Buying guide for Which spray mop is best?
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Cleaning hard floors can be a real ordeal. Mopping the conventional way can be slow and leave your floors sopping wet. However, the best spray mops make this tedious task quicker and easier, so you can finish your chores early and do whatever else it is you need to do.
But it's important to choose a spray mop that's right for you. Do you want the instant convenience of disposable cleaning pads or would you prefer pads you can wash and reuse? Do you want a mop that's battery-powered or are you happy with a manual trigger?
We've done extensive research to find the best spray mops on the market. The Swiffer PowerMop Multi-Surface Mop Kit is our overall favorite for its versatility and cleaning power.
Expert Tip
When washing your mop heads be sure to not use any detergent or fabric softener. Washing them in just water helps your mop head last longer.
BestReviews Cleaning Expert
Our top picks
Product specifications: Dimensions: 15.4” W (cleaning head), 28.5” H | Cleaning path width: 15.4” | Capacity: 25 oz | Surface recommendation: All finished surfaces
The Swiffer PowerMop Multisurface Mop Kit comes with everything you need to get started: the mop itself, two replacement cleaning heads, a floor cleaning solution and two AA batteries to power it. The bottle of premixed cleaning solution slots into place in the body of the mop, and there's a battery-powered spray action that you operate with a button.
The disposable cleaning heads have hundreds of strips that provide powerful scrubbing. It's suitable for all floor types (except unsealed floors and oiled or wax wood flooring), but, if you need a spray mop exclusively for wood floors, there's a hardwood version of this mop. It's much the same but comes with a wood-floor cleaning solution and a gentle cleaning head.
We love how easy this mop is to use and how clean it leaves floors. The premixed solution is convenient, as are the disposable cleaning heads — although we do see the benefit of washable pads.
Best bang for your buck
Product specifications: Dimensions: 15.9” W (cleaning head) x 49” H | Cleaning path width: 15.9” | Capacity: 25 oz | Surface recommendation: All finished surfaces
Not only is the O-Cedar a great value, it's also one of the best spray mops with washable pads on the market today. You can buy it with just one washable cleaning pad or with one or two refill pads. Having a couple of spares means you can have one in the wash while still using one, and you've got a backup in case things get messy and you use more than one pad in a cleaning session.
Fortunately, you don't need to use a proprietary or premixed cleaning solution, you just fill the bottle with water and two tablespoons of your favorite floor cleaner.
Among our favorite features is that the cleaning head flips 180 degrees, so you can use both sides of the cleaning pad. This lets you clean a larger area before you need to remove and wash the pad. We also like that it's fully manual, so no batteries or charging are required.
Safe on all surfaces
Product specifications: Dimensions: 10.5” W (cleaning head) x 46” H | Cleaning path width: 10.5” | Capacity: 17.6 oz | Surface recommendation: All finished surfaces
The Swiffer WetJet Hardwood and Floor Spray Mop is an excellent choice for all finished surfaces. It has dual spray nozzles powered by four AA batteries, so you get an even distribution of cleaning solution to work with
The cleaning pads aren't as textured as those on the PowerMop, so you don't get as much scrubbing action, but they have their advantages. We like that each has an absorb and lock strip that traps dirt so you don't end up just pushing it around the floor. You get a total of 10 replacement cleaning pads with this mop: six heavy-duty and four original. It also comes with a bottle of cleaning solution.
We're fans of how light this mop is and how easy it is to maneuver. The pads are disposable, which is an advantage for some and a disadvantage for others.
Best battery powered spray mop
Product specifications: Dimensions: 9.5” W (cleaning head), 47.8” H | Cleaning path width: 9.5” | Capacity: 12 oz | Surface recommendation: All finished surfaces
More than just an average spray mop, this model is also used to vacuum up debris, saving you time compared to vacuuming first and then mopping. You can use it as a wet spray mop to clean marks off floors, a dry mop to dust and vacuum or to simultaneously wet mop your floor while vacuuming debris.
It has a rechargeable battery and runs for 12 minutes in vacuum mode or longer if just spraying. Its included disposable mop pads lock away debris, eliminating mess and maintenance — simply toss the pad and replace, for a fresh clean every time!
We love how convenient this mop makes it to clean hard floors. Even if there's lots of dirt and debris around, there's no need to vacuum before you mop, saving you time and energy!
Best spray mop for hardwood floors
Product specifications: Dimensions: 16” W (cleaning head) x 28.4” H | Cleaning path width: 16” | Capacity: 34 oz | Surface recommendation: Hardwood
While ideal for hardwood floors, this versatile, manual spray mop conquers other hard surfaces, too, making it a great choice for mixed-flooring homes with hardwood, tile or laminate.
This eco-friendly spray mop boasts a refillable cartridge, letting you ditch single-use bottles and refill it with Bona's plant-based, biodegradable cleaning solution — perfect for those seeking a gentler, eco-friendly clean. However, keep in mind it's recommended that you stick with Bona's solution, which is completely safe for hardwoods.
