But if they kept rewetting the low-tech sponge mop, its cleaning performance was about the same as-or better than-that of the steam mops in our tests. Our testers noted that the sponge mop pushed more of the soil around, rather than picking it up, and that the mop head dried out quickly. In our labs, we compared steam mops with a standard sponge mop. If possible, check with the manufacturer or retailer of your flooring for cleaning and maintenance instructions. We focused our tests on ceramic tile, which is a surface all steam mop manufacturers get behind. But ultimately, it’s not a good idea to use a steam mop on hardwood, and you should be careful using a mop on laminate, linoleum, and other materials. Mop manufacturers claim the mops are safe to use on a variety of flooring. “And you should use distilled water, so you do not get a mineral buildup on the heating coils,” says Larry Ciufo, our project leader who tests steam mops.Īnd there’s your floor to consider. You’ll need to wash the detachable mop head after each cleaning, and you might not be able to clean an entire room with one tank of water. The result? steam mops don’t necessarily clean better than regular sponge mops-and there are drawbacks.Ī steam mop is limited by a cord, typically between 20 and 25 feet long.
#Shark steam mop software#
We use photo-imaging software to compare before-and-after images to see precisely how much soil was removed.
After the soil dries, we take photos, then a machine pushes the steam mop over each tile in 10 even back-and-forth strokes. To test how well a steam mop cleans, CR’s test engineers apply three condiments that stain-ketchup, mustard, and jam-on 12x12-inch ceramic tiles. Afterward, the steam evaporates quickly, so there’s less chance for streaks-or slips. Just press a button to heat water from a refillable tank to create steam, and move the mop over your floor. When you dip a sponge mop into a bucket of gray, soapy water, it’s easy to imagine the appeal of a steam mop: no bucket of water, for starters, and less work on your part.