Cleaning your house is no mean feat. And, if you don’t use the right tools and devices, you could end up wasting your time doing something that yields no results. Steam mops help prevent just that. Not only do these cleaners pick up dust & grime, but they also help to remove stickiness and make your floors more hygienic. Plus, the best steam cleaners and steam mops are suitable for both, tiled floors and sealed hardwood floors.
Interestingly, some of the devices that follow can be used to clean bathroom floors too. The only downside is that steam mops need continuous power and are not cordless. Nevertheless, some of the steam mops we’ve shortlisted come with a long power cord that’ll allow you to clean a standard-sized room effortlessly
With that said, let’s check out some of the top-notch, multi-purpose steam cleaners out there. But first,
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1. Shark S3501 Steam Pocket Mop
- Cord length: 18-foot | Water canister capacity: 12.8 oz
The first product on our list is the Shark S3501 steam mop. It’s one of the most affordable steam mops out there. It’s lightweight and using it is simple and straightforward. It works on both tile and hardwood floors. But, you may not get the intended results on old linoleum floors. On the upside, the pads at the bottom can be replaced, which increases the device’s shelf life.
It has a sleek and lightweight design, which makes it extremely simple to use. As such, you don’t have to put in a lot of effort to drag it across your room. Using the Shark S3501 steam mop is quite straightforward. All you need to do is fill the canister with water, plug the device into a nearby socket, and wait for the water to heat. Once done, you can get started on cleaning the floors. The good thing is that the water heats up quickly and the process doesn’t take more than a couple of minutes.
The affordable pricing means you will have to compromise on some features. And in this case, it’s the cord length and the water canister’s capacity. As such, you will have to re-plug the cord and refill the water canister frequently if you are cleaning a big room.
That said, the Shark S3501 steam mop is apt for cleaning smaller rooms, rented apartments, or studio apartments. In fact, a user has reported that they could clean their 400sq ft room with the device easily. Moreover, it’s durable and replacement pads are available easily.
Alternatively, you can check out the Shark S1000 Steam Mop, which is in the same price range.
2. sandoo Store Steam Mop for Hardwood Floor
- Cord length: 20-foot | Water canister capacity: 10.14 oz
The sandoo Steam Mop is a good upgrade over the one prefaced above. Although it’s more expensive, the mop comes with a slew of attachments and a 20ft long power cord. Naturally, this makes it perfect for cleaning bigger rooms. Further, the 10.14oz canister can last around 20 minutes on a single refill.
This steam mop is easy to use and glides across floors, and several users have pointed this out in their reviews. Like its counterpart above, it works well on both tile and hardwood floors and is more than adept at removing the stickiness from the floors. Plus, the bundled attachments let you clean the windows effortlessly too.
The sandoo steam mop has received positive reviews from users, with buyers adoring its lightweight design, ease of assembly, and the mop’s long power cord. It’s not without its issues, though. For example, some users have pointed out that they received used products. And the water canister is on the smaller side as well.
That said, it’s affordable and cleans a standard-sized room easily. If you want to save some bucks, then the sandoo steam mop makes for a clever pick as it’s a multi-purpose steam cleaner.
3. Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe
- Cord length: 25-foot | Water canister capacity: 12 oz
The Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe — though a little pricier — has many good things going for it. For one, you get two types of scrub pads and steam settings. Secondly, there’s the option of adding a fragrance disc which removes the hassle of adding liquid cleaners. More importantly, the device is flexible and it can easily reach tight corners and small spaces. Now, that’s something, right?
The Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe’s forte is that it cleans the grout between bathroom tiles and kitchen walls exceptionally well. As a matter of fact, several users have praised the steam mop’s grout-cleaning prowess, with one user adding that they could see the original color of the grout after just one cleaning session. For the record, the device is suitable for sealed hardwood, ceramic, linoleum, granite, and marble floors.
So far, users have had good things to say about this floor steam cleaner. It glides across floors, and the scrub pad does a good job of picking up sticky dirt from floors, which is otherwise difficult to remove with plain water. Further, the pads are easy to replace.
Now let’s address the elephant in the room — Cord Length and Water Capacity. The Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe comes with a 25ft long cord and lets you clean bigger rooms with ease. Plus, the 16oz water canister is capacious enough to let you clean a standard-sized room in a single go.
