Although cleaning the floors in your house is never a fun task, it is essential. After all, every time you come inside or move between rooms, you carry dirt and grime on your feet that transfers to your floors.
If you have mostly carpet in your home, cleaning your floors is as easy as running the vacuum. But, if you have a different type of flooring, you definitely need one of the best mops. The latter use water and gentle soap solutions to clean hard household floors, like:
- Hardwood
- Vinyl
- Stone Tile
- Ceramic Tile
- Laminate
- Linoleum
You likely already know what a mop is, but just like every other household appliance, the mop has evolved past its traditional form. Today, the variety of mop types available include:
- String Mops – The traditional mop made of strips of cloth or rope-like material
- Sponge Mops – A sponge attached to a pole, usually with some sort of ringer built-in
- Microfiber Mops – Like a sponge mop but with a washable, microfiber pad instead of a sponge on the end
- Swiffer-Style Mops – Devices that use replaceable wipes to clean the floor
The one you buy generally depends on your preference, but people with hardwood or laminate floors should consider a sponge mop. Most other floor types can be cleaned with any type of mop available.
Speaking of cleaning, do you actually know the best way to use a mop? If not, let’s look at the easy steps before we discuss the best mops available right now.
- First, vacuum or sweep your floors.
- Second, fill one bucket with water and another bucket with a soap solution diluted in water.
- Third, dip the mop in the cleaning solution and wring it out several times.
- Fourth, begin to sweep the mop across the floor in the corner furthest away from the door.
- Fifth, rinse the mop in the water bucket when appropriate, then return to step three until the entire floor has been cleaned.
- Sixth, dump the dirty water in the toilet and flush.
- Finally, disinfect your mop by soaking it in a diluted bleach solution for ten minutes before removing it from the bucket to dry.
Now that you know how to use a mop and the different types of mops available, let’s look at the best mops you can buy right now.
1. Turbo Microfiber Mop Floor Cleaning System
The Turbo Microfiber Mop Floor Cleaning System is a versatile mop option which can be used on a number of surfaces, including tile, hardwood, laminate and stone. The device uses either a microfiber pad or a scrubbing pad and Velcro to secure the interchangeable pads to the head. The handle is made from an aluminum alloy which is both durable and lightweight and includes a hanging loop at the end for easy storage. It also sports a telescopic design which lets you choose between a 35 and 60-inch handle length.
PROS: The 360-degree rotating head can get to even the hardest-to-reach areas.
CONS: Because the head is relatively small, mopping up large liquid spills may take some time.
2. O-Cedar Easywring Microfiber Spin Mop & Bucket
If you’re expecting to deal with a lot of liquid, you’re going to need a highly-absorbent mop option, like this O-Cedar Easywring Microfiber Spin Mop & Bucket. The mop’s head sports hundreds of microfiber bristles which effortlessly pick up liquid and grime to leave your floor clear. The accompanying bucket includes an easy-wring foot pedal which saves you from bending your back while preventing a lot of unnecessary effort, too. The bucket also includes a splash guard to prevent wayward water. Additionally, the mop’s triangular and pivoting head lets you reach right into tight corners, all while making use of the telescopic handle which adjusts from 24 to 48 inches in length.
PROS: The triangular-shaped head makes cleaning room corners simple.
CONS: It may be harder to apply pressure on the floor with the floppy, microfiber bristle head.
3. Yocada Sponge Mop
The Yocada Sponge Mop is ideal for home or commercial use on tiled and other flat floor types. The mop comes with two ultra-absorbent honeycomb sponge heads which let you clear liquid in seconds. It uses an advanced clamping mechanism to effectively empty the sponge head using very little energy while keeping your hands dry, too. The multi-functioning head also includes both a built-in brush and a squeegee for extra options when it comes to getting your floor clean. Furthermore, the telescopic handle can adjust to a maximum length of 52 inches for greater comfort during use.
PROS: The smart clamp mechanism makes it easy to empty the sponge head of liquid.
CONS: Compared to some competing mops, the head surface is small.
4. Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop Floor Cleaning Kit
It’s rare that cleaning your floors doesn’t require using water or an additional cleaning agent to loosen and help remove dirt. That’s why the Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop Floor Cleaning Kit includes a spray function built into the mop handle itself. This versatile mop is great for use on all types of flat flooring, including hardwood, vinyl, tile and laminate. On the top end of the handle, you’ll find a handy trigger that controls the spray bottle. This smart design allows you to spray your floor before the microfiber mopping pads get to work. The cleaning kit includes the mop, three mopping pads and two refillable spray bottles.
PROS: The built-in spray mechanism lets you spray your floor as you go.
CONS: Some users may find the fixed 54-inch metal handle less comfortable than adjustable options.
5. Vmai Electric Mop
This advanced cleaning device includes a dual motor with a dual-cleaning head to cover plenty of space in a single pass. The design also includes an easy-to-fill, built-in 300ml water tank, a trigger-controlled sprayer, an LED headlight and a 60-degree turning head which makes cornering and cleaning around furniture items simple. Additionally, the included rechargeable battery delivers up to 35 minutes of cleaning time per full charge.
PROS: The effortless electric function saves time and energy.
CONS: If you need to clean longer than 35 minutes, you may have to wait while the battery charges.
6. MR.SIGA Professional Microfiber Mop
Another option capable of giving hardwood, laminate, tile and other flat floor types a good clean is the MR.SIGA Professional Microfiber Mop. This mop sports a 360-degree head which lets you get to all of those hard-to-reach areas. The head also includes an innovative, clip-on system for attaching the three reusable microfiber mop refills and one dirt removal scrubber included with the mop. These effective pads are ideal for both scrubbing and buffing your floors. Additionally, you’ll find an extra scrubbing tool which can be used to clean dirt from the pads or remove stubborn dirt from your floors.
PROS: The telescopic handle lets you adjust the handle for a more comfortable experience.
CONS: If the pads are not inserted into the clips correctly, they may come loose during use.
7. O-Cedar Microfiber Cloth Mop
If you’re a traditionalist when it comes to your choice of mop, the O-Cedar Microfiber Cloth Mop could be the answer for you. The microfiber is ultra absorbent as well as eco-friendly and machine mashable. This model is O-Cedar’s most popular mop and works great at cleaning hardwood, linoleum and tile floors. It also comes with two extra mop head refills and can be paired with a quick-wring bucket for a more effective cleaning combo. Furthermore, the handle can adjust up to 56 inches in length to suit all user heights.
PROS: The head is ultra-absorbent and easy to change when a replacement is needed.
CONS: For more effective floor cleaning, you’ll want to pair this mop with a bucket.