Best Steam Mop for Tile and Grout
Best Tile Floors and Grout Steam Mops
Tile floors don’t just look beautiful, they are perfect for the busy family, they don’t collect dust and they are so much easier to clean and maintain than carpet. The big drawback to tile is the grout that holds the tile together. It is porous and much harder to keep clean than the tile itself. Don’t worry though, there are plenty of steam mops on the market that will do a fantastic job on your floors and keep them looking like they were freshly installed. Let’s take a look at what is a steam mop, how do they clean and which is the best multipurpose steam mop.
What Is a Steam Mop?
A steam mop uses steam rather than harsh chemicals to get your floors clean. They have a reservoir of water that gets heated to 120°C, dampening the microfiber cloth that cleans the floor. What sets a steam mop apart from a basic mop is the lack of soapy residue left on your floor and the higher temperatures which kill bacteria and dust mites. This one mop can take care of dust mites, disinfects, and removes stains, all while leaving your floor shining.
What to Look for in a Steam Mop
Before you run out and buy the first steam mop that you see, there are a couple of things you need to consider. Steam mops have a ton of different features and you need the right combination for the floors in your home. Do you want the best steam mop to clean tile floors and grout or do you want the best steam mop for dog hair? Do you want one that vacuums or just mops? Let’s look at some of the most important features you are going to need.
Where Is It Going to Clean?
The first thing you need to consider is how you want to use your steam mop. Do you want a model that will sweep and mop for you, do you want to be able to clean shower tiles as well with a handheld model, or do you just want the best steam mop with no chemicals? Some models will let you sweep while you mop, but if you want the cleanest floors then stick to sweeping and mopping separately.
Flexibility
Every home has those hard to reach spots like behind the toilet or between the stove and cupboards. You can get steam mops that have telescopic handles or units that fold almost flat for getting in hard to reach places.
Adjustable Settings
You don’t clean hard wood floors at the same settings you would use to clean tile or linoleum. Most models of steam mops have adjustable settings so that you can use them on different types of flooring. Check with your flooring manufacturer to find out the best setting to clean that surface and then make sure the steam mop you choose can be adjusted to those settings.
Does It Come With a Stand
Most steam mops will come with some type of stand to set your mop when you are not using it. This protects your floors from scorching by providing a place to heat up or to cool down when you’re done. At the same time you also want a steam mop that can stand on its own so you don’t have to hold it while it is heating or cooling.
How to Use a Steam Mop on Tiles
1. Pre-clean
Start by sweeping or vacuuming your floor to get rid of the lint, dust and other debris on the surface of your floor. You can clean small sections without vacuuming first, but the more dirt you remove first, the easier it is to steam clean.
2. Get the Pads Ready
If you have a large area to clean or it is particularly dirty then you will want to have a couple of cleaning pads on hand so you can change them as needed. Trying to steam mop with a dirty pad will just spread the dirt over your floor. Steam mop pads can be cleaned in a regular washer so you can have lots on hand.
3. Prepare and Clean
Attach the pad to your steam mop and fill up the reservoir. Power it up according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Once it is ready you can start cleaning your floor. Make sure that you keep the steamer moving as you clean your floor. You will want to pass over the entire floor a couple of times for a thorough clean.
4. Remove the Dirty Pads
Most steam mop pads are made from microfiber and they are super easy to clean. You take them off your steam mop and pop them into the washing machine. Then, hang them to dry instead of throwing them in the dryer. This will make them last for years.
FAQs
You probably have some questions, so let’s address the most commonly asked questions about using a steam mop.
Can I Put Vinegar in My Steam Mop?
Yes, you can put vinegar in the steam mop, but only when using it on tile, vinyl or linoleum. NEVER use vinegar on hardwood as it can ruin the finish.
Can You Put Disinfectant in a Steam Mop?
Check with the manufacturer of your steam mop. They will usually recommend a disinfectant. Follow the directions of the manufacturer on how to add it to the water reservoir. Some disinfectants, when heated, give off toxic fumes, which you want to avoid that.
Can You Put Floor Cleaner in a Steam Mop?
No, you do not need to put floor cleaner in your steam mop. Most manufacturers recommend just water. Chemicals from floor cleaners can damage your steam mop and using them can void your warranty.
Can I Use a Steam Mop on Tile and Grout Floors?
Yes you can. Steam mops are built to remove even the toughest stains from your tile floors. They can even clean and sanitize the grout in your floor keeping them clean longer and reducing the spread of germs, viruses and bacteria in your home.
Do Steam Mops Damage Tile Floors?
No, they do not. Steam mops are perfectly safe to use on your tile floors as long as you follow the manufacturer’s directions on how to use them.
Does Steam Cleaning Damage Grout?
No, it won’t damage your grout. If you already have damaged grout, you should get it fixed before using a steam cleaner on your floor.
How Does a Steam Mop Stack Up Against Other Mops?
If you are still on the fence about whether to get a steam mop or you think your old method of mopping is good enough, let’s see how a steam mop stacks up against other floor cleaning methods.
