Reddit mentions: The best steam mops

I did a lot of research & settled on this amazing $79 steam mop from O-Cedar last year:

https://www.amazon.com/Cedar-Microfiber-Steam-Extra-Refill/dp/B00US9PSKU/

Notes:

• Add water using the included cup, plug it in, turn it on - and in less than a minute, it's ready to go
  
• No chemicals required due to hi-temp steam
  
• Only requires water to operate (I haven't had any problems with my tap water a year into using it, fwiw)
  
• It uses washable microfiber pads that stick on like velcro
  
  Tips:
  
  

1. Push it slowly to allow the steam to do its just, don't use it quickly like a broom
   
2. Hold it over really sticky spots for 30 seconds to let the steam do the work for you, then scrub it off
   
3. It will self-evaporate due to the heat, so just give it a few minutes to steam off the floor - this steam mop system has made my floors feel better under bare feat than any mop or chemical cleaner or DIY cleaner mix I've tried previously!
   
4. It's a boring approach, but divide your room into lines that you can reach with your arm, then start cleaning from the furthest point away from an opening into another room, use the mop in parallel lines side to side, then take a step back & do the next batch within arms reach; you have to go a bit slow for the steam to work, but this way you're not just mopping all over the map inefficiently - you actually get the job done surprisingly quickly this way, it's only a few minutes per room if you're willing to do it slowly in chunks
   
5. I'd recommend getting a pack or two of the aftermarket pads for cheaper than OEM - get a bunch of them, because they should (1) only be washed with other microfiber pads (otherwise they'll pick up lint), and (2) NOT be washed with fabric softener or bleach; this is a minor hassle, which is why I recommend getting a bunch of them, so then you can wash them together (I also use microfiber towels for drying my car after cleaning it)
   
6. Some flooring manufacturers do not warranty the use of a steam mop on their product, so make sure you're aware of that fact; fwiw, I've been using it on my textured vinyl wood-plank flooring for a year now with no bad results, and tbh, I'd rather redo my flooring as needed & enjoy the convenience of using the steam mop for regular cleaning because it's such a lower hassle than using a regular mop (also tried a mop robot, wasn't a huge fan...the vacs are great but the mopping one was mediocre...and this cheapo model is so easy to use & quick that I don't mind steam-mopping my floors as needed)
   
   My overall cleaning kit is pretty simple:
   
   
7. Small spills = paper towels (hard floors) or spray carpet cleaner (carpets)
   
8. Mopping = O-Cedar steam mop
   
9. Vacuuming & sweeping ("electric broom") = Shark duo stick vac (absolutely fantastic)
   
10. Carpet cleaning (shampooing) = Hoover unit (with Carpet Miracle cleaner solution)
    
    My cleaning schedule is pretty simple:
    
    
11. Clean up small spills immediately as they happen
    
12. Vacuum & sweep daily using the Shark unit
    
13. Mop twice a week using the O-Cedar unit (wash the pads as you get enough to run a laundry load)
    
14. Carpet-clean once a month using the Hoover (I do half a room at a time & just move the furniture to the other side of the room to wash one half of the floor & then let it dry...makes the chore super-easy, instead of being a big huge job)
    
    It's really nice to have an instantly-usable set of good tools to do your daily cleaning functions with. I don't like cleaning for hours & hours or having to do a lot of heavy lifting...this setup enables me to quickly buzz through my chores so that my flooring stays clean all the time without much effort!

Oh I love hand made soaps!

Thyme oil would be an awesome additive to your soaps because it is a natural anti bacterial that was once used as anti fungal/cleanliness not only for wounds but in baths for royalty due to these reasons.

Although this steam mop is an expensive item, I think it is a worthy item to add to your wishlist based on their ability to clean without chemicals. Not only will it clean hard floors, it will clean carpets as well!

Seriously really want to try some of your hand made soap.

Bona's great. I've also like Weiman Floor Cleaner. I'd say even more important is a good
pro grade dry mop for regular dust/grit cleanup (not any of that Swiffer BS). You should be able to find it cheaper at your local hardware store.

