There's nothing quite like the shine of a pristine floor. It's so clean, you might have contemplated eating off of it, but instead will settle for a streak-free sparkle, only achieved with one of the best mops. Yet, there are many different types of mops for various surfaces and price points to consider.
To help you choose the best mop for your floors, we put 10 models through the wringer and consulted with floorcare experts for tips on the best cleaning practices for all types of floors and what to look for.
In our cleaning trials, the Bona Hardwood Floor Premium Spray Mop, came out on top. It works with washable microfiber pads; it's easy to maneuver, store, and cleaned up our spills with ease on hardwood, vinyl, and tile. If you're looking for something more traditional, the budget-friendly O-Cedar Microfiber Wet Cloth Mop gets the job done in a few sweeps and was easy to wring out excess water.
Learn more about how Insider Reviews tests and researches home products.
Our picks for the best mops
Best overall: Bona Hardwood Floor Premium Spray Mop - See at Amazon
Best budget: O-Cedar Microfiber Wet Cloth Mop - See at Target
Best for hardwood floors: O-Cedar EasyWring Spin Mop & Bucket System - See at Amazon
Best for tile: Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe Steam Mop - See at Amazon
Best upgrade: Bissell SpinWave Powered Hard Floor Mop - See at Walmart
Best vacuum mop: Tineco Floor One S7 Pro - See at Amazon
Best overall
The Bona Premium Spray Mop is our top pick if you're looking for a versatile mop that can be used to clean a variety of sticky and dry messes on wood, vinyl, and tile.
- Easy to maneuver
- Comfortable to push
- Passed every spill test
- Effective cleaning solution
- refillable cleaning cartridge can be filled with brand's solution or one of your choice
- Comes with only one reusable pad
The Bona Spray Mop passed the most spill tests out of all the mops we tested and worked well on hardwood, vinyl, and tile. This mop has a large 16.5-inch-wide head with a microfiber cleaning pad. Because the mop head is flexible, it gracefully maneuvered around tough obstacles like a dining room table, chairs, and a desk.
The included cleaning solution is designed for finished hardwood floors, but it cleaned tile and vinyl floors just as well, leaving no trace of streaks or excessive wetness. Other spray mops required the press of a button to eject cleaning liquid, but the Bona proved more comfortable and easy to use — I simply squeezed the handle to spray the solution.
The mop left the floors slightly sticky after our maple syrup test and dragged the slightest bit of dirt around. However, it quickly swept up dried coffee and soda with just one spray and pass.
While washing directions were not included with the mop, they can be found on the brand's website. The mop head came clean in a warm, soapy normal cycle in the washing machine and looked brand new after several washes.
Once you've used all of the included solution, you can purchase a refill or add water or another cleaning solution of your choice. Inserting and removing the solution cartridge was hassle-free. The mop fits nicely in a small storage closet and is light enough to be hung from a rack if needed.
Best budget
A superior mop for its value, the O-Cedar Microfiber Wet Cloth mop has a soft and durable mop head that glides nicely across all floor types without leaving a trail of water after picking up tough spills in its path.
- Comfortable to use
- Performed well
- Didn't leave much water behind
- Must hand-wring the mop head
For those looking to buy a mop that won't break the bank, the O-Cedar Microfiber Wet Cloth is a great option. While this mop doesn't come with the bells and whistles of our other top picks, it performed incredibly well.
As soon as the mop hit the floor, I was thoroughly impressed by its ability to clean up spills. It swept the dirt up the best out of any mops, even scooping up several bigger rock pieces with ease. As for the maple syrup and soda test, it dragged some around leaving the floors fairly sticky, so extra effort is needed for those jobs.
The blue microfiber mop head features thick soft looped strands that soak up water quickly. I was worried that wringing out the head by hand after every use would be a drag, but the strands were easy to twist and I could expel as little or as much water as I wanted. The mop left behind minimal, if any, water with each pass, unlike other budget mops we tested.
I particularly enjoyed using this mop in the kitchen to clean under an island and dining room table with chairs. It glided past the obstacles with ease and the long pole made it easy to get into awkward spots.
The mop head came out of the wash with minimal stains and dried overnight. It can easily be stored in a pantry or small closet on the ground and is lightweight enough to hang. When it comes time to replace, refills are readily available.
Best for hardwood floors
Mopping has never been easier than with O-Cedar's mop and bucket design. The bucket comes with a hands-free, built-in wringer to dry the mop when needed. Plus, the mop head is washable and features microfiber strands that clean dirt and grime on hard floors.
