A sloppy mop and bucket is so old school, right? Enter the steam mop. Hailed as a saviour for busy neat freaks, there are now dozens of steam mops on the market that promise sparkling floors with less effort. 

Basically, you plug it in, and steam pumps out of the cleaning head onto your floors. This loosens grime that the cloth then wipes away.

Steam mops are generally good at removing stains and they don’t use cleaning chemicals, which is a definite plus (although some do use detergents). And they do away with the issue of trying to get your floor clean with dirty water.

Plus, your floor is left much drier after cleaning than it would be with a regular mop – so no yelling at the kids to stay out of the kitchen while the floor dries.

The downsides of steam mops

That said, steam mops aren’t perfect.

They’re not suitable for all floor types, and they’re not great for cleaning up large amounts of spilled liquids. 

Plus, you still have to sweep or wipe up dirt before steam mopping, otherwise you’re just spreading the muck around. 

And, as we often find with many appliances we test in our ÌÇÐÄVlog labs, there are definitely some products that perform better than others.

The worst steam mops in our test

We’ve tested 25 steam mops that are currently available, and given them each a ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating. 

This is based on factors such as how much water is left on the floor after you mop (and therefore how long it will take to dry), and how easy they are to use, including how easily the mop head glides across your floor and how easy it is to replace. 

Here we dish the dirt on the two mops that bottomed out in our expert tests. 

Bissell Steam Mop Select 23V8-F

• Cost: $169
• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 62%
• Ease of use score: 65%
• Floor wetness score: 50%

We review six Bissell steam mops at different price points, and they all have varying results for performance. 

This model was the cheapest we reviewed from this brand, but its performance failed to impress our testers, who gave it a ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating of just 62%. 

They didn’t have many positive things to say about this model, and it got a floor wetness score of 50%, which means it’s likely to leave a few puddles of water behind. 

Although the triangular shape of the mop head is supposed to make this mop easier to get into hard-to-reach places, our testers gave it an average overall ease of use score of 65%.

Read the full Bissell Steam Mop Select 23V8-F review.Ìý

Bissell PowerFresh V 1979K

• Cost: $329
• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 68%
• Ease of use score: 67%
• Floor wetness score: 70%

This Bissell isn’t terrible at its job – but it’s not great either. In fact, although it costs almost twice as much as the Bissell above, it’s still the second-worst scoring model in our test.

For around the same price or less, you could pick up one of the highest scorers from our tests and get far better results.

Read the full Bissell PowerFresh V 1979K review.

The wet mops that’ll leave you with wet floors

The whole point of steam mops is to make cleaning your floors easier and faster, so a steam mop that leaves your floor wet defeats the purpose of having one in the first place – you might as well stick with that old-school mop and bucket and save yourself the money.

Floor wetness makes up 20% of the overall ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating, so it’s definitely a key factor to consider when you’re buying a steam mop.

These wet mops scored the lowest – just 50% – for floor wetness in our testing. So, if you just want to mop the floor and get on with things quickly, these aren’t the ones for you.

• Karcher SC ATK 2 EasyFix Steam Cleaner
• Karcher SC 5 EasyFix Premium Steam Cleaner
• Karcher SC3 EasyFix Premium Steam Cleaner
• Black & Decker Steam Mop 5-in-1
• Bissell Steam Mop Select 23V8-F

The post Steam mops to avoid buying appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

Enter the steam mop, the contraption hailed as a premium floor cleaner – powered by electricity to pump steam onto your floors and loosen grime that is then wiped away by a cloth cleaning head. No extra chemicals required. Sounds like a miracle worker, right?

But is this another modern appliance you don’t really need? And would a traditional mop and bucket do the jobÌý just as well?

ÌÇÐÄVlog experts put a regular mop and a steam mop head to head to assess the pros and cons of each to help you decide if a steam mop is worth the investment.Ìý

Performance

Which leaves behind the least water?

One of the bugbears of mopping is unsightly streaks of water being left behind and having to wait for your floors to dry before walking over them again.

When assessing which type of mop leaves behind the least water, ÌÇÐÄVlog experts say a steam mop usually comes out on top.

Our experts conducted a simple ‘floor wetness’ test by mopping a piece of laminated flooring with each type of mop, then measuring how long it takes for it to dry.

