Best mops for sparkly clean floors

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.

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The best floor mops

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

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

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)

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.

What types of mops are available?

• Flat mop

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.

• Spray mop

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 mop

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.

• Traditional mop

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.

• Steam mop

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.