The best mops of 2026, tested and reviewed

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There's nothing quite like the shine of a pristine floor. It's so clean, you might have contemplated eating off of it, but instead will settle for a streak-free sparkle, only achieved with one of the best mops. Yet, there are many different types of mops for various surfaces and price points to consider.

To help you choose the best mop for your floors, we put 10 models through the wringer and consulted with floorcare experts for tips on the best cleaning practices and what to look for. In our cleaning trials, the Bona Hardwood Floor Premium Spray Mop, came out on top. It uses washable microfiber pads; it's easy to maneuver, store, and cleaned up our spills with ease on hardwood, vinyl, and tile. If you're looking for something more traditional, the budget-friendly O-Cedar Microfiber Wet Cloth Mop gets the job done in a few sweeps and was easy to wring out excess water.

If you're looking to supplement your deep floor cleaning with high-tech alternatives, cut your floorcare routine in half with one of the best wet-dry vacuums to vacuum and mop at the same time or go hands-off with one of the best robot vacuums and mops

Learn more about how Insider Reviews tests and researches home products.

Our picks for the best mops

Best overall: Bona Hardwood Floor Premium Spray Mop - See at Amazon

Best budget: O-Cedar Microfiber Wet Cloth Mop - See at The Home Depot

Best for hardwood floors: O-Cedar EasyWring Spin Mop & Bucket System - See at Amazon

Best for tile: Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe Steam Mop - See at Amazon

Best electric: Bissell SpinWave Powered Hard Floor Mop - See at Walmart

Best wet-dry vacuum: Tineco Floor One S7 Stretch Ultra - See at Amazon

Best overall

A strong well-rounded performer. The Bona Spray Mop passed more spill tests than any other model we tested and cleaned well on hardwood, vinyl, and tile. The large 16.5-inch-wide microfiber pad covers plenty of ground in a single pass and has a flexible design that maneuvered around dining tables, chairs, and desks.

Comfortable, intuitive spray design. Unlike other spray mops that require pressing a button, the Bona dispenses solution with a simple squeeze of the handle, which felt more ergonomic during testing. The included cleaner is designed for finished hardwood but also worked well on tile and vinyl, leaving floors streak-free and not overly wet.

Mostly strong cleaning results. The mop quickly removed dried coffee and soda in a single pass, though it left slight stickiness after our maple syrup test and occasionally dragged the slightest bit amount of dirt. Overall, it handled everyday spills with minimal effort.

Easy to maintain and store. Washing instructions are available on the brand's website, and the microfiber pad came clean on a warm, normal cycle and looked new after multiple washes. The solution cartridge is simple to remove and refill with Bona cleaner or another solution, and the lightweight mop stores easily in a small closet or on a hook.

Best budget

A budget-friendly standout. The O-Cedar Microfiber Wet Cloth Mop is a great pick for shoppers who want solid performance without spending much. While this mop doesn't come with the bells and whistles of our other top picks, it performed incredibly well.

Impressive at both spill and debris pick up. This mop swept up dirt better than any other model we tested, easily scooping up even larger rock pieces. It handled everyday messes with ease, though it struggled more tricky substances like maple syrup and soda, sometimes dragging residue and leaving floors fairly sticky, which required extra attention.

Absorbent and easy to wring. The thick and soft looped microfiber strands quickly soak up water, and wringing out the head by hand was simpler than expected. I could control how much moisture remained, and the mop left behind minimal water with each pass — outperforming other budget options.

Lightweight and easy to maneuver. The mop glided smoothly around kitchen islands, tables, and chairs, and the long pole made it easy to reach tight spots. The head washed well with minimal staining and dried overnight. It's easy to store in a pantry or closet, can be hung if needed, and refill mop heads are readily available and cheap.

Best for hardwood floors

Great for delicate hardwood floors. The O-Cedar EasyWring Spin Mop and Bucket System is ideal for hardwood floors that can be damaged by excess water. The mop has a triangle-shaped microfiber head that inserts into a built-in bucket wringer that makes it easy to control moisture levels.

Adjust dampness with a foot pedal. The pedal-powered wringer works like a salad spinner: Place the mop head inside and pump the pedal to spin out water. After about seven spins, the mop was just damp enough to safely clean sealed bamboo floors without over-saturating them.