While both the steam mop and the regular mop left behind a similar amount of water in our test, the steam mop cleaned a larger area (as it has a wider head), so the regular mop would leave behind more water if cleaning the same-sized area.Ìý

Of course, this depends on how hard you squeeze the regular mop out each time – if you can’t wring much water out, you’ll be left with puddles on the floor. With a steam mop, you’re saved the extra work of squeezing it out every few strokes.Ìý

Which is better at removing stains and mopping spills?

Our testing has found that all steam mops remove stains fairly well, with marginal differences, and are likely slightly better than a regular mop and bucket due to the heat and vapour produced by the steam.Ìý

The other bonus is that they clean without the need for any additional chemicals or cleaning products (although, we do usually say with any kind of mop thatÌýfloor cleaners are often useless anyway, often performing no better than plain water).Ìý

Steam mops are no good at mopping up large spills however, as they have no suction power (to mop up spills you need a traditional mop and bucket or a wet and dry vacuum).Ìý

Regardless of the type of mop, ÌÇÐÄVlog experts recommend sweeping up or wiping excess dirt or stains from the floorÌýfirst so you don’t just spread the muck around.

Convenience and practicalityÌý

Steam mops are undoubtedly more convenient and easier to use than a traditional mop.Ìý

If you struggle with filling a bucket with water and carrying it to the room where you need to mop, squeezing out a mop and then emptying a bucket full of dirty water, a steam mop may be a better option.Ìý

They do require access to a power point, however, and you can only mop as far as the electrical cord will reach.ÌýAnd although they’re not complicated appliances to use, you will have to check instructions for filling and emptying the water, how to leave it safely idle, and how to use any extra features or attachments.

When we review steam mops in our ÌÇÐÄVlog labs, we give each model an ‘ease of use’ score to help you understand which ones are the most practical.

We look at factors such as ease of filling the water tank, ease of moving the mop head on the floor, and whether or not it gets tiring, ease of using and accessing the controls and attaching the mop pad, and a steam mop reach score (the distance between the power point and the tip of the steam head, which also includes the hose and the wand).

The latest ÌÇÐÄVlog steam mop review includes the results of our detailed testing of 36 steam mops, ranging in price from $49 to over $1000. can find out which models we recommend, as well as reviews in over 200 other product categories.

Can you use a steam mop on wooden floors?

There are certain types of floors that a steam mop can potentially damage. Some manufacturers state that you can use steam mops on sealed wooden floors that, in theory, should be able to withstand the moisture and heat from a steam mop; however, others advise against it.Ìý

A steam mop should not be usedÌýon unsealed wooden floors or laminate, as the steam can weaken the adhesive or cause floorboardsÌýto buckle.Ìý

Check the manufacturer’s instructions before applying a steam mop to your timber floor.Ìý

Cost

Steam mops are clearly the more expensive option here, although, as with most products, there are various models available at different price points. We’ve tested steam mops that cost anywhere from $49 up to a few hundred dollars or more.Ìý

While some of the cheaper models perform well in our tests, generally you’ll find that the more expensive steam mops have more sophisticated controls and added features (such as multiple cleaning attachments or accessories for cleaning windows or upholstery).Ìý

In contrast, a mop and bucket can be as cheap as chips. Plus, you won’t have to pay for the electricity to power it.

If you’re keen on aÌýtraditional, regular mop, there are many types available which also come at different price points.ÌýTo find out how well they all work, our tester, Matthew Tung, reviewed several mop types including spray mops, cotton mops, flat mops, spin mops, strip mops and squeeze mops. He assessed how easy they were to move around, how well they removed stains and how wet they left our floors. Read the results of our regular mop test.Ìý

Hygiene

Many steam mop manufacturers claim that the heat of the steam is able to kill bacteria on the floor, saying that it’s a faster and more sanitary way to clean when compared with sloshing a regular mop head around on your kitchen floor.Ìý

But ÌÇÐÄVlog experts say a steam mop will kill no more bacteria than a regular mop with soap and warm water or a wipe over with a sponge.

With either type of mop, any bacteria picked up from the floor will transfer to the mop’s head.Ìý

Although the steam generated by the steam mop might be enough to destroy the bacteria or virus collected on the pad, the steam generator and pads for each model differ in effectiveness. Make sure you throw the pads in the washing machine afterwards with laundry detergent to ensure any bacteria is eliminated.Ìý

Sustainability: Which is better for the environment?

