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You can sweep and vacuum all you like, but if you have hardwood, vinyl or tile floors and run into sticky residue or stuck-on grime, you’re going to have to mop. There’s good news, though. Mops have come a long way since the bulky, stringy, soggy swabbers of old, and are smaller, tidier and easier to use than ever. Most will be able to tackle a wide range of flooring types too, making it easy to get your entire home clean with fewer tools and a minimum of fuss.
We put 11 popular mops, including string, spin, spray and pad models, to the test, evaluating them on how they performed while tackling three challenging cleaning tasks as well as on overall build and durability. We were able to confidently land on three favorites that should let you tackle any cleanup large or small, on any surface in your home.
Best mop for smaller jobs
OXO
The Oxo Good Grips Microfiber Spray Mop Kit features a multifunctional design — providing two heads in one — making it a convenient tool to quickly grab and use for both quick cleanups.
$40 at Oxo
Alex Rennie
Wringing out a mop head is generally a messy task, but the new generation of spin mops has made the task a lot easier. The O-Cedar EasyWring Spin Mop has the process dialed in, making it easy to keep your mop head clean and ready to go. It’s also a solidly built mop with a smart, easy-to-handle design that did a great job scrubbing up dirt and grime in our tests.
A manual foot pedal on the rear of the EasyWring bucket powers a spinning basket that, when a wet mop head is placed inside, quickly removes excess liquid. It works extremely quickly, and since you don’t have to bend over or even use your hands at all, it really cuts down on overall cleaning time. It felt solid and durable as well, even when pumping away as hard as I could, and never felt like it was vulnerable to cracking or snapping.
The mop itself is comfortable to use and its lightweight design means it’s easy to carry around and maneuver while you mop. You can even adjust the length from 24 to 48 inches to suit your height or the reach your job requires. The mop head is made of microfiber strings that are more absorbent than they appear, and can really soak up large amounts of liquid in a single pass. The head’s triangular design makes it easy to get into corners and to clean around furniture legs. I found that the relatively short length of these strands also made it easy to spin and dry out the head, unlike the longer loops of the Libman Wonder Mop, which were messier and more challenging to control when soaking wet.
Most importantly, the O-Cedar’s scrubbing capabilities were superior to the pad-based mops we tested. The mop head fared well in my bathroom tile tests, easily taking care of soap residue, soaking up cleaning liquid, and capturing loose dirt without just moving it around. The head cleaned up easily in the laundry using a regular wash and dry cycle too, and was ready for action again the following day. Plus, since the mop ships with three microfiber scrubbing heads, you’ll be able to tackle extra-large cleaning projects without needing to wait for a wash cycle to get finished.
The only real drawback to this mop is the large bucket size. At 20 inches long it might be too bulky to store in a bathroom closet, although this large size does make it practical for larger, whole-house mopping jobs.
Alex Rennie
While it wasn’t quite as effective in handling dirt as our top pick, the lightweight, hassle-free design of the multifunctional Oxo Good Grips Microfiber Spray Mop makes it a perfect choice for tackling quick cleanups and spills.
The manual trigger was large enough to use comfortably, and also felt nice and sturdy when pumping away; we preferred it to battery-powered sprayers like the Swiffer WetJet Hardwood and Floor Spray Mop. At 2.4 pounds it was effortless to carry around the house and up and down the stairs with ease.
Our favorite feature of this mop is the detachable mop pad. If you come upon a stubborn spot that it can’t remove, you can simply detach it with a simple latch, revealing a small scrubbing head. The small size of the scrubber allows you to really lean into it as you work, and the rougher texture took care of even the toughest sticky residue. Often, features like this feel like gimmicks — unreliable, ineffective or just out of place in the overall design of the product — but not in this case. The scrubber pad is both useful and honestly really fun to use. We found ourselves searching for spots and stains to use it on.
