It can be exhausting having to haul bucket of water after bucket of water in order to get your floors sparkling again. What should be a simple and easy task is a huge, bothersome chore that you try to avoid.
However, nobody likes having dirty floors, and this is where the steam mop comes in. The steam mop works excellently well on certain floors, getting them squeaky clean in no time at all!
However, there are many steam mops out there, and it can be difficult to choose the one that is best for you. In this article, we will discuss everything you should know about the different types of steam mops, so you can make an informed choice about which steam mop is best for you.
What Type Of Floor Can You Use A Steam Mop On?
Before you jump into the article, you first need to find out if steam mops are suitable for your floor. Steam mops are not suitable for many popular flooring types. For example, steam mops should not be used on vinyl, laminate, or hardwood floors.
Many people argue against this. They say that if you use the steam mop on low heat and move it around quickly, then it should be fine to use. We disagree. There is still a chance that the steam mop will damage your floor. Not only that, but this may result in your warranty being canceled.
But how exactly does the steam mop damage these floors? Well, synthetic flooring is made by pressing together the necessary layers and then adding a sealant. The heat from the steam mop will cause this sealant to crack, peel, and bubble.
Additionally, hardwood floors are absorbent, even after being sealed. So, using hot water on them will definitely cause premature decay by warping them.
Also, it is important to note that floors may have waterproof ratings, but even they will not be able to withstand the heat from the steam mop over time.
You may believe the seal for your floor can withstand anything. However, seals are not supposed to last forever, and will not be made perfect, even if the floor is new. If there is any sort of crack in the seal, then using a steam mop may result in steam going into the floor, which can result in both warping and mildew issues.
So, it is better to avoid using a steam mop on these floors altogether.
Steam mops are great for tile floors, and this includes porcelain and ceramic flooring.
What Are The Benefits Of Using A Steam Mop?
There are many benefits of using a steam mop. On top of this, there are many benefits to using certain steam mop brands over others. Let’s check out some examples!
Steam Mops Are Convenient
Using a regular mop and bucket can get tiresome after a while, especially if you are doing a deep clean of your entire household. Carrying around dirty mop water isn’t fun, and neither is walking back over the floors you’ve already mopped so you can get fresh mop water.
Additionally, a bucket of water is very easy to spill, and an old mop can leave your floor feeling just wet, instead of clean.
A steam mop eliminates all of these problems. If you have the water tank at the correct unit, you can say goodbye to carrying around a bucket of water constantly. All you will need to do is fill the water tank before you start and empty it when you finish.
Plus, using hot water is much better for cleaning than using cold or lukewarm water. Additionally, steam cleaning uses less water than an ordinary mop and bucket do, so your floss can dry a lot faster.
Steam Mops Are Easy To Use
Steam mops are such a simple tool to use, much like using a broom or a vacuum. Their use means you can easily incorporate them into your regular cleaning routine and build some excellent habits when it comes to cleaning.
Steam mops help to cut down the time you spend on your cleaning routine (thanks to an ordinary mop and bucket), but they can make your home feel even cleaner.
And, if you want to cut your cleaning time down even more, then you can invest in a steam mop that acts as a vacuum too! You can also find steam mops that work to scrub the shower, mop floors, and clean countertops by swapping and changing different attachments!
Steam Mops Are Environmentally Friendly
Ordinary mop and bucket cleaning routines necessitate a chemical or soap treatment for your bucket of water before you can clean your floor with the mop. This does indeed clean your floor, and you do risk introducing chemicals to the natural world via your feet.
What’s more, traditional, disposable wipes are not environmentally friendly, either. With these, you still leave chemicals behind. Not only that, but you generate a lot of waste when using disposable wipes, as they cannot be recycled and have to be thrown in the trash.
However, steam mops are a lot more environmentally friendly. In terms of their disinfection method, they use high heat from the steam. So, you do not need to use additional chemicals that could be harmful to the environment.
Steam Mops Can Remove Difficult Stains
Have a stain that just won’t come out no matter how hard you try? A steam mop can help with that! Many steam mops have brushes that allow for some intense scrubbing to take place, easily removing those difficult stains. Not only that, but many steam mops have brushes that can be put into a specific space for spot cleaning.
Steam Mops Are Not Just For Floors
A lot of steam mops are just for floors, but there are some that include a plethora of features and attachments. These features and attachments offer different functions. Some work to clean any hard surfaces in the household, while others are made to clean showers, sinks, countertops, etc.
