Cleaning hard floors can be a chore, but today’s mops have been designed to make life easier. Most employ microfibre in their design which picks up and hangs onto dirt and grime, getting the job done faster. Some designs are self-wringing, some can be used for both wet and dry mopping, while spray mops, which don’t require a bucket of water, can come in handy for quick clean ups.
If you want a clean floor you could almost eat your dinner off, read on to discover which mops wiped the floor with the competition.
How we tested:
We considered everything from how easy the mops were to put together, what they were made from, as well as their overall ease of use and performance (manoeuvrability and picking up dirt).
We tested the mops on different floor surfaces using the same cleaning fluid (where possible).
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Best floor mops at a glance
- Best spray mop: Bona Premium Spray Mop for Wood Floor | Buy now from Amazon (£42)
- Best all round mop: Spontex Full action system mop and bucket with extra refill bundle | Buy now from Amazon (£34.98)
- Best mop for pets: Addis Superdry Plus mop | Buy now from Amazon (£19.45)
- Best detergent-free mop: Vileda 1-2-spray mop | Buy now from Amazon (£25)
The best floor mops
Bona Premium Spray Mop for Wood Floor
Score 19 out of 20
At £42.99, it’s one of the more expensive mops on test, but we think the design, functionality and ease of use makes it well worth the investment.
Pros
- Sprays cleaner in front of mop, so no need for bucket
- Lightweight
- Washable microfibre pad
Cons
- Expensive
- Need to by refills
This mop was easy to fit together, even with the additional refillable bottle holder.
We loved the mop with its easy-to-use spray – simply pull the trigger at the top of the handle to spray the floor with cleaner as you mop… no need for buckets or changing dirty water. It’s completely fuss-free, what’s not to like?
Designed for wooden flooring, we tested it on varnished hardwood where it glided over the surface and around furniture thanks to its swivel mop head that rotates 360°. It produces a fine mist spray which dries quickly and leaves the floor looking clean and streak-free. The handle measures 84cm in length and isn’t telescopic, so this might be an issue if you prefer a short mop, however, one of the testers is 5ft 3” and found it comfortable to use.
The mop comes with a reusable bottle filled with branded Bona cleaner – we tried the Wood Floor Cleaner, which wasn’t too heavily perfumed, though did leave the room smelling fresh. There are also a Hard-Surface cleaner and a new Antibacterial Floor Cleaning that kills 99.99% of household germs, prices starting from £11.79 for a 850ml refillable bottle.
We also like the washable microfibre cleaning pad, which is designed to remove 99.9% of bacteria and can be washed and reused up to 500 times, making it a sustainable option.
At £33, it’s one of the more expensive mops on test, but we think the design, functionality and ease of use makes it well worth the investment.
Spontex Full action system mop and bucket with extra refill bundle
Score 19 out of 20
- Buy now from Amazon (£34.98)
We loved the clever design of this mop, which integrates a rinse and wring spinning mechanism within the bucket
Pros
- Spin system to rinse and wring
- Telescopic handle
- Comes with a bucket
- Washable microfibre pad
Cons
- Fiddly pouring mechanism on the bucket
The handle comes in four sections, but it’s easy enough to twist them together before attaching the mop head and the microfibre pad.
We loved the clever design of this mop, which integrates a rinse and wring spinning mechanism within the bucket: once you’ve filled it up to the maximum line, click the mophead onto the spoke, turn the handle to the unlock position, and push down to immerse the mophead in water and spin. Next, lift the handle to secure the spoke above the water and push down once again to spin and wring out the mop head. Finally, twist the handle to lock and you’re ready to mop.
Designed for hard flooring, including stone, hardwood, vinyl and laminate, we tested it on a varnished hardwood where it glided over the surface and around furniture thanks to its 360° rotating mop head. It tackled stubborn stains well (dried tomato) and we were pleased with the streak-free finish. As with other microfibre mops, it is machine washable (at 40°C) and promises to remove 99% of bacteria, which is a great feature, especially if you own pets.
The handle height can be adjusted anywhere between 1.25m to 1.4m, which not only makes it more comfortable to use, but helps with storage if space is an issue. The bucket is compact and has a rim that helps reduces spills, as well as an integral spout for emptying the water.
Addis Superdry Plus mop
Score: 18 out of 20
Pros
- No need for construction before use
- Great for picking up pet hair and dirt
Cons
- Needs a large bucket to fit the wide head in
The ridged sponge-like head acts like a sweeping mop, collecting everything in its path, including hair - making it ideal if you have pets.
This well-constructed mop felt really sturdy and, other than taking the protective plastic bag off the mop head, was ready to use straight away without the need for any construction.
