There’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to reach certain areas of your home when cleaning because the cord on your steam mop is too short.
So you’ve either just got to reluctantly leave it dirty or go out of your way to manually clean it.
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That’s why today we’ve compiled all our hours of research into creating this article to solve this irritating problem and bring you a solution - the best cordless steam mops.
In a hurry?
If you’re eager to get started with a new cordless steam mop then we’ll jump straight into the top choice - It’s the Bissell Spinwave 2307 Cordless Mop and here’s a few short reasons why we love it.
- Lightweight so easy to move around the room
- Powerful so will remove stains
- Quiet functioning so can use any time of day
- Won’t use as much cleaning product
- Safe on all flooring
- Leaves floors looking shiny
- Doesn’t leave excess water on the floor
- Floor dries quicker than regular mopping
- 2-year warranty so you’re covered for any initial damages
OUR TOP PICK
The power spin pads move in opposite directions to remove all of the dirt more quickly, so you don’t have to run the mop in different directions continuously to remove tough grime.
The Bissell Spinwave also features an on-demand spray function so you can control how much of the solution you have on the floor whilst you clean, this prevents the whole ordeal of having too much liquid across your floor and helps the floor dry quicker.
The mop also has an auto-stop function, which is instrumented when you stand the mop upright.
It’ll leave it standing freely without functioning without you having to press any buttons, a helpful feature if you need to move furniture around whilst you’re mopping.
The spinning action of the pads helps reduce the effort you need to push the mop and also makes it easy to maneuver around the furniture to catch every nook and cranny.
You won’t have to constantly repurchase disposable washing pads because the ones that come with this mop are machine washable and dryable so you can reuse them again multiple times.
You also get a choice of scrubbing pads and soft-touch microfiber pads to alternate with, depending on if you’ve got more stubborn stains and dirt to remove from your flooring.
A complete bonus to this steam mop is that you get two bottles of 8oz multi-surface cleaning formula to get you started on your floors as soon as your new mop arrives. The cleaner can be used on all types of flooring.
The mop operates fairly quietly so you’ll be able to clean to your heart's content without bothering anyone in your household with too much noise.
The product also comes with a 2-year warranty on any of the parts, so if it happens to break or malfunction under normal operating conditions then you can claim a refund or a free replacement.
The battery unfortunately only lasts for 20 minutes, which shouldn’t be an issue if you only have a small area to clean but for those who want to clean numerous rooms, this can be a tad frustrating as you’ll have to wait for it to re-charge again.
Pros:
- Lightweight so easy to move around the room
- Powerful so will remove stains
- Quiet functioning so can use any time of day
- Won’t use as much cleaning product
- Safe on all flooring
- Leaves floors looking shiny
- Doesn’t leave excess water on the floor
- Floor dries quicker than regular mopping
- 2-year warranty so you’re covered for any initial damages
Cons:
- The battery only lasts for 20 minutes
EDITORS CHOICE
The Vmai mop is simple to operate and will enable you to mop both upstairs and downstairs with no fuss due to its super lightweight construction.
The powerful motor means you can clean your entire house with just a single hand and you won’t have to work hard to remove the toughest dirt.
The mop features a built-in LED headlight to help you spot stains and dirt more easily on the floors and especially under furniture.
There are 4 reusable microfiber cleaning pads included with the Vmai steam mop, so you’ll be able to use each pad on rotation throughout the week if you like to frequently clean your floors.
The pads just need to be put in the washing machine after being used.
This hard floor mop has a 300ml built-in water tank which will be more than enough to clean large spaces in your house without having to frequently refill it.
The water tank lid, however, is a little fragile, so care will need to be taken every time you refill it as it would prove very difficult to replace or fix it.
There is also a spray button function that lets you apply the solution to the floor quickly and lets you control how wet you want the floor to get.
You’ll also be able to easily store your mop due to its freestanding design, which offers a more suitable storage solution.
The Vmai mop has a long-lasting battery that will allow you to clean your entire home for more than 35 mins with the dry mop function and 20 mins by wet mopping.
