Overall value: We looked at the price of each product and rated its overall value, given our experience. And speaking of the microfiber pad, it definitely did a good absorbing messes, but it wasn't as effective with dry materials. It really handles liquid well, but without a streamlined process to rinse and wring it out, you might feel limited in how and when you use it. We also ran into some issues with keeping the shaft tight, too, despite a design that otherwise feels durable and strong. Vacuum mops: Vacuum mops have powerful suction for dirt and debris and can simultaneously clean your floors with a solution. Many are compatible with multiple surfaces, including sealed flooring, carpets, and rugs. With the right mop, achieving spotless floors can be satisfyingly simple. Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly mop with disposable pads or a high-quality electric mop for hardwood floors, we found the best mops for every household's needs after bouts of rigorous testing. Maneuverability: We tried to use the mops around the legs of the chair and to navigate it into tight areas to test its maneuverability.

Although the handle is not adjustable, during testing it was set at a comfortable height to maneuver it easily. We were impressed with its performance on hardwood floors, laminate, tile, linoleum, and other sealed hard floors. We only had to spray a small amount of solution to remove most stains, with the exception of some mud that remained in the grout. Despite its higher price tag, we think it’s worth it for those who want an efficient electric spinning mop that does most of the deep cleaning for you. To find the best mops on the market, we tested 91 popular options in our Lab. We tested the different types of mops to account for their unique features and functionality, but the testing process overall remained similar. All of our tests aimed to evaluate the mops’ effectiveness, portability, maneuverability, ease of cleaning, and overall value. Steam mops: Steam mops are usually more expensive than other mops and use the disinfecting power of heat rather than harsh chemicals or cleaning solutions. We were thoroughly impressed with the PurSteam 10-in-1 Steam Mop in our testing and found it to be easy, efficient, and versatile. It heats up in just 17 seconds and can run for up to 25 minutes when the 12.8-ounce tank is filled completely. Along with having intuitive set up instructions, it has an adjustable dial that controls steam output. The water tank will also signal—via a vibration and beeping sound—when it has run out of water. To keep your mop sanitary, clean the pad regularly, preferably after each use. Many of today's mop heads are machine-washable, which makes it easier to keep them clean.This mop heats up almost instantly, which adds to its overall convenience. We recommend taking extra precaution when cleaning around furniture though, as we found during testing that this mop's microfiber cloth head did stretch when it pushed around chair legs. However, it easily slid under the chair, thanks to the triangular mop head and swivel joint. It effectively removed stains on both tile and concrete, requiring the most passes on a syrup stain. You’ll find a huge selection of purpose-designed dusters, including microfibre “noodle” dusters, antistatic options and even specially shaped dusters for blinds. The Bissell SpinWave Cordless Hard Floor Spin Mop has two battery-powered rotating mop heads to thoroughly scrub your floor with little elbow grease needed. This spin mop comes with four machine-washable mop pads (two microfiber pads and two scrubbing pads), a charging adaptor, a storage tray, and two small bottles of cleaning solution, so you have everything you need to get your floors sparkling. Another option is to get a mop with disposable pads, which you'll throw away after each use. Berry notes that disposable wet pads are designed for use in one room before it's time for a new one.

Flat mops: This is one of the most popular types of mop, with a flat head surface suitable for disposable or reusable pads. Flat mops, including dust mops like the popular Swiffer Sweeper, are usually best for small spaces and light spills and messes. They are also the most affordable type of mop. 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. The most popular types of mops have different functions and features, and deciding on the best one for you can depend on a few factors, including your budget, lifestyle requirements, floor type, and the kinds of messes you regularly clean. Your hardwood floors need special care and maintenance, which is why we love the Bona Premium Spray Mop. This mop has an extra large microfiber mop pad that swiftly cleans large surfaces and targets the spaces between plank flooring. During our testing, the mop pad didn’t absorb oil and butter as well as other stains, but with a few extra sprays of the cleaning solution, the issue was mostly resolved. We also liked that the cleaning solution sprays in a wide, even area almost as large as the mop, and that the head swivels for maneuverability around nooks and crannies.