The handle is telescopic so you can adjust it to a comfortable working height. The ridged sponge-like head acts like a sweeping mop, collecting everything in its path, including hair - making it ideal if you have pets.
This mop did a really good job at cleaning the floor, especially as it has the added benefit of collecting hair and dirt in the process. It performed well on both laminate and vinyl in our test and it’s also suitable for ceramic and natural stone floors too.
To wring out the water you simply press down on the lever mounted on the handle of the mop, which squeezes out all the moisture allowing you to both clean and dry your mop in one.
At £13.49 with a three-year guarantee (excluding the mop head), we felt this mop gave excellent value for money considering how well it performed and how robust the construction was.
Dimensions: 5.5cm L x 29cm W x 127cm H (when handle fully extended)
Vileda 1-2-spray mop
Score 18 out of 20
Pros
- No need for a bucket
- No need for detergent
- Removes over 99% bacteria
- No batteries needed
- Washable mop pads
Cons
- Wide mop may be too large for small, cluttered floor areas
- Handle is not telescopic
We love that there’s no need for a bucket with this spray mop: Simply fill the 275ml tank with water and away you go, no batteries needed.
This flat mop was quick and simple to put together, simply requiring us to click the handle onto the mop head. To fill this spray mop, you lift the cap at the top of the handle and fill with water. Then it’s just a case of pulling the trigger at the top of the handle to spray the water from the central nozzle at the base of the mop.
The water is squirted in front of the mop head, so you just spray, then glide the mop head over the wet floor surface to clean it.
We love that there’s no need for a bucket with this spray mop: Simply fill the 275ml tank with water and away you go, no batteries needed.
This mop gave great results on both laminate and vinyl, cleaning away marks and grime quickly and easily without the need to excess scrubbing. It’s ideal for cleaning floor tiles, linoleum and laminate floors. However, the moisture of the pads is also suitable for parquet and wood floors.
Considering how well it performed and the fact you don’t need to use detergent with it, we felt this mop offered excellent value for money at £28.39 with a one-year guarantee. The fact you could wash and reuse the mop head also helped up its eco-friendly credentials compared with other spray mops which have throw-away cleaning pads.
Dimensions: 14cmL x 35cmW x 136cmH
My Home spin mop and bucket, The Range
Score 17 out of 20
- Buy now from The Range, (£19.99)
Pros
- 360º microfibre mop head
- Double bucket keeps water clean
Cons
- Joints on handle felt a little unstable
This microfibre mop gave very good results on both vinyl and laminate floors, but it’s suitable for all types of hard flooring.
This mop takes a little bit of putting together before use. The handle comes in four sections which need pushing firmly together. To attach the microfibre mop head to the spinning section, you need to place the head on the floor with the spinning section on top, then press down with your foot to lock it in place until you hear a click.
We found this mop was lightweight and easy to use. It was very manoeuvrable and the mop head was easy to get into small spaces and under furniture. The bucket and spinner separated easily once we’d finished mopping and they were simple and mess-free to empty.
We love that one side of the bucket holds the clean water and detergent solution, while the other side houses the spinning mechanism with the bucket beneath storing the dirty water. This means you only wash the floor with clean detergent solution, rather than swishing the soiled water back onto the floor.
Although the manufacturer doesn’t state that the microfibre mop head is machine washable, you would be able to wash it by hand and refills are available.
This microfibre mop gave very good results on both vinyl and laminate floors, but it’s suitable for all types of hard flooring. It made light work of stubborn grime and the spinner ensures the mop was moist enough to wash without soaking the floor with excess water.
Considering that this set includes a mop and double bucket with spinner, we felt that at £19.99, this offered good value for money.
Minky 3-in-1 Power Clean strip mop and Vortex bucket and wringer and head refill
Source 15 out of 20
Pros
- Washable microfibre mop head
- Telescopic handle
- Effective wringer
- Compact for easy storage
Cons
- Not ideal for wooden, laminate or light coloured floors
This mop performed fairly well on both laminate and vinyl, but a little extra scrubbing was needed on stubborn stains.
Putting this mop together was quick and simple, and the handle extends, which allows you to adjust the length for your height.
The Vortex mop bucket features a spiral-like wringer which help remove quite a bit of water from the mop head, helping to prevent you over-wetting the floor. The mop itself was lightweight and easy to manoeuvre. With a tapered design and a generous spout, the bucket was easy to both fill and empty without any spillages.
This mop performed fairly well on both laminate and vinyl, but a little extra scrubbing was needed on stubborn stains. The mop strands did a good job of gathering up dirt and hairs from the floor as we mopped.
This mop is suitable for most hard floor coverings, however Minky recommends that you refer to the flooring manufacturer/installer instructions if unsure and, in particular, for wooden and laminate floors. The also advice you take extra care with light coloured flooring.
