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Close-up of a Bissell PowerFresh steam mop. Credit: Bissell

The Best Steam Mops of 2023

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

Close-up of a Bissell PowerFresh steam mop. Credit: Bissell

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Product image of Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop

Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop

This beloved steam mop from Bissell is sure to impress, offering a breezy cleaning experience that gets dirt, germs, and grime out of your floors. Read More

Pros

  • Ready to use in just 30 seconds
  • Three SmartSet power settings
  • Convenient 23-foot power cord

Cons

  • Reports of poor customer service
Product image of Shark Lift-Away Pro Steam Pocket Mop

Shark Lift-Away Pro Steam Pocket Mop

This full-featured steam mop from Shark comes with a number of useful accessories as well as a 500-milliliter reservoir. Read More

Pros

  • Detaches from stick for handheld use
  • Machine-washable Dirt Grip pads
  • 500-milliliter water tank

Cons

  • Other options may work better for tile
Product image of Shark S3501 Steam Pocket Mop

Shark S3501 Steam Pocket Mop

This attractively priced steam mop from Shark makes a great upgrade from your Swiffer or more traditional mops. Read More

Pros

  • 18-foot quick-release power cord
  • Ready to use in just 30 seconds
  • Sleek, comfortable design

Cons

  • Water tank can be a hassle to refill
Product image of PurSteam 10-in-1 Steam Cleaner

PurSteam 10-in-1 Steam Cleaner

This featherweight steam cleaner won’t run for more than 25 minutes, but reviewers love its versatility and ease of use. Read More

Pros

  • Handles carpet, glass, hardwood, and tile
  • Ready to use in just 30 seconds
  • Weighs 2.2 pounds

Cons

  • Runs for about 25 minutes at a time
Product image of McCulloch MC1385

McCulloch MC1385

This steam cleaner from McCulloch comes with everything you need for cleaning surfaces—for up to two hours—with nothing but water. Read More

Pros

  • Up to 120 minutes of continuous use
  • Includes 23 handy accessories
  • 18-foot cord and 10-foot hose

Cons

  • None that we could find

Looking to get hard-to-clean stains out of your carpet? Want to get rid of germs and dust mites? Maybe you’ve got some nasty gunk accumulating on some ceramic tile. With a good steam mop, you can clean just about any surface in your home with nothing but heat and water.

When shopping around, consider whether a particular mop requires a certain kind of water, or a lengthy heat-up time, and ask yourself what sounds tolerable given your needs. The real good news is that none of the recommendations on this list require soap or chemicals—just distilled water and heat. By using your steam mop just once a week, you can kill the vast majority of germs, get rid of dirt or stains, and keep your home looking great.

If you are on the fence about buying either a steam mop or a more regular mop, we have a whole other list of mop recommendations for you to check out as well.

To recommend the best steam mops to you, we did some extensive research, which included looking at some steam mop reviews, different features of each steam mop, and overall product quality. Here are some of the best steam mops you can buy online right now.

Editor's Note:
The recommendations in this guide are based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.
Product image of Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop
Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop
  • Cord is: 23 feet long
  • Weighs: 6.8 pounds
  • Water tank holds: 16 ounces

This beloved steam mop from Bissell is sure to impress, offering a breezy cleaning experience that gets dirt, germs, and grime out of your hardwood floors. It’s ready to use in just 30 seconds. It offers three separate SmartSet power settings, to give you added control based on the task at hand, and the power cord is 23 feet long.

This comes with a number of different scrubbing brush pads and fragrance discs, a grout tool, a lower-profile mop head, and a removable reservoir for easy cleanup. Some reviews complain about Bissell’s customer service, but most users seem happy with the mop’s performance.

Pros

  • Ready to use in just 30 seconds

  • Three SmartSet power settings

  • Convenient 23-foot power cord

Cons

  • Reports of poor customer service

Product image of Shark Lift-Away Pro Steam Pocket Mop
Shark Lift-Away Pro Steam Pocket Mop
  • Cord is: 22 feet long
  • Weighs: 4.8 pounds
  • Water tank holds: 19.2 ounces

This full-featured steam mop from Shark comes with a number of useful accessories as well as a 500-milliliter reservoir. Its two-in-one design lets you detach the steamer from the stick and deep clean by hand on hard-to-reach or above-floor surfaces.

Included in the box are various Dirt Grip pads, a fill flask, a triangle scrubber, and other useful tools. Most reviewers love how easy it is to use, though some shoppers are underwhelmed by the results they get with steam mops in general.

Pros

  • Detaches from stick for handheld use

  • Machine-washable Dirt Grip pads

  • 500-milliliter water tank

Cons

  • Other options may work better for tile

Product image of Shark S3501 Steam Pocket Mop
Shark S3501 Steam Pocket Mop
  • Cord is: 20 feet long
  • Weighs: 4.87 pounds
  • Water tank holds: 15 ounces

This attractively priced steam mop from Shark makes a great upgrade from your Swiffer or more traditional mops. It comes with washable microfiber pads, a filling flask, and an 18-foot power cord.

As more of an entry-level Shark model, some shoppers weren’t overwhelmed by the performance. You can read our full review on this steam mop that we tested and that has thousands of reviews to determine if you think it’s key to cleaning your floors.

