We spent months testing spray mops to find the best for all your cleaning needs.
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Mopping is a chore that no one wants to do. It can take up lots of time, cause back pain, and sometimes create an even bigger mess. But spray mops can eliminate some of the headache associated with mopping, as they’re more lightweight and efficient than a traditional mop. “Spray mops are homeowners' number 1 preference for mopping floors," says Angela Brown, CEO of Savvy Cleaner, a training program for house cleaners. "They are the 'go-to' mop between professional cleanings because they are so lightweight and easy to use. And, without dragging out a mop bucket, spray mops are great for quick floor cleanups to keep your floors always looking great.”
Spray mops usually come with a cartridge that holds mop solution, and you simply pull the trigger on the handle to spray solution in front of the mop as you clean. When you’re finished, you can either dispose of the mop pad, or toss it in the washing machine if it’s reusable. All the hassle of mop buckets are removed, and you can get a deeper clean in the corners and edges of your space.
To bring you our list of favorites, we tested 16 popular spray mops and evaluated them on their maneuverability, effectiveness at cleaning a variety of messes on different floor types, portability, ease of cleaning, and value.
The detachable spot cleaner allows you to get those tough spots with ease.
The handle is not adjustable.
Easily move from regular mopping to spot cleaning with this spray mop from OXO, which has a detachable scrubber that slides out when you step on the pedal for fast and effective spot cleaning. The long, semi-rectangular mop head is made of microfiber to help pick up dust and dirt, and it’s washable and reusable for endless cleaning. We found that this mop was easy to maneuver and fit well under chairs, tables, along shelves, and sides of tables. You can clean right up to edges, thanks to the flexible, swivel-head design.
The mop also comes with a cleaner bottle that allows you to use your favorite mop cleaner or disinfectant to keep all types of floors (hardwood, tile, vinyl, and more) squeaky clean. To use, just fill the cleaner bottle with your favorite mop cleaner, set it back into its holder, and press the handle to spray the cleaner on the floor. Mop as desired, or press on the foot pedal to remove the scrubber head on the spot cleaner for cleaning extra-dirty spots. The mop itself is lightweight enough to carry around to different areas, and it’s skinny, so you can store it in a small space against a wall or in a utility closet. And changing out the mop head was extremely easy—it has a hook and loop fastener, so you can easily pull off the microfiber head and toss in the washing machine when you’re done. It washed extremely well, with no stains left behind (even ketchup came out).
Price at time of publish: $50
Weight: 3.3 pounds | Mop Head Material: Microfiber | Machine-Washable Head: Yes
It easily gets into tight spaces and corners.
The spray trigger is a little uncomfortable to use.
For a durable mop that gets the job done, the Panda Grip is a great choice. It comes with the refillable bottle for your favorite cleaner, plus three microfiber mop pads and a scraper for heavy-duty jobs. The mop pole is made from aluminum alloy that’s meant to last, and the mop pads are easy to wash and reuse over and over again. To use, simply fill the bottle with cleaner, insert it into the mop, then pull the trigger to spray cleaning solution as you mop. The swivel mop head moves in all directions and gets to those tough spots under couches, the table, or under your bed. It works great on any type of flooring, and a few different color options are available.
We loved the maneuverability of the mop and found it easy to clean right up against furniture. Plus, you don’t need any extras like batteries, a special cleaning solution, or disposable pads. The one thing we noticed was that the handle has a hollow, plastic area near the trigger, which made it a little uncomfortable to use.
Price at time of publish: $27
Weight: 1.8 pounds | Mop Head Material: Microfiber | Machine-Washable Head: Yes
The solution is already pre-mixed, so you’re ready to go.
It doesn’t fit under narrow areas.
If you’d rather stick to disposable mop pads, rather than wash reusable pads, the Swiffer PowerMop is a great disposable choice. The mop pads have more than 300 scrubbing strips that work overtime to get out dirt and grime, and when you’re done, just toss the pad in the trash. This kit comes with the PowerMop, two mop pad refills, one bottle of floor cleaning solution, and two batteries.