Story time: We custom built our house and at the end of the build the GC brought in one hardcore middle aged lady that spent 2-3 days cleaning the ENTIRE damn house from construction zone to spotless. She was superhuman. I was doing touchup painting and made sure to be very respectful of not dirtying up rooms that she had already cleaned and apparently she really appreciated it, as she left one of her dry mops with a nice note wishing us luck in our new house and saying this dry mop was the most important thing we'd need. She was right, you can dry mop an entire floor of the house in just a few minutes and it takes it from "this floor is covered in grit and cat hair" to "nice and clean". Then just proper mop occasionally. If you go too long between proper mops, it can be nice to steam mop to get the tough dirt that won't easily mop out.

I know this isn't what you're asking about exactly but I got myself an off-brand Roomba (The Ilife) and a steam mop and it has changed my life forever. The Ilife keeps up with the cleaning in my 1200 sqft apt extremely well even with my dog and the porch door left open for extended amounts of time. I've had the ILife for about 6 months and it's still running strong. Hasn't broke with me accidentally stepping on it, my 50lb bulldog trying to lay on it, and the dining room chair falling on it.

They also make bots that have a mopping attachment that's pretty cool, I've never tried it though. If you want to feel extra clean an air purifier will help quite a bit. It'll help keep dust down. That's my next big purchase.

Fear cuts deeper than swords.

1 something grey

2 something reminiscent of rain Well it's a rainbow necklace and without rain you don't get a rainbow ;)

3 unusual food related item um yeah talk about yummy dreams hehe

4 something for someone else a psy gangnam guy mask for Liz. She swears she's going to marry that man lol

5 a book you should read One of my favorite memoirs of all time by Frank McCourt growing up dirt poor in Ireland. I would like to read a thousand times

6 item less than a dollar an mp3 from the 80s oh yeah!!

7 something about cats, nothing on my list, will edit soon

8 something beautiful but not useful this shirt is lovely but I have no clue where I'd ever wear it.

9 a movie Grease!! Everyone should see it because it's effing amazing!

10 for hurting zombies You could attack them with this amazing pizza cutter that looks like a saw!!

11 profound impact would be this awesome stream mop, cleaning is getting difficult for me sure to health issues and this would make life easier

12 add on item eyebrow shapers

13 most expensive I have no computer at the moment. I use a kindle. I need a computer to keep me business organized amongst other reasons.

14 bigger than a bread box, well a bread box could fit inside this laundry bag

15 This pretty ring is smaller than a golf ball

16 This peppermint oil smells wonderful

17 sfw toy would be this belching hamburger keychain

18 back to school zipper pouch to keep your lunch money in

19 my current obsession is kitchen or cooking gadgets hence this adorable ice cream cone hinged container

20 awe inspiring....umm sock monkey headphones...amiright??


Bonus item made in Oregon hand warmer clay mug

Bonus item

Thanks for the assist. I understand the "crater" concept and I've tried that too, but there wasn't any marked improvement overall. He does not have long hair. In fact, his hair is markedly shorter than the other cats in the house.

Since my original post, I created and am using what I call a "sponge mat" for in front of his litter box. It's just a shallow tray, a bit deeper than a typical cafeteria-type tray, with a big "sponge sheet" in it that I keep damp. Every morning I add about half a up to a cup of water to the tray and that lasts the whole day, enough to keep the sponge damp but not soaking wet. When he steps out of the litter box his feet are "washed" by the damp sponge. He hated it at first but now he's used to it, and it's almost completely eliminated the urine tracking from the floor. I rinse out the sponge with diluted disinfectant every weekend.

For what remains, the steam mop that I'm using works wonderfully and is a huge step up from the Swiffer Wet-Jet that I used to use. I mop the floor every morning (takes less than five minutes) and it's dry almost instantly, and I really like that it's not leaving any chemicals behind. (It also has the great side-effect of melting off things like paint and glue that my daughter's crafting practices tends to leave behind.) I have one of those Glade plug-in air fresheners that use the little bottle of scented oil; I replace that bottle about every six weeks and it keeps any lingering smell in check.

Just brushed out our dog with this. Loved it, he has long hair and it did the trick. (Labradoodle)

I LOVE our hand vacuum. I get annoyed with dusting things that don’t really do the trick because I can still see things floating around. But I really see things get sucked with this guy.

