Hoover Floormate Upright Steam Mop & Vacuum

For many, steam mops are an essential cleaning tool for the home. The various models and brands all use natural steam heat to clean. They have a lot of similarities, so it can be hard to choose the best one. We’ll take you through the basic functions and added features so you can choose the right steam mop for your home and life.

Steam mops are especially good for people with allergies and those who are sensitive to harsh cleaning chemicals and fragrances. Steam mops work by heating water in a reservoir or tank to about 250 degrees Fahrenheit. The hot steam travels to a microfiber pad through one or many jets that dampen the pad. The combination of steam and damp pad help moisten and break up dirt and dust from flooring. This way, you get a deep clean for your surfaces using water alone.

MORE: The best mops for different types of flooring

Because steam mops get so hot, they can also sanitize your surfaces by eliminating germs, bacteria, dust mites and even fleas. This, and the lack of chemicals and residues, can make steam mops perfect for families with young children who spend a lot of time on the floor. A steam mop can also help prolong the life of your grouted flooring by loosening dirt, soap, mold and other gunk so they can more easily be scrubbed away.

Most steam mops recommend only putting water in the tank or reservoir. This is because other substances can make the steam cleaner work improperly or even get clogged. Some do allow for some scented extras if you prefer a fresh scent to along with your cleaning.  Others include replaceable scent discs with the mop and offers optional demineralized water with a variety of scents like eucalyptus mint and citrus.

Steam mops come with microfiber mopping pads that are usually reusable and washable. Some come with extra features, like double-sided pads to give you more uses before washing.

Many steam mops have some kind of controls that allow you to decide how much steam you want to use. For example, you’ll find some mops have high, medium and low settings. Other models don’t have settings and instead they rely on pumping the handle to produce the amount of steam you want.

How you want to use your steam mop is also an important consideration. Most steam mops are focused on cleaning hard floors only. However, some models have a detachable handheld steamer. This comes in handy for all sorts of things, from refreshing and steaming clothes to cleaning couches, drapes and even tile and grout on walls in your kitchen and bath. Most steam mops aren’t meant to be used on carpets, but some can.

Whatever steam mop you choose for your home, carefully read the manufacturer’s instructions before using. This way, you can make sure to keep yourself and your floors safe and get the most out of your handy new cleaning tool.

MORE: The Best Microfiber Mop

• Be sure to fill the water reservoir and add the mop pad before you plug in the steam mop. Once plugged in, it may automatically heat up and become too hot to handle or too hot for the floor without the pad.
• Unless the mop manufacturer says otherwise, only put water in your mop. Any good steam mop should be able to clean and sanitize without any additional cleaner.
• It’s important to only use distilled water in your steam mop. Plain tap water can have minerals that build up and clog your mop, rendering it totally ineffective over time.

MORE: The Best Spray Mop

• You can’t start steam mopping until you have already swept up or vacuumed. Getting little pieces of debris and hair stuck on the mop head will hinder its ability to clean your surfaces well and will just spread stuff around.
• You will likely still need to use some elbow grease to clean away debris once you’ve used your steam mop to clean grout. A nylon-bristled brush usually does the trick to break it up the rest of the way. A steam mop that has a detachable handheld steamer may be a good option for you if you plan to also clean grout in a shower.