10 best steam mops 2024 UK; tried and tested
STEAM mops are the best tool to get rid of stains, dirt and grease on your floors.
Ideal for cleaning your home, a steam mop is quicker and more effective than a regular mop as it uses heat to sanitise surfaces, and doesn't require any harsh chemicals.
A great addition to busy households, steam mops can quite literally make cleaning a breeze and leave your floors sparkling.
With so many available options, we've put the best ones to the test, so read on to discover the best steam mops to buy for your home.
Best steam mops at a glance:
- Best overall steam mop: Steam & Clean Lightweight Steam Mop
- Best steam mop for laminated floors: Black & Decker 8 Piece Steam System Mop
- Best cordless steam mop: Eufy Mach 1 Ultra
- Best steam mop for windows: Tower TSM16 Steam Mop
- Best steam mop for carpets: Swan 1300W Lightweight Steam Mop
Russell Hobbs
- Steam & Clean Lightweight Steam Mop,
£39.99£36.99 at Amazon - buy here
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Pros: Lightweight, well-built, affordable, easy to use
Cons: Front water loading is tricky, no steam trigger switch
Rating: 3/5
The Steam & Clean is one of Russell Hobbs' top sellers in its cleaning category and we can see why.
At 2.3kg it's lightweight, which is a plus, and we found we could have it ready to go in 15 seconds; something the manufacturer claimed and we can confirm.
On the downside, I did find that the bottom attachment is a bit fiddly, and it’s not the most premium item on the list, but for most users, it does the job well.
Specs: Weight: 2.3kg, Capacity: 350ml, Heat Up Time: 15 secs, Cable Length: 5m
Tower
- Tower TSM16 Steam Mop, £39.99 from Amazon- buy here
Pros: Good value
Cons: Less sturdy than some others, not as versatile as some more complex systems
Rating: 3/5
This is an affordable steam mop which is a good option for more budget-conscious buyers.
It has a powerful 1500w steamer and can also be used as a handheld cleaner around the home.
It ships with 16 accessories, allowing it to be used on a variety of floor surfaces and the squeegee attachment (my favourite in testing!) is very useful for windows and wipe-clean surfaces around the bathroom.
I thought for a budget cleaner it performed well, but felt a bit flimsy; a bit more weight wouldn’t have gone amiss for scrubbing persistent stains.
Specs: Weight: 1.23kg, Capacity: 400ml, Heat Up Time: 15 secs, Cable Length: 5m
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Beldray
- Beldray Detergent Steam Cleaner, £42.99 from Amazon - buy here
Pros: Separate dual-tank detergent design
Cons: Not very powerful, slow heat-up time
Rating: 3/5
The Beldray Steam Cleaner uses a dual tank system, which means that the water tank is chemical-free, while the separate detergent tank allows you to add cleaner to achieve a bacteria-busting, deeper clean.
The heat-up time is slightly longer than some of the other models on this list at 25 seconds, but the capacity means it allows for continuous steam output for 15 minutes, which I found useful for cleaning larger floors.
This mop has a rectangular head rather than the more conventional triangular shape, but I still found it useful for getting into most nooks and crannies around the house.
If you have an older house without perfectly straight edges and right angles, we’d still gravitate towards the more commonly used triangular head shape.
Specs: Weight: 0.3kg, Capacity: 350ml, Heat Up Time: 25 secs, Cable Length: 5m
Black & Decker
- Black & Decker 8 Piece Steam System Mop,
£99.99£89.99 from Currys - buy here
Pros: Larger 500ml tank, pivoting heads, good handheld option
Cons: Slightly more expensive
Rating: 4/5
This Black & Decker is an 8-piece steam system that includes a useful 360-degree pivoting head, which makes handheld, portable cleaning a breeze.
The device features a generous 500ml tank, allowing for a long clean time and the pivoting head ensures you reach hard-to-access areas.
During testing, I loved the variable steam flow feature that allowed me to easily switch between high and low steam settings for general cleaning, or hard-to-shift, stubborn stains.
I found this especially useful when changing between floor types in the house, as I have a mixture of wood, laminate and tiling.
Specs: Weight: 2.7kg, Capacity: 500ml, Heat Up Time: 15 secs, Cable Length: 6m
Swan
- Swan 1300W Lightweight Steam Mop, £59.99 from Swan - buy here
Pros: Long cable, low tank warning
Cons: Lower power, heavy and bulky
Rating: 4/5
The Swan 1300W is a versatile and easy-to-use mop, with a generous 7m cable, which makes cleaning larger areas easier thanks to its reach.
I found it especially useful when cleaning in my large open plan downstairs space, which doesn't have a lot of available plug sockets.
The Swan offers excellent cleaning for both hard floors and carpets and it also has a replaceable anti-calc filter to ensure a clean finish each time you mop.
The 500ml tank promises around 20 minutes of steam action and the low tank alert warns you when the water is getting low, which is a nice touch and one we found especially useful when getting carried away scrubbing!
Specs: Weight: 3.2kg, Capacity: 330ml, Heat Up Time: 30 secs, Cable Length: 7m
Vax
- Vax Steam Fresh Combi Steam Mop,
£89.99£80 from Amazon - buy here
Pros: Deep cleaning, excellent handheld mode
Cons: No replacement cloth, heavy
Rating: 4/5
Vax has put countless years of experience into this steam mop, which happens to be their best-selling model.
I was really impressed with its quality and versatility and it was one of the easiest mops to use we've tested.
The mop ships with a detergent that provides an excellent deep clean and the handheld accessories make it easy to clean surfaces, stove tops, hobs and smaller areas like ovens with ease.
