How they work

Steam mops create their own steam with a built-in water container and an electric heater. The steam is pushed through a washable cloth pad on the cleaning head to loosen grime for the pad to wipe away. 

The mops plug into the wall like a vacuum cleaner, but they don’t have suction to suck up spills so floors must still be vacuumed or swept before steam mopping.

Steam mops don't use chemicals for cleaning so may be useful for people with allergies.

Where to use them

Steam mops can be used on most hard-floor surfaces – but not on cork tiles and unsealed or waxed wooden floors. Most manufacturers suggest testing on an “inconspicuous area” first.

Some models come with a carpet attachment. We found these fine for “refreshing” carpet but unsuitable for heavy soiling or stains.

Some steam mops can also be used on sofas, beds and soft toys.

Hot-water traps

Leaving a hot mop for too long in one place can mark a floor – especially on varnished or polished wood which may be damaged by the steam.

To avoid this problem while the mop’s heating up, the Hoover, Kenwood and Wertheim mops we tested come with a "pre heating pad" that the mop sits on. The Wertheim has an additional safeguard during cleaning: its handle grip is designed to release steam only when the grip is squeezed.

However, some manufacturers recommend holding their mop in one spot to “disinfect and sanitise”. Take care not to do this for too long – check the instructions carefully.