Long story short, if you are looking for a steam mop that does the double duty of a steam cleaner for bathroom and regular floors, the PowerFresh Deluxe is one of the best steamers out there.
4. BLACK+DECKER 7-in-1 Steam Mop with SteamGlove
- Cord length: 20-foot | Water canister capacity: 16 oz
If you are looking for a versatile mop, then your search ends with the BLACK+DECKER 7-in-1 Steam Mop. To wit, the device comes bundled with several accessories and it also doubles up as a handheld steam cleaner. As such, you can clean bathroom sinks, tubs, and kitchen countertops with ease.
At the same time, the packaged accessories ensure that you can clean glass surfaces too. On that note, the steam mop can clean your shower’s glass door effortlessly. Nevertheless, the steam mop’s standout feature is that it can clean tile grout remarkably well. So much so, a simple cleaning session leaves the tile grout free of deposits and grime, which is a huge plus.
Do note that the BLACK+DECKER Steam Mop is a little bulky. And you may need some time to get used to the form factor, especially if you are using it in handheld mode. That said, it has climbed up the popularity ladder, thanks to its useful accessories and performance.
5. Bissell Symphony Pet
- Cord length: 25-foot | Water canister capacity: 12.8 oz
The Bissell Symphony Pet stands out from the rest as it doubles up as a steam mop and a vacuum cleaner. Yes, you read that right. This nifty cleaning accessory can steam and vacuum your floors and it is suitable for granite, marble, hardwood, and ceramic floors. More importantly, it lets you load a fragrance disc which ensures your house smells fresh, something pet owners will greatly appreciate.
It works as advertised and keeps your floors free of stickiness, dust, and grime. While the vacuum’s suction is strong, it’s known to leave small debris behind. That said, the steam mop comes with additional accessories like disposable scrub pads to boost the cleaning process. And yes, you can also use washable scrub pads, if you want to keep things simple.
Another noteworthy feature is the Bissell Symphony Pet’s lightweight design. That said, some users have pointed out that it’s a chore (no pun intended) to clean the corners with the device. Despite that, it is popular amongst the masses and has managed to rake in around 5,000 user ratings, with people singing praises of its performance on wooden floors and the mop’s sizable water tank.
6. McCulloch Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner (MC1275)
- Cord length: 15.7-foot | Water canister capacity: 48 oz
If you are looking to clean more than just floors and bathroom tiles, you can have a look at the McCulloch Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner (MC1275). It packs a total of 18 accessories, which makes it easy to clean corners, surfaces, and appliances in your home. It resembles a conventional steam cleaner and comes with wheels at the bottom. And the best part is that it gets a 48-ounce water canister, which should allow you to clean multiple rooms in one go.
The bigger water tank also has its limitations. Unlike the steam mops above — which require just a couple of minutes to heat up — this McCulloch cleaner takes around eight minutes to heat up. On the upside, the wheels at the bottom of the device make it easy to move it around.
It bundles the usual accessories like floor mop and scrub pads, aside from the jet nozzle and the utility brushes. And you can use them to clean everything from tile grout to oven grease and car interiors.
The McCulloch steam cleaner is a heavy-duty cleaner, and you will need time to get used to it. But if you want a device that can do it all, look no further than McCulloch’s offering.
FAQs About Steam Cleaners And Steam Mops
Steam cleaning hardwood floors or any floors with adhesive is not advisable regularly. In such cases, it’s wise to use a regular spray mop to clean up any dirt or grime.
Yes, when used correctly, steam cleaners and steam mops not only absorb dust and grime but also leave the floor surface free of germs and bacteria. Plus, they are time-saving. However, you should pick a steam mop that is compliant with your floor’s surface.
Laminated flooring, vinyl floors, or any flooring with adhesives shouldn’t be steam cleaned. While steam mops are considered good for hardwood floors, you will have to ensure that they are sealed and there are no cracks in between. The folks at Family Handyman opine that forcing steam into floor cracks can cause damage like swelling or joint-line separation, among others.
Unlike laminates and vinyl floors, steam-cleaning floor tiles is safe as long as the grout is sealed and there are no gaps.
Clean Like a Pro
These were some of the best steam cleaners and steam mops. Note that you will need to be careful with how you handle the pad at the bottom, as the hot steam can burn your feet.
That said, the aforementioned steam cleaners have a wide path and they can be maneuvered easily, which should help you save some time.
Last updated on 24 May, 2023
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