Steam Mop vs Spin Mop: Both will allow you to clean any type of surface, but if you want to sanitize, a spin mop will require chemicals while a steam mop will not. Steam mops are also less likely to spread around the dirt. When the pad on steam mop gets dirty, you just take it off and put on a new one. Spin mops will need to be replaced. In the long run steam mops clean better and end up costing you less.
Steam Mop vs Spray Mop: You can use both on any flooring, but again the steam mop is better at killing germs and bacteria without relying on bleach or other chemicals. Steam mop pads are washable and reusable while spray mops come with disposable pads you need to continuously purchase.
Steam Mop vs Electric Mop: The two terms are often used interchangeably since a steam mop is technically an electric mop for tile floors. The difference between them is in how they clean. A steam mop uses heat and steam to clean dirt and kill germs. An electric mop will use a cleaning solution to clean your floors. Steam does not leave behind residue on your floors and is perfectly safe for pets and kids, whereas anything using a cleaning solution can be toxic.
Steam Mop vs Wet Mop: Wet mopping floors is an awful way to clean. You have to drag around a bucket of water, wring the mop out by hand, it leaves behind soapy residue and you are constantly immersing your mop in dirty water. Steam mops are easier to use, less work and give you a much better clean. Once you use a steam mop you will never go back to a wet mop again.
Steam Mop vs Bona: A steam mop and the Bona range of cleaning products and tools are really two different products. Bona cleaners and dry mops are exclusively for hardwood floors whereas a steam mop is more versatile. Steam mops can clean hardwood as well as tile, concrete, granite or almost any hard surface. You can get a steam mop that does your floors along with a detachable unit that can clean shower tiles as well, which Bona cannot do.
Our Pick for Best Steam Mop 2020
If you are wondering what are the best steam mops on the market, then check out these recommended products:
Best Overall Pick:
Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop
Specs:
- Weight: 6.4 lbs
- Tank Capacity: 12 ounces
- Dimensions: 11.6 x 7.1 x 28.6 inches
- Multi-surface cleaning capabilities
BISSELL PowerFresh Steam Mop Review
This is hands down our pick for the best steam cleaner for tile and grout. You can’t go wrong investing in a Bissell steam mop. The company has been around for decades setting the standard in steam mop technology. You can use it on any hard floor surface from granite to sealed hardwood floors. It has 3 different temperature settings for you to adjust the steam, and combined with the scrubby mop pad you can clean even dried on stains. You can remove 99% of household germs without bleaches or other dangerous chemicals and the demineralized water has a couple of different fresh scents that you can choose from.
Best Steam Mop for Pets:
BISSELL Crosswave Pet Pro All in One Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner and Mop
Specs:
- Weight: 17.5 lbs
- Dimensions: 10.5 x 12 x 46 inches
- Tank Capacity — Water Tank — 28 Ounce | Dirt Tank — up to 14.5 Ounce
- Power Rating: 4.4 amperes
- Cleaning Path Width: 12 inch
- Multi-surface cleaning capabilities
BISSELL Crosswave Pet Pro All in One Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner and Mop Review
This is the best steam mop for pets and it comes with a special solution to remove pet odors. Steam mops are ideal for cleaning and sanitizing your home without using harsh chemicals that are dangerous to your pets. Pet hair and dander gets absolutely everywhere, but the Bissell Crosswave comes with a tangle free brush roll that will grab all of it. It also has a detachable handheld unit that you can use to clean the tile and grout surrounding your bath or shower. Once you are done with cleaning your floors, cleaning up your steam mop is as easy as emptying the dirty water canister and rinsing it out.
Best Bang for the Buck:
Shark Steam Pocket Mop Hard Floor Cleaner with Swivel Steering XL Water Tank
Specs:
- Weight: 4.9 lbs
- Tank Capacity: 450 ml
- Dimensions: 51.2 x 12 x 5.9 inches
- Multi-surface cleaning capabilities
Shark Steam Pocket Mop Hard Floor Cleaner with Swivel Steering XL Water Tank Review
This is one of the top rated floor steamers for the money. Shark is another company that is synonymous with quality and this steam mop performs excellently. While it doesn’t have the handheld capability of some of the other models, it will clean and sanitize your floors brilliantly. It is lightweight and durable and the swivel head allows you to get hard to reach areas. The pads are dual sided so you can clean more surface area at once and the steam comes out on demand. It is an ideal choice when you want a tile floor steamer that cleans and disinfects without any chemicals.
Conclusion
A steam mop is a valuable tool especially if you want a safer and greener cleaning option. Using steam to kill germs and disinfect leaves your home cleaner and safer for your children and your pets than using bleach or any of the other dangerous chemicals found in cleaning products. Hopefully this guide helped you answer any questions you may have had and help you to choose the right model for your home.
Again, our top picks are as follows:
Best Shark Steam Mop: Shark Steam Pocket Mop Hard Floor Cleaner with Swivel Steering XL Water Tank
Best Steam Mop for Pets: BISSELL Crosswave Pet Pro All in One Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner and Mop
Best Overall Steam Cleaner: Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop
The Review Guys is part of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which is an affiliate program made to help monetize websites by compensating them for products purchased via affiliate links referring to Amazon.