As there are so many different types and quality of ‘regular’ mops available, it’s difficult to definitively say which option is better for the environment.Ìý

Although a steam mop helps you reduce the use of chemical cleaning products in your home, they are an electrical appliance that use power and will be classified as electrical waste when you dispose of them.Ìý

Electrical waste (or e-waste) can cause serious environmental problems due to the fact it can be toxic, is not biodegradable and accumulates in the environment, polluting our eco-system. When buying a steam mop, look for a product that is good quality and likely to last.Ìý

Regular mops may be made out of a range of materials such as cotton, wood or plastic, all of which can have different impacts on the environment throughout the product’s production and lifetime.Ìý

Opting for a simple mop made from natural, renewable materials, which has a replaceable mop head, that you can use for many years, may be a more sustainable choice than adding another electrical appliance to your household.

Discover what we found out about steam mop brand reliability in our steam mop Best Brand survey.

The verdict

They’re more expensive to buy, but steam mops can be really effective floor cleaners that are generally more convenient than a mop and bucket, so they are a great choice in particular for people with mobility issues.Ìý

They’ll likely leave less water behind, leaving a clean and shiny, streak-free floor,Ìý but they don’t have any magic bacteria-busting powers over a regular mop and bucket.Ìý

If the convenience factor is important to you, ensure you choose a steam mop model that scores well in ÌÇÐÄVlog steam mop reviews for ease of use.Ìý

The post Steam mopping vs regular mopping – which is best? appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Spray mop
• Cotton mop
• Squeeze mop
• Flat mop
• Spin mop
• Microfibre strip mop

When it comes to keeping your floors sparkling clean, there’s no end of gadgets to choose from.

ÌÇÐÄVlog has reviewed steam mops, hard floor cleaners, liquid floor cleaners and robot vacuums that mop to see which ones actually work.

But what about the traditional, regular mops that have stood the test of time? These manual mops are a relatively cheap way of keeping on top of your household grime and there are many types available.Ìý

To find out how well they all work, our tester, Matthew Tung, reviewed several mop types including spray mops, cotton mops, flat mops, spin mops, strip mops and squeeze mops. He assessed how easy they were to move around, how well they removed stains and how wet they left our floors. A readily-available model from each category was chosen to use for the comparison.

When assessing stain removal, Matthew placed a teaspoon of jam onto a laminate floorboard and counted how many back-and-forth motions were required to remove it. He also timed how long it took for the floor to dry, while in a climate-controlled lab. It’s worth noting that in general, manual mops require more elbow grease than steam mops to remove stains.Ìý

We’ve mentioned the typical prices for these mops and their associated refills, and these may vary if you shop around.

All you need to mop the floor is hot water and a good mop. Although ÌÇÐÄVlog tests liquid floor cleaning products designed to be used with mops and water, we don’t actually recommend any, and in fact, we gave the entire category a Shonky Award in 2020.

Spray mop

Spray mops come with a reservoir for cleaning solution, and velcro-style hook and loop pads that stick onto the mop head. Simply press a trigger on the handle which will spray some of the solution onto the floor. You then mop over it with the pad, no water bucket required. They are fast, handy and best suited to “maintenance” cleans or picking up small spills immediately (before they go dry), like coffee or muddy footprints. They also require less water for cleaning, so will dry quickly.

Koh Spray Mop

The Koh Spray Mop comes with three green “rough” pads (for removing dirt), two blue “soft” pads (for polishing) and a mop brush for tougher stains. It weighs 900g.

What’s good about it?

The mop pads can be washed by hand or machine-washed in warm water.

On the Koh Spray Mop, the tank was very easy to fill with cleaning solution and there was no problem attaching the mop pads to the mop head.

It can be used on a range of surfaces including timber, hybrid, tiles, vinyl and laminate.

What’s bad about it?

This mop is expensive compared to other options, and although water can be used in the tank,Ìýthe Koh cleaning solution costsÌý$19.95 (you can read our review of the Koh Universal Cleaner to see if it’s worth it).

The green pads, designed to lift and grip dirt, can also be difficult to move on the floor.Ìý

How much is it?

The Koh Spray mop is $79.90, plus $19.95 for the Universal Solution.

How well does it remove stains?

In our test it took 18 strokes using the green mop and 20 strokes with the blue mop for us to remove the jam. The instructions only recommend spraying the area once, but for this tough stain we needed four or five sprays, and the area still felt sticky afterwards. The Koh did not seem ideal for removing jam.

Cotton mop

The traditional cotton mop uses a basic rod for the handle and a head made of absorbent cotton string. Sometimes the mop head is made with a cotton-polyester blend. The mop head screws on and off for machine-washing and easy replacement.