The large microfiber cleaning pads are removable and machine-washable. We like that they're nicely absorbent, so they hold onto dirt rather than spreading it around.
Compatible with any cleaner
Product specifications: Dimensions: 15” W (cleaning head) x 17.1” H | Cleaning path width: 15” | Capacity: 22 oz | Surface recommendation: All finished surfaces
While some spray mops are only compatible with the manufacturing brand's own cleaning solution, this one works with any cleaner, so you can choose your favorite. It has a refillable chamber for the solution and a manual trigger for spraying.
The reusable cleaning pads are made from absorbent microfiber. Rubbermaid claims that they pick up 50% more dust and dirt with every pass than a conventional mop. They're machine-washable and last through about 100 cycles. We appreciate that there's also a built-in scrubbing pad for tougher marks.
This is a solid mop that performs well and doesn't need batteries for the spray mechanism. We love that it's refillable and works with your preferred cleaning solution.
Best spray mop for spot cleaning
Product specifications: Dimensions: 7.7” W (cleaning head) x 56.6” H | Cleaning path width: 7.7” | Capacity: 16 oz | Surface recommendation: All finished surfaces
Conquer tough stains and everyday messes with this versatile spray mop. The large, soft cleaning head takes care of general cleaning, while a hidden scrubber easily tackles stubborn spots. Simply detach the soft head, scrub away the mess, and slide it back on for an impressive clean tailored to your unique messes.
Its microfiber cleaning heads are washable and reusable, so you don't have to worry about buying replacements. We also like the convenience of the manual trigger since there's no need for batteries.
This is a great all-around spray mop for any type of sealed hard flooring, including tiles, hardwood and linoleum. While the 16-ounce capacity isn't as large as the competition, we appreciate that you can refill it with any cleaning solution.
Expert Tip
When choosing a spray mop, keep in mind the type of solution that you’ll use on your floors. For example, if you prefer the Bona solution, the Bona mop would fit you best. If you prefer a multipurpose cleaner, Rubbermaid or O-Cedar mops will work well for you.
BestReviews Cleaning Expert
How we analyzed
To find the best spray mops, we did hours of research. We compared dozens of models and read hundreds of reviews to see how they perform in the hands of real, everyday users. We analyzed and compared them on a range of factors, including water capacity, cleaning path width and general ease of use.
How to choose the best spray mop
It's important to choose the spray mop that's right for you. Whether that means picking one that's compatible with the types of floors you have or one that has a power source you find convenient to use.
Power source
You can find some fully manual spray mops. These require no batteries and are simply operated by a trigger. Others are battery-powered — usually, they're powered by simple AA batteries, and they last a long time because all they do is operate the motor that controls the spraying mechanism.
There's little difference between battery-powered and manual spray mops other than battery-powered ones have a button and manual ones have a trigger. That said, some people find the button more comfortable to use.
Then, you have mops powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. These usually have additional functions. For instance, the Shark VACMOP Pro can both vacuum and mop. The trouble with models that have rechargeable batteries is that they don't tend to last long between charges. For instance, when using the vacuum function, the VACMOP only runs for 12 minutes.
Floor compatibility
It's important to think about floor compatibility when buying a spray mop. For instance, the best spray mop for tile floors isn't necessarily the best spray mop for laminate floors. If you've got hard floors of various types in your home, you should aim to buy an all-surface spray mop. Those designed for hardwood floors usually come with a hardwood floor cleaner and any scrubbing parts are slightly gentler to avoid scratches. It's worth noting that no spray mops are suitable for unsealed, waxed or oiled wooden floors.
Ease of use
Of course, you want a spray mop that's easy to use, but what does this really mean? We find it convenient when mops have a large capacity for cleaning solutions so you don't have to stop and change it too often. Some models — such as the O-Cedar ProMist MAX Spray Mop — have a cleaning pad that flips 180 degrees so you can get more use out of it before you need to change it. We also find an adjustable handle a nice feature, as it makes the mop easier to use for people of a range of heights.
Expert Tip
Reusable spray mop heads can be washed with your washing machine.
BestReviews Cleaning Expert
A note on washable pads
Some spray mops have washable pads, while others have single-use disposable pads. There's no doubt that it's easier to simply throw a single-use pad into the trash when you're done, but washable pads are more eco-friendly and easier on the wallet. Washable pads are usually made from a microfiber material that's more absorbent than single-use pads and effectively traps dirt. They're great for anyone who doesn't mind one extra chore (cleaning the pad) to cut down on costs and save extra trips to the store to buy refills.
Our expertise
Lauren Corona has been writing for BestReviews since 2017. Having written more than a hundred articles on home and cleaning topics and reviewed countless products in the space, she knows what she's talking about. In fact, she's used several spray mops over the years to clean her own floors.
