The 11 Best Mops of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Other Options We Tested

Shark S5003D Genius Hard Floor Cleaning System Pocket Steam Mop: Although we had many good things to say about this steam mop, we found that it didn’t stand out against other models we tested that had various attachments and functions. This mop is effective at removing stains, but it’s not as effective at tacking grout without specific brush attachments. It also takes around 9 minutes to cool, which may be a concern for households with curious children and pets; however, a mop head release button allows you to easily remove the mop head and store it somewhere else until you want to clean it.

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Shark AV2001WD AI VACMOP 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop: Although the Shark AI Vacmop did a good job cleaning up the syrup and coffee spills, it ran straight through our chocolate pudding and smeared it all over the floor. We couldn’t, in good conscience, recommend this robot vacuum-mop in our top picks, but we did really like its vacuum capabilities. One of our editors also tested this model at home and ended up docking the robot mop and hand-scrubbing her kitchen floor.

How We Tested the Mops

At the lab in Industry City, Brooklyn, we cleaned up with 15 standard mops and 27 steam mops—during two separate testing periods—to decide which product was best for which job. We also sent some of the mops home with volunteer testers, who tested their individual performance with real-world situations and spills. Here is how we tested the mops:

• Setup: For steam mops, we timed the setup of each mop and made note of how long it took each mop to heat up and be ready for use.
• Effectiveness: To test effectiveness, we spilled sticky fruit punch and barbecue sauce on three surfaces: tile, laminate, and hardwood. We tried to clean up the spills with just warm water, and we noted whether the mop could tackle the spill with total ease or whether more scrubbing and elbow grease were required. We then spilled damp potting soil and dry paprika on the surfaces and tried to clean up those messes, too. We followed each of these tests up with a swipe of a paper towel to see whether any residue remained on the floor. Our steam mops were put up through even more challenges tackling both tile and concrete stained with hot sauce, chocolate milk, syrup, and dirt.

• Portability: While we cleaned with the standard mops, we also took note of how easy to use or how unwieldy each product felt, and whether it got a lot heavier when soaking wet. That led to a portability rating.
• Ease of use: When testing steam mops, we noted how many passes it took to clean up a stain, working with the steam mop’s various features and attachments. We considered each mop’s overall ease of use, noting how clear the instructions were and how smooth the set-up process proved to be.
• Maneuverability: We tried to use the mops around the legs of the chair and to navigate it into tight areas to test its maneuverability.
• Ease of cleaning: We evaluated the ease of cleaning the mop and preparing it for a fresh use, by either wringing out the wet mop, squeezing out the sponge, or replacing the cleaning cloth.
• Overall value: We looked at the price of each product and rated its overall value, given our experience.

After 16 hours of testing, and many more hours at home, we narrowed our testing insights down to what we believe are the best mops for your money and household.

What to Look for in a Mop

Type

When thinking about mops, you may picture traditional string mops, which feature long strands of absorbent fibers, but there are lots of different mop styles available today.

• String mops tend to be useful for heavy-duty jobs, and picking up both wet and dry messes on a variety of surfaces. They can sometimes come with a bucket that allows you to wring them out and prepare them for a new use, and may feature a wringing mechanism that twists and bunches up the mop head.
• Flat mops: There are also flat mops, which use easy-to-clean microfiber or cotton pads. Some even use disposable pads. They’re arguably the easiest to clean up after and can also be the easiest to store. If you’re living in a college dorm room, apartment, or RV, a flat mop may be the best mop for you. They’re typically good at reaching tight areas, but they might not be the best option if you deal with heavy-duty, sticky spills regularly. Our best overall pick, the Bosheng Mop and Bucket, is a flat mop that comes with a bucket stand, which rings out excess water. We loved this mop’s convenient design and storage functionality.
• Sponge mops: These are very absorbent, but not typically great for use on any floor that’s sensitive to moisture. You’ll want to steer clear of them if your space mainly has wood floors that you’re looking to spruce up on a weekly, or everyday, basis.
• Dust mops: Dust mops can be a great option for picking up dry messes on wood floors, or any surface that you’d like to be gentle on.
• Spray mops: We think spray mops can hold and apply cleaning solution to your floor with the press of a button, so you don’t have to carry your bucket of water around.
• Steam mops: These can lift tough stains, and also tend to be multi-functional tools you can use on upholstery too, with the proper attachments in tow. “As opposed to using harsh chemicals, steam mops heat water to sanitize flooring,” says Vera Peterson, president of Molly Maid. “For those that are sensitive to chemicals, a steam mop makes for the perfect alternative!”
• Robot mops:As an advanced option, robot mops turn cleaning into a hands-free experience. They’ll clean all of your floors on their own—just like a robot vacuum—and can often be controlled through an app.

