Best Steam Mops for Easy Cleaning

Steam mops heat up water from their reservoir to around 248 degrees Fahrenheit. This creates steam which exits the steam mop via its steam jet outlets. These jets moisten the cleaning pad, which then draws up any dirt. Thanks to the high temperature, your floors are disinfected and there is no need for chemicals, meaning that steam cleaners can kill around 99% of bacteria found on your floor without leaving any residue or releasing any toxic substances. Floors are cleaned faster and dry quicker and, as steam mops clean more effectively, you won’t have to waste your time cleaning the same area over again by hand to get it clean. Moreover, thanks to their proven germ-killing, disinfecting abilities, steam mops are often favored by parents of small children. Homes with pets or with anyone with health problems, particularly immunodeficiency, also benefit from steam mops for the very same reasons.

When you’re looking for a new steam mop, there are certain features you’ll want to check over to make sure that you’re getting the best steam mop for your money:

Water Tank Capacity

You’ll want a water tank that has a good capacity, however, bear in mind that for full house cleans you will probably need to stop to refill, even with larger tanks. You should also remember that water is pretty heavy, so a larger tank means a heavier steam mop. On the other hand, you don’t want a steam mop that needs really frequent refilling. Take into account your average room size and cleaning style when considering what capacity water tank you need.

Detachable Water Tank

While it can be simple to fill up non-detachable water tanks, you need to think about how you’ll empty one when you’re done cleaning. If you’re looking at a fairly lightweight steam mop and you have no issues lifting it up over your sink to empty, then you’ll be fine with a non-detachable tank. If not, make sure you only purchase a steam mop with a detachable water reservoir.

Cord Length

If you have plenty of large rooms or few outlets, make sure that your steam mop has a decent cord length so you won’t have to keep stopping to unplug and replug it in elsewhere.

Variable Steam Levels

Some steam mops have different steam level settings allowing you to adjust the amount of steam produced. This can be useful for homes with multiple hard floor surfaces and for varying degrees of dirt.

Heat-up Time

Purchasing a steam mop with a short heat-up time will ensure you won’t waste time waiting around for your steam mop to produce steam. Remember that when you refill your reservoir, you’ll need to wait again, so if you’re cleaning several rooms you could spend a considerable amount of time waiting on your steam mop.

Storage

Some steam mops are easier to store than others. Take into account the dimensions, whether they need to be supported, and how any parts disconnect.

Cleaning Pads

Some steam mops use dual-sided cleaning pads, giving you a longer clean from one pad. This also reduces the amount of washing you’ll need to do, with each pad lasting twice as long. Check that your steam mop comes with replacement pads, or if only one is included, that you can easily order several more. Most steam mops are only effective at disinfecting your home when used as directed with the correct cleaning pad, so make sure that you carefully follow any fitting instructions.

Pros:

• Eliminate Over 99% of Bacteria – Steam mops are an effective way to significantly reduce the amount of bacteria and germs in your home. The high temperature means they disinfect your floors, reducing the risk of you and your family getting ill.
• No Chemicals – While it’s important to have a clean home, you don’t want to load up on chemicals to do so. While chemicals will kill a lot of bacteria, they can also be damaging to our health. This is especially true for families with young children and pets, as both tend to spend a lot of time on the floor, putting them into direct contact with potentially toxic cleaning residues.
• Fast Drying – A freshly steamed hard floor will dry very quickly. Using a conventional mop can leave you with wet floors for hours. This can add extra humidity to your home, cause slipping, and leave certain areas off limits for long durations at the risk of getting dirty straight away if not cordoned off. Using a steam mop resolves all of these issues.
• No Residue – Using a steam mop will not leave any residue on your floors. Not only does this mean less toxicity, your floors will also look cleaner and shinier.
• Effortless – When you use a steam mop, you won’t need to put in any elbow grease to lift even dried-on stains. Simply allow the steam to do its work for effortless results.
• Washable Cleaning Pads – Using a steam mop cuts back on waste as you can wash your cleaning pads. This means less disposable, replacement mop heads in your trash.

Cons:

• Price – Purchasing a steam mop is going to cost you more than buying a replacement conventional mop. It will, however, give you a better, non-toxic clean.
• Refilling – Using a steam mop requires water. Although many steam mops have generous water tank capacities, if you have a large home, you may have to refill multiple times.

Here are all of the answers to some of your most frequently asked steam mop questions.

• Are steam mops dangerous?

• No, steam mops are not dangerous when used correctly. As with any hot water appliance, a certain degree of caution needs to be used, but steam mops are safe to use in accordance with manufacturer’s usage instructions. In fact, using a steam mop can kill over 99% of bacteria typically found on your floors. As they do not require the use of any chemicals, a steam mop can be extremely beneficial for your entire family’s health. Steam mops provide you with a safe way to protect your pets, children, and other family members from potentially health-threatening germs without exposing them to harsh chemicals that could also have a negative impact upon your health and wellbeing.

• Are steam mops suitable for linoleum floors?

• Yes, steam mops are suitable for linoleum floors, however as a general rule you should always start off with a new steam mop on its lowest setting. If you feel that you need more cleaning power, increase the steam intensity a little. You can also check that the manufacturer recommends their model for use on linoleum floors before purchasing.

• Can steam mops be used on carpet?

• If you really need to deep clean your carpet, then you’ll need a carpet cleaner that will be able to clean, brush and suck up the dirty water. Steam mops can be used effectively to refresh tired looking carpets, though, and might even be able to clean up carpet stains. If your steam mop does not come with one, have a look at any add-on accessories for a carpet glider. This will allow your steam mop to be used on your carpet for maximum efficacy. While a steam mop won’t be able to make an extremely dirty carpet look brand new, they are extremely useful for revitalizing tired looking carpeted areas.

• Will a steam mop damage my wooden floors?

• Steam mops are designed to be used with sealed hard floors. Provided you regularly mop your wooden floor, then you shouldn’t have any issues using a steam mop to clean it instead of a traditional one. If you have any doubts, double check the manufacturer’s advice before starting cleaning. Unsealed hard floors can be damaged by heat and moisture, so a steam mop may not be your best choice. Steam mops do provide an extremely hygienic, practical and chemical-free way to clean floors that you may wish to consider one anyone for other areas such as your bathroom floor.