Pros:
- LED headlight is great for spotting stains
- Super lightweight so can mop all around the house
- Comes with 4 microfiber reusable pads which saves money
- Easy to operate around your home
- Large water tank which saves you having to repeatedly fill up
- 2-in-1 versatile mopping
- The free-standing design so can be stored easily
Cons:
- The water tank lid is flimsy and could easily break.
BEST VALUE
This Homitt Electric mop, despite its power, only weighs 2. 84lbs which makes it one of the lightest recommendations on our list.
The lightweight design makes it easy for you to effectively clean the downstairs floors and be able to clean the floors upstairs in your house as well.
The mop features upgraded by 2 upgraded LG batteries that allow you to clean for over 45 minutes throughout your home before the battery starts to die.
Charging does take around 4-5 hours which is very common for these cordless mops.
The Homitt is very effective at removing stubborn stains and does so without you having to put all of your effort into your mopping.
You can also use this product on all flooring types and it won’t ruin the finish.
The integrated water tank and spray function makes cleaning more efficient and reduces any additional cleaning tools that you’ll need to use.
One of the best parts about the Homitt Power Scrubber is that it has an extendable rod that enables you to reach more difficult areas without hurting your back and overstretching your body.
The adjustable rod is easy to extend and contract back into place so great for time-saving cleaning.
The Homitt has a functioning noise level of less than 65dB, so you can mop your floors at any time of day without disturbing anyone in your house.
The mop comes with 4 cleaning pads, 2 for scrubbing stubborn stains and 2 soft pads for protecting your floors, both of which can be put in the washing machine or dishwasher for easy maintenance.
The Homitt is gentle on your flooring and won’t leave any scratches.
Pros:
- Cleans the floors efficiently
- Can clean for over 45 minutes
- Adjustable rod which reduces cleaning labor
- Helps protect the floor
- Microfiber mop pads are machine washable for reuse
- Functioning noise of less than 65dB for all day round cleaning
- Lightweight design can be taken all over the house
Cons:
- It takes a long time to fully charge again
RUNNER UP
The Shark VACMOP Pro really is a timesaver due to its 2-in-1 functionality. It works as both a vacuum and mop so you can thoroughly clean your entire house with just one cleaning appliance.
The 2-in-1 mop is lightweight and easily portable so you won’t feel exhausted having to move it around your house.
The vacuum suction works effectively and collects all types of debris and doesn't just push the dirt around your rooms.
The debris is held within the disposable dirt chamber built into the pad which prevents any mess from falling back out onto the floor.
The Vacmop also has built-in LED lights on the front to help you find hidden dirt and debris that may be lying around your floor. The feature helps see bits you may have missed under furniture and in dark parts of your home.
The product features a no-touch disposal feature that allows you to discard the dirty vac mop pad without you touching all the grime underneath, simply hold the mop over the garbage can, press the release button and it’s gone.
Whilst the easy to dispose of pads are convenient, it also means you will have to continuously buy refill pads for your mop which is a dreaded extra expense and is also not great for environmental reasons.
Many customers have noted that you will probably need to use two floor pads when cleaning as if the dirt remains on the floor pad and then makes it impossible to properly clean the floors with the mop function as it’s already dirty.
It comes with a magnetic charger that clicks into place when in contact with your vacmop for easy charging.
The battery only lasts around 15 minutes which is not entirely convenient for cleaning all the floors in your home. This is probably down to the high functionality of the mop and a lot of battery is used to power both functions.
Pros:
- No-touch disposal so you don’t have to touch the dirty pad when you’re done
- Vacuums up dirt and cleans the floor at the same time
- Provides clean shiny floors
- Easy to use and efficient
- LED lights built on to the mop to clean hidden areas
- Easy charging with the magnetic charger
Cons:
- Disposable floor pads are not cost-effective
- Battery only lasts 15 minutes
RUNNER UP
The O-Cedar Spray Mop can’t really be counted as a proper steam mop as it doesn’t have an internal heating system, however, these sorts of spray mops work just as well as cleaning but don’t have the optimum sanitizing functions.
The mop is incredibly lightweight and makes cleaning your entire house a more simple task, requiring little to no effort.
It comes with 2 extra microfiber towels included with the mop. These towels are said to last 3 months of consistent cleaning before they need replacing, obviously, this will depend on how dirty your floors are.
