Best (and Worst) Steam Mops of 2025
The best-performing models put the squeeze on traditional sponge mops when it comes to hassle-free floor cleaning
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Steam mops, aka floor steamers, promise an easier, more convenient way to clean tile floors than ordinary squeeze mops. Unlike the traditional approach, which involves dragging around a bucket of water and a drippy sponge or string mop, a steam mop heats water inside a refillable tank and applies the steam produced directly to the floor. But our tests of over two dozen models of steam mops have shown that, while handy to use, they’re not all equal in cleaning ability.
In our tests, we’ve seen that steam mops generally do a better job of cleaning up messes such as coffee stains, mustard, and ketchup than they do for stickier spills like jam. We also noticed that if your mop comes with different mop pads, the pads with rougher, more bristly textures are more effective at removing stains than the softer ones.
And overall, we’ve seen an improvement in steam mops’ cleaning performance over the past few years as well.
Below, you can read reviews of six of the top steam mops from our tests, listed in alphabetical order, as well as one of the worst (which just might send you searching for that bucket and sponge mop). CR members can check out more options from among the nearly 30 models in our complete steam mop ratings. You can also read our steam mop buying guide to learn more about helpful features and how the mops work. For more floor-cleaning help, check out our buying guide and ratings for vacuums and carpet cleaners.
The top steam mops in our ratings do a superb job of cleaning stains. Most feature a ready light, which indicates when the steam has reached the optimal temperature and the mop is ready for use.
The Bissell PowerFresh Pet Lift-Off 15441 impressed us with its ability to tackle tough stains and produce a good amount of steam. It’s easy to use and comes with a plethora of accessories (13 in total) that help you target different corners of your home, including grout, showers, pet toys, stovetops, and more. The mop can be converted into a handheld steamer, making it easier to clean areas above your floors.
In our tests, the Bissell PowerFresh Slim does an excellent job of cleaning various stains off ceramic tiles and has a decent steam rate. It comes with a 25-foot cord, which makes it easier to maneuver, and a ready indicator light. It gets some points deducted for convenience because it doesn’t have a place to easily store its cord, and you need to use a funnel to fill the mop with water. The mop can be converted into a handheld steaming device for targeted cleaning on your windowsills, kitchen appliances, countertops, grout, and more. Like other Bissell models, this one includes a two-year warranty for repair and replacement.
In our tests, the Euroflex Vapour M2R is outstanding at cleaning stains off tiles and adequate at producing steam. Its convenience score, however, is on the lower side because the model takes longer to heat its water than the other models in our ratings. Once it’s fully heated, this steam mop is capable of producing high-temperature steam, and its run time lasts around 20 minutes, according to our tests. The mop comes with a five-year warranty.
The Kärcher SC 3 Upright EasyFix is currently the top-rated steam mop in our ratings and is an all-around high performer. The model wowed us with both its cleaning performance and its steam production. Its run time, however, is on the shorter side, averaging around 18 minutes on its highest steam setting. This steam mop comes with a ready indicator light and a carpet glide for use on carpets and area rugs. It also has a descaling filter that removes minerals from water if you’re not using demineralized water for your mop.
If you’re looking for a less expensive steam mop, the PurSteam 10-in-1 Therma Pro 211 does a brilliant job of cleaning stains off ceramic tiles. While it doesn’t have a ready indicator light and its 16-foot cord is shorter than others—both reasons for the mop’s convenience score being on the lower side—it still has plenty of convenient features. The mop can be used as a handheld steamer, and its compact design (you can fold it in half) allows for easier storage.
The budget-friendly Steam & Go Housekeeper 10-in-1 SAG806D earns a stellar rating in our cleaning tests, though its steam production is only mediocre. You can use it as a detachable handheld steamer and pair it with different cleaning attachments to clean counters, sinks, and grout, and even steam clothes and curtains. A slight inconvenience is that it lacks an indicator light that lets you know when the mop is ready to be used.
The Lowest-Rated Steam Mop
The lowest-rated steam mops in our ratings are difficult to use and leave a considerable amount of debris behind in our tests.
Among the three models with unsatisfactory Overall Scores, the Shark S1000 is the worst offender, sitting at the very bottom of our steam mop ratings. We found it does an awful job at cleaning stains and is lackluster at producing steam. It’s the only mop we tested that lacks a motorized pump, which means you have to constantly pump the handle yourself to create steam. Not surprisingly, our testers gave this model a rock-bottom score for convenience. Coincidentally, Shark also makes the second-worst model in the ratings, the Shark Steam Pocket S3501, which uses a similar pumping mechanism.
How CR Tests Steam Mops
To test how well a steam mop cleans, CR’s engineers smear mustard, one of the toughest stains to clean, onto ceramic tiles. After the mustard dries, we take photos, and then a machine pushes the steam mop over each tile in 10 even back-and-forth strokes. We use photo-imaging software to see precisely how much soil is removed.
To gauge how much steam a mop produces, we fill the water tank, measure its weight, use the mop for 5 minutes, and then weigh it again. We calculate the amount of water that has disappeared to extrapolate the amount that’s been converted to steam.
For our convenience rating, we consider multiple attributes that make a steam mop easy to use, such as its steam time, run time, cord length, steam rate options, and whether or not it has an indicator light that shows when the mop is ready to be used or needs refilling. Other factors we look at include how easy it is to refill and empty the mop’s water tank, remove its mop head, and store its cord when not in use.
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