Steam mops are great for sealed hard floors like tile, stone, marble and hardwood, but heat and steam can penetrate some types of flooring and cause damage. Don’t use a steam mop on unsealed wood, unglazed ceramic tile or vinyl plank flooring. If you’re not sure, check with your flooring manufacturer.
The 6 Best Steam Mops of 2023
The best steam mop will not only clean your floors but sanitize them as well. Choose one of our favorites to get rid of 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria and make your grout look like new!
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Ready to get your floors sparkling? Using the best steam mop for your floors will deep clean and sanitize up to 99.9% of household bacteria—all with just steam!
Steam mops work by heating up water to produce steam (most mops heat water to a temperature between 200 and 250 degrees Fahrenheit). The hot steam kills dust mites, mold, mildew and viruses on contact, and gets rid of dust and grime in the process. The steam quickly evaporates as you mop, leaving you with clean, dry floors with virtually no harsh chemicals or back-breaking scrubbing.
Steam mops are great for sealed hard floors like tile, stone, marble and hardwood, but heat and steam can penetrate some types of flooring and cause damage. Don’t use a steam mop on unsealed wood, unglazed ceramic tile or vinyl plank flooring. If you’re not sure, check with your flooring manufacturer.
Another tip: According to top brands like Bissell and Shark, you should use distilled or demineralized water to prolong the life of your steam mop.
Is steam cleaning as good as mopping?
Steam cleaning is better than traditional mopping in some ways. You’ll get a deeper clean with a steam mop because the high temperature of the steam actually sanitizes your floors—something a traditional mop can’t do without the use of chemicals. The power of steam can help break up those stubborn stains that a mop can’t. However, steam mops are more expensive than a traditional mop, and require a battery or electricity to work.
Before you start mopping, give your floors a quick pass with the vacuum to pick up any large debris. (If you’re in the market, consider the best cordless vacuums and read our Dyson V11 review.)
How do I make my floor smell good with a steam mop?
You can add scented water to your steam mop to get that lovely “clean” smell when you’re done mopping, but only use your specific steam mop’s recommended products. Bissell makes demineralized scented water in a couple different scents. Using a homemade solution—particularly ones using essential oils—can damage your steam mop.