Strong cleaning and standout maneuverability. The mop performed well on soda and dried coffee and shined brightest in our maple syrup and dirt tests, leaving only slight stickiness and picking up nearly all debris. Its triangular head easily glides into corners and around obstacles like a stationary bike and wood stove. The adjustable pole adds comfort, especially for shorter users, and it can double as a dry mop for dusting. I thought it was the most maneuverable and comfortable of all the models we tested.

Bulky bucket with higher maintenance. For best results, sweep or vacuum beforehand, as debris can get trapped in the microfiber and be difficult to remove, even after washing. The bucket is somewhat bulky for storage, but the system delivers excellent control and gentle cleaning for sensitive floors.

Best for tile

Our top steam mop pick. The Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe Steam Mop tackled built-up dirt and grime with ease, leaving ceramic tile floors noticeably shinier and more polished. It includes useful extras like a built-in spot scrubber, scent discs, and two microfiber pads — one for everyday cleaning and one for tougher scrubbing jobs.

• See more of the best steam mops

Designed for tile and sealed floors. While Bissell says it's safe for sealed hardwood, we tested it only on tile and sealed vinyl, as our experts don't generally recommend steam mops for wood (read more about that in our FAQs section). The mop takes a minute or two to heat up and may make a clicking sound while steaming, which is normal.

Impressive stain removal. In testing, it typically cleaned spills in a single pass and performed especially well on dried coffee and soda stains. The built-in scrub brush was particularly effective at lifting grime from grout lines, and the scrubbing pad helped with tougher spots. It did spread maple syrup and some dirt slightly, but overall cleaning power was strong.

Heavier build with slight moisture left behind. The mop glided smoothly and felt comfortable to use, though it's heavier than a standard mop. It left some residual moisture, and our tile floors took about 15 minutes to dry. The pads washed well with minimal staining, and while the unit fits in a small closet, it's likely too heavy to hang for storage.

Best electric

Motorized heads do the hard work. The Bissell SpinWave Hard Floor Spin Mop cleaned stains faster than any other model we tested and, thanks to rotating cleaning pads that expertly scrub up stains with minimal force on your part and left behind an impressive sheen. If not for its higher price — it would have earned our top overall spot.

Tailored to your cleaning surface. Depending on what you're cleaning, choose between the soft pads for delicate floors like hardwood or the scrub pads for tougher surfaces. You can also control cleaning solution flow with a spray button.

Excellent results on most spills. The SpinWave excelled on hardwood, tile, and vinyl, passing our dirt, soda, and dried coffee tests with just one spray. It struggled more with maple syrup, pushing it around and leaving floors sticky. Still, it consistently delivered some of the fastest cleaning times overall. It maneuvered well around obstacles, though the strong pull from the spinning heads made slow, precise movements slightly harder.

Leaves floors especially shiny. When paired with Bissell's Multi-Surface solution, this mop made wood floors shine more than any other model we tested, creating a natural, streak-free finish on tile and vinyl as well. The tank detaches easily for refilling, the unit stores upright in a closet, and all four pads washed up looking nearly brand new.

Best vacuum mop

Streamline cleaning. Consider using the best wet-dry vacuums to vacuum and mop at the same time. Tineco is one such leader in the technology. The Tineco Floor One S7 Stretch Ultra is one of the best at erasing stuck on stains, getting close to wall edges, and has smart features like a dirt detecting sensor that alerts you to when the floor is clean, lays flat to get under low-lying furniture and a self-cleaning and drying system.

Separate clean and dirty water tanks. These wet-dry vacuums use separate clean and dirty water tanks while a motorized microfiber brushroll scrubs and suctions debris at the same time. Fresh water continuously rinses the brushroll, and a built-in scraper wrings out dirty water into a separate tank, where a stopper in the dirty water tank helps separate solids and liquids.

Cordless with strong battery life. With up to 50 minutes of runtime, it was able to clean a 1,600-square-foot home on a single charge. Most messes — like juice and barbecue sauce — disappeared in a single pass.

Smart controls and self-cleaning features. Variable settings let you adjust water flow and suction power based on the mess. An automatic self-cleaning cycle and heated brushroll drying help cut down on maintenance after you're done, but to avoid odors, you'll want to remove any collected water and debris after each cleaning run.