You can also put the microfiber towels in the washing machine for repeated use, saving you the money of having to be disposable towels all the time.
This ProMist Max is definitely our best budget-friendly recommendation, especially considering the extra floor pads that are included with it. You won’t need to replace them for a good while.
The mop features a dual-sided mop head clean and dry your floors without changing the head. You can also use the mophead dry to just dust your floors but use with water for a deeper clean.
There is also a scrub zone integrated onto the mop zone to target the stubborn sticky dirt on your flooring.
The water tank is easy to fill up and can be used with any of your favorite cleaning solutions to get rid of tough dirt and to leave floors smelling fresh.
There is no battery required or cord for this mop and it functions manually by you pressing the button to dispense the fluid inside the mop.
The mop head is quite flimsy and if care is not taken whilst mopping, it can disconnect from the base of the mop, it can be reattached quite easily but it can be frustrating.
Pros:
- The microfiber towels are machine washable
- Can use with any cleaning solution
- Dual-sided mop head for easy cleaning
- Comfortable handle for long periods of use
- No battery or cord required to clean
- Ultra-lightweight design can be taken all over the house
Cons:
- It’s more of a spray mop than a steam mop
- Mop head is quite flimsy and can disconnect from base
Best Cordless Steam Mops Buying Guide
Size & Weight
Make sure to take a look at the dimensions and product weight of your steam mop before you buy it, if it’s too heavy to push and carry around whilst you use it then it will only sit in the cleaning cupboard unused.
Make sure you're lightweight and portable for you to carry from room to room when you need it.
Attachments & Accessories
If you want to get the most bang for your buck, then try looking for a steam mop that comes with extra accessories.
Many steam mops will include extra microfiber floor pads so you can still use your steam mop whilst your other floor pads are in the washing machine.
There’s no need to panic if the steam mop you want to buy doesn’t include any extra accessories with the price, many are available to buy separately.
Water Tank Capacity
If you’ve got a large area to cover with your steam mop, then you’ll want to try to find a mop with a larger water tank capacity to avoid having to frequently fill it up.
If you’ve only got one room in your house that you’d use your steam mop for, then you won’t have to worry about the size of the tank capacity so much. Larger tanks will take a lot longer to heat up than smaller tanks.
Charging Time
As these steam mops are cordless, they’ll need time to be charged between every use. If you don’t want to spend hours waiting for your steam mop to charge then try to find one that has a shorter charging time.
On average, most steam mops take around 4 hours to charge and most users put it back on charge straight after using it so it will be fully charged for the next time they use it.
Steaming Time
Cordless steam mops will eat up the battery as it’s not connected to a mains supply.
If you’ve got a lot of areas to cover in your house, then find a steam mop that will efficiently work for over 30 minutes, otherwise, it’ll cut out midway through your cleaning.
Some mops will have different cleaning settings which will use varying amounts of battery.
Noise Levels
Steam mops are not as noisy as vacuum cleaners but they’re still not the most silent of appliances.
If you’re looking for something that won’t give off much noise, try to find models which are marketed as being quieter.
Some brands even list the decibel levels of the steam mops in their product descriptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do handheld steam mops really work?
Yes, steam mops are effective at removing stubborn stains from hard floor surfaces.
A steam cleaner kills 99.9% of household germs
Is steaming floors better than mopping?
Yes, steam mops are better and more hygienic than traditional mopping.
The mop head of a steam mop absorbs all the dirt and also kills the bacteria on the floor, it’s more sanitary and also a lot quicker to do.
Do steam mops clean grout?
Yes, steam mops are effective in cleaning and removing any build-up of dirt that gets into the grout.
If harsh chemicals are used with your steam mop then this could be harmful to the condition of your grout.
Can I put vinegar in my steam mop?
Yes, you can add vinegar to your steam mop if you are using it on tile, linoleum, and vinyl floor but do not use it on hardwood flooring as it will ruin the finish on it.
What can I put in my steam cleaner to make it smell nice?
Many companies have floor cleaning products that are nicely scented to help leave a pleasant aroma after you’ve steamed a room.
However, if you wish to go down the natural route, you could add essential oils like lavender, pepper, or eucalyptus to the cleaning mixture to help improve the scent.