5 Best Steam Mops of 2026, Lab-Tested and Reviewed
The best-performing models put the squeeze on traditional mops when it comes to floor cleaning
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Tired of dragging around a squeeze mop to clean your floors? Steam mops promise a more convenient way to clean tile floors. Unlike the traditional approach, which involves lugging 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.
Our tests of over 30 models show that while these products are handy to use, not all are equal in cleaning ability. While we’ve seen an improvement in the cleaning performance of steam mops over the past few years, they still do a better job of cleaning up certain messes, such as coffee stains, mustard, and ketchup, than stickier spills like jam. And if a mop comes with different mop pads, the rougher, bristly textured pads are (unsurprisingly) more effective at removing stains than the softer ones.
Here we’ve highlighted five of the top steam mops from our tests, listed in alphabetical order, as well as a few of the worst (which might send you back to that bucket and sponge mop). CR members can check out more options from our complete steam mop ratings. You can also read our steam mop buying guide to learn more about how these mops work and which features are the most helpful. For more help with floor cleaning, check out our buying guide and ratings for vacuums and carpet cleaners.
The top steam mops in our ratings excel at removing 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 Commercial BGST1566 is excellent at removing stains from ceramic tiles, earning it a top-notch score in our cleaning tests. It also rates well for convenience, with a long 30-foot cord and an indicator light that shows when the steam mop is ready to use. It comes with three microfiber pads, two soft ones for everyday use and a scrub pad for more stubborn messes. There’s also a built-in scrubber that makes it easier to clean grout and crevices.
The Bissell SpinWave SmartSteam 3897A is designed a bit differently from the other steam mops in our ratings. It cleans floors with two spinning mop pads, while most of the steam mops we test use only one stationary mop pad. At 11 pounds when its tank is full, it’s heavier than the average steam mop, but its cleaning performance is indisputable, as evidenced by its stellar cleaning score in our ratings. Its run time is fairly long, so you won’t have to worry as much about refilling the tank in the middle of your cleaning session. It also comes with several convenient features, such as a ready indicator light, an empty water tank light, LED lights to illuminate hard-to-see areas, and a display screen that shows the steam mop’s current cleaning mode and steam temperature.
The Kärcher SC 3 Upright EasyFix 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 12 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 features a descaling filter that removes minerals from water, allowing you to use tap water instead of demineralized water.
The budget-friendly Kenmore S200 Series SM2060 excels at cleaning messes and producing ample steam. What makes it unique is its scrubber tool, which is built into the mop and can be used to remove dirt and grime from floors once the mop head is detached. This mop features two distinct steam settings. Its run time is average, and it doesn’t have features such as an empty indicator light, so its convenience score is only middling. But that doesn’t stop it from landing near the top of our ratings due to its impressive cleaning ability.
The Tineco Floor One S5 is more expensive than our other recommendations, but that’s because it’s not just a steam mop. In addition to its mopping ability, it can also vacuum dry and wet debris. (In our lab tests, though, we’ve only tested its capacity as a steam mop.) The S5 is stellar at removing stains and producing steam in our lab tests, earning it a near top spot in our ratings. It’s also very convenient to use, coming with a ready indicator light, an empty indicator light, and a long 27-foot cord. Its run time is above par at around 20 minutes. One downside of this model is that it’s on the heavier side, weighing 16 pounds when its tank is full.
Lowest-Rated Steam Mops
The lowest-rated steam mops in our ratings are difficult to use and leave behind considerable debris in our tests.
At the very bottom of the ratings is the Shark Steam Pocket S3501. It does an awful job of removing stains and produces little steam. It lacks a motorized pump, so you have to constantly pump the handle to create steam. Not surprisingly, our testers gave this model a below-average score for convenience. Shark also makes the second-worst model in the ratings, the Shark S1000, which uses a similar pumping mechanism. The third-worst steam mop we tested is the Dirt Devil WD20000, with a dismal cleaning score.
Notably, the fourth-worst mop we tested is the Labigo 10-in-1 KS-7883, which is currently a No.1 bestseller on Amazon. It might be popular, but we found it horrible at removing stains from ceramic tiles. Its cord is on the shorter side, as is its run time.
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, on 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 accurately record the amount of soil removed.
To gauge the amount of steam a mop produces, we fill the water tank, measure its weight, use the mop for 5 minutes, 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 steam time, run time, cord length, steam rate options, and whether it has an indicator light that shows when the mop is ready to use or needs refilling. Other factors we consider include how easily the mop’s water tank can be refilled and emptied, how quickly its mop head can be removed, and how easily its cord can be stored when not in use.
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