Steam Mop Buying Guide
In the recent years, steam mops have been the most widely appreciated cleaning tools in the home. There are already various brands and types around the market available which all have varying features. In this post, we have outlined the most important features that you should consider to help you choose the best steam mop according to your needs.
Warm-Up Time
This is perhaps the most important feature that you have to consider. Steam mops must heat the water into steam first before it can deliver the best cleaning performance. Knowing the length of time for the mop to warm up is necessary because you would not want to wait too long before you can start cleaning. Warm-up time varies between 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Below are suggestions for each length of time category.
30 seconds warm-up
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1-3 minutes warm-up
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3-5 minutes warm-up
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Accessories
Most steam mops sold this time already have additional cleaning accessories such as pad replacement, extra tools for different cleaning surfaces and etc. You might want to check if your steam mop choice provides this versatility.
Built Quality and Design
Many think that lightweight steam mops are the best ones. Although they may seem convenient to use, there are things that should be given thought when it comes to choosing them. Most of the lightweight steam mops have flimsy designs and smaller reservoir tank (tank capacity will be discussed next) which would increase your working time due to repetitive refilling.
Remember that you won’t have to lift a steam mop like a traditional mop so lightweight feature is not really that important.
With regards to handling, choose steam mops with adjustable handles and those with ergonomic design for easy usage. When a steam mop is adjustable, they can give you more flexibility when it comes to height thus prevent you from stooping while cleaning.
Size
The taller the steam mop the more comfortable it is to use because you will not have to bend your back constantly while mopping your floor. The most convenient to use steam mops are those with the height between 45 – 50 inches.
Steam Power
Based on our research, steam mops with multiple steam jets provide the best cleaning results. They quite easily remove messes on your floors compared to those steam mops with one or fewer exit holes. Steam mops with multiple steam holes clean rapidly since they can cover a pretty much larger area than those with fewer steam holes.
Steam Release Control
There are steam mops that deliver a continuous flow of steam once you turn them on while there are also those which are controlled by a trigger. The best option varies according to the user’s preference.
Most consumers find those trigger controlled steam mops to be most convenient since they are able to save more water in the process. However, others find steam mops that can do continuous steam release to be easy to use as the user won’t have to constantly use the trigger to deliver the steam.
Swivel Steam Head
Steam mops with this feature provide the most ease with regards to maneuvering tight corners and hard to reach areas. The con with this feature is that when a steam mop has it, most often they will be pricier. Below are some brands with pivotal heads.
Warranty
Last but definitely not the least, always bear in mind to check out the warranty of the product. The longer the warranty and the more parts and labor it covers, the better the steam mop is.
Reservoir Capacity
The bigger the reservoir capacity, the longer you can use the steam mop to clean your floor without having various refill visits. Tank capacity varies from 300-800 ml. If you have a smaller floor area to clean, then you don’t have to choose the steam mop with a very large reservoir capacity. Below are the different steam mops according to tank capacity.
300 ML and Above
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400 ML and Above
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500 ML and Above
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800 ML
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Meanwhile, there are also steam mops with removable tanks while there are those that are fixed to the mop. Many consumers prefer those with detachable tanks which give them a much more convenient refilling task. Others find it a hassle to constantly remove and attach the tanks when refilling water to it. Again, your choice boils down to which you find the most convenience.
Cord Length
The longer the length of the cord of the steam mop the better since you won’t have to stop and unplug the steam mop and then re-plug it when you move to another cleaning area. Cord length varies from 16 – 30 feet. Below, we have listed the most popular steam mop brand choices according to their cord lengths.
16- 20 feet cord length
16 feet cord20-25 feet cord length
25-30 feet cord length
Price
The cost of a steam mop is the most determining factor for your final choice. It really depends on your budget which steam mop you choose. Take note that steam mops that are very cheap are those that are made from low-quality materials. It is not suggested that you go for the steam mops with sky-high prices. However, it is advised that you stick to steam mops that are in the middle price ranges. Written below are the most common steam mops from prices between 50$ – 200$. Choose the one that would fit your budget.
Once you have checked all these features in a steam mop, there is close to no chance you will get a mop that you would regret purchasing at all. Happy buying!