Read our guide to the best Tineco wet-dry vacuums.

What else we tested

These four options didn't make the final cut for our list of the best mops, but they still have some advantages.

What else we recommend

Swiffer WetJet Wood Floor Spray Mop: The Swiffer WetJet Wood Floor Spray mop had superior mobility and could easily move around furniture. It was a serious contender against our best overall pick, the Bona Spray Mop, but fell short during the dirt and syrup tests where it pushed the spills around. If you're looking for a mop with disposable pads, this would be a solid choice.

Swiffer PowerMop Multi-Surface Mop: The Power Mop has increased scrubbing power compared to the WetJet thanks to the hundreds of scrubbing strips that agitate stuck on grime and get into grout grooves. The easy-press button at the handle quickly dispenses a steady stream of solution. The disposable pads are recommended to clean up to 500 square feet before being replaced, so depending on the size of your home, you could go through them more quickly, and they're not cheap. If you're looking for something easy and fast, they're no denying the convenience.

Shark Steam Mop, S1000WM: This Shark mop is a great budget option. It held up well against the Bissell steam mop in our rounds of testing, but it left a substantial amount of water that dried with streaks. On top of that, you need to pump the handle several times to activate the steam which was tricky to keep doing while pushing and pulling the mop. Once I started using the mop, having to pump the handle wasn't difficult, just a minor inconvenience.

What we don't recommend

Libman Wonder Mop: While this mop is incredibly affordable, it was difficult to wring out the head with the built-in wringer sleeve that you manually twist to get the water out. I found that the wringer left the microfiber strands extremely wet. The result of using an excessively damp mop could lead to damaged wood floors and it made the floors dry with streaks. My wrists were also sore after constantly having to manually twist the wringer.

OXO Good Grips Butterfly Mop: The OXO Good Grips Butterfly Mop didn't pass most of our tests including comfort, maneuverability, and cleaning up spills. The handle to wring out the mop kept getting jammed halfway making it difficult to expel water even when I applied extra strength. Even when the handle didn't jam, this mop left a tsunami in its path. It also pushed around the dirt and syrup, and the red microfiber pieces from the head came out while sweeping sticky substances. You'll be better served with our budget pick at less than half the price.

What to look for in a mop

Type: The best mop for you depends on your cleaning habits and floor type. Flat microfiber mops, like our pick from Bona, are among the most versatile and low-maintenance for everyday cleaning. It's a spray style that conveniently keeps the cleaning solution on board. Spin mops with a wringer bucket are better for deep cleans and larger areas. Steam mops can sanitize without chemicals but should only be used on sealed hard floors. Power mops are gaining in popularity, in the form of electric spinning mops, wet-dry vacuums, and robot mops, which are more costly, but less laborious to use.

Mop head material: Microfiber is the gold standard because it traps dirt and dust effectively and is usually machine-washable. Cotton string mops are absorbent but can take longer to dry. Sponge heads are easy to use but may retain odors over time and can oversaturate floors. Washable pads help reduce long-term costs compared to disposable options and are more eco-friendly..

Water control: Spin buckets, built-in wringers, or controlled spray triggers make it easier to avoid soaking your floors. Systems that separate clean and dirty water help prevent spreading grime around.

Good features: Look for a lightweight design, adjustable handle, and swivel head to comfortably maneuver around furniture and under cabinets. Compact storage and easy pad removal are also helpful.

How we tested mops

For testing these mops, I put them through a series of trials on sealed bamboo hardwood, ceramic tile, sealed vinyl, and unsealed vinyl floors. With all these flooring types under one roof, I was able to see how the mops performed in a busy household frequented by dogs, dirt, dust, and spills.

Additionally, we gathered expert advice from two professionals in the cleaning and flooring industries. Brett Miller, vice president of technical standards and industry partnerships of the National Wood Flooring Association, provided tips on how to best take care of your floors and Leanne Stapf, executive vice president of The Cleaning Authority, shared ideal mopping practices for keeping your home clean.

Below are the criteria we used to determine the best mops.

Assembly: This was judged by how easy or difficult it was to put the mops together after unboxing. We noted how many pieces it came with, how hard it was to click the pieces together, and how well the pads stuck to the base.

