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Wondering what the best steam mop for laminate floors is? Laminate floors are known for being a bit more complex than any other part of your house as the main advantage they give is the look and feel, making them slightly more prone to damage. So, to help with its functionality, this guide will tell you exactly what you need to consider before buying the best steam mop for laminate floors.
See Also – Steam Mop vs Regular Mop & Best Steam Mop for Vinyl Floors.
Contents
Buying Guide
Here are some of the important features to consider when searching for the best steam mop for laminate floors.
Features
Convenience is always key when you’re trying to buy the best steam mop for laminate floors. So, you should always prioritize looking at which features and services exactly your steam mops can offer you. Though, you need to still be careful since some can offer features at an expensive price when you don’t even need to use them in practice.
Some practical features include the addition of a soft handle, detachable pad materials, extra safety buttons for kids, and more. We will enumerate some of these as you go further down the article.
Cleaning Pad Material
Laminate floors can be sensitive to permanent scratches, and the top seal can easily be damaged as well if the mop you’re using is harsh. So, you need to check the cleaning pad material if it’s soft enough not to harm and durable enough to still clean the more sticky and persistent dirt on your floor.
The best cleaning pad material for you would be the one that’s effortlessly washable, highly absorbent to liquids, and extremely soft and gentle for your floors. Microfiber cleaning pads are usually the ones that fit all criteria, and we highly suggest you consider this one the most.
Tank Capacity
The tank capacity relays how much water your mop can hold at once. This can affect several factors: size, weight, and longevity. It’s pretty self-explanatory that the bigger the tank is, the more water it can hold, making it a bit more difficult to push and carry around.
But, if you consider the longevity, this small hassle can be worth it as you would not have to keep stopping and refilling the water when you clean your floors. Still, it’s really up to you, as a user, to weigh the two aspects. If you want a more lightweight one, go for it! Just remember that you would need to keep doing the extra steps of refilling.
Temperature Settings
Laminate floors are picky when it comes to the materials they come in contact with. Even if its surface is sealed, the wood is still very much prone to moisture and heat. So, traditional mops are often used to clean them as the water can easily be wrung out before contact with the floor. Steam mops, on the other hand, need more consideration.
As you know, steam is created through heating up the water, and this process is pretty continuous whenever you use a steam mop. This means that the best mop for you should have heat settings since you need to be able to control how much water, heat, and steam you’re producing for the sake of the wood.
Wired vs Wireless?
Wired steam mops need some adjustment and aren’t as flexible and useable as the wireless ones. You would need to always have a socket nearby when you mop your laminate floors. But, a good thing about wired steam mops is that you don’t need to charge them at all, and you can use them as long as there’s electricity.
Wireless ones, on the other hand, are incredibly travel-friendly and flexible. You can bring them anywhere since you don’t need to have electricity to use them; it’s just that you need to constantly remember to charge them. It’s up to you to weigh these two options, but the wireless ones are much more convenient to use.
Best Steam Mop for Laminate Floors in 2024
PurSteam 10-in-1 Steam Mop Cleaner – Most Versatile Steam Mop
- Chemical Free Cleaning – PurSteam 10-in-1 Steam Mop uses the natural power of heated steam to clean your home. Unlike many steamers for cleaning, this steam mop is perfect for homes with children and pets.
- Heats in 30 Seconds – Quickly steam mop hardwood floors and tile. Use the mop as a carpet cleaner, grout cleaner, or floor cleaner, even as a steam mop for laminate floors. Includes a measuring cup and funnel for water filling.
Our first choice for best steam mop for laminate floors comes from this versatile Pursteam product. PurSteam prides itself in its steaming expertise, especially clothing, as most of its products are hand steamers and steam irons. But, they have innovated a mop that can do just those and more. The PurSteam 10-in-1 Steam Mop Cleaner is one of the most versatile mops in the market, literally looking like a combination of a few products because of this feature. It comes in a pearly white color with some accents of blue for style, and it has slender built with an albeit bulky tank and a rectangular cleaning pad.
Coming in its 23.7-in x 9.41-in x 8.31-in shipping dimensions and 8.75-pound weight, the PurSteam 10-in-1 Steam Mop Cleaner is not the most travel-friendly steam mop in the market. However, its tank capacity at 11.5 oz. is lighter than most and can withstand 20-25 minutes of steaming at its lowest setting.
But, the mop’s specialty comes in its versatility, perfect for those who want a practical experience. It’s wireless, and the handle is detachable, so you can use it as a handheld steam cleaner for your clothes, furniture, or desktops. Moreover, it also has a flexible hose that can make it easier for you to maneuver into smaller and tighter spaces.
- Chemical Free Cleaning – PurSteam 10-in-1 Steam Mop uses the natural power of heated steam to clean your home. Unlike many steamers for cleaning, this steam mop is perfect for homes with children and pets.
- Heats in 30 Seconds – Quickly steam mop hardwood floors and tile. Use the mop as a carpet cleaner, grout cleaner, or floor cleaner, even as a steam mop for laminate floors. Includes a measuring cup and funnel for water filling.
Bissell Power Fresh Steam Mop – Most Powerful Steam Mop
- Clean and sanitize sealed hard floors without the use of harsh chemicals; Eliminates 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria with the natural power of steam.Cleaning Path Width : 12”, Carry Handle : Yes..Automatic Cord Rewind : No. Cleaning Path Width : 12”
- Power through tough, sticky messes with the flip down easy scrubber
Bissell, being a company renowned for its vacuum cleaners, has created the Bissell Power Fresh Steam Mop that’s considered the most powerful steam mop (1500 watts) you could buy since it works with just strong gusts of steam. It comes in a very slender form, almost straight, with a rectangular cleaning pad. A triangular handle is also attached to its top for an easier grip.
