The broom and mop have been around for possibly thousands of years, in one form or another, as our best way to keep floors clean.
Vacuums are technology’s answer to improve the broom, but what about the mop? Can an electric mop or scrubber really do the job better?
The easier it is for me to use a tool, and see its benefits, the more likely I will make it a part of my routine. That’s often what maintaining a clean home is all about: making it as painless as possible. There is a reason brooms are not commonly used anymore, and it’s because we can get the job done faster and better with a vacuum.
So, is their added value in using these electric mops over the tried-and-true manual mop?
Let’s dig in and start answering this question.
It is recommended that steam mops (or any liquid cleaner) only be used on hardwood floors that have been sealed with polyurethane after laying so that the seams are sealed as well. If your floor was sealed at the factory, but not after it was laid, then you should not be using a steam mop. Seek professional advice on how your specific floor should be cleaned.
Here’s a summary of the different types and you can skip to each section, or just keep reading.
Product Summary
The top rated product for each of the 5 categories is listed below and if you’re interested in reading details about each and compare them with the runner up then click “Continue Reading.”
For daily cleaning, the Steam Mops and Spin Mops are a great place to start. The Hard Floor Cleaners are a bit more work than the mops, but are great for cleaning large areas of hardwood or tile flooring. If you’re looking to do more detailed cleaning then the Heavy Duty Scrubbers or Power Scrubbers are what you’re looking for.
Top Picks
Here we’re going to analyze, in detail, each of the top models mentioned above in their respective categories.
Remember, it’s all about added value with these tools. If you can get the job done easier and quicker with a mop or a brush, then how can you justify spending $100 on something you’ll never take out of the close, or worse, it ends up in a landfill?
We’re more enthusiastic about some of these products than others, but we do feel that all of these products provide some value for the right person.
In particular, the steam mops and spin mops provide a great daily cleaning, while the vacuum-like hard floor cleaners require a bit more effort to use. The heavy duty cleaners are meant for occasional deep cleaning, and the power scrubbers help if your needs go beyond just a floor.
Let’s start with the number one rule of steam mops:
Only water can be added to the tank, preferrably distilled water. You will destroy your steam mop if you add cleaning solution.
When you introduce a cleaning solution to the water and then evaporate the water (as steam), you are left with a residue of all the chemicals inside the cleaning solution that didn’t make its way out with the steam. Eventually the residual chemicals will just burn like if you left a pot of water on the stove top and dumped sugar in it and let the water boil off.
Bissell also sells demineralized water that will work with any steam mop, but you’ll find it’s probably cheaper to buy plain old distilled water locally.
Now:
Steam mops are even simpler than spin mops in that the only extra function they perform is producing steam. One advantage to steam mops is that they don’t leave behind much water on your floor, so you don’t have to worry about waiting for it to dry or tracking dirty footprints. You can even control how much steam is released to fit your needs.
To get the best performance and life out of a steam mop, you also should use distilled or demineralized water. Water from a tap, unless you have a home filtration system, will always have minerals and small traces of other chemicals in the water. When the water evaporates into steam, the minerals will be left behind and eventually will reduce the performance of the machine.
It’s not going to ruin the steam mop if you use tap water, but if you can use filtered water in the mop, then you will increase the life of your steam mop.
Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe Steam Mop (Model 1806)
The Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe 1806 is an improvement over the Bissell PowerFresh 1940 model for several reasons, but most importantly the water tank. In the newer 1806 model, the water tank is built into the body of the mop. You will have to fill the tank with the provided cup, but this helps elminate the leaking problems that occur on steam mops with removable tanks like the 1940 model.
There are a few other differences, such as the water tank is 19 oz. on the 1806 (up from 15 oz. on the 1940), and the power cord is 25 feet on the 1806 (up from 23 feet on the 1940). Another difference is the “SpotBOOST Brush” on the 1806 model, which is essentially turns the body of the mop into a steam brush for getting really tough messes.
Both the 1940 and 1806 model can be turned off without unplugging them.
Key Features
- SpotBOOST Brush turns the body of the mop into a steaming brush.
- Built-in water tank means no leaky seals.
- 2 Steam Settings (Can be turned OFF without unplugging.)
- Scent Discs Optional
- Safe on sealed hardwood, tile, stone, marble, granite, linoleum, and laminate flooring.
- 2 Year Warranty
- 25-foot power cord
If you’re not completely satisfied with the idea of only relying on the steam from the mop to clean your floors, then you can spray any solution you normally would use onto the floor before or during cleaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I have to pump the handle to release the steam?
