mop's 25-foot power cord and you have yourself a machine you can use with relative comfort and ease to give your house that thorough germ-ridding cleaning you've always dreamt of.
The design and engineering aim to keep you and your loved ones safe and secure from dirt, debris, stains, bacteria and other disease-causing viruses that might be residing in your home. It, therefore, gives you a peace of mind knowing that the natural steam, without the addition of any expensive detergents or harmful chemicals, has the capacity to eradicate up to 99.9 percent of all the germs. In addition to the natural steam, you'll have total discretion of choosing whether to use pads (washable) for normal, every day cleaning routine or resort to the more effective Swiffer's mop pads when you have a serious mess to deal with.
It comes with the added advantage of having your hands pretty clean and disease-free as you do the cleaning. The steam mop comes with the convenient emptying system for the tank that guarantees that your hands don't come into contact with the dirt, stains, and fur you just cleaned. By simply pressing a lever, all the dirt goes into the trash.
On the negative side, the steam mop and vacuum cleaner lack most of the flair that are standard with high-end models. For instance, its cleaning power is not that exceptional, which will force you to make several passes to get rid of stuck-on messes. Secondly, there is no swivel head. So, manoeuvring the unit in tight and awkward spots might be a little difficult, though its performance is remarkable in open spaces.
In all, the advancement and versatility of the Bissell Symphony are hard to ignore. The steam mop also doubles up as a vacuum cleaner to help you cut down on time and effort you'd have to expend to get the cleaning job finished on time. Aside from the drawbacks mentioned earlier, which don't affect its performance significantly, anyway, it works like a charm and rightly deserves a spot on the list of ten of the best steam mops to buy.
- You can rewash the pads and filter
- Relatively large capacity water tank
- Assembling it is easy and quick
- Powerful motor provides for quick, effortless cleaning
- Compact design provides for easy access to tight spots
- Expensive
- A little heavy
- Only ideal for hard floors
9. Polti Vaporetto Smart
Unless the conventional method, you won't have to buy any additional, expensive and sometimes harmful chemicals, cleaners or detergents. The steam allows you to quickly and effortlessly dislodge the toughest, peskiest, stuck-on dirt, grime, grout and 99.9 percent of the disease-causing germs, bacteria, and viruses. If you truly want a sparkling clean, healthy and conducive living space, you'd give the Polti cleaner serious consideration.
It packs all the instrumental features and specs you need to complete all your cleaning projects around the house with minimal effort and no headaches or frustrations at all. One of its unique selling points is the high capacity 1.6-litre water tank that’s capable of providing you with up to 30 minutes of continuous steam-cleaning power. Because of its high capacity, it eliminates frequent trips to the tap to refill the tank, which translates to minimal time and effort wastage.
Using it is quite the cinch. It is expectedly lightweight and compact and therefore easily manoeuvrable around the house, even though the lack of swivel head is hard to not notice. The handle features an ergonomic design to provide the user comfort and to eliminate hand strain and fatigue if they’ll be working long hours, every other day.
A perfect choice for light-duty to heavy-duty cleaning tasks, the Polti Vaporetto Smart Airplus Steam Cleaner is a versatile machine that will seamlessly but powerfully and reliably handle any project you throw in its path. It comes with several clip-on attachments to extend its functionality and give you more than just your money’s worth. It’s rugged construction and practicality coupled with its amazing powerful makes it a strong contender for the first position, that is, if the manufacturer is open to making a few improvements here and there. Plus, it’s affordable and guarantees smooth, seamless and dependable performance.
- High capacity 1.6-litre water tank provides for uninterrupted cleaning
- Easy to use
- Cost-effective
- Cleans the toughest, peskiest stains
- Comes with a built-in deodorant reservoir
- Ambiguous user guide
- Occasionally produces water rather than steam at first try
10. Karcher SC3
To this add the quick and time-saving heating time of just 30 seconds and the fact that it has a long power to give you effortless and unhindered access to tight and awkward spots. Moving it around the house and on all types of floors is also a cinch, thanks to the ergonomic design of its handles and the fact that it comes with sturdy and durable rear tires to quick manoeuvrability.
Clearly, this steam cleaner has a lot of features in common with other steam mops on the market. It’s signature feature though, non-stop steaming, which allows the user to refill the removable tank in during use, is clearly a game changer. The refillable water tank comes with an indicator that helps you monitor the amount of water available in the tank, so you can quickly and conveniently refill it without any hold-ups. The feature, together with the fact that the heat-up time is incredibly fast and stands at just 30 seconds, means it’s an ideal choice for homeowners and professional cleaners looking to undertake extended cleaning projects.
Consequently, it guarantees the user a disease free, conducive, safe and healthy environment. No more frequent colds or coughs. The steam mop pulls another stop with its automatic descaling system that also removes water hardening limescale, ensuring that its performance is just as efficient in hard water areas as it is in soft water areas.
Another unique selling point is the effortless and hassle-free portability, which is made possible by two factors. First, the steam mop features a lightweight and compact design in spite of its sturdy and long-lasting construction using high-quality materials. The exceptional construction quality means that it can stand up to rigorous everyday use both in a domestic and commercial setting. Secondly, the compact design and the patented flexible joint system provides for easy and straightforward access to awkward and hard-to-reach spaces like below furniture. As a result, you get to cover every inch of the floor, leaving no stones unturned, figuratively, of course.