In addition, this steam mop’s simple, comfy design makes it easy for users of all ages and strength levels to maneuver; there’s no trigger or button you have to press while you’re cleaning. And it’s covered by a one-year limited warranty. The reservoir can be a slight hassle to refill.

Pros

  • 18-foot quick-release power cord

  • Ready to use in just 30 seconds

  • Sleek, comfortable design

Cons

  • Water tank can be a hassle to refill

Product image of PurSteam 10-in-1 Steam Cleaner
PurSteam 10-in-1 Steam Cleaner
  • Cord is: 15.9 feet long
  • Weighs: 2.2 pounds
  • Water tank holds: 12.8 ounces

PurSteam’s 10-in-1 steam mop has upwards of 26,000 five-star Amazon ratings, offering a simple, chemical-free cleaner at an attractive price point. It’s lightweight; safe for pets and children; and does well on carpet, glass, wood floors, and tile.

It’s got a smaller reservoir than a more heavy-duty steam cleaning mop, however, so the main compromise is that it only runs for about 20 to 25 minutes at a time. Users love the grout tool, handheld mode, and overall ease of use.

Pros

  • Handles carpet, glass, hardwood, and tile

  • Ready to use in just 30 seconds

  • Weighs 2.2 pounds

Cons

  • Runs for about 25 minutes at a time

Product image of McCulloch MC1385
McCulloch MC1385
  • Cord is: 18 feet long with 10-foot steam hose
  • Weighs: 13 pounds
  • Water tank holds: 64 ounces

This steam cleaner from McCulloch has over 5,500 five-star ratings on Amazon alone. It offers chemical-free cleaning in a 13-pound package, and can handle most surfaces and flooring types in your home, garage, or vehicle. The power cord can reach up to 18 feet, on top of the 10-foot hose, and it includes 23 handy cleaning accessories.

Most user reviews praise how efficiently it cleans, whereas more negative ones mention broken parts having to be replaced.

Pros

  • Up to 120 minutes of continuous use

  • Includes 23 handy accessories

  • 18-foot cord and 10-foot hose

Cons

  • None that we could find

Product image of Bissell Powerfresh Lift-Off Pet Steam Mop
Bissell Powerfresh Lift-Off Pet Steam Mop
  • Cord is: 25 feet long
  • Weighs: 10 pounds
  • Water tank holds: 13.5 ounces

If you’re concerned about using harsh chemicals around your pet to clean but still want to ensure that you leave your home spotless, then this steam mop is a reliable pick. According to reviewers, this one works very well with getting smudges and stains out of surfaces (especially tile floors). Plus, you can detach this steam mop to turn it into a handheld cleaner for windows, pet sleeping spots, microwaves, and other small, hard-to-reach spaces.

What’s better: this steam mop comes with 13 cleaning tools and only takes 30 seconds to heat up. The only downside is its durability, considering that quite a few reviewers say that theirs didn’t last very long.

Pros

  • Versatile

  • Easy to use

  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Questionable durability

What to Consider Before Buying a Steam Mop

There are a few things to consider before purchasing a steam mop, such as the length of the cord it comes with, how many ounces of distilled water the tank can hold, if there is a warranty on the product, and how much it weighs.

Why are all of these important to consider? Well, steam mops that weigh less may not be able to hold as many ounces of water, but you may not be someone who enjoys maneuvering heavy cleaning supplies around the house. In addition, if you are mopping a large space, you may want a steam mop that comes with a longer cord in order for you to reach the entire floor’s surface.

Another great thing about steam mops is they are a bit safer to use around pets, since they just use steam instead of the chemicals used in cleaning products.

What Is the Difference Between a Steam Mop and Regular Mop?

Unlike regular mops, which use different floor cleaning agents to clean and laminate floors, a steam mop simply produces steam to clean different types of floors and hard-to-reach surfaces. Therefore, instead of having to use harsh chemicals on your floors, all you need is some heated water.

How Do Steam Mops Work?

First, be sure to vacuum your floor before using a steam mop. Then, attach a mopping pad to it. Once you do so, check to see if your tank is filled with water before plugging it into the wall to ensure that you don’t get shocked. Now you just need to turn on your mop and wait for the water to heat to the appropriate steam level.

To release steam, simply just press the steam button to eject steam. Now you are ready to move the cleaning pad back and forth on your floor and get it looking glossy!

Several steam mops can also be detached and operated with a swivel head in order for you to reach higher surfaces, such as the top of your kitchen cabinets.

Meet the testers

Alex Kane

Alex Kane

Sr. Editor, Search & Updates

@alexjkane

Alex Kane is a senior editor at USA Today’s Reviewed and the author of the Boss Fight Books volume on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. He has written for Fangoria, PC Gamer, Polygon, Rolling Stone, StarWars.com, and Variety. He lives in west-central Illinois.

See all of Alex Kane's reviews
Lily Hartman

Lily Hartman

Staff Writer, Search

Lily Hartman is a staff writer who also enjoys writing magazine articles about health and outdoor recreation. In her free time, she likes to hike, camp, run, and lift weights.

See all of Lily Hartman's reviews

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