The PowerMop solution is safe for all finished floors, but it’s not recommended to use this mop and cleaner on unfinished, oiled, or waxed wooden boards, non-sealed tiles, or carpeted floors. We like that the solution is pre-mixed so you don’t have to worry about adding water, plus the solution breaks down tough and sticky messes with ease. We found the mop fairly easy to maneuver around furniture, but the cleaning solution pocket can get in the way of fitting under very narrow areas.
Price at time of publish: $30
Weight: 4.7 pounds | Mop Head Material: Disposable stripped mop pads | Machine-Washable Head: No
The large mop head makes it easy to clean large areas quickly, and it was effective at cleaning the crevices of plank flooring.
When full of liquid cleaner, the mop is a bit heavy to handle.
To keep your hardwood floors clean, we like using a product specifically made for hardwoods, and the Bona Premium Spray Mop does just the trick. The large mop pad makes quick work of large areas, and it proved effective at getting into the crevices of plank flooring. It includes a refillable cartridge with Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner and the reusable mop pad. The corners of the mop head have flexible rubber covers on them to protect your furniture from scratching, and there’s a hook on the handle to hang it when not in use. And while we do like that the kit comes with Bona cleaner, you can refill the cartridge with whatever cleaner you like to remove dust, grime, and dirt.
When you’re finished mopping, just toss the mop pad in the washing machine. But be careful removing the pad from the mop, as excess debris can fall off, as we experienced during testing. Just pull the velcro mop head off slowly, and you’ll be good to go. Or, shake the mop head over the trash can first before removing and putting it in the washing machine. You can hang the mop pad to dry, but we found that after 24 hours of air drying, the pad was still a little damp, so give it some time to fully dry.
Price at time of publish: $42
Weight: 5.8 pounds | Mop Head Material: Microfiber | Machine-Washable Head: Yes
The mop head flips a full 180 degrees, allowing you to use both sides of the mop pad.
The cleaner bottle can leak.
In our Lab tests, we mopped up apple juice, canola oil, stick butter, ketchup, and soil from various types of flooring. We found that for tile and grout, this mop from O-Cedar worked the best, as it cleaned grout lines better than other mops we tested and used less sprays and wipes compared to other spray mops. Each spray produces a substantial amount of cleaning solution.
The mop is double sided and comes with an attached cleaner bottle, so you can use your own solution, and an extra microfiber mop head that can be machine washed or hand washed. The mop flips a full 180 degrees, meaning you can use both sides of the mop pad without having to stop and change it out for a new one.
Price at time of publish: $36
Weight: 2 pounds | Mop Head Material: Microfiber | Machine-Washable Head: Yes
It’s the lightest on our list at just 1.4 pounds.
It struggled to clean grout lines.
At about 1.4 pounds, this is a super lightweight mop, meaning it’s great for seniors or those with mobility issues. We found that the mop was really easy to maneuver, especially under table legs, in corners, and on edges. The swivel features allows the mop to move in all directions, giving you a little extra help if needed. We found it to be most effective on tile flooring, although it did struggle to remove stains from the grout lines.
The set comes with the mop, three mop pads, and two refillable cleaner bottles. To use the mop, fill the cleaning bottle with hot water and two teaspoons of your favorite cleaning solution, and mop as normal. The mop pad is washable up to 100 times, meaning you can use it over and over and toss it in the washer after each use. We like the added non-scratch scrubbing pad as well, as it helps loosen up tough spots.
Price at time of publish: $48
Weight: 1.4 pounds | Mop Head Material: Microfiber | Machine-Washable Head: Yes
This affordable set comes with everything you need to get started with a spray mop.
The handle is not adjustable.