A: No pumping required. Just set the steam level by pressing the button on the body and steam will continuously come out. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t leave the steam mop sitting in one spot for too long while it is still turned on. Use the same button to turn the steam setting to off.
Q: Can I use this on hardwood floors?
A: Yes, but the hardwood must be sealed. This means that the hardwood was sealed with polyurethane after being installed so that the seams are covered as well. If you use a steam mop on pre-sealed hardwood that is laid leaving the seams unsealed you can damage your floor over time.
Q: Do the pads slip off the steam mop?
A: As long as you put them on correctly this shouldn’t be much of an issue. It’s best to put the front of the pad on first, then tuck it into the groove on the mop and work your way around, tucking as much of the elastic band into the groove as possible. This isn’t recommended by Bissell, but you can put the pads in a clothes dryer and slightly shrink them. They will for more snug after 1 or 2 cycles. Also, floors with a rougher texture will pull on the pad more. Allow steam to build up which will help lubricate the pad as you mop.
Q: Are the pads washable/resuable?
A: Yes.
Q: How long from turning on does it take to produce steam?
A: About 20-30 Seconds
Q: Can this steam mop stand on its own?
A: Yes.
O-Cedar Microfiber Steam Mop
The O-Cedar Steam Mop has all the necessities with an affordable price tag. Similar to the Bissell PowerFresh, it has a built-in water tank so you don’t have to worry about leaks. The tank holds about 13 oz., which allows you to cover a lot of area in one fill. The Microfiber pad refills are relatively cheap as well. There is no warranty with this steam mop, unlike the Bissell that has a 2-year warranty.
Key Features
- Produces steam in 20 seconds
- Adjustable Steam Level (Can be turned OFF without unplugging.)
- Includes a glider for carpets.
- Triangular Head Design makes cleaning corners easy.
- Safe on sealed hardwood, tile, stone, marble, granite, linoleum, and laminate flooring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How are the microfiber pads attached and do they slip off?
A: They are attached using velcro strips and stay on with no issues.
Q: How many times can I wash the pads before replacing them?
A: About 25 times, as recommended by the manufacturer. Of course, this depends on how you use them.
Q: How is the water tank refilled?
A: A 200 mL cup is provided and it takes about 2 filled cups to fill the tank. The tank is not detachable.
Q: What are the dimensions of the triangular mop head?
A: 12″ across the back (hypotenuse) and 9″ on each side.
Without a doubt, a spin mop reduces the amount of physical work you have to do when mopping your floors. Just like an electric toothbrush performs more brushing action than a manual toothbrush, a spin mop will agitate more stuck-on gunk off your floor than a regular old mop.
Of course, that depends on if you’ve got a stain so bad you have to stand on your old mop like a pogo stick, then you might be better off not using a mop in the first place!
Most spin mops have an onboard tank and sprayer so you can apply cleaning solution as you go. This means you can control how wet your floors are better than a traditional mop, and you don’t have to worry about dirty mop water. Just drop the dirty pad in the washing machine and you’re done.
Bissell SpinWave Powered Hard Floor Mop, 2039A
The Bissell SpinWave is to mopping as the Hoover Linx is to vacuuming, except it has a cord. By that I mean it is a great daily cleaning option. While the SpinWave isn’t cordless, it still fits the same role of quickly cleaning up messes and keeping it simple.
But most important of all: it does it well.
Whether you like to mop your tile floors daily or just once a week, the SpinWave is highly capable and brings more to the table than a regular mop or steam mop.
Key Features
- 28 oz. tank capacity
- Includes soft touch pads for gently cleaning hardwood floors and scrubby pads for tough messes.
- The spinning pads make it glide across the floor which reduces physical effort needed to clean.
- Spray dispenser is built in.
- Safe on sealed wood floors, vinyl, grout, laminated flooring, tiles, stone or marble.
- Weighs less than 10 lbs.
- 2-Year Warranty
The spinning pads are attached via velcro pads on the bottom of the SpinWave. These hold up really well, but you have to be careful and get the center of the pad in the center of the rotating disk. Otherwise, it will not spin symmetrically. This system works well and makes it easy to remove the pads for cleaning.
Here’s a demonstration of how the SpinWave works and how to attach the pads.
The hardest part is getting the pads exactly in the center, but it’s just something you’ll get used to over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I have to use Bissell Cleaning Solution or can I use the one I currently have?
A: You can use your own cleaner.
Q: Can I use the SpinWave on hardwood or marble floors?