Portability

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It’s important to consider the weight and portability of the mop you choose, as a heavy mop can be cumbersome to use. Aside from looking at the weight specification for a product, factor in the style of the mop when thinking about portability. String and sponge mops tend to absorb a lot of water—this can make them substantially heavier during use. They also may come with a bucket that’s hard to carry up a flight of stairs or into another room. Flat mops are typically the most portable, but for the most comfortable experience you should also look for products with a grippy handle or a mop head that isn’t too big in comparison to the length and durability of the handle.

Our best steam pick, the PurSteam Steam Mop Cleaner 10-in-1, is surprisingly lightweight, despite having a larger water tank. We loved not only how easily this mop glided over flooring, but also how convenient it was to use the detachable handheld steamer for detailed tasks throughout the home.

Ease of Cleaning

As you mop, chances are you’ll need to dispose of dirt or spills you’ve picked up along the way. This is where wringing out your mop comes into play. Many mops today have self-wringing mechanisms, so you don’t have to do this work by hand. Your mop might come with a self-wringing bucket or a built-in handle mechanism, both of which make maintenance substantially easier. Others require you to switch out the cleaning pad by hand and throw it away or put it in the washing machine.

“Ensure your mop head is properly wrung out before placing it on your floor,” notes Jett. “Too much water can cause damage to some types of floors, plus the more water you add, the longer it will take to dry, which can lead to streaking.” Jett also stresses the importance of switching out your water to ensure the best type of clean: “As soon as your mop water begins looking murky, change it out! Scrubbing your floors with dirty water will do you no good.”

Be sure to check how often the manufacturer recommends replacing the mop head and the cost of replacement parts. A reusable cleaning pad may not be the easiest to swap out, but it will be a cost-effective option in the long run. A self-wringing bucket might be the easiest option for cleaning your mop, but it will be heavier to carry and use, and it might be especially inconvenient when you need to change out the water. What you choose ultimately comes down to personal preference.

Standout Features

Attachments

Mops with multiple attachments can be more expensive than simple, flat mops. However, it may be worth investing in a mop with attachments if you want to tackle more tasks with just one cleaning tool. Several of the mops in this roundup come with helpful attachments—or have detachable handheld pieces—that make cleaning other surfaces in your home, such as kitchen backsplashes, upholstery, and carpets, much easier. For example, our best steam pick, the PurSteam Steam Mop Cleaner 10-in-1, comes with seven attachments, including a big brush tool, an angled nozzle, steamer jet, and a scrape tool.

Aside from packing a lot of cleaning power into a single tool, these multipurpose attachments are helpful when it comes to budgeting for and storing your cleaning supplies. That way, you won’t need to buy and find homes for many separate tools.

Mop Head Release Mechanism

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While the whole task of mopping is not enjoyable, one of the worst parts is having to remove the mop head cloth and rinse it after each use. Some of the latest mop designs come with mop head release buttons, which allow you to avoid touching whatever debris and hair the wet pad may have picked up. Our best for hardwood floors pick, the Shark VacMop Pro Cordless Hard Floor Vacuum Mop, uses disposable pads and has a release button that you can push to drop dirty pads directly into your trash can.

Wall Mount

A wall mount makes storing your mop a total breeze. It saves you space by giving your cleaning tool a designated spot in your cleaning closet, separate from the precious real estate on the floor. Once it’s set up, a wall mount helps all members of your household know exactly where to find your mop, and where to put it away.

Some steam cleaners and cordless mop-vacuum combos also have charging stations that double as wall mounts. This ensures that the unit is always powering up when not in use and gives you a designated space to store the tool and all its attachments.

Why Trust The Spruce?

Emma Phelps is an associate editor at The Spruce. She has ample experience testing cleaning products. Phelps also consulted testing insights from the lab, where we put 15 mops through a variety of head-to-head tests.

Our Experts:

• Vera Peterson, president of Molly Maid
• Noell Jett, creator of Jett Set Farmhouse and author of From the Ground Up
• Katie Berry, The Spruce’s Cleaning Review Board member
• Dena Ogden, writer at The Spruce
• Michelle Lau, editor at The Spruce

Source: https://en.congthucvatly.com
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