Specs: Weight: 3.7kg, Capacity: 260ml, Heat Up Time: 20 secs, Cable Length: 8m
Vax
- Vax ONEPWR Glide 2,
£299£248.99 - buy here
Pros: A great clean, innovative, dries floor while cleaning
Cons: Bulky, expensive
Rating: 4/5
The ONEPWR is something a little different. Although not a steam mop as such, it warrants inclusion here as it’s an innovative solution for cleaning hard floors around the home.
It uses a brush system and heated water in a tank to mop the floor and, upon release of the handle, it then sucks up the water into a different waste tank to help dry the floor, picking up any dirt and debris on the way.
It’s an incredibly powerful system and we’d recommend this for more larger homes.
The battery lasts a while and it provides a fantastic clean, however, you have to be prepared for a larger initial outlay cost-wise and a heavier unit; it is not quite as portable as the other steam mops featured in this list and we found it quite heavy lugging it between the floors in our house.
Specs: Weight: 5.4kg, Capacity: 750ml, Heat Up Time: N/A, Cable Length: Battery Powered
Shark
- Shark Klik’n’Flip Automatic,
£169.99£99 - buy here
Pros: Innovative click system for mop heads, precise steam controls
Cons: Expensive, heavy
Rating: 4/5
Billed as Shark’s most advanced steam mop, I loved the Klik'n'Flip's versatile head that can be adjusted to alter the size of your mop, as well as allowing you to direct a blast of steam at stubborn stains.
I found it could little fiddly to get right, as the cleaning pad must be positioned properly in the casing, but it’s a nice feature that, once we got the hang of it, sped up our entire cleaning and mopping process.
You’ll have to have a bigger budget for this as it’s one of the more expensive on this list, but I found it to be sturdy and well made, with intelligent steam controls and excellent cleaning cloths.
Specs: Weight: 2.7kg, Capacity: 350ml, Heat Up Time: 15 secs, Cable Length: 6m
Avalla
- Avalla T-20 High Pressure Steam Mop, £120 - buy here
Pros: Superheat boost provides extra power, quick heating time, 500ml tank
Cons: Only a rectangular head included,
Rating: 4/5
This was one of our top performers from our testing, in no small part thanks to its superheat boost, which made short work of the most difficult of food stains on the floor.
This mop effortlessly cleans a variety of hard floors thanks to its intelligent temperature boost control, boosting the steam to 120 degrees, ensuring a quick clean, which is useful for day-to-day mopping.
We also liked the sleek and thoughtful design and temperature display, which feels a little more modern and futuristic than some of the other more basic mops in this list.
Specs: Weight: 2.2kg, Capacity: 500ml, Heat Up Time: 15 secs, Cable Length: 8m
Eufy
- Eufy Mach 1 Ultra, £749 - buy here
Pros: Premium product, all-in-one solution, cordless, self-cleaning system
Cons: Very expensive, heavy and cumbersome, needs regular maintenance and care
Rating: 3/5
This Eufy cleaner is an all-in-one system that allows you to vacuum, mop and steam clean with just one unit.
It’s a premium product and you’ll need to have a good reason to spend this much money on a cleaning device, such as cleaning large surface areas, office spaces or commercial buildings, but it’s an intelligent product that provides a superlative cleaning experience, offering a self-cleaning and self-sterilising system so you always know you’re cleaning with fresh, clean water.
Bear in mind that, unlike dedicated steam mops, this model is quite bulky to manoeuvre and takes up a bit more storage space.
Specs: Weight: 5.7kg, Capacity: 820ml, Heat Up Time: N/A, Cable Length: Cordless
Can you use a steam mop on laminate floors?
Before you steam clean your laminate floors, there are a few things worth bearing in mind.
Laminate floors are made of multiple layers, including a fiberboard core, which is vulnerable to moisture. Therefore, when using a steam mop on laminate floors, it's a good idea to adjust the steam output to one of the lower settings.
This minimises moisture exposure and keeps excess water from sitting on the surface of the floor. Keep the steam mop moving to keep moisture from penetrating the laminate and ensure your microfibre cloth or pad is clean and well-fitting, as these are designed to trap moisture and prevent it from seeping into the seams of the laminate.
As with any type of floor, it’s also worth testing in an inconspicuous area before using the mop on the entire floor, to ensure it doesn’t cause any damage or warping.
How to use a steam mop?
One of the benefits of a steam mop is the lack of faff; they are relatively straightforward to use and can save you time when compared to a mop and bucket.
Before you start steaming, clear your cleaning area of any debris, dust, or loose dirt. Vacuum or sweep the floor to ensure it's as clean as possible.
Fill the steam mop’s water tank and turn the mop on. Most steam mops are ready to go within about a minute and many will allow you to adjust the steam intensity. Be sure to check in the guide which is the right setting for your floors; it will depend on the type of steam mop you’re using. Laminate flooring, for example, tends to need the lowest setting.
When mopping, clean in a slow, deliberate manner, divide the area into manageable sections and work your way from one end to the other. It’s important to use even pressure and check that the dirt is being picked up by the microfibre cloth underneath the device. If needed, replace this cloth periodically and dispose of it or pop it in the washing machine after use. Be sure to empty the water tank after use.
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How much do steam mops cost?
Basic models start between £25 - £50, with mid-range models (many of which are reviewed here) coming in between £60 - £150. The difference between basic models and some of the upper range models are often bigger water tanks, adjustable steam settings and a larger range of accessories to clean different areas of your home.
High-end models, that include specialised attachments and higher steam outputs, can sit between £150 - £250.
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