You will need the best mop for hardwood floors if you have one in your home. Wood floors are an expensive luxury and we need to be able to take good care of them. The last thing you want is water damage on your lovely floors which is why you will need a proper mop. Taking care of your hardwood floors will prevent you from having to spend more money on them in the future. Invest in one of the best mops for hardwood floors now while your floors are still in good condition.
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The Top 5 Mops for Hardwood Floors of 2020
Bona Hardwood Floor Premium Spray Mop
Designed specifically for your hardwood floors, the bona mop has an extra-large head. The bigger head allows you to clean up to 40% faster than other brands on the market. A lightweight design makes cleaning easier and less tiring and flexible rubber corners let you get into the small spaces in your home. You can have more control over the mop using the secondary grip that is lower down.
You can easily refill the cartridge with Bona Floor Cleaner that is for hardwood floors. Your mop will come with a ready-to-use 34oz. container of this cleaner for refilling. The handle has a lever that you need to press to release the cleaner as you go. A fine mist of cleaner is sprayed with every push to prevent your floors from getting too wet.
The microfiber cleaning pad that comes included is machine washable for your convenience. You can easily attach and detach it from the mop head. It is so simple to use and all you need to do is spray and mop, leaving behind a clean, streak-free floor. The Bona spray mop is safe to use on unwaxed, unoiled, polyurethane finished wood floors.
| PROS | CONS |
| Comes with 34oz. of cleaner | The cleaning pad doesn’t last long |
| Lightweight | |
| Easy to store | |
| Secondary grip for control |
Swiffer WetJet Wood Floor Mop
As one of the more unique hardwood mops, the Swiffer for wood floors has lights near the spray nozzles to illuminate your path. This product comes with a starter kit that includes 10 cleaning pads and the WetJet Wood Quickdry Solution for cleaning your floors. This is double the amount of cleaning pads than the standard WetJet kit.
With a fine mist spray, there is little risk of over-saturation when you are cleaning your floors. It also helps to evenly coat the floor because of the dispersion of the mist. Your floors will dry quickly after you spray and mop away all the grime. The illuminated nozzles are an added feature that is functional and makes cleaning more exciting.
Special wood cleaning cloths that come with the kit are microfiber which is great for hardwood floors. They are soft and gentle on your floors to protect them from any damage. The cleaning solution will loosen and lift any dirt, while the microfiber cloths will soak it up and wipe it away. Lightweight and easy to use, the Swiffer spray mop will be a great addition to your home.
| PROS | CONS |
| Comes with a starter kit | Shorter than expected |
| Microfiber cloths are gentle on your floor | |
| Lightweight | |
| 30-day return policy |
O-Cedar ProMist MAX Microfiber Spray Mop
Being one of the best-selling & top-rated microfiber mops online, the O-Cedar spray mop is functional and easy to use. The refillable spray bottle can be used with water and two teaspoons of your favorite hardwood floor cleaner. It will clean up to 99% of bacteria with this solution and the great microfiber cleaning pads. The product includes three extra cleaning pads that are dual-sided for more use.
With these versatile cleaning pads, you can clean your floor while it is dry. The mop can be used as a broom first, and then you can begin spraying for a super-clean floor. The microfibers will absorb dirt quickly and efficiently to deep clean your hardwood floors. When changing cleaning solutions, you need to refill the bottle with water and spray five times to discard any water from the previous use.
You can remove the bottle simply with one push of a button when you want to change the water. This is one of the best spray mops for hardwood floors that you will find, and it doesn’t require any batteries. A comfortable grip will help make cleaning a breeze and you won’t think of it as a chore anymore.
| PROS | CONS |
| Includes 3 extra cleaning pads | Sometimes disconnects from the base |
| Can be used with any hardwood floor cleaner | |
| Comfortable grip | |
| Dual-sided cleaning pads |
Shark Genius Hard Floor Cleaning System
The best steam mop for hardwood floors is the shark steam mop. With a water tank capacity of 350ml and a 22ft cord, you can deep clean your floors with ease. It comes with two dirt grip pads that are double-sided for more usage. The pads grip and soak up dirt that is lifted by the steam to leave your hardwood floors shiny and pristine. It is also a great tile & grout cleaner for home use purposes.