Third the roomba suggestion. I forget the brand we have but it’s so easy to leave it on while we leave for the day. The legs get stuck or fall off around the apartment here or there so that’s annoying.

I got a steam mop Wednesday for my laminate floors. Meh. I don’t know how I feel about it. I was expecting miracle worker given what I’ve read on this Reddit group. But I also cheaped out and bought a highly rated one because it was $20 off so $40 total compared to some $80-$120 alternatives. I linked it below but now it’s only $10 off so I don’t know if I’d recommend going with it. But my boyfriend did remark it looks like no one has walked on our floors and it’s a good way to finish off a vacuum.

Safari De-Matting Comb for Dogs,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002ARR2W?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Lithium Ion Cordless Hand Vacuum, Purple https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CB6RBSP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_u08NDbAC66TT4

Steam Mop Cleaner ThermaPro Elite 12 in 1 for Hardwood/Tiles/Vinyl/Carpet - Easy-Detachable Handheld Steam Cleaner for Kitchen - Garment - Furniture and Clothes, Multifunctional Whole House Steamer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VPRGLK7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_o.8NDbWDTKKCS

I suggest a steam mop for deeper cleaning.

For casual weekly cleaning or whatever I have a reusable Libman mop. Basically it's a Swifer that you fill yourself and wash the pad.

I make this homemade cleaner and it works wonders.

I have original hardwood floors from the 1930's and I swear by the techniques above. It's both gentle and effective.

Do not use Murphy's Oil Soap unless your floors are unfinished wood floors!

this is the one i have- i like the older model better (mine broke), but this still does the job. bisssell seems to be higher rated so might be worth a try!

http://www.amazon.com/Shark-Steam-Pocket-Mop-S3501/dp/B0028MB3HM/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1405121984&sr=8-4&keywords=steam+mop

the hot steam is supposed to sanitize, this is what it says
"Super-Heated Steam delivers 99.9% Sanitization against germs and bacteria to deep clean and sanitize all your wood and hardfloors."

>clean beer off of hardwood floors?

Step 1: Towel up liquid.

Step 2: Steam mop. I've got that exact one (two toddlers, a dog, and a cat in a house with all hardwood floors, so I don't like to use chemicals on my floor if I can help it), and it does a great job of breaking up sticky stuff that would normally require you to get out the scrub brush.

I bought a steam mop this one in fact, when it was on sale. So this is $45-60 up front. But I still think it's worth it.

The mop pockets are washable microfiber. I can spray vinegar on the floor to "presoak" any spots that might need extra attention, but other than that, no additional costs (inb4 electricity - but I don't mind the couple cents 10 minutes uses).

If you're coming from a mop+bucket system where you are adding sanitizing cleaner, you're eventually going to make up cost on new mopheads and lysol. Also, way cleaner than a sponge mop.

And time is money as well. My floors are sanitized and DRY in a fraction of the time, so I'm happy. Also, because it's faster and easier, I mop more often.

Our Bissell is great. We've had to replace the mop pads due to use/wear, but it's still running strong since 2007.

The Shark Genius Hard Floor Cleaning System is a pretty awesome steam mop. I recently moved to a place with all tile and if makes cleaning it a lot quicker than a normal swiffer or mop.

No, don't use contact cleaner!

You can get isopropyle alcohol on Amazon pretty cheap. A 500ml bottle for £6 or 1 litre for £7 both with free delivery.

I bought a new house in March and it has hardwood throughout other than the (tile) bathrooms.

I’ve been mopping with a sponge mop and floor cleaner and it’s been less than ideal. The floor was too wet and it didn’t smell great afterwards.

Last night I broke down and bought this fella and I’m embarrassingly excited for it to arrive tomorrow!

This one looks pretty good:

https://www.amazon.com/Shark-Genius-Pocket-System-S5003D/dp/B01KU4BSGK/

I use a strip lamp like this one from Amazon as it provides even light all over the model. I also have a daylight bulb in the ceiling of the room I paint in so that I don't get harsh shadows and the colours show true.