Before using a cotton mop, it’s advisable to sweep or vacuum the floor in preparation. After soaking the mop in hot water, you’ll need to wring it out, either by hand (not an easy process) or using a wringer or press bucket designed for the purpose (there are different styles available).

Some cotton mops come with a cone or sleeve that can go over the head to squeeze out excess water, meaning there’s no need for a special bucket. Excess water is a trip hazard and will increase drying time, not to mention add to the weight of the mop, making it more cumbersome to use, so wringing the mop out is important.

Cotton mops are versatile and suitable for all kinds of hard surfaces, and their flexibility means they can get into various corners and crevices easily.

Sabco Premium Cotton Mop

This is a traditional-style cotton mop weighing 700g (including the handle) when dry. Comes ready to use.

What’s good about it?

It’s simple and cheap. Prepare a bucket with water and/or cleaning solution, rinse the mop head in the bucket, wring the wet mop head of excess water (either by hand or with a wringer bucket) and away you go. When finished, rinse and leave to dry.

Using the Sabco was very good effort-wise, although there is a bit of weight on the mop head.

What’s bad about it?

The mop head is a bit big, some people may struggle to wring the mop head by hand.

Note that if you are using the same bucket, you will be re-using dirty water and wiping it around, so it’s important to replace the dirty water in the bucket regularly, especially if the floor is dirty.

It also took a while for the floor to dry after mopping (almost 22 minutes).

How much is it?

The Sabco costs around $16 for the head and handle, and around $10 for refills, depending on the style.

How well does it remove stains?

It took around 18 back and forth strokes to remove the jam stain.

After rinsing the mop, a few more strokes removed the sticky residue on the floor board.Ìý

Squeeze mop

These mops consist of a thick rectangular sponge that attaches to the mop head (sizes will vary).

On the handle is a lever you pull that folds the sponge in half, squeezing out the excess water without you needing to touch the mop itself. To replace the mop once the sponge is worn out, unscrew the posts and attach a new one.

Oates Massive Four Post Squeeze Mop

This is a squeeze mop with a replaceable sponge mop head. Comes with one head and weighs 800g when dry.

What’s good about it?

The Massive Squeeze Mop claims to be 100% natural sponge, and 30% wider than standard squeeze mops. There’s an extra scourer strip at the end if you need to focus on tougher stains.

It was very easy to wring the sponge by pulling the lever and there was no problem moving it around the floor.

What’s bad about it?

The handle felt a bit short for our tester and some bending was required when using both hands to mop.

Although we didn’t test how easy the sponge was to clean, it needs to be rinsed with water and left to dry and is unsuitable for machine washing. The sponge will wear down after time.

It also took a while for the floor to dry after mopping.

How much is it?

We paid $28 for the mop which comes with one sponge. Refills cost $12.

How well does it remove stains?

Removing the jam stain took about 30 back-and-forth strokes, but it was easier to go over the stain compared with other mops.

A few more strokes after rinsing the mop removed most of the stickiness on the floor board.Ìý

Flat mop

Flat mops let you attach a range of cleaning pads to its head, often using a velcro-style mechanism. The pads are commonly made of microfibre cloth for general cleaning, but you can also get abrasive ones suited to scrubbing or even single-use microfibre mop pads for public places like hospitals.

Like the spray mop, they don’t require as much water or cleaning solution as a traditional cotton mop, and some of the pads can even be used dry for tasks such as sweeping, dusting, and collecting spills.

Oates Triple Action Flat Mop

This is aÌýflat mop that lets you sweep, mop and dry using the various pads. It is supplied with an orange pad for sweeping and attracting dust through static charge, a microfibre mopping pad and five disposable pads for drying.

To use the mopping pad, you prepare a bucket with water or cleaning solution, rinse the mop pad in the bucket and wring it out before attaching it to the mop head.

What’s good about it?

The unit feels light (it’s 500g when dry), the handle is a good length, and the moveable head means it’s easy to reach different areas and gaps. Attaching the hook and loop mop head was also rated as excellent.

The Oates Triple Action Flat Mop is also suitable for a range of surfaces including tiles and polished timber floors. The pads are machine washable.

What’s bad about it?

It can be annoying to pull the pad off the head every time it needs rinsing and you’ll need to find a storage place for the various mop heads it comes with. It also took a lot of effort to remove the dried-on jam stain; more than most.