- Adjustable pole
- Easy to wring out the mop with the bucket
- Mop head doesn't wash well
The O-Cedar EasyWring Spin Mop and Bucket System is ideal for hardwood floors that can be damaged by excessive water. The mop has a triangle-shaped microfiber head that you insert into the bucket's built-in wringer.
I was impressed by how easy it was to adjust the level of dampness using the pedal attached to the bucket. It's reminiscent of a salad spinner: Place the mop head in the wringer and use the pedal to rotate it and squeeze out the water.
After spinning the head about seven times, I had a slightly damp mop that was ideal for cleaning the sealed bamboo floors in my house. In the spill tests, the mop performed well against soda and dried coffee. It shined the brightest during the maple syrup and dirt tests, leaving the floors just slightly sticky and picking up nearly all the dirt and small rocks.
This mop had the best maneuverability and comfort of all the models we tested. The unique shape of the mop head allowed it to glide into corners and around obstacles like a stationary bike and wood stove. It's a great option to use as a dry mop for dusting too. The pole is adjustable in two different places, a nice feature for shorter people like me.
A word of caution: We recommend you thoroughly sweep or vacuum your floors before using this mop or you may need to replace its cleaning head frequently. While the microfiber is perfect for gently catching debris on sensitive floors, removing the collected debris from the microfiber strands can be difficult, even in a washing machine. The bucket is also slightly bulky and will take up some space in your closet.
Best for tile
The easy-to-maneuver Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe Steam Mop sanitizes and scrubs tile floors without leaving streaks after drying.
- Good cleaning capabilities
- Comfortable to use
- Comes with a spot brush for scrubbing dried spills
- Two steam levels
- Large water tank
- Left a decent amount of water behind after mopping
- Need a screwdriver for assembly
- Water tank isn't removable
Bissell makes some of the best vacuums and the company's mops don't disappoint either, especially when it comes to the best steam mops. The Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe Steam Mop battled and won against built-up dirt and grime and left our ceramic tile floors looking shinier and more buffed than we'd ever seen them. It comes with handy extras like a built-in spot scrubber, scent discs for making the steam smell extra fresh, and two microfiber pads — one for everyday use and one for scrubbing.
While Bissell says this mop is safe to use on sealed hardwood floors, we tested it only on tile and sealed vinyl floors as our experts do not recommend steam mops for hardwood (read more about that in our FAQs section). The mop takes a minute or two to warm up before steaming and you might also hear some clicking noise, which is normal.
During testing, it cleaned up messes quickly, averaging just one sweep per spill. I was impressed with the built-in spot scrubbing brush for cleaning the grout around tiles and discovered much more dirt had accumulated there than I'd thought. The pad for scrubbing was also useful on stains.
The mop spread some maple syrup and dirt around but performed well against dried stains like coffee and soda. It glided nicely over tile and was comfortable to use although it is heavier than a standard mop. The only caveat was that some water was left behind, so it took the ceramic tile floors about 15 minutes to dry.
After several washes, the pads looked mostly clean and showed only a little dirt. The mop can fit in a small storage closet but is likely too heavy to hang.
Best upgrade
If you have a larger budget and want to invest in a mop that both cleans and shines your floors, we recommend the Bissell Spinwave Hard Floor Spin Mop.
- Left the floor clean and polished
- Cleaned up spills the fastest
- A little difficult to maneuver
- Heavy
The Bissell SpinWave Hard Floor Spin Mop cleaned up stains faster than any other mop we tested and it left behind a remarkable sheen. Were it not for the significantly higher price tag than our other recommendations (aside from our steam mop pick for tile), the Bissell SpinWave Hard Floor Spin Mop would have been our best overall winner.
The electric-powered mop features a spray button and two rotating cleaning heads that do most of the work for you. You fill the reservoir with water and cleaning solution, then use the included soft mop pads to gently clean delicate flooring like hardwood or the included scrub pads on more durable floors and hard-to-clean stains. The mop got around obstacles well, but it had a strong pull making it slightly difficult to move around slowly.
When it came to our spill tests, the SpinWave was a champion as it cleaned hardwood, tile, and vinyl floors. It passed our dirt, soda, and dried coffee tests with flying colors, requiring just one press of the spray button. However, it pushed around the maple syrup and left the floors quite sticky.
The best part of this mop is how clean it leaves hardwood floors. Many of the mops that come with cleaning solution carry claims that they will leave floors shining. However, when we used the Bissell with the brand's Multi-Surface solution, it made our wood floors shine the brightest and with the least amount of labor. It also produced a natural-looking sheen free of streaks on tile and vinyl. Not every retailer includes the Multi-Surface cleaner with your purchase and there is also a Bissell Wood Floor solution that we didn't test.