How To Choose The Right Steam Mop
Choosing the right steam mop can be tricky. The right one will change from person to person, and it all depends on your lifestyle and floor. Let’s check out some more details below so you can make the best decision for yourself!
The First Step: Surface Area
The first step in choosing the right steam mop is deciding how much surface area you actually need to be cleaned. This can be split into two parts.
Mop Pads
At some point, your steam mop is going to be too dirty to use. In this case, you will simply need to swap out the mop pad. As soon as your old pad cools down, you will be able to use the new mop pad.
So, if you want to clean a large surface area, you may want to consider keeping many mop pads at hand so you can clean your house without interruptions – like running out of mop pads. Additionally, this is still environmentally friendly, because you can later throw all of the mop pads in the washing machine, or clean them yourself in an empty sink!
On average, a steam mop can make it through cleaning the regular dirtiness of two rooms (medium-sized) before needing the mop pad to be changed. Naturally, any larger or messier areas will necessitate changing the mop pad more frequently.
So, it is always a good idea to find a steam mop that comes with multiple mop pads.
The Water Tank
The next thing you need to consider when choosing a steam mop is the capacity of the water tank. If you have a lot of rooms to cover, then it is probably best to get a steam mop with a large water tank. This means you will not need to keep refilling it halfway through cleaning.
The Second Step: Surface Cleanliness
For those of you who need to clean away weekly or daily dirt that builds up naturally, then most steam mop models will work for you just fine. However, if you are more of a spring cleaning kind of individual, then you may need to invest in a tougher model of a steam mop that performs well on grit and difficult stains.
In the case of the latter, steam mops that come with the seam you can adjust or scrub parts will work amazingly here!
The Third Step: Steam
The third step asks you to consider how much steam you will actually use in one clean. If you are cleaning on a regular basis, then less steam is definitely more.
However, if you are not cleaning to a strict schedule, then you should think about finding a steam mop model that allows you to adjust the steam. When your floors are not too dirty, then low steam will work just fine.
However, if you haven’t mopped your floor in a long time, or there’s a part of your floor that is particularly messy, then you may need to use high steam to do a good cleaning job.
On the other hand, if you really aren’t sure about how often you will use the steam mop, then it is best to use one that has two steam settings minimum. By doing so, you have a steam mop that you can adjust as you please!
The Fourth Step: How Much Effort Do You Want To Put In?
This may seem like a small point, but this question can actually be a dealbreaker between steam mops. When looking to invest in one of these cleaning gems, you need to ask yourself questions like:
“How responsive are these controls?”
“How easy is it to fill up the water tank?”
Most steam mops are very simple to use. However, some are more difficult than others, and you will need to know how exactly the mop you are interested in works before you go ahead and purchase it.
Additionally, it is important to note that mop heads can vary, too. Some mop heads can smoothly glide over tile floors, but may not work as well with a stone or ceramic floor. So, it is important to look for a mop head that is going to work well with the type of floor that you have.
One final point on this is about how the steam mop rests. One question you should ask yourself is if the steam mop can stand up by itself. It may become annoying quickly if it falls over whenever you need to change the mop pad or move furniture.
If you think this will bother you, it may be better to invest in a steam mop that can stand by itself.
The Fifth Step: Reach
Homes have a look of nooks and crannies, and it can be difficult to reach them all. Some steam mops will not be able to reach all of the smaller places, so you should invest in one that looks like it will be able to.
Some steam mops have pads that wrap all around them, which makes your life much easier when it comes to cleaning those difficult places.
And, if you want to mop underneath your furniture, you should look for a steam mop that has a head that can pivot well, enabling you to stretch underneath furniture with minimum effort.
The Final Step: Accessories
If you want the ability to clean different things in your house, then it may be a good idea to find a steam mop that allows for other attachments. For example, if you want to be able to clean your shower, sanitize your countertops, and clean your floor, then you should look for one that advertizes all of these attachments.
Final Thoughts
Steam mops come in various shapes and sizes, making it difficult to choose one that is right for you. When it comes to choosing a steam mop, it is helpful to consider how it is going to fit into your lifestyle.
Ask yourself what you would like to clean with it, what type of floor you have, how often you are going to clean your floors and all of the questions above.
By doing so, you will find a steam mop that suits your individual needs.
