Expert Tested: 10 Best Mops in 2024 - The HouseWire (2024)

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Image	Model	Features	Best Mops of 2024
	Best Overall Wholesale Professional Mop	Adjustable Design Sturdy Easy to Store and Compact	Check Price
	Best Budget Libman Wonder Mop	Lightweight Quick to dry Absorbs a lot of water	Check Price
	Best Dust Mop MR.SIGA Professional Mop	Double Locking system Leaves floors shiny High quality replacement heads	Check Price
	Best Sponge Mop Yocada Sponge Mop	Clean Windows and floors Suitable for any liquid cleaners Don't have to bend down too low	Check Price
	Best Mop/Bucket O-Cedar EasyWring Spin Mop	Sturdy Doesn't leave streaks on hardwood floors Versatile Mopping(dry, wet or damp)	Check Price
	Best for Hardwood Floors Swiffer WetJet Mop Kit	Lightweight Batteries included Convenient	Check Price
	Best Spray Mop Bona Hardwood Floor Premium Spray Mop	Long lasting cleaning solution Sturdy Pads with rubber corners	Check Price
	Best Steam Mop BISSELL PowerFresh Steam Mop	Long power cord No cleaning solution needed	Check Price
	Best Robot Mop iRobot Braava Jet 240	Quiet Efficient with pet hair	Check Price
	Best Vacuum/Mop Hybrid Tineco Floor One S3	Very efficient Simple to maintain	Check Price

Table of Contents

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Pros

• Users love how this mop is heavy-duty and feels sturdy to use
• The adjustable handle makes it suitable for just about any job
• It’s compact and easy to store

Cons

• It seems the microfiber pads aren’t as good quality as the rest of the mop
• The mop head is wide, so it’s tricky in tight corners

View on AmazonView on Walmart

Pros

• It’s super lightweight and easy to use on all surfaces
• Users love how quick it is to dry the mop head
• The microfiber strips absorb lots of water

Cons

• It tends to push pet hair around the floors rather than picking up the fibers
• The wringing mechanism is a bit too large for the head, so it’s hard to remove all excess water

4.5View on AmazonView on Walmart

Pros

• The double locking system on the handle is super strong and effective
• The waxing side of the mop pad leaves floors shiny
• Users love the thick and high-quality replacement heads

Cons

• The mop pads are wider than the actual mop, making it hard to apply pressure to the edges
• The clips on the cleaning pad can come loose

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Pros

• Reviewers love that you can clean windows as well as floors thanks to the handy mop features
• You can use all kinds of liquid cleaners with this Mr. Siga
• You don’t have to bend down too low to use the wringer handle

Cons

• Some users found the assembly instructions weren’t clear
• The sponge doesn’t last as long as other materials

4View on AmazonView on Walmart

Pros

• It’s sturdy enough to handle every day use
• It doesn’t leave streaks on hardwood floors
• You can use it as a dry, wet, or damp mop by using the wringer more or less

Cons

• It’s smaller than some users were expecting
• The spin mechanism isn’t effective if there’s too much water in the bucket

4View on AmazonView on Walmart

Pros

• It’s lightweight and easy to store
• The batteries are included, so you can set up and go
• It’s more convenient than a bulky mop and bucket

Cons

• It struggles to clean up big messes
• The disposable pads are expensive to replace

4View on AmazonView on Walmart

Pros

• The cleaning solution lasts a long time
• Users love how sturdy it feels
• The pads have rubber corners, so they don’t damage your furniture

Cons

• It seems the spray bottle can leak, so keep an eye on it
• The velcro to hold the pad doesn’t go all the way to the edges

View on AmazonView on WalmartView on Bissell

Pros

• The 23-foot power cord is long enough to cover large areas
  There’s no need for artificial smells from cleaning products
  It still works like new after months of use
  

Cons

• The higher steam setting can leave puddles of water
  Some users don’t like the smell of the fragrance discs, but you don’t need to use them
  

View on AmazonView on iRobot

Pros

• It’s quiet
• Pet owners love how it handles pet hair and muddy paw prints
• It’s simple to set up and use

Cons

• It’s only suited to light mess. You still need a regular mop for tough stains
• It’s an expensive option compared to classic mops

View on AmazonView on Walmart

Pros

• Users love how little effort it takes to get clean floors
• It’s simple to clean and maintain
• It’s cordless, so you can use it anywhere

Cons

• It doesn’t clean right up to the edges of rooms
• The water tanks don’t hold a lot

Types

These days, you can find all kinds of mops. And each one has its perks.