The wet mopping pad was absorbent enough to work well on hardwood, and the spray trigger made it easy to control the precise amount of cleaner being dispersed. The pad didn’t do as good a job at capturing and removing the potting soil mess on the bathroom tile as the O-Cedar, however, and ended up spreading it around more than actually picking it up.
Alex Rennie
The Oxo kit includes a great selection of accessories and attachments, especially considering the low price. You get three wet mopping pads, three scrubbing pads and two reusable bottles, and thanks to the hanging loop on top of the handle, it won’t need to take up any valuable floor space. The instruction manual even includes a pair of recipes for making your own cleaning solution.
Alex Rennie
If your priority is cleaning hardwood flooring, the Bona Hardwood Floor Premium Spray Mop is a great choice. It includes a 34-oz bottle of Bona hardwood floor cleaner — a product that we’ve used on hardwood flooring for years — which can easily be refilled with large Bona refill jugs. This bottle was really simple to pop in and out too.
The manual trigger makes it easy to dispense a precise amount of cleaner, so we never had to worry about too much soaking the flooring. The mop was very comfortable to use, thanks to a soft foam grip on the handle, and the extra wide pad — 16.5 inches — let us cover a lot of area in a short time.
This pad can be used to dry mop as well, so there’s no need to pull out a separate broom and dustpan to prep your floors. The kit only includes a single pad, however, so we suggest grabbing an extra to have on hand for large jobs.
Large liquid spills and stuck-on grime, dirt and other residue on hard floors that sweeping and vacuuming just can’t handle call for a mop. By combining a liquid cleaner with a textured scrubbing head, mops can dislodge the spill or residue, as well as absorb and contain it, leaving you with a clean floor. It’s worth noting that for small spills, a cleaning spray and a rag or paper towels should suffice, but it’s not really practical to clean a whole room or even a large area that way.
There are three basic types of mops to choose from: traditional “string mops” with a shaggy head that you wring out in a bucket, squeeze or spin out; spray mops that have a flat pad and use a built-in reservoir to spray cleaner onto the floor; and basic pad-and-handle designs that require you to apply floor cleaner from a separate container.
String mops are good for larger cleaning jobs, since their buckets provide a large supply of cleaner, meaning you can clean large areas (there’s a reason you’ll see these used by professional cleaners). With longer handles designed to be used without bending over (many newer designs are even adjustable), they are much more comfortable to use than old-school options, and new materials like microfiber make the pads easier and faster to wring out than older string mop heads. The buckets themselves can still be bulky and heavy to move around though, so keep that in mind.
Pad mops are just that: a pad, typically microfiber and either disposable or washable, connected to a handle. They typically don’t come with a bucket or cleaning reservoir. Some pad mops are meant to be used dry on hardwood surfaces, while others can be used with a cleaning solution, though you’ll need to apply that from a separate container. Some are available in very wide sizes, and can be effective and efficient for lighter cleaning in large rooms without a ton of obstacles.
Spray mops are akin to pad mops, but have a built-in cleaner reservoir and applicator, are relatively low maintenance and typically provide everything you need to get mopping right away. Their pads don’t have as much surface area as string mops and thus aren’t able to absorb as much liquid, and you don’t have a way to easily wring them out when they get saturated, so they are better suited for smaller mopping jobs like tidying up a single room unless you have a supply of pads ready to switch out during big projects. Some spray mops, like the Swiffer WetJet Hardwood and Floor Spray Mop use disposable pads, which are convenient for those who don’t want to hassle with laundry, but are less eco-friendly than reusable pads.
Mopping is an essential element of cleaning any home with hard floors, but it takes a little planning. First, make sure to clear the floor of dry debris like pet hair and dirt — whether you do that with a handheld vacuum or cordless vacuum or by sweeping, or dry mopping (some mops are designed for or include a separate pad specifically for dry mopping). If using a string mop, fill your bucket with your cleaning solution (choose one that is designed for your specific flooring type), dunk your mop head and then wring it out until it’s damp but not dripping wet. If it’s too wet, you can damage your floors and increase the drying time.
