The 3 Best Steam Mops to Buy (and 1 That’s the Worst!)
Want a healthier, eco-friendly way to clean your floors?
While there are so many ways to clean hardwood floors and spot clean carpets, one of my favorite ways to clean is with a steam mop. Here are the best and the worst steam mops, along with the pros and cons of each.
The best steam mops available:
1. Shark Genius Steam Pocket Steam Mop – S5003D
Buy it on Amazon | $119.99
Here’s why we love it:
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- Removes 99.9% of common household bacteria with no chemical residue left behind.
- Works great on sealed hardwood floors.
- Unique dual-sided Dirt Grip Pads clean & sanitize efficiently, are designed to trap dirt, and are super absorbent for faster floor drying times.
- Touch-Free Technology so you never have to touch a dirty mop pad again.
- Steam Blaster feature attacks tough messes.
- Intelligent Steam Control with 3 different settings.
- Lightweight and easy to handle.
“This mop is extremely easy to assemble and get up and running. I tried it on my dining room hardwood and was FLOORED! Pun intended. 😉 I also used it on my ceramic tile in the basement. Holy wow! It took paint off the floor that had been sitting for over a year from the old owners! I thought I’d have to get paint thinner since soap & water and other scrubbing tools did nothing! I hit a spot that I hadn’t touched before and it came right up! You will love this mop if you’re considering it!” – Connie ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Bissell Power Deluxe Steam Mop – 1806
Buy it on Amazon | $102.99
Here’s why we love it:
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- Kills 99.9% of germs without any harsh chemicals.
- It can be used on sealed hardwood, ceramic, linoleum, tile, granite, and marble.
- Spot Boost brush helps removes tough, sticky messes.
- It comes with a convenient measuring cup for refilling the water tank.
- Digital Steam Control with short 30-second warm-up time has high or low steam settings, depending on your cleaning needs.
- Built-in scent disc tray leaves a refreshing scent in your home.
- Lightweight and easy to store.
“I clean my floors regularly so when they’re not clean I tend to panic until they are. Before I owned this magical device, I slept like a baby thinking my floors were clean. Then I received this beautiful steam mop as a gift and my world changed. My old mop, whom I TRUSTED, lied to me all those years.
I used this steamer immediately after sweeping and Swiffering my floors with the wet cloths, just to see if it would make a difference and the pad was BLACK with dirt after steaming the first floor. If you want an easy way to have cleaner floors, this product is a must buy!” – Erin ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop – 1940A
Buy it on Amazon | $92.69
Here’s why we love it:
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- It sanitizes your floors and removes 99.9% of germs and bacteria.
- The built-in scrubber allows you to easily clean tough and sticky messes.
- Has a convenient steam control from low, medium, or high.
- It comes with 2 microfiber mop pads.
- It also comes with 2 fragrance discs that add a fresh scent to your home when cleaning.
- The mop pads are machine washable.
- Comes with a limited 2-year warranty.
“I was ready to rip my tile floor up. The tiles have small crevices and the only way I could get out the dirt was with a scrub brush – AND on my hands and knees. This was a back-breaking chore. Then I took a chance on one more steam mop. I tried Bissell. The angels sang. Wow. I can keep my floor and have a product that works to keep it clean. Grandchildren, 4 cats, and 3 dogs – bring it on! I’ve got this now.” – Elizabeth ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The worst steam mop:
Shark Steam Pocket – S3501
Available on Amazon | $69.99
Steam mops are supposed to make cleaning easier and clean messy spills efficiently. Even though this steam mop has over 2,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, in Consumer Reports testing, this mop scored an underwhelming 9 out of 100. 😱
Here are the reasons not to love it:
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- Very poor cleaning results during testing.
- Lacks a motorized pump and you have to manually pump for steam constantly.
- Has a short cord not suitable for larger spaces. The cord is 5 feet shorter than our other highly-rated steam mops.
“This steam mop does NOTHING. The cleaning pads do not have a strong Velcro, and after a few uses, they refuse to stay on. The mop itself just heats up and produced steam, giving the illusion that it is cleaning, but it is not. I vacuum before using this product in order to eliminate dust and hair, but this mop just wets the dirt and pushes it around. I always end up having to clean the dirt from the floor using my hands. It does not pick up any dirt. All it does is make the floor slippery and hot. Do not buy this product.” – Chelsey
Should I buy a top load or front load washer and dryer? Join our debate!
I used to have the Shark Steam Pocket mop and it was the WORST!! It was a pain to pump the steam, changing the pads was always difficult and the steam sprayer quit working after less than a year. I loved the idea of cleaning with steam, and may try one of the more highly rated mops in the future, but this one certainly deserved the low rating from Consumer Reports, in my opinion!