Using steam blaster technology with this mop means that you don’t need to use any detergents. Not only will they damage the cleaning pads, but the hot steam can destroy up to 99.9% of bacteria without the use of chemicals. The steam also makes cleaning easier and faster because of how quickly it can lift and loosen stubborn dirt.
Easy to set up and lightweight, with the shark mop you can move around your home with minimal effort when cleaning your floors. The touch-free technology helps you attach and remove the reusable cleaning pads without having to get your hands dirty. The difference between this mop and some of the others is that you need electricity to use it.
| PROS | CONS |
| Touch-free technology | Needs electricity to function |
| No chemicals needed | |
| Easy to set up | |
| Destroys up to 99.9% of bacteria |
BISSELL Spinwave Powered Hardwood Floor Cleaner
You will receive an interesting mop when you order the Bissell spray mop. The mop pads are electrically powered and spin while you move to remove stubborn dirt. A powered mop that does all the work for you sounds like a dream and it is. All you have to do is move it back and forth and the mop does all of the rest.
The soft pads that do the cleaning are gentle on your hardwood floors, but tough on dirt and grime. It is the ultimate hardwood floor cleaning machine and if you have a larger floor, this is the better option. You can add cleaning formula to the spray bottle to leave your floors deep cleaned and smelling great.
The spray nozzle will release water on demand for the pads to use when spinning and removing stains. Not only does this mop clean dried dirt, but it is great for soaking up spills and leaving nothing behind. It is lightweight making it easy to move around and there are also two scrub pads included for tougher dirt. You will also receive two small bottles of cleaning formula for your hardwood floors.
| PROS | CONS |
| Powered mop | Needs electricity to function |
| Can soak up spills | |
| Tough on dirt | |
| On-demand water release |
A Guide to Choosing the Best Mop for Hardwood Floors
Steam vs. spray:
Steam mops are better if you don’t want to use chemicals in your home. They can kill bacteria without any chemicals due to the extreme heat that the steam gets too. This option also produces less moisture than spray mops. Spray mops are better if you prefer to use a cleaning solution. They are easier to use and require less maintenance than steam mops. They can also be used without electricity which adds an advantage.
Included accessories:
You will find that some products have starter kits included in the price. These kits often include a cleaning solution and some extra cleaning pads in case you need new ones. It can save you money in the future because you won’t need to buy more when you need them.
Handle:
Some mops come with adjustable handles which are ideal when more than one person needs to use them. It can also make controlling the mop better if you can get shorter handles. Some designs have secondary grips to help you with controlling your mop easily.
Electrical vs. manual:
This factor is more about convenience than functionality. Electrical spray mops make cleaning easier and faster for you. If you don’t have much time available for cleaning, this is the better option for your home.
Portability:
Lightweight mops are preferred amongst homeowners because they are easier to work with. Cleaning can be tiring on the best of days and using a heavy mop can make it even worse. The best mops to work with are those that are easy to move around and store, so you want a lightweight mop.
Maintenance:
Cleaning the device that you clean with should not be a hassle every time you use it. Cleaning pads that come with the mop should be easy to remove and clean. Most designs have cleaning pads that are machine washable which is ideally what you want. The less time you have to spend washing the pads, the better.
Moisture:
The reason you need a special mop for hardwood floors is that they are prone to water damage. The last thing you need is a mop designed for hardwood floors that releases too much moisture. Try to go for models that have a fine mist spray or use steam to prevent an overload of water.
How it Works to Clean Your Hardwood Floors
You need to know how to mop hardwood floors because they are one of the easiest materials to damage over years of use. They are damaged by the simple day-to-day lives that we live with knocking over drinks and bringing mud into the house. Everything you do to one of these floors has the potential to damage them. That is what these special mops have been made for. The designs are ideal for cleaning your floors and maintaining them without causing any damage.