The mop head is both hand washable and machine washable up to 40ºC, however refills are available when they eventually ned replacing. The telescopic pole allows for easy storage. While the compact bucket and wringer fits easily under the tap and also allows for easy storage.
Considering you get not only a mop, but a bucket, wringer and refill head with this set, we felt it offered very good value for money at £16.99.
Dimensions: 25cm Diam x 132cmH (when handle fully extended)
Beldray Pet Plus Slimline PVA mop & brush
Score 14 out of 20
Pros
- Telescopic handle
Cons
- Need to soak mop before using
- Stiff wringing lever as well as switch between mop and bristles
Feature a stainless-steel handle, this mop is nice and lightweight to use, with the practical bonus that the handle is telescopic and extends from 90cm up to 120cm.
This mop was easy to put together, although we struggled to remove the plastic packaging that covered the mop, which was annoying as a little bit remained stuck in the mop. You also must soak the mop for a couple of hours before first using it.
Feature a stainless-steel handle, this mop is nice and lightweight to use, with the practical bonus that the handle is telescopic and extends from 90cm up to 120cm. It worked well on wooden flooring, absorbing water and coping with paw prints and sticky patches. We will be frustrating if you have issues with dexterity. We didn’t test this mop on laminate or vinyl flooring, but it’s designed for all types of hard flooring. The rubber bristles don’t move backwards and forwards smoothly, despite being short, which means it’s not hugely effective when it comes to capturing dust and dirt. It doesn’t come with a bucket.
Although this mop offers two functions, we feel it’s best used as a traditional mop. However, the telescopic handle might be reason alone for you to choose it, and we think it’s reasonably priced at £13.99.
Flash Power mop starter kit, Wilko
Score 11 out of 20
- Buy now from Wilko, (£30)
Pros
- No need for a bucket
- Good for small spaces
- Ideal for quick clean-ups
Cons
- Expensive
- Fiddly to put together
- Requires replacement pads and solution
The results this mop gave on vinyl and laminate were a little disappointing, requiring us to scrub back and forth to remove grubby marks.
This mop required a bit of construction before it could be used. The mop handle needed to be assembled, batteries (which were supplied in the starter kit) inserted into the body of the mop, then the mop pad attached the mop head and, finally, the bottle of cleaning solution needed to be inserted into the body of the mop.
Due to the bottle housing and motor on the handle of this mop it was rather heavy to use. The head wasn’t very wide, so it took a while to clean a large floor area, however the flexible swivel head reached easily around corners and under furniture and was good for getting into small spaces.
The head has two spray nozzles which we felt produced more fluid than was necessary and it took a bit of back and forth action to really shift the grime from the floor.
The results this mop gave on vinyl and laminate were a little disappointing, requiring us to scrub back and forth to remove grubby marks. The mop is safe for use on all finished floors including wood and laminate, however its not recommended for use on unfinished, oiled, or waxed wooden boards and non-sealed tiles.
This starter kit includes a power mop, two batteries, five cleaning pads, and one bottle of cleaning solution, but the replaceable mop pads aren't washable, (you can recycle them through Terracycle), and you can only use the special bottles of Powermop cleaning solution with this mop.
Considering its performance and the fact that this mop costs £30 and requires repeat purchases of cleaning solution and mop pads, we felt this mop offered quite poor value for money.
Dimensions: 11cm L x 26cm W x 124cm H
What types of mops are available?
Ideal for covering large floor areas, flat mops come in all variations and can work for all kinds of hard flooring. There's the option of dry microfibre cloth heads - great for dusting - as well as wet wipe designs that work a treat for post-breakfast kitchen clean ups. Many flat mops now come with reusable mop heads for a more sustainable way to clean your floors.
For a more thorough clean on stubborn stains, you may require the addition of cleaning solution, which is where the spray mop comes in handy. Solution is stored in the mop itself, and a trigger handle lets you spray directly onto the floor - a hygienic and user-friendly alternative to the traditional mop and bucket.
Sponge mops offer a cleaner way to clean your floors, as they tend to be more absorbent than traditional mop heads. Enjoy a more efficient clean, without the sodden floor.
You may want to keep it classic and opt for a traditional cotton mop and bucket design. As the mop heads tend to be larger, they can be useful for particularly large areas, especially if you're doing a quick once-over. Their no-frills design can often mean they're more affordable too.
For an intense, deep clean without harsh chemicals, go for a steam mop. Steam mops are plug-in, electrical devices designed to sanitise hard flooring through the power of steam. Ideal for targeting smaller areas in need of a thorough clean.
Feeling inspired? You can also learn how to make your own cleaning products with these 5 eco-friendly recipes.