Then, using a figure-eight pattern, work from one end of the room to the other, pushing the mop but walking backwards so you don’t tread on the newly damp floor. If you encounter stubborn spots, apply some extra downward pressure and go back and forth a few extra times. Once your mop becomes dirty — this will depend on the state of your floors to begin with — rinse your mop head in the bucket, wring it out, and continue mopping. For especially dirty floors, you may need to employ a second “rinsing” bucket (or use your sink) to keep your mop head clean enough to work effectively.
You use a spray mop or flat pad mop in essentially the same way — working your way backwards — but instead of figure-eights, work in straight lines. When the pad becomes too dirty to clean effectively, either rinse it off in the sink and wring it out by hand or replace it with a fresh one.
Although some flooring materials — namely hardwood and some engineered laminate materials — require a more delicate touch, most hard flooring should be safe to mop.
Ceramic tiles and linoleum are sturdy and are typically sealed well enough to be mopped without incident, but floors with more seams, like hardwood and vinyl plank can be more vulnerable to excess moisture. For these floors, make sure to use only the least amount of liquid possible to get the job done, and never allow water or cleaning solution to sit or pool for any length of time.
You should also make sure to use the proper cleaning solution for your specific type of flooring. You’ll find many cleaning solutions formulated for different surfaces, though a dish soap and water solution works well for many surfaces. You’ll want to stay away from any abrasive cleaners, keep oil soaps to wood floors and only use bleach-based cleaners on tile floors. If you’re not sure what to use, or whether or not your mop can be used on your flooring (especially if you’re dealing with materials like cork or bamboo), take the time to carefully review the manufacturer’s recommendations.
If your floors are severely worn, cracked or buckled you might want to consult with a flooring professional about repairs before beginning a mopping routine.
Regardless of the type and size of the mop, it should be easy and comfortable to use. We paid close attention to both how the mop felt in our hands, as well as how easy — or difficult — it was to use any of its components and accessories. We looked at everything from attaching pads and heads, removing filling, and inserting cleaning reservoirs to how well the head could pivot and rotate around obstacles.
We noted if any assembly was required when unboxing each mop, and if so, how straightforward or complicated it was. We also reviewed the instruction and use manuals for each mop, making sure they clearly explained how to put their product together, and we looked at whether the mop, bucket, and accessories were easy to store when not in use.
We checked on whether the mop itself and any accessories or attachments, like liquid containers, pads or buckets, were made of quality materials, and took note if any components were flimsy or felt like they could fail with frequent use.
If the mop heads were machine washable — nearly all of them were — we ran them through a full wash and dry cycle according to their instructions. We noted how well they held up during washing, examining if they begin to unravel or fall apart, appear to lose their structural integrity or feel like they lost any of their absorbency or scrubbing texture.
We assessed performance on the three types of flooring that most commonly require mopping in the average home.
Hardwood flooring: We used each mop to completely mop a large section of sealed hardwood flooring, paying close attention to how well it removed dirt as well as absorbed excess liquid. We noted how dry (or not dry) we were able to get the mop head, since too much liquid can easily damage hardwood flooring, especially older planks like mine. We also checked how the floors looked after drying, making note of any leftover swirls, streaks or cleaning residue.
Linoleum kitchen tiles: After pouring 1/4 cup of soda on linoleum kitchen tiles we allowed it dry for a bit, then used each mop to clean it up. This helped to see how effective each mop was when it came to moderate scrubbing, as well as how absorbent they were in terms of removing excess liquid.
Bathroom tile: To test each mop’s ability to clean up stubborn bathroom floor messes, we rubbed a bar of soap on hard bathroom tiles, then rubbed in a handful of potting soil, creating a truly challenging mess. Each mop was judged based on its ability to both scrub up the soap residue, absorb the cleaning liquid and capture and contain the dirt without just pushing it around the room.