If you’re new to the spray mop game, or maybe you’re testing the waters to see if you like this style of mopping, this affordable kit from Rejuvenate is a great place to start. It comes with the spray mop, a microfiber cleaning pad, microfiber dusting pad, and one container of cleaner, plus three bottle adapters, a scrub pad, and a click-on grout brush to spot clean dirty grout. In short, it has everything you need to clean vinyl, marble, granite, tile, grout, and more. It was most effective on liquids or anything that is easily dissolved in water, so the mud, ketchup and apple juice mopped up well. The butter and canola didn't soak up into the mop as well, but with a few extra swipes and little more pressure, it did the job.
The mop works with many Rejuvenate floor cleaners, and the bottle adapter converts Rejuvenate bottles into a refill cleaning cartridge for the mop. We found the adapter to be a bit tricky to use; it has a black tip that needs to be removed before putting on the cleaning solution bottle. And the handle is not adjustable. But it comes with so many extras, plus it moves around and pivots smoothly under tables, chairs, and furniture.
Price at time of publish: $35
Weight: 1.8 pounds | Mop Head Material: Microfiber | Machine-Washable Head: Yes
The large, oscillating mop head is effective at cleaning both hardwood and tile floors, including grout lines.
Filling the reservoir with cleaning solution can be messy.
Want a mop that will do the work for you? An electric mop, like Nellie's Wow Too, is a great choice. This bundle comes with the Wow Too electric mop, a canister of the brand’s Floor Care cleaning solution, and an extra set of mop pads. On tile flooring, the mop handled all messes quickly and easily, and it even cleaned in the grout lines. We attribute this mostly to the oscillating mop pads that move back and forth. The included cleaning solution also seemed effective at getting up stains and messes. The mop has two large pads, so it has plenty of surface area to handle any mess. And it gave a similarly impressive performance on hardwood floors.
The mop is cordless and rechargeable with a removable reservoir for your cleaning solution, and it has a replaceable battery. The mop has a one hour running time and a headlight that turns on automatically in dark places. The Floor Care cleaner is a plant-based formula with no harsh chemicals, perfumes, or phosphates, and has a fresh lemongrass scent that we liked. The microfiber cleaning pads are dual purpose, with the front pad being for scrubbing and liquid absorption, while the back pad polishes and dries your floor. We did find filling the reservoir with the cleaning solution to be troublesome. We recommend pouring the solution from the can into a cup with a pour spout, then pouring the solution into the reservoir, that way you don’t waste the solution.
Price at time of publish: $334
Weight: Not listed | Mop Head Material: Microfiber | Machine-Washable Head: Yes
To bring you our list of favorites, we tested 16 different spray mops for maneuverability, effectiveness, portability, ease of cleaning, and value. We created stains of ketchup, butter, mud, canola oil, and apple juice on both hardwood and tile floors, allowing them to sit for 10 minutes. While the stains were drying, we tested the maneuverability of each mop by navigating around a mock dining area.
Once the stains were set, we mopped the stains on each floor type, noting how many sprays and swipes it took to clean each. After we finished mopping, we took a clean paper towel and wiped it along the floor to see if there was any leftover residue.
Afterwards, we rinsed the mop pads in the sink, wrung them out to dry, and checked them after 24 hours to see if they were still damp or had any lingering odors. Finally, we washed the mop pads according to the manufacturer's instructions and evaluated how they held up after washing. We brought the top performing mops home and provided feedback as to how well they held up after two months of consistent use.
Spray mops typically say what types of floors they are intended for, so double check the manufacturer’s materials to see if the mop you’re interested in will work with your floor type. If you’re not sure, look for a mop that says it will work on all types of flooring. Our best overall pick, the OXO Microfiber Spray Mop With Slide-Out Scrubber, is a great buy in this sense because the microfiber cloth works well on lots of different floor types, and you can choose the cleaning solution that works best for you. For hardwoods specifically, the Bona Premium Spray Mop for Hardwood Floors is a great choice because the solution is made for hardwood floors. “Some mop heads or cleaning solutions could damage delicate floors (think unsealed hardwood, vinyl plank flooring, bamboo, cork, or natural stone),” says Angela Brown, CEO of Savvy Cleaner. “Generally, spray mops will work well for sealed hardwood, tile, laminate, vinyl, and other non-porous surfaces. Unsealed wood or sensitive floors are prone to water damage from a spray mop.”
