Is steam mops safe for tile, hardwood, and laminate floors?
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For sparkling clean floors without the need for chemical cleaners, steam mops are the answer.steam mops claim to work without the need for traditional floor-cleaning formulas, but still remove tough, dried-on stains along with everyday dust and dirt.Because of the steam's high temperatures, these mops can be used to clean bathroom floors and pet spaces with just a few slow passes.
We found steam mops to be very effective at removing stains from bare floors with just a few passes.The features we've found to be most helpful and what floors steam mops work best on are listed below, along with the models from brands that have performed well in previous tests.
We evaluate steam mops in the Good Housekeeping Cleaning Lab for how quickly they heat up, how much steam they produce, and how well they remove sticky and greasy messes from ceramic tile floors.Our favorite steam mops are here.
The best steam mop is the Reliable Steamboy Pro 300CU steam floor mop.
The steam mops work by heating the water inside the chamber.The steam can be dispersed by attaching a disposable cloth to the head.The pad picks up the steam and traps it on the floor.You can either toss the cloth or wash it.
It's an all-in-one system if you use a steam mop over a traditional mop.There are no separate cleaners to buy or store, and no heavy buckets to fill or empty.Since the pad gets tossed or washed when you're done, steam mops are neater and easier to store.Unlike every other type of floor mop, steam mops reach temperatures high enough to kill germs on hard surfaces.If you want to give the steam time to do its job, just pass them slowly.
If you have a busy household with lots of foot traffic and need to wash your floors often, you may want to consider using a steam mop instead of buying floor-cleaning formulas.In homes where kids or pets like to lie on the floors, steam mops can provide a deeper clean.The fact that they kill germs can give you peace of mind that your floors are really clean.If you want to cut down on the amount of cleaning products in your home, a steam mop is an easy fix.
There are two main types of steam mops, those that produce steam-on-demand, meaning you have to pull atrigger or press a button when you want the steam to expel, and those which produce continuous steam.It's a matter of personal preference.It is nice to be able to give an extra burst of steam when you come across a stubborn stain, but we think continuous steamers requires less effort.
There are features we like.Some models offer low, medium, and high steam levels to better clean and care for more delicate or extra durable floors or to raise or lower the steam level to suit the cleaning job at hand.We recommend looking for water tanks with large openings, a swivel head to navigate around corners and table and chair legs, and an extra-long cord for extended reach.
It is always a good idea to check with your flooring brand to be sure steam won't void your floor's warranty, as steam mops are generally safe for vinyl, ceramic and porcelain tile floors.It's important to keep in mind that steam alone won't whiten dirty or stained lines.Even though the manufacturers claim that steam mops are safe, we caution against using them on wood and laminate floors.
The steam mops that have done well in our tests are from brands we know and trust.Be sure to check out our favorite vacuums and hardwood floor cleaners.
Reliable irons are known for billowing out a lot of steam, so it makes sense that their steam mops do the same.And they do!The model's triangular head makes it especially well-suited to cleaning in corners and it even comes with a scrubber brush to plow through stuck-on messes and clean dirty tile grout better than steam alone can do.
The package includes two microfiber pads, so a clean one is always ready, and a glide that snaps onto the head for revitalizing carpets.The large grip handle and slim design make it easy to carry up and down stairs.You won't lift a finger.
The updated version of Shark's steam mop is a great starter model for new homeowners or recent graduates.The set-up was easy to set up, just snap the pole and top handle into place.The water tank can be removed for easy filling at the sink.
The steamer locks in the upright position for easy storage and the 18-foot cord means no corner is out of reach.
The Good Housekeeping Seal star is a wet and dry floor cleaning machine.Unlike a typical steam mop that only wet cleans, the CrossWave vacuums up dry debris and washes floors with its soft, rotating brush.It can do both at the same time.It was easy to use, store and disassemble, so you don't have to keep a dirty machine in your closet.
Simply mix water and the cleaner in the box that comes with the clean water tank.The brush roll can be used to clean the floor or rug.When you are done cleaning, put the dirt and water into a separate tank.It's easy to switch from cleaning bare floors to rugs with the fingertip controls.
If you're a fan of mopping your floors with disposable wet cloths, this Good Housekeeping Seal star will kick your floor cleaning routine up a notch by adding in the power of steam.A unique mop that uses special disposable pre-moistened cloths to clean, the SteamBoost heats up in seconds and expels steam on demand when you press thetrigger.Attach the wet cloth to the mop the same way you would a Swiffer mop, fill the water tank and start cleaning.
As the steam pumps through the cloth, it causes the cleaners inside to work harder for a one-two punch on tough stains.Dirt is locked inside the pad and not redeposited back on floors, which gives a nice scent to the room.Throw the dirty pad into the trash.There are 20-count refill packs of the cloths.
If you want more control over your cleaning options, the Sienna can give you that.Simply select "dust or low" to remove light dust or clean delicate floors and "mop or medium" for regular cleaning of tile or linoleum floors.
The head vibrates lightly to help loosen and remove dirt, and there's a headlight to see under furniture and into dark corners.It has two microfiber pads, a carpet glider attachment, and a 25-foot reach.