Steam Mop Buying Guide

When buying a steam mop, look for one that cleans well, is easy to use, and is lightweight, says Larry Ciufo, who leads CR’s testing of steam mops. You can check out our steam mop ratings to see which models remove stains better than others. For convenience, prioritize a steam mop with features such as a long power cord, an indicator light that shows when the mop has finished heating the water and is ready to use, and a decent water capacity so that you don’t have to constantly refill the tank.

Adjustable steam levels are another important feature to look for. A lower steam level is great for quick cleanups or delicate floor surfaces where too much heat or moisture could damage your floor’s finish. A higher steam level is better suited to removing stuck-on dirt or cleaning more durable surfaces like tile and grout, says Vana Kokkinos, the steam brand manager at Bissell.

If your steam mop has more than one type of mopping pad, that’s a nice plus. You can use the more abrasive pads for tougher stains and the gentler ones for everyday cleaning. Make sure the mopping pads are washable and reusable to reduce waste, says Ciufo.

Before you buy a steam mop, here are a few things to be aware of:

Germ-Killing Claims
Some steam mops claim to sanitize floors and other surfaces under controlled test conditions. But whether they’re actually effective at killing germs depends on several factors, including the temperature of the steam the mop produces and how long it’s in contact with the floor.

Floor Damage Risks
Generally, it’s safe to use a steam mop on sealed hard floor surfaces. There are a couple of ways to tell whether it’s okay to use steam on your floors. First, check for seams. If the planks of your floor are tightly locked with no visible gaps, they should be fine with steam. You can also try the water bead test: Place a drop of water on an inconspicuous seam on your floor. If it beads rather than absorbs, the seal is intact, says Emily Costelow, product manager for Kenmore Floor Care.

Don’t use a steam mop on unsealed hardwood, engineered wood, or any surface that is sensitive to heat and moisture because steam can cause warping or damage over time. Avoid steam on any floors with peeling edges or older peel-and-stick tiles because the heat can soften the adhesives and damage the flooring, Costelow says.

If you’re still unsure whether your floor is sealed, test a small area first and review the floor manufacturer’s care instructions, according to a SharkNinja representative. And if your flooring is still under warranty, check with the manufacturer to make sure that using a steam mop won’t void it.

Mop Pad Cleanup
The removable pad at the bottom of a steam mop can hold only so much grime before it just pushes the excess debris along. Before removing a dirty pad, place the unit on a horizontal surface, such as a countertop or floor, to prevent any water in the tank from dripping out. If you have to raise the mophead above the tank, empty the water tank first.

Some manufacturers suggest cleaning the pad in a washing machine, but you wouldn’t want to toss a grungy one in the same load with bed linens or school clothes. That said, running an entire washing machine cycle just for one or two pads seems wasteful. Instead, you can wash pads in a sink using hot water and soap, then rinse and hang them to air-dry.

In our series of cleaning tests, we apply a measured amount of mustard—one of the tougher food stains to clean—to the surface of a ceramic tile. After the mustard dries, we photograph the soiled tile. We then make several passes over it while controlling the speed and back-and-forth strokes of the mop. Because most steam mops are designed to be used only with water, that’s what we use in our tests. (Many manufacturers encourage consumers to use distilled water for their steam mops because tap water contains minerals that will build up in the mop over time.) After cleaning the tile and letting it air-dry, we take another photo to see how much mustard was removed and how much remains.

For our steam-rate test, we fill the steam mop’s water tank, give the water 30 seconds to heat up, then clean the floor with the mop for 5 minutes. We measure the amount of water left in the tank and use it to estimate the amount of steam produced. The less water left in the tank means the more steam the mop was able to create.

Our tests have shown that a steam mop’s pad affects how effectively it cleans up stains. A pad with a rougher, more bristly texture is better at removing soil than a softer pad. To be fair in our evaluation, we test steam mops with the mop pads they come with. If the mop has more than one style of mop pad, we clean the tile using the pad with the coarser texture.

Steam control: This feature, found in most models we’ve tested, lets you control the amount of steam delivered.

Ready indicator light: This light on some steam mops turns on when the water is heated and the mop is ready to use.

Empty-reservoir indicator: This light on some steam mops warns you when it’s time to refill the water reservoir.

Swivel head: On some steam mops, this feature may make maneuvering in tight spaces easier.

Carpet glider: Some steam mops come with a plastic frame that snaps onto the mop’s base and allows it to easily glide across carpet fibers. You can use the steam mop and carpet glider to lightly clean and freshen your carpets, but they’re not designed for a deep-clean, Costelow says. For a more thorough cleaning of your carpets, you’ll still need a dedicated carpet cleaner. Make sure you don’t use a steam mop on any carpets or rugs that cannot be cleaned with water or water-based products, such as natural-fiber carpets, Kokkinos says.

Detachable steam generator: Some models let you detach the working end from the base so that you can use it as a handheld steamer.

Power cord: Cord lengths on the models we’ve tested range from 20 to 25 feet. A short cord may limit you to a small cleanup job in a small room. Note that an extension cord may be unsafe with these high-wattage appliances.

Additional cleaning accessories: Some models come with extra tools for cleaning windowsills, kitchen appliances, countertops, sinks, grout, carpets, curtains, clothes, and more.