Consider the shape, size, and build of your mop head when purchasing a spray mop. Lots of them come in slender, rectangular shapes that work well for edges and corners, but you’ll also want to check that it will fit easily under furniture and in between tight spaces as well. In terms of material, Brown says that microfiber mop heads are a popular choice because they absorb seven times the water of a cotton mop head, plus have dirt-trapping capabilities: “A good mop head should be durable, washable, and replaceable, and most spray mops have these.”
Think about where you’ll want to store your mop and make sure it’s not too large for your storage space. Most mops don’t fold down, but they’re small enough that you can easily stick them in a utility closet without taking up much room. The Nellie’s Wow Too Bundle does have adjustable length settings, but it is on the heavier side. If you’re looking for a lightweight mop that won’t strain your back while mopping, the Rubbermaid Reveal Microfiber Spray Mop is the lightest on our list at just 1.4 pounds. “A larger mop head will cover more surface area quickly, but it can be heavier and harder to maneuver,” says Brown. “A balance between size and weight is important for comfortable use and effective cleaning. Also, look for an all-resin (or plastic) mop rather than one with metal parts to prevent rust and corrosion.”
Swiffer WetJet Mop Wood Floor Starter Kit: This is another great option with disposable mop pads, but it’s best for spot cleaning as opposed to deep cleaning. This would be a great mop for cleaning up after messes from kids or pets, or for a quick mop to make the room smell fresh.
E-Cloth Easy-Click Spray Mop: This mop maneuvers well around tight spaces, but the mop pad was a bit thin and didn’t absorb as much liquid as others we tested.
Spray mops are great for cleaning up quick messes and spills, but also great for those who do scheduled weekly or bi-weekly mopping. And they’re better at getting into corners and against edges than traditional mops. You also don’t have to lug around a mop bucket with a spray mop, or make trips back and forth to the sink to wring out your mop. “Spray mops use less water than traditional mops, which can be more eco-friendly and reduce drying time for the floor,” says Brown. However, a traditional mop might work better for heavy-duty cleaning, as you can use super hot mop water to help get stuck-on messes and really use your elbow grease with a thicker, traditional mop head. Brown notes that the reservoir’s capacity in spray mops is small as well, requiring frequent refills if you’re cleaning large areas. The initial costs of a spray mop are usually three to five times higher than a traditional mop, too, especially if proprietary cleaning solutions or cartridges are required.
Spray mops are usually more sanitary than a regular mop because you can easily throw the mop head into the washing machine, whereas you can’t always do that with a regular mop. Spray mops also have smaller mop heads and dry more quickly, which means they tend to harbor less bacteria and are less likely to mold. Brown agrees, saying that they use a limited amount of cleaning solution (or water) and allow you to target specific problem areas. Traditional mops can spread dirty water if not rinsed frequently or if used with a mop bucket without a clean water compartment (with the exception of spin mops, which use a centrifuge to wring out excess water).
Spray mops are typically good for all finished floors, but it’s always best to double check that the spray mop you’re using is made for your floor type before purchasing. If you’re searching for something specific, try to buy a mop that is built for wood, tile, vinyl, etc.
Amanda Ogle is a freelance writer and editor with seven years of experience covering food and drink, travel, and general lifestyle topics. For this list, we tested 16 popular spray mops in our Lab and at home, evaluating them on maneuverability, effectiveness at cleaning a variety of messes on different floor types, portability, ease of cleaning, and value. For expert insight, she consulted with Angela Brown, CEO of Savvy Cleaner, a training program for house cleaners.
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