Steam Mop Review

Steam mops: Pros and cons

Steam mops allow you to clean floors with heated water, letting you avoid chemical detergents. The best steam mop review we read comes from the Good Housekeeping Institute, which tested the ability of three steam cleaners to remove chocolate syrup, ketchup and fruit-juice stains from several different types of flooring. Choice magazine, the Australian answer to Consumer Reports, doesn't find much to love about steam mops. "To tackle real dirt and grime," editors advise, "stick with your old-fashioned mop." Editors do, however, recommend steam mops for frequently cleaned floors. We found balanced owner reviews of steam mops at Amazon.com, Epinions.com, Target.com and Walmart.com.

The best steam mops are easy to load and push around, and they cut through sticky, dried food and other stains. They are well suited to households with small children, as no residue remains on floors after mopping, and there are no chemical fumes. While manufacturers credit steam mops with sanitizing surfaces, this claim has not been laboratory tested, and experts say that steam mops must be held in place for 10-15 seconds in order to kill bacteria. Choice magazine's experts say that vacuum cleaners actually remove more allergens than steam mops do. What's more, steam mops cannot be used on cork floors or on waxed or unsealed wood floors. And steam mops aren't vacuums, so if floors are very soiled, dirt can be spread around. Still, experts say, steam mops are a good choice for lightly soiled floors. If you're looking for a steam cleaner that can vacuum, see our report on carpet cleaners. Our report on steam cleaners covers handheld cleaners that can be used on appliances, countertops, bathtubs and shower doors.

Some steam mops earn uneven ratings in candid owner reviews. Several owners pan the Lysol SM10LR Steam Mop (*Est. $40) as flimsy and underpowered, but others say that it's light, easy to push and priced right. One owner at Walmart.com reports that the swivel connection to the handle broke. Other owners say that the handle feels fragile. Some owners at Target.com complain about the water reservoir, which is small and sits too high to fit under some cabinets. Owners at both the Target and Wal-Mart websites say they can't find extra pads to replace the two that come with the mop.

The popular Euro-Pro Shark S3101 Electric Steam Mop (*Est. $80) receives mixed reviews from hundreds of owners posting to Amazon.com. One owner who has used both the Bissell 1867-7 (*Est. $80) and the Shark Steam Mop says that the Bissell mop is sturdier and better designed. The mop head on the Shark is fixed and does not swivel, making it hard to reach out-of-the-way corners. Many Amazon.com owners say that this mop seems cheaply made, noting that the handle feels flimsy. The Shark emits less steam than the Bissell, and a number of owners say that their Shark mops stopped working or broke after only a few uses. Overall, we found better reviews for the Bissell version.

The Thane H2O steam mop (*Est. $110) receives average reviews from a handful of owners at Amazon.com. Although several owners say it works well on vinyl floors, other owners report that it feels flimsy or stopped producing steam after several uses. Several users say that it does not clean grout. As with other steam mops, users complain that the cord is too short and that the mop leaves water on the floor. The H2O does have a swiveling head, which owners say makes it easier to maneuver in tight places.