Its tank capacity is more than most, reaching 16 Oz, and its cleaning pad measures a foot long. But, the mop remains lightweight at 6.2 lbs. Its power cord is also relatively longer, making it easier to mop around your home without needing to switch sockets.
Thus, this mop’s really the best for those who take cleaning seriously. It’s the most practical option for those with messier environments as its features make it much more convenient. First, its swivel steering function ensures that you can easily maneuver the mop into tight, hard-to-reach areas. And, second, it comes with a scrubber attachment that can rid of the sticky grime you would usually need a separate brush for.
- Clean and sanitize sealed hard floors without the use of harsh chemicals; Eliminates 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria with the natural power of steam.Cleaning Path Width : 12”, Carry Handle : Yes..Automatic Cord Rewind : No. Cleaning Path Width : 12”
- Power through tough, sticky messes with the flip down easy scrubber
Shark S3501 Steam Pocket Mop – The Most Affordable Steam Mop
- SUPER-HEATED STEAM: The Shark Steam Pocket Mop turns ordinary water into super-heated steam to remove everyday dirt and grime that other mops leave behind.Water Capacity: 450 ml (15 oz.).Voltage: 120 volts.Form factor : Upright
- QUICK & EFFORTLESS: Get on-demand steam ready in just 30 seconds for quick & easy results.
Since the Shark S3501 Steam Pocket Mop is the most affordable option, Shark had to cut back on the most interesting features found in their famous vacuum cleaners. Still, this does not mean that it cannot perform. The Shark S3501 comes in a metallic purple shade with a soft circular handle grip that helps you use it for longer.
It’s also incredibly lightweight, at just 4.87 pounds, even at a taller size at 51.2 in x 12 in x 5.9 in. Shark prides itself on its functionality as it can produce steam in just under 30 seconds, and it even dries up the surface more quickly than most. Moreover, its weight makes it easier to travel with and generally move around with, and it also has a quick-release cord that easily stores its 18-foot power cord.
This mop is the best for those on a tighter budget as it offers very decent performance at a much lower price. A single mop comes with two gentle microfiber pads that are quite easy to clean, though, needing some soap and detergent, even if it can pick up most dirt on the floor.
- SUPER-HEATED STEAM: The Shark Steam Pocket Mop turns ordinary water into super-heated steam to remove everyday dirt and grime that other mops leave behind.Water Capacity: 450 ml (15 oz.).Voltage: 120 volts.Form factor : Upright
- QUICK & EFFORTLESS: Get on-demand steam ready in just 30 seconds for quick & easy results.
Light ‘N’ Easy Steam Mop – Our Favorite Steam Mop
- On-demand HI, MED and LOW steam settings fit for various floors surface: marble, tile, grout, ceramic, stone, vinyl, laminate, and sealed wood flooring.
- Detaches into a separate handheld steam cleaner for multi-purpose cleaning: garment wrinkle remover, upholstery refresher, bathroom/kitchen deep cleaning.
As Light ‘N’ Easy is a company that mainly focuses on steam mops, it’s no surprise that they were able to make a combination of the best features in all three mops earlier discussed. The Light ‘N’ Easy Steam Mop has a very professional look and feel in its pure white or pure black form, with both variants having a circular grip handle on top.
And, just like the name suggests, this steam mop is lighter than most at 6.3 pounds and thinner in its build at 46.4 in x 11.8 in x 6.8 in dimensions. Its tank capacity is also quite large at 2063 oz.
If you want a mop that is just the best of all worlds, pick the Light ‘N’ Easy Steam Mop. It basically has everything you need from portability to functionality, and one of its unique features is that it has a smart switch that adjusts according to how much it’s tilted: if it’s straight up, the steam pauses automatically and starts back up instantly when tilted.
- On-demand HI, MED and LOW steam settings fit for various floors surface: marble, tile, grout, ceramic, stone, vinyl, laminate, and sealed wood flooring.
- Detaches into a separate handheld steam cleaner for multi-purpose cleaning: garment wrinkle remover, upholstery refresher, bathroom/kitchen deep cleaning.
Steam Mops on Laminate Floors Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use a steam mop on laminate floors?
Yes, you can use steam mops on laminate floors. But, unlike regular floors, laminated ones are significantly more sensitive to moisture and heat. Steam mops produce them quite a lot, so make sure that you can control the heat and power well before you attempt to use them to avoid damaging or warping the wood.
How often should I steam mop laminate floors?
Steam mop your laminate floors once every two weeks. This frequency could be adjustable to your lifestyle, depending on the messiness of your space, but even if you can’t necessarily see the dirt (ie., bacteria), it’s better to be safe and hygienic.
Will a steam mop damage laminate floors?
It all depends on the heat and moisture your steam mop produces. If it’s excessive, you might begin to see some warping on your wood. Moreover, some of the topcoats might be scratched or damaged, so make sure you know how to control those factors when using them.
Best Steam Mop for Laminate Floors Conclusion
In conclusion, steam mops are incredibly easy to operate, but using them on laminate floors might cause unwanted damages. And, thus, this article went through some tips and all the features and factors to consider when choosing the best steam mop for laminate floors.
Overall, we highly recommend the Light ‘N’ Easy Steam Mop as it has all the features, temperature settings, and capacity you might need in a steam mop, but, we want to remind you to consider its practicality with your needs and lifestyle, as well as your budget before making the final decision. You’re still the one who’s going to benefit the most from the experience!
We hope this guide has answered any questions you have regarding the best steam mop for laminate floors.