Water stains can develop on your hardwood floors if you use too much moisture to clean them. The design of these mops makes sure that a limited amount of water is used to lift dirt from the surface of your floor. The moisture will soak into the dirt stains to loosen and lift them. The cleaning pad will then get into the small crevices on the floor to soak up and wipe away the grime.
You can also use these mops when they are dry to clean up spills. The cleaning pads will soak up any moisture right away to leave a dry floor behind. By doing this, you will reduce the chances of water damage to your floors. When the mop is dry, it can also be used as a broom to sweep up dust and sand before you start mopping.
A cleaning solution is required with some mops to get optimal results while others only need water and a few teaspoons of solution. Some manufacturers will include their solution with your purchase and recommend that you only use that solution with the mop. It is best that you do because other chemicals might damage the cleaning pad that comes with that model.
The cleaning solutions are made specifically for hardwood floors and are non-corrosive or abrasive. They destroy bacteria and remove the toughest dirt stains hidden on your floors. Steam mops do not require any chemicals as they can steam dirt from every nook and cranny on your floors. By using these mops, you wet the floor enough to be able to clean it, but not too much so that it is damaged.
Tips and Tricks for Cleaning Hardwood Floors Using These Mops
- Get a good cleaning solution:
You must use a cleaner made specifically for hardwood floors when using these mops. You don’t want to damage your floor because you used the wrong cleaning solution. Brands usually develop their cleaning solution that comes with certain mops, and that is normally the best one to use. - Natural detergents:
If you prefer to not use chemicals in your home, there are a few natural alternatives. Vinegar is a great disinfectant that you can use on your floors. Using a gallon of clean water and half a cup of white vinegar, you can make a cleaning solution that is affordable and effective. This should not be done too often because it can damage your hardwood floors over time. You have to learn more about how to clean hardwood floor using vinegar before applying it. - Removing pet stains:
Using No. 000 steel wool and some floor wax, you can rub the area repeatedly. Use bleach or vinegar on the area and let it soak for 60 minutes before rinsing it with a damp cloth if the stain remains. - Removing watermarks: Using the same floor wax and steel wool, you can rub the area until the mark is removed. If it is a deep stain, you can sand the floor very lightly and clean it with the steel wool. Use a small amount of mineral spirits that are odorless when you clean it with the wool.
FAQs
- Can I use vinegar to clean my hardwood floors?
Quite a few people recommend this and essentially you can, but it should not be done too often. The acid in vinegar can eat at your floor over time which will cause some damage.
- Are steam mops good for cleaning hardwood floors?
Some people say yes, and some say no, but you can clean your floors with steam mops. As long as you are careful and don’t let the wood get too wet or too hot, then it shouldn’t be a problem.
- What is the best thing to mop hardwood floors with?
The mops in our top 5 list are the best you will come across for hardwood floors. Any mop that is not too wet and doesn’t use chemicals that damage these floors will suffice.
- Can you mop old hardwood floors?
Yes, you can mop any hardwood floor as long as you do it correctly and carefully. All floors need to be cleaned so if you have the right tool, get mopping.
- How much water should you use when cleaning hardwood floors?
Your mop should be damp if you are cleaning on of these floors to prevent any water damage. It cannot be completely dry because that won’t remove any dirt that is stuck to the floor.
- What cleaning solution should you use on your hardwood floors?
The best solution to use it the one that came with the mop you buy. Otherwise, the only solutions you should use are the ones made specifically for hardwood floors.
Conclusion
The variety of mops available for hardwood floors makes it easy for everyone to find the right fit. Although there are many other options available, these five mops are the best on the market for floor maintenance. Always be cautious when using steam mops because they can burn you if you aren’t careful. Use the best mop for hardwood floors when you need to maintain your beautiful home.