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In our recent test of 11 models, this H11 Max from Dreametech was tops in our ease of use tests. It earned a perfect score in six of our eight ease of use categories, and was easy to maneuver around furniture and into tight corners. It weighs almost 11 pounds, but was easy to push because it's self-propelled. During our performance tests it ran for 36 minutes on a single charge and cleaned up spilled ketchup without leaving any streaks behind or causing bigger messes on our test floor, though a few drops of dirty water did dribble out when we lifted it off the floor. The Swiffer WetJet Starter Kit also includes a bottle of cleaning solution and batteries, which is key because the spray mop requires four AA batteries to operate. All in all, setting up this product is a breeze. Another detail that we appreciated is the curved handle, which makes it more comfortable to hold and steer around the mop the floor and into corners. 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. Sponge mop: These mops come in handy when cleaning up a spill since sponges absorb a lot of liquid fast. Most sponge mops are also slim and lightweight, making them a good option for someone who finds other types of mops too heavy or awkward to use or doesn't want to deal with disposable or washable pads. They come with either a roller or butterfly wringing design, and can require a fair bit of strength to thoroughly squeeze out the sponge. Be sure to rinse them well before storing them to control germ growth and odors. Once the sponge mop head gets too dirty to use or it falls apart, it’s time to replace it. Mop head width: Mops with a larger head can cover more ground and help cut down on cleaning time but may not be able to navigate corners and smaller spaces as easily as a more compact mop head.

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!” Reliable's triangular swivel head gets into corners as does its built-in triangular scrub brush, and it comes with four reusable microfiber pads so you won’t have to worry about running out in the middle of a job. There's an attachment that snaps on to help freshen carpets, though we've never found these to be particularly useful or effective on any steamer we've tested. We like its slim design and large handle that makes it easy to carry up and down stairs. Unlike any mop we've ever seen, Melissa Maker's Maker's Clean mop is the first real innovation in traditional floor mops in years. If fact, we were so impressed with how it tested for us that we gave it a Good Housekeeping Best Cleaning Product Award. The mop head is taco-shaped, so it not only cleans flat surfaces with your favorite spray floor cleaner, but it squeezes into narrow spaces, like between the refrigerator and the wall, or around the toilet. The bottom edge fits perfectly into the 90-degree angles of stair treads and risers or along baseboards and floors.Cost of refills: Most mops with disposable cloths require refills specific to the mop brand, and some also require a cleaning solution refill. Over time both of these can get pricey but may be a good option for someone who does not want to worry about storing a damp mop or likes the convenience of disposables. Thanks to the intuitive design, you'll have no issues getting into crevices with ease, or preparing it for a fresh use. We liked that you can wring the mop out by pulling it taut and then twisting it against a ratcheting mechanism on the handle. The mop is quite heavy when wet and it may be a bit too hardy for smaller homes, but it's ultimately a durable product that's built to last. For anyone looking to add a heavy-duty cleaning tool to their collection, we think it's a great choice. The Braava Jet robot mop comes with pads for dry sweeping and two types of wet cleaning pads: disposable and reusable. While some robot mops clean with just water, this one uses a mix of warm water and iRobot's own floor cleaner to moisten grime and gunk before one of the wet pads cleans dirt from your hard floors so it's actually cleaning.

When shopping for a mop, make sure the mop is safe for the type of flooring you have,” ​​says Vera Peterson, former president of Molly Maid. “Some steam mops, for instance, can penetrate some types of flooring and be easily damaged.” Replacement heads: With repeated use over a long period of time, mops become dingy and may lose their effectiveness. You may want to consider a mop that has a replaceable head option so that when it’s time for a new mop, you can replace the head rather than the whole mop. Depending on the mop type, its quality, and how often you use it, Vieira says a mop can last anywhere between six months and two years. Regular care and maintenance for certain mops, such as vacuum or electric spin mops, can extend their lifespan. 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.The mop head is made of highly absorbent microfiber, which extends the time between mopping and wringing out the mop (although we recommend wringing it out frequently to avoid spreading stains and debris). While this spin mop is not compact and does not have wheels, we still think it’s one of the best spin mops for regular cleaning.