Could steam mops be considered the modern equivalents of disinfectants? A study by the University of California Davis Medical Center demonstrated that conventional wet mops can only eliminate about 30% of the bacteria already present in a given area. On the other hand, steam mops killed as much as 99% of the bacteria. As time goes on, hardwood floors can end up substantially dirty, showcasing everything from past spills to footprints. The remarkable capability of steam mops to absorb even the dirtiest of spills cannot be overlooked.
But how do you get rid of all that dirt and restore the original luster of your hardwood floor without using toxic chemical cleaners? Simple: Use a mop to steam away the stains, smears, and the most persistent dirt. That said, there are so many options on the market, and all of them seem to work miracles, making it quite confusing to decide which one is worth your money. This article reviews the 5 best steam mops for hardwood floors.
Top 5 Steam Mops for Hardwood Floors
In a hurry? Choose your best steam mops from this quick buying decision list:
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1. BISSELL PoweFresh Steam Mop and Hard Wood Floor Cleaner
The BISSELL PowerFresh 1940 is a powerful (Power rating: 1500 watts) and adaptive steam mop that allows you to customize your cleaning for hardwood floors. it is equipped with a simple built-in scrubber for tough stains and a digital steam control to let you customize the flow of steam for safe cleaning and disinfection of several hardwood floors.
This 6.82-pound steam mop heats up in 30 seconds and pushes out a decent amount of steam which easily cuts through grime and dirt.
The variable steam controls let you tailor your cleaning in 3 settings: low, medium, and high. This gadget also cleans ceramic, stone, tile, peel and stick tiles, laminate flooring, and linoleum.
Most importantly, it boasts of eliminating up to 99.9% of germs. Additionally, the kit includes 2 spring breeze bad-smell eliminating fragrance discs in case you want to add the fresh fragrances of your favorite soapy water.
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2. ThermaPro Steam Mop Cleaner 10-in-1
The ThermaPro 10-in-1 is equipped with ergonomic features to suit the modern lifestyle. With 3 adjustable modes to let you control the steam level, this unit is undoubtedly created with your hardwood floor finish in mind.
It features a removable handheld unit which can be used as a garment cleaner or steam cleaner. The package includes a special surface scrubber to provide top to bottom versatile cleaning. No wonder it is also ideal for sealed stone/grout, glass, and stainless steel.
it is equipped with a 350 ml water reservoir that offers you up to 25 minutes of cleaning. Finally, its mopping functions are pretty straightforward, you barely need to push a button and wait for about 30 seconds for this gadget to be ready for the job.
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3. Shark Steam Mop Hard Floor Cleaner
The Shark Steam S 1000A features a fast 30-second startup and an 18-foot power cord. These features save time and make the mop always ready to clean from room to room. For convenience, this unit weighs 4.6 pounds, so it’s a lightweight. For this reason, you won’t get worn out moving it as you do your cleaning.
The Shark Steam S 1000A has an XL water tank which you can remove to fill and refill with little effort. It’s designed to clean dirt and grime on your sealed hardwood floor, marble, laminate, and tile. And more, it comes with a washable, reusable scrub pad.
This is an easy to assemble steam mop, as it takes merely 3 simple clicks to get the mop ready for a plugin. As if that’s not enough, the pieces feature instruction arrows to make assembling easy.
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4. Bissell PowerFresh Slim Hard Wood Floor Steam Cleaner
The Bissell 2075A Powerfresh Slim terminates 99.9% of harmful microorganisms on hardwood, fabric and nearly all hard surfaces. Thanks to its 3-in-1 steam feature that lets you sanitize floors, counters, clothes, and toys.
It features a slim head that can fit under tables and around tight areas. It also includes an angle tool which enables you to clean thin crevices. The swivel head allows you to get into constricted corners. You can also convert it into a handheld steam cleaner. Moreover, this steam mop lets you control the steam output using the on-demand sanitizing trigger.