How much is it?

The Oates Triple Action Flat Mop is $32 with the set of mop pads. A refill for the microfibre wet mop is $10, the sweep and dust refill is $13.50, and a pack of ten disposable refills is $8.Ìý

How well does it remove stains?

While the unit was easy to move over the jam stain, it took double the effort compared to the cotton mop and spray mop; around 36 back and forth strokes to remove the stain and another few more were needed after rinsing the mop to remove the stickiness on the floor.Ìý

Spin mop

A spin mop is used with a special bucket equipped with a basket. You place the wet microfibre mop in the basket and press the foot pedal to activate a spinning motion which helps to wring out excess water. This eliminates the need for hand-wringing or pressing it through a wringer bucket. They often have separate dirty and clean water reservoirs to prevent having to reuse dirty water when tackling large areas.

Vileda Easy Wring Rinse Clean Spin Mop & Bucket System

This is a microfibre spin mop combined with a special bucket that comprises the spinning wringer basket, as well as dirty and clean water compartments. The pedal lets you spin the basket and mop to attain your desired level of mop wetness without having to hand-wring it.

To use it, fill the clean water chamber with water and/or cleaning solution and place it in the bucket. Rinse your mop in the clean water and wring it using the mop wringer basket on the side. The whole mop will spin with the wringer basket.

What’s good about it?

Once you get used to the spinning mechanism, the process of using the mop and bucket feels easy. Moving the mop head on the floor was rated as very good. The mop heads are also conveniently machine washable and when dry, the mop only weighs 400g.

What’s bad about it?

Stepping on the pedal too fast may cause the bucket to shake and the pedal itself felt a bit small and too high when we tried it out. The handle also felt a bit short. Sometimes the mop head’s plastic cover could potentially make contact with the floor when in a forward-facing orientation, so some care is needed during use. It’s also expensive compared to other options.

How much is it?

The whole Vileda Easy Wring Rinse Clean system including mop and bucket costs $79. A refill mop head is $14.50.

How well does it remove stains?

To remove the jam stain, we needed to perform around 20 back and forth strokes before rinsing the mop and continuing for a few more strokes to remove the sticky residue.Ìý

Microfibre strip mop

This is a different take on the traditional cotton mop that uses strips of microfibre as the mop head. These are absorbent and light, and can usually be machine washed. Some brands have associated wringer buckets.

Vileda Supermocio 3 Action

At just 400g when dry, this is one of the lighter mops we’ve looked at. It claims to be suitable for tiles, hardwood, vinyl and laminate. The head is made up of absorbent microfibre strips, a scourer for tougher stains and red ‘dots’ designed to pick up hair and crumbs.

What’s good about it?

The Vileda Supermocio feels light, easy to manouevre, with a good handle length. The mop head’s size is good, and is not too difficult to wring. Plus, the mop heads are machine washable in a laundry bag.

What’s bad about it?

It did take more effort to remove the tough jam stains than many other mops we tested.

How much is it?

It’s $23 for the Viledia Supermocio 3 Action mop and $13.90 for the refills. You may need to purchase the additional wringer bucket ($23).

How well does it remove stains?

It took around 28 back-and-forth strokes to remove the jam stain, and some more strokes after rinsing to remove most of the stickiness on the floor board.Ìý

The post Which manual mop type is best? appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

A steam mop promises a deep clean, free from harsh chemicals and messy mops and buckets. But, while they can be a great weapon in your housekeeping arsenal, there are some things you should know.

Some models come with a high price tag – upwards of $300 – but, as our tests reveal, their performance can sometimes be matched by a cheap, manual mop and a bit of elbow grease.Ìý

With a bit of know-how, a steam-powered clean can leave your floors sparkling.ÌýSo, if you’re looking to purchase a steam mop or even if you have one already, it pays to get to know their limitations and make sure you don’t expendÌývaluable energy pushing dirt from one corner to another.

Here’s our list of dos and don’ts to help clear the path to steaming success.

Do: Wipe up excess dirt before steaming

Steam mops essentially employ steam to loosen grime, which the mop head then clears away, but there’s no suction element in this appliance. This means that surface dirt will need to be vacuumed or swept up before you begin or you’ll only succeed in pushing dirt across the house.Ìý

For this reason, the steam mop will never usurp the position of your trusty vacuum cleaner, so don’t throw it out just yet.