Darn! Thanks so much for your honest review on that one, JulieL!
SAME!! I have a new one still in the box in my garage that we received for Christmas last year. My parents gave it to us but it was not the one I wanted so I never opened it and of course no gift receipt. Been looking to get a new one that works better. Thank you for this review.
I’ve been looking at these! I was eyeing up the Shark. Glad I read this!
Love the Shark Genius mop! You know you’re an adult when you get excited about an appliance, but I can say that I have really been impressed with this mop. The pads are great and are easily replaced while mopping the floors. The replacement pads are also sold at a bunch of different retailers, so they’re easy to find.
Woohoo! Glad you have loved that one too, Katrina! Thanks so much for the helpful comment!
I use the Bissell Crosswave – it vacuums and mops the floor at the same time. It has two seperate tanks for clean and dirty water. It saves so much time and works great. It is also easy to use.
Love my Cross Wave! These steam mops don’t hold a candle to it – it save so much time. Best invention ever.
Agree! Have a steam mop but once I started using the crosswave, I quit using it. I LOVE the crosswave!
I have a different shark steam pump mop than the one advertised, and I love it! It’s been great and I feel like it does a way better job than my regular old mop ever did. Granted my kitchen/dining area are probably a little smaller than some, but it’s been awesome for me. Maybe it’s just that particular pump model and not all shark pump models?
Also, I’ve mostly used distilled water for my mop so I haven’t had a problem with the calcification
I switched to the Bissell steam mop last year after several Shark steam mops that stopped working (all due to calcification). I tried everything to decalcify them but have never been able to get the mop to effectively work once the issue happens. A year or two in, I’ve had the same issue with each shark model from the less expensive to the most expensive version. I could use distilled water, but it is inconvenient when you run out or forget to purchase in advance. Hoping for good longevity with the Bissell! I read reviews that it is the better option for tap water.
It isn’t that difficult to buy 5-6 bottles to have at home.
Had a shark steam mop maybe a decade ago and I loved it, but it died less than a year old. Tried a Bissel one few years later that Kohls sold and that was horrible…put down so much water on the floor. Then went to a Hoover twin tank steam mop and have been happy ever since!
Thank you for this article! My Shark steam mop just died on me. I’m on the hunt for a new steam mop now 😀
You’re so welcome, Suz! Glad this list will be helpful in choosing a new one!
I’ve had the Shark Genius for about a year and absolutely love it. I had the Shark Steam Pocket and it was a waste of money.
I have Coretec luxury vinyl tile in my home (the ‘fake’ wood plank that’s soundproof, waterproof, etc). I have a shark steam mop but I’ve been afraid to use it. I use it on my ceramic with no problem. Anyone used a steam mom on LVT flooring?
Hey! I don’t have LVT, but just recently renovated our kitchen and looked at that as a new flooring option. When we were looking at options, the company we used for the renovation strongly discouraged me from cleaning anything LVT or LVP with a steam mop. They told me the heat will void the warranty of most manufacturers as it can cause the top layer of “plastic” that seals the plank/tile to breakdown and this opens the rest of the plank/tile to potential damage. Not sure if this applies to all manufacturers, but they told me most of the major brands discourage the use of steam mops. Hope this helps!
Do not use on luxury vinyl planks. It will ruin your floor.
I’ve had a Shark Steam Mop Model # SK435CO for 5 years now and have loved it! It does a thorough job! I think my biggest recommendation is buying thru Costco if possible. They have an amazing return policy and usually do extensive research before putting product into their stores. (At least that’s how their toys and book selection and research is done) Rarely have I bought products from there that are don’t work for me
I have a Bissell for four years and it’s a tank and I love that the mop pads are washable.
I use tap water it’s got high minerals too and it hasn’t batted an eyelash
How do these compare to the swiffer? Lol
The wet jet?? They can’t… that swiffer doesn’t do anything compared to these! I have the third Bissell they mentioned and I LOVE it. It works 100000x better than the wet jet. I literally used that wet jet just to see and then the Bissell..I should’ve taken a picture!
I have a Bissell 1940 and I love the scrubber on the back, BUT, the first in started leaking hot water from that back after about 6-7 months. They replaced it and the next one lasted about a year and a half before the same thing happened. Unfortunately, since it’s been over 2 years since my original purchase, Bissell says the original warranty is void and won’t fix or replace it. So IMO, not worth the cost because of lack of durability
Our bissel started leaking too! I’ve had it less than a year. I’ve been researching and it seems to be a common problem.
I love Shark products but their steam mop wasn’t my favorite honestly. Interested in trying the Bissel Crosswave.
Shark Genius A++++++. Cleans so good!!
I had the Shark. I used it once and threw it away. It was terrible.