A: The SpinWave is safe on sealed hardwood and marble floors. Be sure to use the correct cleaning solution for each floor type.
Q: Is the SpinWave hard to push?
A: No it glides across the floor when turned on. The rotating pads make it easy to move around.
Q: Is there a steam feature?
A: No, the solution is sprayed out of the front as a liquid when you press a button on the handle.
Q: How long is the cord?
A: 22 feet.
Q: Is cleaning solution included with the SpinWave?
A: Yes, you get a bottle of multi-surface cleaner.
Elicto ES-200 Electronic Spin Mop and Polisher
The major difference between the Bissell SpinWave and the Elicto is the smaller body and lack of a sprayer. The Elicto weighs about 1.5 lbs less than the SpinWave. The lack of sprayer means you’ll need to apply any cleaner or polish with a spray bottle or wet the pads prior to use. However, the Elicto is also great for simply getting dust off your floor, even without any liquid cleaner. The Elicto replacement cleaning pads are slightly more expensive (at the time of publishing) than the Bissell SpinWave pads.
Key Features
- Great for polishing or dusting a dry floor.
- Extendable Handle
- 2 washable microfiber pads included
- Safe on sealed wood floors, vinyl, grout, laminated flooring, tiles, stone or marble.
- Weighs 8 lbs.
- 1-Year Warranty
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long is the cord?
A: 23 feet
Q: What type of wax should I use?
A: You can use liquid or paste wax.
These hard floor cleaners are a cross between a vacuum and a mop, similar to carpet washers. You don’t have to vacuum before using these products as they’re intended for handling both vacuuming and mopping at the same time, as you can see in the video of the CrossWave below.
The trick to making these cleaners work as intended is to simply move slowly, just like their carpet washing counterparts. These types of cleaners are so effective because they extract the dirty water from the floor instead of smearing it around like with a mop. This is the same reason carpet washers are so much more effective than taking a wet cloth and trying to soak up stains from a dirty carpet. You really are “washing” the floor.
With that said, if you’re looking for a quick cleaning tool, it’s debatable if this is quicker than mopping. However, you’ll notice in the video below you can throw a big mess at this machine and not have to use paper towels or do any extra pickup on your own. That’s something a traditional mop can’t do. Not only that but wet messes can’t be vacuumed up with a typical vacuum either, so something like the CrossWave solves this problem.
Bissell CrossWave Floor Cleaner 1785A
The CrossWave is surprisingly effective at combining the power of a vacuum and mop into one product. Like I mentioned above, it’s not necessarily quicker than simply mopping but it is more effective at cleaning up a mess that would require not only a mop but manually picking up pieces of food, for example. This is clearly illustrated in the excellent video review below by Ibaisaic.
The key to realizing the full potential of the CrossWave is to move slowly. You’re simply not going to be able to vacuum up the water as if you’re vacuuming carpet. You have to treat the CrossWave just like you would any carpet washer. To get the most water out of the carpet you have to move slowly.
In the review video below, and in the marketing materials for the CrossWave you typically see people vacuuming up food. That’s fine for the CrossWave, but be sure to clean the brushroll of any food that didn’t make it into the bin. Otherwise, you might be in for a nasty surprise when you pull it out of the closet.
Key Features
- Controls on the handle to switch between hard floors and rugs.
- Two tanks: one for cleaning solution, one for dirty water.
- Easily removable brush window and brushroll for cleaning.
- 3 Brushrolls includes: Multi-surface, Wood-floor, and Area-rug
- Swivel head for easy maneuvering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use the CrossWave as a dry vacuum?
A: You can but it is relatively underpowered for vacuuming only. The addition of water helps make debris easier to pull up.
Q: Can I use vinegar and water as a cleaning solution?
A: Bissell recommends not using vinegar with the CrossWave as it could damage the spray function.
Q: How is the edge cleaning ability?
A: Not great. The brushroll begins about an inch from the sides of the vacuum head.
Q: Will the CrossWave work well on uneven floors?
A: The CrossWave will perform best on flatter surfaces since getting a good seal around the edges is important for pulling up the water from the floor.
Floors are only a small part of what these scrubbers are capable of. You can scrub just about anything you can reach with these. There are a ton of companies selling these types of products on Amazon, and many of them are just repackaging the same product under a different name. They’re not necessarily bad, but I wanted to pull out the best model I could get my hands on. These scrubbers are cordless, so battery quality is one of the top concerns.
Homitt Electric Spin Scrubber
The telescoping handle makes this an extremely versatile tool to keep around. Not only can you easily reach all the tile in your shower or tub, but you can scrub things at ground level, such as a pool liner, without having to bend over. The longest setting is 49 inches, and the shortest is 40.5 inches.