Don’t: Believe stains will be wiped away in one sweep

A steam mop can do wonders on new stains, however, older stains that have had time to settle in and get comfortable may be tougher to budge. A steam mop’s efficacy on stains will also depend on the flooring and surface – the more porous, such as grout, the harder to clean.Ìý

Our team tested steam mops on cola and tea stains in grout with very poor results. Largely, the mop head isn’t designed to get into those spaces, but also, stains on grout often require more than just hot water, which is, after all, the steam mop’s only ammunition.Ìý

While some mops do come with attachments to help access crevices, you’ll find a bit of detergent and a good old scrub is going to yield a more satisfying result.

Don’t: Expect it to sanitise effectively

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, products that sanitise surfaces without the use of chemicals have become highly sought after. There are many claims that steam mops destroy up to 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria on surfaces (some even claim to destroy the coronavirus).

Although technically true, it’s a little more complicated than running a steam mop over the floors and awarding yourself a gold star in sanitation.

ÌÇÐÄVlog expert Kim Gilmour explains: “While steam mops can remove bacteria andÌýviruses, in practice there needs to be a continuous high heat for the full sanitising effect, which means you may need to hold the steam mop against the surface for a long period of time – and doing this could damage your floor, or the boards underneath.”Ìý

Don’t: Use it to clean up large spills

For big splashes and spills, leave the steam mop in the cupboard and haul out the trusty mop and bucket. As convenient as steam mops are for a quick and easy clean, they don’t have the capacity to soak up large amounts of liquid. There are some jobs better left to tried-and-true methods.

Do: Make sure your floor type is suitable

Steam mops are fine on most sealed, hard floors, but there are a few hidden deal-breakers here.

Cork tiles and unsealed or waxed hardwood floors can be damaged by a steam mop, and there is debate about whether any wooden floors (sealed or not) will withstand steam cleaning. This is because there’s a risk that steam forced into cracks will result in swelling and warping and also the production of mildew.Ìý

For the same reason, some manufacturers don’t recommend steam mops on linoleum or vinyl floors or they may suggest a low setting, so read the instructions carefully to be sure you don’t void your warranty. Better yet, check with the manufacturer of your floors to ensure a steam mop is safe to use.

For ceramic or porcelain tiles, though, steam away merrily!

Do: Use it regularly

For best results and ongoing maintenance, pull out the steam mop weekly. This way, you make sure there’s no heavily built-up grime and stains that are difficult to steam away.Ìý

But it’s also good to give the steam mop a rest once a month and get stuck into the floors with a hearty scrub using a mop, bucket and floor detergent.

Do: Use it for carpet and windows

Some models come with a carpet glider for giving those softer-underfoot areas a freshen up. However, while a steam mop is handy for revitalising fibres and removing odours, it’s not a substitute for a carpet steamer, which actually removes dirt and stains.

You can also find models with a window-cleaning attachment for smudge-free glass.

Do: Wash the mop pad after each use

Yes, this one does seem obvious, but it’s still worth a reminder, especially for those times when we may be in a rush.

Apart from not wanting to wash floors with a dirt-soaked pad the next time you pull out the mop, there’s also the matter of nasties taking up residence in that germ-friendly, damp environment.Ìý

“Bacteria and viruses may transfer to the mop pad, so be sure to throw it into the laundry after use as the detergent will break down the germs,” says Kim.Ìý

It’s also a good idea to chuck the pad into the washing machine with equally soiled items or by itself to ensure the dirt doesn’t simply transfer to other garments. And if your floorspace is large, it’s best to change the pad mid-clean at least once.

Do: Check out our reviews before you purchase

Our ÌÇÐÄVlog experts thoroughly review the most popular steam mops on the market across a range of budgets and, spoiler alert, more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean more effective.Ìý

We test everything from how wet the floor remains after cleaning to how easy they are to use and the water tank volume.Ìý

So to make sure you choose the best model for your needs and budget, check our detailed steam mop reviewsÌýbefore you splash out.Ìý

The post Steam mop dos and don’ts appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

Our expert testers

Our experts have seen all types of household appliances come through the ÌÇÐÄVlog labs over the years, and they focus on the basics so that when it’s time to buy, you can be sure the steam mop you pick will work well in your home.

How we choose what we test

Our market researchers find out what the most popular brands are on the market. They’ll survey manufacturers about their latest models, and sometimes we’ll be lucky enough to get our hands on a steam mop ahead of its general release.