The Oshang Flat Floor Mop’s distinctive bucket features two slots, one for dunking your mop head and the other, narrower slot for squeegeeing the dirty water off and drying the pad. You can run the mop head through the drying slot as many times as you like, depending on how much water you want to remove. This made it effective for both hardwood floor work and tasks that you want a bit more water for, like the soap residue on bathroom tiles (though the pads weren’t the most effective scrubbers we tested). It also includes two wet and two dry pads, so you’re set for larger tasks. The compact footprint of the bucket makes this a good option for those who don’t have a lot of storage space.
The Bosheng’s slotted bucket design is great for getting your mop head dry without bending over, but it wasn’t as easy to use, durable or effective as the otherwise very similar Oshang Flat Floor Mop and Bucket Set, which we would recommend in its place unless you’re on a very tight budget.
This mop features an extra-large head — 15 by 5 inches — and a nearly 60-inch handle, making it well-suited for covering large areas quickly and efficiently. The clamping mechanism that attaches the pad to the mop head was impressive as well, and allowed for attaching and removing the pad far more easily than other pad mops that used Velcro attachments. The thick, heavy-duty stainless steel handle made it easy to maneuver the mop around the floor, and the pads can be used to dry mop, so no need to break out the broom and dustpan. The main drawback of this mop was the connection between the handle and the mop head itself, which felt flimsy and unstable. This was a shame because the rest of the unit had a nice, sturdy feel to it. The large size of this mop head could also be inconvenient for those with tight or cluttered spaces.
The Libman Wonder Mop’s substantial microfiber strips were both good at scrubbing and long enough to reach around furniture legs and into tight spaces (between the wheels of a mobile kitchen island, for instance), and the packages included three extra mop heads. But the microfiber strips that make up the head were long enough to wrap around furniture legs and the wheels of my kitchen island, and the mop head popped right off during use and required reattachment several times, so we’re unsure that it would stand up under regular use.
The O-Cedar cloth mop is well-built, with a sturdy metal pole that threads right into the mop head, while still remaining extremely lightweight at just 1.3 pounds. The microfiber loops are absorbent, but more importantly, they made it possible to perform aggressive scrubbing on problem areas. This made it one of the standouts in our kitchen and bathroom tile testing, and the looped design was ideal for capturing and containing dirt and debris. It didn’t fare too well on hardwood flooring though, as it just didn’t have the surface area to efficiently cover larger rooms. If you prefer a simple looped mop head, and are willing to purchase the separate quick-wring bucket needed for wringing it out, this could be a great choice.
There’s a lot to like about this electric mop, as well as a few things that kept it out of the top spot. First of all, it’s really well-made, and the entire unit felt sturdy and solid. It came nearly fully assembled, too; you just attach the top part of the handle to the base, and that’s it, you’re ready to go. The twin rotating pads Velcroed easily to the base, and when turned on, worked almost like a self-propelled lawnmower, requiring almost no effort to push forward. Unfortunately, even though this mop did fairly well in our testing, this rotating action did end up leaving some faint swirl patterns on hardwood and kitchen tile. These were fairly easy to remove with another mop, but that really defeats the purpose altogether. The automatic operation also means that you aren’t really able to add any extra pressure if you encounter stubborn spots, so it’s only suited for lighter-duty cleaning. Given those drawbacks and its $100 price tag, it’s hard to recommend this electric mop.
This large head makes it perfect for cleaning a large room with minimal passes — it worked incredibly fast in our hardwood floor testing — but it is inconvenient to use in tighter spots, like in the bathroom. That said, it did perform well overall, and was absorbent enough to really soak up a decent amount of liquid. It did suffer the same problem as other large pad mops, like the Mr. Siga Professional Microfiber Mop, in that its large surface area made it difficult to apply direct pressure to stubborn grime and sticky residue. It’s really better for lighter work. Putting a foot on the mop head and pressing down does the trick, but that’s certainly not an ideal solution, and likely not great for overall longevity of the mop. It’s worth noting that this mop includes a dedicated dust mop head (no other mop we tested had such an accessory), which worked really well for clearing dust and pet hair.