The Lithium-Ion battery one of the best features of the Homitt. Many other similar products come with NiMH, which are more temperamental and difficult to maintain properly. This lithium-ion battery will charge in about 3.5 hours, which is a quarter of the time you see most NiMH batteries take. That’s a big difference. You can expect to get about 1 hour of runtime from this scrubber, but it really depends on which brush you’re using and what you’re scrubbing.
Replacement brushes are available here
Key Features
- Cordless with 3.65 V / 4300 mAH Li-Ion Battery
- About 1 Hour runtime and 3.5 Charge time
- Brush Heads Included: Round Bristle, Flat Brush, Corner Brush, Extra-wide Flat Brush
- Telescoping Handle (45″ Maximum Length)
- 1 Year Warranty
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use it to clean grout in my kitchen or bathroom?
A: Yes, the flat brush or corner brush is best for this.
Q: Which pad is best for cleaning windows?
A: The extra-wide flat brush will cover the most area.
Q: Is there a longer model available?
A: No, but the maximum length of this model is about 4 feet which is great for most uses.
CUH Cordless Power Scrubber
Let’s be honest about this product. It’s made in China and repackaged by many different sellers. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with that if the product is good. Heck, the device you’re reading this article on was likely made in China. There are tons of uses for this scrubber, but one of the most common is scrubbing bathroom tile. However, you can use this to scrub grill tops, wheels, RV’s, and much more.
The one complaint I have is that the battery is NiMH. It takes about 10-12 hours to charge completely. This type of battery is less expensive than Lithium Ion, so that’s part of the reason you see the lower price tag. It’s not ideal, but it works.
Key Features
- Versatility – You can scrub just about anything you can reach.
- Cordless – 3.6V NiMH 2100mAH Battery
- Waterproof Design
- 7 Scrubbing Attachments: Fine Brush, Crevice Cleaning Brush, Hard Brush, Fine Metal Brush, Crevice Cleaning Metal Brush, Hard Metal Brush, and Scouring Pad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What’s the best way to ensure I get the most battery life?
A: When you first receive the scrubber, charge it completely for 10-12 hours before using it.
Q: Can I buy extra batteries?
A: Yes, use this link to buy them on Amazon.
Q: How long will it run on a single charge?
A: It depends on how intense you’re scrubbing. Anywhere from 30-60 minutes of constant scrubbing.
Q: Can you clean carpet with this scrubber?
A: Yes, you can use the soft brush to work in cleaner into carpet.
Q: Are there multiple speed settings?
A: No, just one speed. You simply turn it on or off. Speed will change depending on how much pressure you’re applying.
Oreck ORB550MC Commercial Orbiter Floor Machine
The Oreck ORB550MC has a 3/4 HP motor and is capable of cleaning any flooring type. Whether you want to clean grout stains on tile or polish marble, this machine can do it.
There is another model that has a longer warranty (10 years), the Oreck Orbiter Ultra Floor Machine.
This machine does not come with any attachments, so you will need to buy the brushes and pads that you need separately.
You can even use this machine to dry clean carpet, but be sure to get the right brush or pad. Low-pile carpet can be cleaned with the bonnet pad, and higher-pile carpet can be cleaned with the carpet brush.
Key Features
- Cleans Wood, Vinyl, Tile, Carpet, and other bare flooring.
- Up to 175 RPM to buff, clean, polish, sand, scrub, strip, or wax.
- 50′ Cord
- Weighs 24 lbs and has a 13″ cleaning path
This machine is versatile enough to strip, wax, buff, sand, and refinish any floor surface. It’s also a way to dry clean carpet, which means no dealing with water that can cause mildew if not properly extracted.
Here’s a table of some of the most popular pads and brushes you can use with the Oreck ORB550MC Floor Scrubber. The diameter of these brushes and pads is 12 inches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can this machine be used to apply wax?
A: Yes, but you will need to buy the appropriate accessory. This machine can also be used to prep the floor for waxing, such as stripping old wax or scrubbing the floor.
Q: Can this be used with a chemical stripper to strip and wax floor tiles?
A: Yes, no problem.
Q: Can it be used to clean a wood deck?
A: Yes, you can use the coarse buffer pad. It will make quick work of cleaning the mess left after leaves fall or built up residue from years of exposure.
Q: Does the ORB550MC come with a pad driver?
A: Yes, it’s included. It’s what you will need to use the pads instead of brushes.