12 best steam mops 2024 UK; tried and tested
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CLEANING your hard floors has never been easier, thanks to the current crop of steam mops.
No more do you have to scrub away at dried on mud and stains, as the best steam mops provide heat to break down dirt without the need for harsh chemicals and they’re speedy too, drastically cutting cleaning time.
They don’t have to be expensive either, but if you do want an all-singing, all-dancing, high-tech version then there’s plenty of choice out there.
With modern life becoming ever busier, anything that gives us back time is to be welcomed so a steam cleaner that leaves floors hygienically spotless in minutes should be on everybody’s wishlist.
They make washing floors less of a chore and because they’re so simple to use, chances are you’ll clean your floors more often. What’s not to like.
Read on for our reviews of the best steam mops available now in the UK.
Best steam mops at a glance:
- Best overall steam mop: Steam & Clean Lightweight Steam Mop
- Best steam mop for laminated floors: Black & Decker 8 Piece Steam System Mop
- Best cordless steam mop: Eufy Mach 1 Ultra
- Best steam mop for windows: Tower TSM16 Steam Mop
- Best steam mop for carpets: Swan 1300W Lightweight Steam Mop
Black & Decker
Black & Decker 8 Piece Steam System Mop, £99.99
Pros: Larger 500ml tank, pivoting heads, good handheld option
Cons: Slightly more expensive
Rating: 4/5
This Black & Decker is an eight-piece steam system that includes a useful 360-degree pivoting head, which makes handheld, portable cleaning a breeze.
The device features a generous 500ml tank, allowing for a long clean time and the pivoting head ensures you reach hard-to-access areas.
During testing, I loved the variable steam flow feature that allowed me to easily switch between high and low steam settings for general cleaning, or hard-to-shift, stubborn stains.
I found this especially useful when changing between floor types in the house, as I have a mixture of wood, laminate and tiling.
Weight: 2.7kg, Capacity: 500ml, Heat up time: 15 secs, Cable length: 6m
Shark
Shark Klik’n’Flip Automatic, £169.99
Pros: Innovative click system for mop heads, precise steam controls
Cons: Expensive, heavy
Rating: 4/5
Billed as Shark’s most advanced steam mop, I loved the Klik'n'Flip's versatile head that can be adjusted to alter the size of your mop, as well as allowing you to direct a blast of steam at stubborn stains.
I found it could be a little fiddly to get right, as the cleaning pad must be positioned properly in the casing, but it’s a nice feature that, once I got the hang of it, sped up my entire cleaning and mopping process.
You’ll have to have a bigger budget for this as it’s one of the more expensive on this list, but I found it to be sturdy and well made, with intelligent steam controls and excellent cleaning cloths.
Weight: 2.7kg, Capacity: 350ml, Heat up time: 15 secs, Cable length: 6m
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Swan
Swan 1300W Lightweight Steam Mop, £49.99
Pros: Long cable, low tank warning
Cons: Lower power, heavy and bulky
Rating: 4/5
The Swan 1300W is a versatile and easy-to-use mop, with a generous 7m cable, which makes cleaning larger areas easier thanks to its reach.
I found it especially useful when cleaning in my large open-plan downstairs space, which doesn't have a lot of available plug sockets.
The Swan offers excellent cleaning for both hard floors and carpets and it also has a replaceable anti-calc filter to ensure a clean finish each time you mop.
The 500ml tank promises around 20 minutes of steam action and the low tank alert warns you when the water is getting low, which is a nice touch and one I found especially useful when getting carried away scrubbing!
Weight: 3.2kg, Capacity: 330ml, Heat up time: 30 secs, Cable length: 7m
Kärcher Steam Mop SC1 Upright
Kärcher Steam Mop SC1 Upright, £79.99
Pros: Easy to use, powerful steam, rotating head, fast heat-up
Cons: Handle is long so could be a problem for some people, slightly too much rotation
Rating: 4/5
This is a great steam mop if time is of the essence as it heats up super quickly. It’s also simple to use and your floor dries quickly after cleaning, leaving it shiny and spotless.
I found the mop was easy to assemble and there are helpful videos on the Kärcher website if you’re unsure about fitting the cartridge, as I was.
The handle is long and you can’t adjust it so some people may find it difficult to manoeuvre, but other than that is works well, gliding effortlessly around the floor.
It’s useful in the kitchen because it moves easily and the mop head rotates well, but in bigger spaces this becomes a little more difficult as the head tends to rotate with every movement so it’s more difficult to maintain a straight line.