It’s hard to deny the convenience of the disposable pads of the Swiffer WetJet Hardwood Floor Spray Mop. Instead of having to deal with reusable pads that need to be laundered after every use, you simply use these until they get dirty and toss them in the trash. This may not be the most eco-friendly approach, however, and several third-party providers offer reusable pads. Just remember that the more you clean, the more pads and cleaning solution you’ll need to purchase, which can really add up if you have a lot of floor to mop. The pads included with this model were not as absorbent as we would like, and struggled in our bathroom tile tests — they felt too slippery to actually capture and pick up the soap residue and dirt. That said, the mop is solidly built, and the dual sprayers covered an impressive amount of flooring. The dispenser is battery-operated. which could be a nice perk for those who don’t want to continually squeeze a trigger every time.
As I’ve learned, mopping is one of the most confusing cleaning jobs out there – who knew! Well friends, let me use my ridiculously vast knowledge of cleaning to make mopping as simple as tying a shoelace for you!
Sometimes a mop, is just a mop – but if you’ve been down the cleaning aisle recently, I’m sure you’ve noticed the huge selection of mops available to consumers nowadays – everything from the old school yacht mops (Cinderella?) to the fancy new Swiffer Sweepers. But which mop is the right mop for you?
We’ll kick things off by talking about some of the more popular mop types and which mop you should use where, and I’ll also share some handy tips and tricks to help you become a mopping master!
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It just sounds classier that way though, right? I remember it as the one Cinderella used to use, but it’s also commonly referred to as a string mop or deck mop. These have been around for hundreds of years (when researching, we found something that indicated this mop was around since the 1400s…there you go – dinner table fodder!) and it is likely the mop that most people picture in their mind when they think about “a mop”. Hands down, they are still the most effective mops for any kind of heavy duty cleaning (janitorial or industrial work) or outdoor mopping jobs.
The durable cotton fibres are great for cleaning up decks and commercial flooring and are highly absorbent but do not leave a streak-free finish which is why they are not the best for indoor jobs. A Wringer bucket very important to get rid of excess water before taking mop to floor. The larger the mop head, the heavier it gets and the more water it absorbs, so the stronger a wringer bucket you’d require.
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? This sponge mop does! I know I know…just let me have this joke, ok?
Sponge mops have been around for quite awhile and are a good choice for linoleum floors (although I would just use a twist mop) but it’s really excellent for cleaning walls. The sponge can scrub well and reach high and scrub build up and stains, which is perfect for wall cleaning. With floors, I find that they do streak because it doesn’t always wring out entirely (not to mention it’s hard to wring out), and they are also rather difficult to keep clean. Just think about how dirty your sponge can get…and now it’s mopping the floor? Yes, so in my opinion, don’t bother with them for floors.
Next up we have one of my personal favourites – a microfiber twist mop. While it looks a lot like the yacht mop, the one key difference is that instead of cotton strings – this mop utilizes the awesome cleaning power of microfiber.
Microfibre mops are a great choice if you’re looking for an all-purpose mop. It’s hybrid in the sense that it has the ability to do the heavy-duty mopping like a yacht mop but the microfiber strands are delicate enough and thin enough that a hardwood floor, stone floor and tile floor alike can tolerate it, plus they are super absorbent and won’t leave streaks or too much (potentially harmful liquid) behind. They need to be wrung out well in order not to leave any streaks, so having a great wringer bucket is critical. I have yet to try the pedal spin buckets, but I imagine they’d do well.
When people ask me for a good all-around, multi purpose mop for tile, stone and hardwood, this is the one I suggest!
These mops are becoming more and more popular as paranoia sinks in about getting certain floor surfaces too wet. And you know, they have their place. I especially like the ones that have a reservoir which can hold a cleaning solution which can be sprayed directly onto the floor in front of it. Make your own with a teeny squirt of dish soap and water!