Steam mops come in barrel/canister form as well as the more typical stick type and we define both types as being steam mops (steam mops can sometimes be referred to as steam cleaners or steam systems). Steam cleaners that have suction abilities are not part of this category.

How we test steam mops

Our standard steam mop test includes a floor wetness assessment, along with how easy the steam mop is to use.

Floor wetness

This accounts for 20% of the ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating (our overall score).

Our members frequently report excessive wetness on the floor after mopping with a steam mop. Steam mops should leave as little water residue as possible to minimise slip hazards and speed up drying time. This may also reduce damage to the floor over time, which may occur from excessive heat and moisture.

Historically, the amount of wetness left behind was assessed visually, but since 2022 our experts have been devising more accurate ways to measure wetness. Our latest method, developed in 2023, measures the amount of time it takes for our laminate floor to dry after mopping. The shorter the time, the higher the score.

Why do we use laminate flooring? It helps us recreate a realistic use scenario. While some floor manufacturers advise against steam mops, they’re still commonly used in Australian homes.Ìý

A bit about grout

A lot of you have asked us how well steam mops clean grout. In the past, our test involved preparing a tiled surface and staining it with cola and tea. All of the steam mops we tested did a poor job of removing grout stains, and we don’t recommend them for this purpose.Ìý

If you’re really keen on using a steam mop to work on grout stains, we tested handheld accessories separately in a home bathroom (if supplied), and found there may be some improvement with grout discolouration when using attachments such as a nylon brush.

Ease of use assessment

This accounts for 80% of the ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating.ÌýThese checks include:

• ease of filling the water tank
• ease of moving the mop head on the floor, and whether or not it gets tiring
• ease of using and accessing the controls
• ease of attaching the mop pad
• steam mop reach score (the distance between the power point and the tip of the steam head, which also includes the hose and the wand).

What about stain removal?

While we’ve tested stain removal in the past, we’ve removed our stain removal test since all the steam mops remove stains fairly well, wth marginal differences, and flooring tends to be sprayed with an anti-stain repellent these days.

The post How we test steam mops appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

The Bissell Vac & Steam is a gadget designed to vacuum and/or steam hard floors (including sealed wood floors). Could this hybrid cleaner end up saving time and space, or wasting it? We were curious, and put it through a range of steam and vacuum testing regimes.

Performance

The Vac & Steam’s selling point is that you can use both cleaning functions at the same time. The vacuum collects debris, and the trigger-operated steam mop that sits behind it follows through with a steam clean. We found it easy to use the dual function on a hard floor, but to really see how well each function performed, we assessed the vacuum and steam mop separately.

To put the model through its paces, we spread 100 grams of sand onto a hard floor. The vacuum picked up an impressive 97.3% of debris. However, the cleaning process was cumbersome: vacuuming was very slow as the cleaning head tended to pull some of the sand backwards.

We only tested the Vac & Steam on the hard floors it’s designed for, but the instructions say you can also use the vacuum function on low pile carpet if you remove the mop pad tray.

Next up, we tested the steam mop on PVC tiles with various stains. Overall, the Vac & Steam does an OK job. In particular, it’s excellent at cleaning soy sauce, and does a good job removing red wine and tomato sauce. Its score was brought down by borderline coffee-removal performance as well as poor handling of mustard and shoe polish stains. One bonus is that it leaves your floor only slightly damp with very little water left behind.

Ease of use

To use the Vac & Steam, fill the water container, switch on the unit and let it heat up. The controls in particular are very easy to use. For steam cleaning, simply choose low or high output, and hold down the hand trigger to produce steam. The vacuum setting can be used either on its own or with the steam function.

Filling the Vac & Steam with water is fairly easy using the supplied beaker, and it can be filled up on the go so it doesn’t need to be cooled down between refills. Removing and emptying the dirt tank was also a breeze.

Manoeuvring the mop head wasn’t too difficult but still required a bit of effort, as did removing the water tank lid.

Is this vacuum and steam mop right for you?

The slow vacuum process means that even if you use the steam function simultaneously, you probably won’t be saving a huge amount of time. What’s more, it’s optimised for hard floors, so anyone with carpet in their home is better off with a top-performing, standalone vacuum cleaner. And although the steam mop easily cleaned up some spills, there were some tougher stains that just got the better of it.Ìý

On the plus side, it could be an option for space-conscious people in smaller dwellings – so long as they only have hard floors to deal with.

The post Bissell Vac & Steam review appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.