I just scrubbed a kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom tile floor and it turned out amazing! Here's what I used: This grout cleaner with this amazing grout brush. Then I used a larger scrub brush like this with this tile cleaner. Anything that didn't come off with that I scraped off with a razor blade scraper like this. When I was done I sealed the grout with this. I used a small artist paint brush to apply it. The brush that comes on the bottle isn't very useful.


This may be overkill if you're just trying to get the job done, but I wanted to do the job right (and get rid of a gross odor from the old roommate) and make sure I wouldn't have to do it again for a while. I'll use my steam mop to maintain it, as the whole apartment is tile.

I have a Haan steamer for my house This one in particular that has the handheld detachable piece. Would the attachments make it safe to use on both interior and exterior details? This would just be for my personal cars, not a business or anything.

I say a steam mop. nothing gets stickyness out like a steam mop does and the cleaning solution is water.

http://www.amazon.com/Shark-Steam-Pocket-Mop-S3501/dp/B0028MB3HM/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1408986199&sr=8-5&keywords=steam+mop

YES! Just don't get a cheap one. They don't get the water hot enough. This one is $60 on Amazon ($45 damaged box new condition on Amazon warehouse) and it gets so hot I could burn myself. That's good.

http://www.amazon.com/BISSELL-Steam-Select-Titanium-94E9T/dp/B007VFYCSI

Just look at reviews, even highly reviewed ones can not be very good. Like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Bissell-Steam-Hard-Floor-Cleaner-1867-7/dp/B000RPVHZU/

It just doesn't get hot enough according to a lot of negative reviews.

I bought this Haan steam mop for $80 or so a couple years ago, and it's built like a tank... They have some higher end models available too.

So apparently this stuff is 2-4x more powerful than ethanol but produces similar effects. Maybe dilute it down a little https://www.amazon.co.uk/500mL-Pharmaceutical-Isopropyl-Alcohol-Isopropanol/dp/B00WLAS9W8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496959438&sr=8-1&keywords=ethanol

Shark Steam Mop Masterrace - You can refill it with the cleaner of your choice.

I got some from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/500mL-Pharmaceutical-Isopropyl-Alcohol-Isopropanol/dp/B00WLAS9W8?ie=UTF8&ref_=pe_385721_37986871_TE_item

http://www.amazon.com/Hoover-TwinTank-Steam-Mop-WH20200/dp/B004Q7CK56/

Way better than a swiffer. We just use water and vinegar in ours, have had no issues with clogs or leaks, and it heats up very quickly.

You still need to use elbow grease, but this beats getting on your hands and knees and scrubbing. Leverage.

I ordered this instead
https://www.amazon.co.uk/500mL-Pharmaceutical-Isopropyl-Alcohol-Isopropanol/dp/B00WLAS9W8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498944758&sr=8-1&keywords=alcohol+100

You Sure?

But it is this is what I use https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00WLAS9W8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467199405&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=100%25+isopropyl&dpPl=1&dpID=514uRq74GhL&ref=plSrch

Bissell PowerFresh Lift-Off Pet Steamer, Tile, Bathroom, Hard Wood Floor Cleaner, 1544A Steam Mop, Orange https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011LS47SA/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_YH8nDbRN8QNJ2

I love this thing. And it's a 1544. My poor memory is to blame.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011LS47SA?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Price History

I bought this Bissell model: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0091YYUAM/

Here’s the link for my lamp

Try a steam mop. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0028MB3HM/ref=asc_df_B0028MB3HM5042304/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B0028MB3HM&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167140452627&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3693339482808365753&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9027632&hvtargid=pla-272260391747

hey man, is this one good?

I'm kinda freaking out about breathing bad stuff. At Boots they told me the surgical spirit wasn't a good idea.

Use a hardwood steam mop. Be aware that most mfgs do not suggest using one and to use it sparingly. We use it every few months on the entire place and more often on the high traffic areas that get kind of gross.

https://smile.amazon.com/Hoover-Steam-TwinTank-Cleaner-WH20200/dp/B004Q7CK56

It's fast to use. I can do our ~600sqft bedroom in a few minutes. I use it more when we have all the windows open as we get a lot of dust and junk in.