The tank is easy to detach and refill. While the mop is on the heavier side, it can fit in a storage closet and stand upright without a problem. All four pads washed incredibly well and still looked brand new.
Best vacuum mop
The Tineco Floor One S7 Pro reigns supreme with its excellent performance, auto dirt detection system, high-tech LCD screen with an assistant, and brushroll drying capabilities.
- Four cleaning modes
- iLoop Smart Sensor informs users when the floor is clean
- Self-cleaning system also air dries brush roll
- LCD screen with a Tineco Assistant that offers guidance
- Very expensive
- Can’t be used on rugs
For those who are looking to streamline their cleaning routines, the best wet-dry vacuums have risen in popularity for their ability to vacuum and mop at the same time. Tineco is one such leader in the technology. The Tineco Floor One S7 is one of the best at erasing stuck on stains, getting close to wall edges, and has smart features like a dirt detecting sensor that alerts you to when the floor is clean and a cleaning assistant that walks you through how to use the device.
These wet-dry vacuums work using separate clean and dirty water tanks. The motorized microfiber brushroll scrub stains while also suctioning up dust and debris. Water continues to flush the brushroll so you can continue to clean further while scraper that essentially "wrings" the dirty water from the brush roll and deposits it into into the dirty water tank. A stopper in the dirty water tank helps separate solid and liquids.
It's cordless too, with the 40 minute battery life being more than enough to clean our tester's 1,600 square foot home. Most substances were clean in one pass like juice and bbq sauce, two on the toughest messes like caked on dirt.
Variable settings let you control the amount of water that is dispensed on to your floor and adjust suction power. Advanced features like an auto-cleaning system and heated brush roll drying ensure less clean up on your part.
Read our full Tineco Floor One S7 Pro review.
What else we tested
These four options didn't make the final cut for our list of the best mops, but they still have some advantages.
What else we recommend
Swiffer WetJet Wood Floor Spray Mop: The Swiffer WetJet Wood Floor Spray mop had superior mobility and could easily move around furniture. It was a serious contender against our best overall pick, the Bona Spray Mop, but fell short during the dirt and syrup tests where it pushed the spills around. If you're looking for a mop with disposable pads, this would be a solid choice.
Swiffer PowerMop Multi-Surface Mop: The Power Mop has increased scrubbing power compared to the WetJet thanks to the hundreds of scrubbing strips that agitate stuck on grime and get into grout grooves. The easy-press button at the handle quickly dispenses a steady stream of solution. The disposable pads are recommended to clean up to 500 square feet before being replaced, so depending on the size of your home, you could go through them more quickly, and they're not cheap. If you're looking for something easy and fast, they're no denying the convenience.
Shark Steam Mop, S1000WM: This Shark mop is a great budget option. It held up well against the Bissell steam mop in our rounds of testing, but it left a substantial amount of water that dried with streaks. On top of that, you need to pump the handle several times to activate the steam which was tricky to keep doing while pushing and pulling the mop. Once I started using the mop, having to pump the handle wasn't difficult, just a minor inconvenience.
What we don't recommend
Libman Wonder Mop: While this mop is incredibly affordable, it was difficult to wring out the head with the built-in wringer sleeve that you manually twist to get the water out. I found that the wringer left the microfiber strands extremely wet. The result of using an excessively damp mop could lead to damaged wood floors and it made the floors dry with streaks. My wrists were also sore after constantly having to manually twist the wringer.
OXO Good Grips Butterfly Mop: The OXO Good Grips Butterfly Mop didn't pass most of our tests including comfort, maneuverability, and cleaning up spills. The handle to wring out the mop kept getting jammed halfway making it difficult to expel water even when I applied extra strength. Even when the handle didn't jam, this mop left a tsunami in its path. It also pushed around the dirt and syrup, and the red microfiber pieces from the head came out while sweeping sticky substances. You'll be better served with our budget pick at less than half the price.
How we tested mops
For testing these nine mops, I put them through a series of trials on sealed bamboo hardwood, ceramic tile, sealed vinyl, and unsealed vinyl floors. With all these flooring types under one roof, I was able to see how the mops performed in a busy household frequented by dogs, dirt, dust, and spills.
Additionally, we gathered expert advice from two professionals in the cleaning and flooring industries. Brett Miller, vice president of technical standards and industry partnerships of the National Wood Flooring Association, provided tips on how to best take care of your floors and Leanne Stapf, executive vice president of The Cleaning Authority, shared ideal mopping practices for keeping your home clean.