Additional features include the LED display for letting you know the readiness of the steam to take guessing out of the process and the water shortage display that lets you know the amount of water remaining in the tank. In the latter case, as was mentioned earlier, you have the freedom of refilling the tank without having to pause your cleaning. There is also an onboard storage on the main unit for safely keeping all accessories in between uses, which guards against the likelihood of losing them.
For users with hearts set on a pocket-friendly workhorse steam mop, look no further than the Karcher SC3. Its performance is both dependable and vigorous. It doesn’t require rocket science to use and it packs a litany of mind-blowing features that leave other cheaper, off-brand models on the market green with envy. We could never recommend it enough.
- Comes with a bunch of accessories
- Very versatile choice
- Goes from plug-in to steam in just 30 seconds
- Easy to use
- Long lance provides for extended reach and portability
- Works consistently and reliably
- Lightweight and compact
- Fair and reasonable pricing
- A little rough on the eyes
- Doesn’t come with a carpet glider
Criteria for Choosing the Best Steam Mops
Affordability
There is always a direct relationship between the price of a product and brand. More established with a reputation for manufacturing high-quality, durable products tend to charge a higher price than off-brands. The observation is also true for steam mops. Products from top brands, with all their attendant bells and whistles, command a higher price than their cheaper, run-of-the-mill counterparts. However, don’t strive to purchase a premium-priced steam with all the flair if you won’t be using most of the features. In addition to working within your budget, make a point of going for those units that best suit your unique cleaning conditions. Irrespective of your budget, it would be foolhardy to compromise on performance, usability, practicality and durability.
Performance
A second critical consideration for users combing the Internet in search of a practical and functional option is the quality of its delivery. Before committing your money, and assuming you’re conversant with the cleaning workload you have to do, make a point of referring to the power rating of your preferred one. It should be powerful enough to cover your target floor space without any hiccups or struggling.
In the same breath, the steam pressure should be high enough to effortlessly and quickly dislodge the toughest, peskiest, or most stuck-on grease, stains, grime, grout, and other debris. Manufacturers tend to denote power in terms of bar pressure and sometimes in grams of steam per minute, the latter of which is commonly abbreviated to gm. It goes without saying that more powerful options allow the user to expend the least possible effort and time on their cleaning project.
With regard to steam mops, it’s impossible to talk about performance without heating time crawling up. Powerful variants on the market offer a heating time of just 10 seconds from the time you plug in the steam mop. Still, others will keep you impatiently tapping your toes on the floor and checking your watch every now and then, wondering why the heating time is taking forever. If you’re a patient person with nowhere to rush to, one with a heating time of anywhere between 1 and 5 minutes or longer should do just fine.
Capacity and Design of Water Tank
The water holding capacity of your steam mop’s tank can mean the difference between finishing cleaning and sanitizing an entire floor quickly and effortlessly or wasting time frequently revisiting the tap to refill the tank. With a big water tank, you relish the convenience of significantly cutting trips to tap, which in turn leads to a significant reduction in the time one takes to finish the cleaning task. No unnecessary hold-ups and delays. The downside to a large capacity water tank is that there might be difficulties manoeuvring it around the house, especially when you don’t have the luxury of floor space.
Speaking of which, there is also a lot of conveniences that comes with a detachable water tank. It spares you the trouble of having to carry the whole unit to the sink to discard the dirty, used water. For a non-detachable water tank, there is no other choice but to carry the whole unit, plus the water inside to the sink. The decision on which is better the two actually comes down to individual preferences.
Ease of Use
Practicality is yet another factor you need to look out for when shopping for a steam mop, not that they need a rocket science degree or any other specialized skills to operate. However, considering that cleaning the house is not a particularly attractive endeavour, we bet you want to get it over and done with as fast as possible and with minimal hiccups. Compatibility with a wide array of attachments, for one, should top the list of users looking for versatility and to save time. Compatibility allows you to clean multiple surfaces other than just the floor, including the windows, carpets, and even laundry. Users living in hard water area may always want to go for a unit with a limescale filter that stops the mineral from accumulating
Another important factor that facilitates usability is the design. If you want an effortless and hassle-free operation, ensure your unit is both lightweight and compact so that it’s comfortable to use for extended periods. The handles need to be ergonomically designed to prevent hand fatigue and strain. Wheels significantly help with manoeuvrability and portability, especially around tight and awkward corners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are steam mops safe to use on carpets and floors?
A: If you’re apprehensive about buying one fearing that it might ruin your carpet or floor, the quickest way to quell those fears is giving you a straight-up honest answer, which is no. Various models either come with or are compatible with carpet gliders to ensure you effortlessly and harmlessly use them over carpets. Plus, they efficiently clean and sanitize your carpet, killing up to 99.9 percent of the germs and bacteria living therein. As for whether a steam mop is safe to use on all types of floors, note that they are unless there are gaps between the wooden planks and floorboards.
Q: Do steam mops get rid of pet stains and odour?
A: They are your best answer to pet stains and odour. They use high steam pressure to eliminate all the stains left by your flurry friends while sanitizing the entire place. They also use fragrance discs to release a fresh and welcoming smell throughout the room. Provided you make a point a point of regularly cleaning the house, it should be free of pet stains and odour.
Conclusion
All the ten products featuring on our list are deserving of their respective positions. Their cleaning quality is top-notch, they are easy to use, durable, and very affordable. A few, however, have high prices that are totally commensurate with their performance, durability and ease of use. As they say, you get what you pay for. Irrespective of your needs, we’ve got your back. Going forward, you have no excuse for living in a dirty place, bachelor or no.