Manual

You can’t go wrong with a classic manual mop and some elbow grease, so let’s look at the different types of manual mops you can buy.

Flat Mop

As the name suggests, flat mops have flat heads that are either circular or rectangular and are great for dust-busting. They tend to use microfiber mop heads made from a polyester and nylon mix, so it’s perfect for attracting fine dust and scrubbing the dirt away from your floors.

They’re lightweight, easy to store, and a handy tool if you don’t want too much water on your laminate floors.

The only gripe for flat mops? They’re not the best tool for cleaning stubborn dirt, so stick to light messes with this type.

This LavoHome model is an example of a flat mop.

Spray Mop

A spray mop is effectively a flat mop with an added spray trigger on the handle to dispense any cleaning solutions straight onto the floor. This means you don’t need a bucket, so it’s one to consider if you don’t have much storage space.

O-Cedar makes the ProMist MAX microfiber spray mop.

String Mop

The traditional image of a mop is an old faithful, the string mop. These have a mop head made from ultra-absorbent cotton or rayon strings attached to a simple pole.

The string mop has undergone a modern makeover and you can now find it with a microfiber mop head to make it last longer. Although it’s worth noting that while more hygienic, this kind isn’t as absorbent as cotton.

String mops are ideal when you need a heavy-duty cleaning tool, and you can use them for cleaning floors outdoors as well as inside.

Strip Mop

Strip mops look similar to string mops, but they use strips of synthetic fabrics instead. They tend to have a wringer on the handle, making them more convenient than a string mop.

They’re also easier to maintain and the fabric strips are fast-drying, which helps keep bacteria at bay. You can scrub floor surfaces a lot better with one of these than you can a flat mop, but they’re not the most absorbent mop on the market.

Sponge Mop

Sponge mops use super-absorbent sponge mop heads that you can wring out for minimal moisture. This means your floors will dry quickly, which is ideal for surfaces like lino and laminate since they don’t mix well with lots of water.

This Casabella is an example of a sponge mop.

Electric

If you don’t fancy a manual mop, why not look at upgrading to an electric version for an easier cleaning solution?

Steam Mop

Steam mops use the natural power of hot steam to sanitize your floors, so there’s no need for added cleaning agents.

Most steam mops have a water tank and a reusable microfiber pad that sits under the steam jet, locking dirt away as you mop. The excess moisture from the steam means you should never use a steam mop on wood floors, as it can cause damage.

Spin Electric Mop

Spin mops have spinning heads that make for easy cleaning since they do all the scrubbing action for you. You can just push your spin mop along without the need to mop around in a circular cleaning motion.

A spin mop is an effective tool for all kinds of flooring, but they are often a pricier option.

The BISSELL SpinWave is an example of an electric spin mop.

Vacuums and Robot Mops

Vacuum mops combine two cleaning tasks in one, as they have both vacuuming and mopping functions. You don’t get as good a clean as you do with a vacuum or traditional mop on its own, but a vac mop can save you time.

When small spills happen, you can handle them with one bit of kit. There’s no need to get the vacuum out first and then follow up with a mop since you can do it all at the same time!

This Shark VACMOP Pro is a vacuum mop combo.

Robot mops can also have a vacuum and mop dual function, but the robot does all the work for you. So there’s no need to lift a finger to get clean floors!

A robot mop uses a mopping pad and spray function, and you can even program them to do the cleaning while you’re out. You can find them with all sorts of gadgets from voice control to room mapping, making them a super convenient mop option.