This mop is a good choice if you have floors that are hardwood or laminate. Since these floors cannot take too much moisture, these mops are designed to spray out just a little bit of cleaning solution and then quickly wipe it up with the mopping pad. The benefit is that there is little to no streaking and the floors get quite shiny. I also like these for marble or granite floors, because they use just a bit of moisture and allow for a nice polish from the microfiber pad, just make sure you use the correct cleaner. It’s ideal to have a couple of spare pads so that you can replace them if one gets too wet. Remember to launder the pads after each use.
Finally, let’s talk about dry mops – or dust mops – like a Swiffer. These have become very popular in recent years because these mops are great for maintaining the flooring in smaller spaces – or if you have a small amount of hard floors in your home and you don’t want to schlep out a whole mopping situation every time you want to give it the ol’ once over.
Personally, I like to use this mop for touch up cleans, in-between cleanings to maintain the floors. It picks up dust and hair and is more-so considered a replacement for a broom than a direct replacement for a traditional mop. Read: this does not replace a mop! They do not remove heavy soil and may leave some debris behind. They also don’t clean or shine the floor. Generally you use these dry unless the ‘Wet’ version is purchased. Even still, these are for light-duty cleanings only. You are welcome to purchase the refills if you like, I just use a microfiber cloth and if I want a bit of moisture, I’ll spritz on some soapy water and get to it. These are also great for dusting walls and getting into high corners. Who would have thought?!
Now that we know what each mop is for, let’s talk about a few best practices to get the most out of your time spent on mopping! I am willing to wager that you’ll learn something to make mopping way easier on you by the end of this.
You always want to mop in an ‘S’ pattern regardless of the type of mop you’re using – this allows you to focus on a specific area at a time without flicking water and debris everywhere.
Before you mop, be sure to sweep or vacuum your floors. Get as much debris off the floor as possible because you’re just going to push it all around the room with the mop otherwise.
If you are using a mop which requires a bucket of soapy water, I recommend using very warm, borderline hot water and just a few teeny, tiny drops of dish liquid and maybe a couple drops of your favourite essential oil. That’s all you’ll need for almost all flooring surfaces. Too much floor cleaner leaves the floor sticky underfoot and also makes it an amazing magnet for dirt. Go figure! If you are using a specialty floor cleaner, do be sure to read the instructions before mopping!
Use as little water as possible; this isn’t about slopping a huge puddle of water across the floor. That’s actually quite damaging, especially to hardwood and laminate floors. You always want to be using a lightly damp mop head, so remember this when wringing out your mop!
When mopping hardwood – always work in the direction of the grain (or the direction of the installed panel)! This helps reduce the appearance of streaking. If you notice streaks, you can quickly dry the floor with a clean microfiber cloth. Man, will it ever shine!
Like I’ve shared before about vacuuming, you want to start the job at the opposite corner of your exit point and mop your way out of a room. Be cognizant of where you start mopping (the diagonal opposite corner of your exit point) and that way you won’t mop yourself into a corner and have to tip toe over a wet floor. Oh, and and always keep your bucket behind you!
Use your arm muscles, not your back muscles. When mopping in an ‘S’ pattern, it’s easy to start using your back to move the mop back and forth, but that can cause back strain and no one wants that. So, always remember to use your arm muscle for this job!
Change your water as soon as it looks murky! A water bucket usually gets dirty rather quickly, so to avoid spreading dirty water on the floors you are trying to clean. Be mindful of when it’s time to change your water out! Dirty water swishes dirt around and can also re-deposit dirt into floor seams and grout lines. No thanks.
Lastly, take your time. As much as you want the mopping to be over and done with as soon as possible, the old saying “anything worth doing is worth doing right” really rings true here…if you take your time, you’ll do a great job and the payoff will be worth it!
In my experience, mopping has become that chore which rarely gets any love these days – as much as modern mops have made it seem like you only need to drag one of these across the floor for 3 minutes – let me tell you, there’s something therapeutic about taking your time and giving your floors the attention they need!
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What mop(s) do you like, and what are your mopping secrets? Let me know in the comments below!
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