Below are the criteria we used to determine the best mops.
Assembly: This was judged by how easy or difficult it was to put the mops together after unboxing. We noted how many pieces it came with, how hard it was to click the pieces together, and how well the pads stuck to the base.
Maneuverability: Throughout the rooms where we tested the mops, there were various obstacles including a dining room table, chairs, a wood stove, toilet, and a standing bike. We judged maneuverability based on how well the mops could get around these obstacles.
Comfort: While comfort varies by person, we used the mops for short amounts of time for spot cleaning and a prolonged time for mopping large areas. We vetted comfort by judging how hard it was to wring out the mop if the grip was sturdy, and if it was easy to push and pull the mop across the floor.
Spill tests: To test how well the mops can clean up tough spills and stains, we "spilled" dirt, maple syrup, dried coffee, and soda on hardwood, vinyl, and tile floors to record how many sweeps and/or sprays it took to get the spill cleaned up. We also noted if the substance was pushed around, how much water was leftover after mopping, and if the mop left streak marks after drying.
Washing pads: We washed the reusable pads four times per the manufacturer's cleaning instructions to vet how well the pads expelled various stains. This helped indicate how often the mop head may need to be replaced.
Ease of storage: Judging by weight, size, and if the mop stood up on its own, we placed each one in a small storage closet to see how easy or difficult it was to store the mops.
Mop FAQs
Can all floors be mopped the same?
Flooring can vary by material and sealant, meaning all floors cannot be mopped the same. Certain mops and cleaning solutions can ruin and damage wood, vinyl, and tile floors by breaking down the seal meant to protect the material.
Miller stressed the importance of finding out what kind of floor and seal you have before you start cleaning your floors. For those who are unsure what kind of flooring they have, Miller recommends having a qualified professional assess your floor and help you determine the best cleaning products to use.
A common way to damage your floor is by using too much water to mop, allowing it to seep into the flooring. In addition, store-bought floor cleaning and natural cleaning solutions like vinegar can break down seals over time making floors more susceptible to damage.
"For wood floor cleaning products that are neutral pH, some may have an alcohol base and isopropyl alcohol, which again, can cause long term damage to finishes if it's used improperly," Miller said.
When it comes to stains or tough spills, Miller shared that "mopping a floor is one of the best things [you] can do and damp mop with a little bit of water is usually sufficient for most products." If you have a stain like wine or grape juice that won't come out, Miller advises consulting a flooring professional.
What should you look for in a mop?
While floors come in many different materials, Miller said that mop heads made out of microfiber are a good choice for a versatile and effective mop, especially for dry and wet mopping. "A good microfiber mop actually has a natural static charge to it," he said. "So when you're cleaning a floor, that static charge attracts dirt and debris and hair and lint and all that stuff."
Miller added that using a microfiber head to dry mop floors every day can prevent damage from dirt, food, and other particles from being dragged across the floor.
Stapf said that microfiber mops generally hold less moisture, making them a good choice for preventing water damage to hardwood floors. "If you want to speed up the drying process, you can go over the floors with a microfiber sweeper or open the windows," she said.
How often should a mop head be cleaned?
To keep your mop from spreading dirt and bacteria, Stapf said that proper mop head maintenance is important. "I recommend replacing a mop every three months — that is generally how long it takes until a mop begins to visibly look dirty," she said.
While mops generally come with manufacturer instructions, Stapf recommends sanitizing the mop after each use and then allowing it to dry fully. To sanitize the mop head, rinse it out completely. Then combine a mixture of half hot water and half bleach in a clean bucket and soak the mop head in it for 15 minutes.
Cleaning instructions for mop heads may suggest air drying or drying on low heat, but Stapf shared that it's important to let a mop head dry fully before using.
What is the difference between a steam and spray mop?
Steam mops use heat to release water vapor from the head while you mop, whereas a spray mop doesn't use any heat and has a built-in dispenser for water or cleaning solution so you can spray liquid onto the floors while you mop.
Steam mops can get up to boiling temperatures and are ideal for sanitizing floors or cleaning tile or sealed laminate. However, Miller warns that steam mops can be damaging to certain floors. "We never suggest using steam on a wood floor; the steam mops are vapor water and that vapor water is forced into the wood, the open wood cells, and cavities and will damage wood and also damage finishes," he said.
With a spray mop, you can control how much liquid you want on your floor depending on the amount of spray you use. Some spray mops may have a button you press to dispense liquid or a squeeze handle to manually spray the liquid.
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