I agree, my older shark broke and my mom ordered me the shark pocket mop for my birthday and it’s HORRIBLE in every sense of the word and for $60 thats super disappointing. I have no idea how its got such great ratings, probably paid people to write them!
i used 2 sell shark steam mops & the more expensive ones work way better. they work great. I love mine (it’s number 1)
Is there a steam mop that does good on grout? I want one for my kitchen but I’ve never found one that was good with tile that has grout.
I’m not sure about the steam mop, but here’s a post that tells you how to renew your grout!
Can these be used on real hardwood floors? Won’t the steam take off or ruin the clear coat?
I was wondering the same, I have real hardwood too.
I love my steam mop… Now how to make the washable pad look brand new since my floors turned it so dirty! Lol. Any tips?
I have to say I have the basic Shark steam mop and for what I paid for it I am satisfied it was about $20. You do have to hold the handle down to continue to release the steam but it’s really not that big of a deal. I feel like with the steam it sanitizes more so than other mops.
I was disappointed to learn steam mops don’t really sanitize. steam mops must be held over a surface for 10-15 seconds–can you imagine doing that for your entire floor. Lysol wipes etc are same way.
i wanted to add the same thing. mine (a shark) actually says that you have to apply the steam and go over the same spot at least 15 times, and let the mop heat up first for an extra 3 minutes.
i love mine, and it is good for a weekly cleaning to get the dirt and stickiness off, but it will only sanitize or disinfect if you follow instructions exactly, since these only clean with water, not cleaners.
Buy the Bissell Crosswave. I’ve tried several and have been very pleased with this one. It’s easy to use and does a good job. Vacuum AND mop at the same time. Such a time saver for me! Love, love, love it!
I have the Bissell Powerfresh mop and I love it! I clean my tile floors more often because it’s so much easier than traditional mopping. I do use distilled water and I’ve never had a problem.
If I want to make SURE the floor is cleaned I spray with with vinegar and then run the steam mop over it. But for everyday stuff just the mop does a great job.
Hello all! What model Bissell Crosswave do you recommend? Thanks for your help:)
#1785
I bought it at Kohl’s. Waited for a good sale. Paid about $160.
I am learning so much about steam mops from your posts!!!! I have one that stopped working recently and was trying to decide whether to buy a new one or not. I don’t think I will.
You are so welcome! Thanks for letting us know that this is helpful. It really helps us a lot to know what you are enjoying, NubianGoddess!
I’ve had a Bissell going on 5 years and it still works great.
I have the shark lift away steam mop and like it.. has the option to use other tools for cleaning other things which is nice. Seems to work well
I also have the crosswave and think it’s great too.. it doesn’t heat but usually reach for this one on an everyday occasion and steam mop about once a week
My absolute favorite is Bissell Symphony Pet All-in One vaccum and steam mop. I don’t even have a pet (2 kids), but the all in one with the little vacuum for small crumbs saves so much time! I’ve used it for 4 years multiple times a week in essential the entire 1st floor of our house. I just had to replace the trigger, but the $8 part was a huge saving over buying a new one!! I hope it lasts at least 4 more years or more!!
Bookmarking this page till next payday! =D
🙌
I have hardwood floors, also.
Would the Crosswave be safe for them?
Hi Zita! Here are the details I found on that – “The CrossWave is safe for tile, sealed wood floors, laminate, linoleum, rubber floor mats, pressed wood floors, area rugs, and more.”
Hope this helps!
Thank you so much!
I’ll check it out.
What would I do without my all-knowing “go-to” coupon site. 🙂
You’re so welcome! 🤗 Glad to help!
Sorry – one more question…
Can anyone suggest what model to get for Crosswave?
I see they have a BISSELL® CrossWave® Cordless Max. On their website it’s $399 w/3 yr warranty.
Would like to get something that will last and of course, a good deal.
Thank you!
I have the bissel one with the scrub brush(1806) and bought it because of the brush which has been awesome to steam clothing, scrub grout, shower, anywhere you need to steam. The floor mop is great too.
Thank you, siena95.
I have a shark digital two speed steam mop that I bought from a deal Hip2Save posted a few years ago. (I don’t think they make them anymore) I love it! I don’t use it heavily as we only have a few tiled surfaces but it works well! ** I have noticed quite a few posts here about mops dying after a year. Mine stopped working today actually. It turned on, but no steam. So I tried pouring a little vinegar in the water tank and let it sit. Dumped it out after an hour and filled with water. It turned on and worked fine! We have hard water, so it was likely clogged. If you find yourself with a steamless mop it’s worth a try before tossing it out.
Thanks for sharing this great article. I am going to bissell steam mop
Awesome, Earl! You’re so welcome and we hope you love it!