The 3 Best Steam Mops to Buy (and 1 That’s the Worst)

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Bissell steam mop with dirty pad on the tile floor

Want a healthier, eco-friendly way to clean your floors – without all the harsh chemicals?

While there are so many ways to clean hardwoods and spot clean your carpet, one of my favorite ways to clean is with a steam mop. Here are the best and the worst steam mops, along with the pros and cons for each.


The best steam mops:

1. Shark Genius Steam Pocket Steam Mop – S5003D

steam mop with dirty pad on hardwood floors

Buy it on Amazon – $95.20

Here’s why we love it:

  • Removes 99.9% of common household bacteria
  • No chemical residue left behind
  • Works great on sealed hardwood floors
  • Unique dual-sided Dirt Grip Pads
    • Cleans & sanitizes efficiently
    • Design traps dirt
    • Super absorbent for faster floor drying times
  • Touch-Free Technology
    • Never have to touch a dirty mop pad again
  • Steam Blaster feature attacks tough messes
  • Intelligent Steam Control
    • 3 different settings
  • Lightweight and easy to handle
“This mop is extremely easy to assemble and get up and running. I tried it on my dining room hardwood and was FLOORED! Pun intended. 😉 I also used it on my ceramic tile in the basement. Holy wow! It took paint off the floor that had been sitting for over a year from the old owners! I thought I’d have to get paint thinner since soap & water and other scrubbing tools did nothing! I hit a spot that I hadn’t touched before and it came right up! You will love this mop if you’re considering it!”
– Connie ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

2. Bissell Power Deluxe Steam Mop – 1806

Bissell steam mop with dirty pad

Buy it on Amazon$89

Here’s why we love it:

  • Kills 99.9% of germs
  • No harsh chemicals
  • Can be used on sealed hardwood, ceramic, linoleum, tile, granite, and marble
  • Spot Boost brush helps removes tough, sticky messes
  • Comes with a convenient measuring cup for refilling the water tank
  • Digital Steam Control
    • High or low steam setting depending on your cleaning needs
    • Short 30-second warm-up time
  • Built-in scent disc tray leaves a refreshing scent in your home
  • Lightweight and easy to store

“I clean my floors regularly so when they’re not clean I tend to panic until they are. Before I owned this magical device, I slept like a baby thinking my floors were clean. Then I received this beautiful steam mop as a gift and my world changed. My old mop, whom I TRUSTED, lied to me all those years. 

I used this steamer immediately after sweeping and Swiffering my floors with the wet cloths, just to see if it would make a difference and the pad was BLACK with dirt after steaming the first floor. If you want an easy way to have cleaner floors, this product is a must buy!”

– Erin ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


3. Light ‘n’ Easy Steam Mop – S3101

steam mop laying on hardwood floors

Buy it on Amazon – $45.89 (sale price)

Here’s why we love it:

  • Intelligent Steam Control
    • Releases steam as you move
    • Amount of steam dispensed depends on your pace of movement
    • Stops releasing steam when you stop moving
  • Lightweight – weighs less than 4 lbs.
  • 360° swivel for an efficient range of motion
  • No harsh chemicals
  • Powerful 1500W steamer
    • Ready to steam in 15-30 seconds
    • Dries as fast or slow depending on your movements
  • Washable microfiber pad
  • Can be used on tile, engineered and regular hardwood, laminate, vinyl and stone floors
  • Capable of steam cleaning carpets
“This mop is perfect for cleaning behind pets, toddlers, and a husband who forgets to remove his shoes at the door! I use it on ceramic tile, laminate, and luxury vinyl floors, and it does a fantastic job on all surfaces! I’m excited to use our new carpet attachment that I just bought so I can spot clean. We just came back from vacation and the cat had a few mishaps!”
– Judy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The worst steam mop:


1.  Shark Steam Pocket – S3501

steam mop on wood floor

Steam mops are supposed to make cleaning easier and clean messy spills efficiently. According to Consumer Reports testing, this mop landed an overall score of just 9 out of 100. 😱

Here are their reasons not to love it:

  • Very poor cleaning results during testing
  • Lacks a motorized pump
    • You have to manually pump for steam constantly
  • Has a short cord not suitable for larger spaces
  • 5 feet shorter than our other highly-rated steam mops

“This steam mop does NOTHING. The cleaning pads do not have a strong Velcro, and after a few uses, they refuse to stay on. The mop itself just heats up and produced steam, giving the illusion that it is cleaning, but it is not. I vacuum before using this product in order to eliminate dust and hair, but this mop just wets the dirt and pushes it around. I always end up having to clean the dirt from the floor using my hands. It does not pick up any dirt. All it does is make the floor slippery and hot. Do not buy this product.”  – Chelsey


Do you take off your shoes in your home? Join our debate!


About the writer:

Sara is a self-taught blogger & photographer and brings 9+ years of experience to her craft. Her work has been featured in numerous esteemed publications, spanning building, travel, and fashion. Beyond her creative pursuits, Sara’s primary mission is to empower others to embrace a toxic-free & sustainable lifestyle.


Join The Discussion

Comments 13

  1. Lisa

    Hello as a former shark employee ( I quit 2 work at nordstrom). I can definitely verify shark is awesome including the warranty. I no longer work there but buy all their products and the ninja ones too. They are just awesome.

    • Jennifer (Hip Sidekick)

      Thanks, Lisa!

  2. Sinda

    I love my 2 Haan si-35 steam mops. The pads are thicker and more absorbent than most others.

    • Jennifer (Hip Sidekick)

      Thanks for the recommendation, Sinda!

  3. Kelli

    The Shark Genius mop is not showing on sale. It is $119. ☹️ Maybe it was yesterday or Friday?

    • Cassandra (Hip Sidekick)

      Thanks so much for letting us know, Kelli! I will update the post right now.

      • Amanda

        I see it (S5003D) on sale for $79.98 today.

        • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

          Thanks, Amanda! It looks like that one is now $95.20 as I click through. That price has been updated!

  4. KELLY

    has anyone tried a steam mop/vacuum combo? I’m leaning towards getting one but would really like some trusted user feedback 🙂

  5. Susanne Coffman

    I am pretty sure the ‘BISSELL SpinWave Cordless 2315’ is not a steam mop, just a spin mop 🙂

    • Sara

      Great catch, Susanne! We never want to mislead readers, and that was definitely my mistake. I appreciate you bringing it to my attention so I could update this post. I think I got too excited about it being cordless that I forgot the most important aspect…that it should ultimately STEAM. Haha. Thank you again, have a great day!

  6. Melissa

    Just bought the Bissell 1940W at Walmart today and love it. My friend has been raving about it and at $79, it was worth it to clean up the 4th of July party mess.

    • Jennifer (Hip Sidekick)

      Awesome! Thanks, Melissa!

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