Maneuverability: Throughout the rooms where we tested the mops, there were various obstacles including a dining room table, chairs, a wood stove, toilet, and a standing bike. We judged maneuverability based on how well the mops could get around these obstacles.

Comfort: While comfort varies by person, we used the mops for short amounts of time for spot cleaning and a prolonged time for mopping large areas. We vetted comfort by judging how hard it was to wring out the mop if the grip was sturdy, and if it was easy to push and pull the mop across the floor.

Spill tests: To test how well the mops can clean up tough spills and stains, we "spilled" dirt, maple syrup, dried coffee, and soda on hardwood, vinyl, and tile floors to record how many sweeps and/or sprays it took to get the spill cleaned up. We also noted if the substance was pushed around, how much water was leftover after mopping, and if the mop left streak marks after drying.

Washing pads: We washed the reusable pads four times per the manufacturer's cleaning instructions to vet how well the pads expelled various stains. This helped indicate how often the mop head may need to be replaced.

Ease of storage: Judging by weight, size, and if the mop stood up on its own, we placed each one in a small storage closet to see how easy or difficult it was to store the mops.

Mop FAQs

Can all floors be mopped the same?

Flooring can vary by material and sealant, meaning all floors cannot be mopped the same. Certain mops and cleaning solutions can ruin and damage wood, vinyl, and tile floors by breaking down the seal meant to protect the material.

Miller stressed the importance of finding out what kind of floor and seal you have before you start cleaning your floors. For those who are unsure what kind of flooring they have, Miller recommends having a qualified professional assess your floor and help you determine the best cleaning products to use.

A common way to damage your floor is by using too much water to mop, allowing it to seep into the flooring. In addition, store-bought floor cleaning and natural cleaning solutions like vinegar can break down seals over time making floors more susceptible to damage.

"For wood floor cleaning products that are neutral pH, some may have an alcohol base and isopropyl alcohol, which again, can cause long term damage to finishes if it's used improperly," Miller said.

When it comes to stains or tough spills, Miller shared that "mopping a floor is one of the best things [you] can do and damp mop with a little bit of water is usually sufficient for most products." If you have a stain like wine or grape juice that won't come out, Miller advises consulting a flooring professional.

What is the best type of mop?

Miller said that mop heads made out of microfiber are a good choice for a versatile and effective mop, especially for dry and wet mopping. "A good microfiber mop actually has a natural static charge to it," he said. "So when you're cleaning a floor, that static charge attracts dirt and debris and hair and lint and all that stuff."

Miller added that using a microfiber head to dry mop floors every day can prevent damage from dirt, food, and other particles from being dragged across the floor.

Stapf said that microfiber mops generally hold less moisture, making them a good choice for preventing water damage to hardwood floors. "If you want to speed up the drying process, you can go over the floors with a microfiber sweeper or open the windows," she said.

How often should a mop head be cleaned?

To keep your mop from spreading dirt and bacteria, Stapf said that proper mop head maintenance is important. "I recommend replacing a mop every three months — that is generally how long it takes until a mop begins to visibly look dirty," she said.

While mops generally come with manufacturer instructions, Stapf recommends sanitizing the mop after each use and then allowing it to dry fully. To sanitize the mop head, rinse it out completely. Then combine a mixture of half hot water and half bleach in a clean bucket and soak the mop head in it for 15 minutes.

Cleaning instructions for mop heads may suggest air drying or drying on low heat, but Stapf shared that it's important to let a mop head dry fully before using.

What is the difference between a steam and spray mop?

Steam mops use heat to release water vapor from the head while you mop, whereas a spray mop doesn't use any heat and has a built-in dispenser for water or cleaning solution so you can spray liquid onto the floors while you mop.

Steam mops can get up to boiling temperatures and are ideal for sanitizing floors or cleaning tile or sealed laminate. However, Miller warns that steam mops can be damaging to certain floors. "We never suggest using steam on a wood floor; the steam mops are vapor water and that vapor water is forced into the wood, the open wood cells, and cavities and will damage wood and also damage finishes," he said.

With a spray mop, you can control how much liquid you want on your floor depending on the amount of spray you use. Some spray mops may have a button you press to dispense liquid or a squeeze handle to manually spray the liquid.