Wet and Dry

Wet mops are designed to work with water and wet pads to remove stains from your floor, whereas dry mops are more for removing dust and surface dirt. In an ideal world, you’d use both of these types of mop to keep your hard floors looking clean and shiny.

It’s best to start off with a dry dust mop to prepare your floors for wet mopping.

Different types of mop are best suited to either wet or dry use, so choose the right one for your needs.

Mop Heads

So that’s mop types covered, now let’s run through everything you need to know about mop heads.

Disposable or Reusable

How you want to use your mop will determine the best type of mop head for you.

A mop with disposable pads is ideal for quick cleaning jobs, or if you don’t have access to a washing machine. For example, if you need one to live on the RV.

For most other jobs, reusable machine washable pads are the best option. They’re more efficient and eco-friendly than blasting through a load of disposable pads.

A lot of reusable pads are made from microfiber, so they don’t spread too much water around your hard floors. And seeing as excess water can cause damage, this is a real perk for cleaning hardwood floors.

As well as this, a microfiber mop pad is hygienic, soft, and fast-drying. So it’s worth keeping an eye out for this kind of mop head.

For example, this Rubbermaid Reveal Cleaning Kit comes with three reusable microfiber pads.

Shapes

Different shaped mop heads suit various tasks. Rectangular or triangular ones are ideal for getting into corners, whereas circular ones are better for large areas of hard floors.

If you’ve got a lot of furniture to navigate, then it’s worth opting for a mop with a swivel head. It moves in all directions, so you can move around objects with ease.

Cleaning Path

Consider the area of laminate floors you want to clean, and how wide you want the mop head.

For large open areas, a wider head will cover more ground and save you time.

Like this Turbo Microfiber Dust Mop, which has a wide 18-inch mop head.

But for tight spaces, you’re better off choosing a narrower version that won’t get caught. Or look for one with a 360-degree neck, so you can easily move it around any objects.

Material

The material plays a big part in how your mop works. The main materials you’ll come across are cotton, synthetics, microfiber, and sponge.

Traditional mops use cotton because it’s highly absorbent and can soak up a lot of water and dirt for deep cleaning messy floors. Sponge mops are another absorbent option, but they also offer better scrubbing action.

Then you’ve got synthetic options, like microfiber and nylon. They’re still absorbent and have decent scrubbing pads.

This means you’re less likely to experience that horrible musty smell or find mold growing on your mop head. And besides, these materials are quicker to dry than cotton but are still durable and easy to clean.

Wringing Mechanism

The wringing mechanism is important to factor in. It determines how easy your mop is to use, as well as making sure you don’t soak your floors with excess moisture.

Some mops have the wringing mechanism built-in to the handle, whereas others use a bucket system. Buckets are bulky but they use levers to squeeze out unwanted water, so they’re thorough.

On the other hand, handle wringers take up less space for storage and mean you don’t have to drag a bucket around with you. They’re also super easy to use.

Self-wringing mops have a ratcheting twist-action for getting rid of the excess water.

Finally, spin mops come with a designated mop bucket that uses levers to wring the water out.

Brands

There are so many brands selling mops, it’s hard to know where to start. These are some of the most popular brands when it comes to choosing the best cleaning solution for your floors:

• Bona
• O-Cedar
• Swiffer Wet
• Xiomi
• BISSELL
• Eufy

What Floors Can’t You Mop?

You can mop all types of hard floors. Just choose your cleaning solution carefully so that it doesn’t dull the surface.

The only word of warning is to avoid using steam mops on wood floors. Even the best steam mop can cause damage.

Oh, and don’t try and use one on your carpets!

How Often Should You Replace Your Mop Head?

This depends on how often you use it and the material it’s made from. If it looks worn or like it’s making your floors dirty, then it’s time to change it.

You should replace cotton heads after around 15-30 washings[1]. But microfiber heads tend to last longer, up to 500 washings in some cases.

Mops Comparison Chart

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