The Bissell 2075A Powerfresh Slim comes with several tools for cleaning grout, wiping, and scrubbing, you can also use it to clean ceramic tiles and linoleum. It comes with a soft mop pad for day-to-day floor maintenance and a scrub pad to cut through gummy grime.
Remove the extension wand to convert this 6.4-pound steam mop to a handheld steamer. You can use the clothing steamer tool to de-wrinkle your clothes and sanitize your sofa.
This unit comes with 7 handheld attachments and 2 pads to use in upright-mode. Into the bargain, you get 2 extra scrubbing brushes for use when the need arises.
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5. Bissell Symphony Pet Steam Mop and Steam Vacuum Cleaner
The Bissell Symphony 1543A is a high-end mop that features 3 cleaning modes: steam, vacuum, steam, and vacuum. As a result, you won’t need multiple tools to do the cleaning. For example, you can use it to effectively clean sticky areas and get rid of fairly-large pieces of debris.
It’s equipped with digital controls that make it easy to maneuver. On top of this, it has a 25 ft. long cord to let you easily clean your large rooms. It also has room for a fragrance disc should you decide to give your hardwood floor a fresh scent.
The 5-way adjustable handle ensures your hands are comfortable during the entire cleaning process. It has a non-removable 13-ounce water tank that warms up in 30 seconds, so you can clean a small room without needing to refill.
It includes 4 microfiber mop pads. The soft pads are used for overall cleaning, whereas the coarser pads are used for scouring unyielding debris. Over and above, the pads are machine-washable.
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Buying Guide for Steam Mop Cleaner
Is a steam mop the precise piece of equipment for your hardwood floor? Shopping for a steam mop is similar to buying any other home equipment.
To get the steam mop that best suits your hardwood floor, you must consider various factors; some matter more than others. Consider the following factors as a guide for buying the most suitable steam mop for your hardwood floor.
Water Temperature
The time it takes to achieve a steaming temperature and the temperature attained are equally significant. An ideal steam mop should heat water in not more than one minute to a temperature of at least 171°F. Anything lower than this might not be able to sanitize your hardwood floor and will leave behind too much moisture, which will damage it.
Cleaning Pads
Naturally, hardwood floors are vulnerable to even the mildest harsh conditions. As a result, the cleaning pad you use shouldn’t be abrasive. Instead, use a soft cleaning pad to avoid scratching your floors. Ideally, a steam mop that comes with a microfiber absorbent pad will do the trick.
Water Tank
The fewer trips you make to the sink, the quicker you’ll clean your hardwood floors. For this reason, you need to get a steam mop with a large capacity. For more convenience, certain brands let you add more water to the steam mop as you actively use it instead of switching it off first and waiting for the water to heat up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do steam mops work?
Principally, steam is a natural cleaning element. Steam mops release super-hot water, which quickly combines with air to dissolve messy, sticky compounds in a second. A base layer of steam keeps the mop pad wet, which is why it glides along when you use it to clean your hardwood floor.
Why are steam mops better than regular mops?
Steam mops use pressurized, ultra-hot steam to sanitize hardwood floors. Other steam mops feature pads that integrate antibacterial coatings to capture and kill harmful bacteria.
Furthermore, they lower biological matter, residual bacteria, and mold on the surfaces cleaned and are safer (chemical-free) and cheaper (saving money that could otherwise have been used to buy floor-cleaning chemicals).
What will happen if my hardwood floor isn’t sealed?
If your hardwood floor isn’t properly sealed, the hot steam generated by your steam mop might buckle or warp it.
Bear in mind that some finishes can be removed by scalding water vapor, so be sure to check out the different models keenly and seek assistance, if necessary, before making a purchase. But most importantly, go through the manual.
Final Words
Unlike cleaning using a regular mop, which is often tiring and time-consuming, steam mops use hot vapor and heat from steam to thoroughly clean and disinfect hardwood floors. Even so, not all steam mops have the same cleaning power.
With a good-quality steam mop, you can considerably minimize the time and effort spent to remove persistent dirt from your hardwood floor.
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