The mop can be a bit fiddly to clean as you have to attach the fibre cloth to the mop head, but I just pop the cloth in the washing machine after every use.
The Kärcher Steam Mop is also ideal for small homes as it doesn’t take up much room and the cable winds around the mop, so stays out of the way when not in use.
Review by Natalie Chui
Weight: 2.1kg, Capacity: 200ml, Heat up time: 30 secs, Cable length: 5m
Russell Hobbs
Steam & Clean Lightweight Steam Mop, £39.99 £32.99
Pros: Lightweight, long power cable, easy to use, well-built, washable mop heads, affordable
Cons: Struggles with corners, front water loading is tricky, small water tank, no steam trigger switch
Rating: 3.5/5
The Steam & Clean is one of Russell Hobbs' top sellers in its cleaning category and it's easy to see why.
At 2.3kg it's lightweight, which is a plus and it was ready to go in 15 seconds – something the manufacturer claims and I'm happy to confirm.
It’s a life-saver for my bathrooms and kitchen, and it punches way above its weight class as far as value is concerned. However, it does struggle to get into corners and tight spaces, such as those around the toilet and sink. That’s not a dealbreaker though as many more expensive mops also have a problem with small spaces.
The water tank isn’t very big so you’ll have to refill it if you’re washing several floors, but you should get around 15 minutes of steam time before it needs filling again.
Another minus – the bottom attachment is a bit of a faff, but generally speaking, it does the job it’s supposed to. It’s compact, and easy to use and the Velcro mop pads are machine washable.
You can also use it to refresh carpets as it comes with a glider attachment and I’ve even been known to use it on my bathroom wall tiles.
Review by Jacob Little and Aaron Dowler.
Weight: 2.3kg, Capacity: 350ml, Heat up time: 15 secs, Cable length: 5m
Tower
Tower TSM16 Steam Mop, £39.99
Pros: Good value
Cons: Less sturdy than some others, not as versatile as some more complex systems
Rating: 3/5
This is an affordable steam mop and a good option for more budget-conscious buyers.
It has a powerful 1500W steamer and can also be used as a handheld cleaner around the home.
It ships with 16 accessories, allowing it to be used on a variety of floor surfaces and the squeegee attachment (my favourite in testing) is very useful for windows and wipe-clean surfaces around the bathroom.
I thought for a budget cleaner it performed well, but felt a bit flimsy; a bit more weight wouldn’t have gone amiss for scrubbing persistent stains.
Weight: 1.23kg, Capacity: 400ml, Heat up time: 15 secs, Cable length: 5m
Beldray
Beldray Detergent Steam Cleaner, £44.99
Pros: Separate dual-tank detergent design
Cons: Not very powerful, slow heat-up time
Rating: 3/5
The Beldray Steam Cleaner uses a dual tank system, which means that the water tank is chemical-free, while the separate detergent tank allows you to add cleaner to achieve a bacteria-busting, deeper clean.
The heat-up time is slightly longer than some of the other models on this list at 25 seconds, but the capacity means it allows for continuous steam output for 15 minutes, which I found useful for cleaning larger floors.
This mop has a rectangular head rather than the more conventional triangular shape, but I still found it useful for getting into most nooks and crannies around the house.
If you have an older house without perfectly straight edges and right angles, I'd still gravitate towards the more commonly used triangular head shape.
Weight: 0.3kg, Capacity: 350ml, Heat up time: 25 secs, Cable length: 5m
Vax
Vax Steam Fresh Combi Steam Mop, £100
Pros: Deep cleaning, excellent handheld mode
Cons: No replacement cloth, heavy
Rating: 4/5
Vax has put countless years of experience into this steam mop, which happens to be their best-selling model.
I was really impressed with its quality and versatility and it was one of the easiest mops to use of those I tested.
The mop ships with a detergent that provides an excellent deep clean and the handheld accessories make it easy to clean surfaces, stove tops, hobs and smaller areas like ovens with ease.
Weight: 3.7kg, Capacity: 260ml, Heat up time: 20 secs, Cable length: 8m
Vax
Vax ONEPWR Glide 2, £299 £248.98
Pros: A great clean, innovative, dries floor while cleaning
Cons: Bulky, expensive
Rating: 4/5
The ONEPWR is something a little different. Although not a steam mop as such, it warrants inclusion here as it’s an innovative solution for cleaning hard floors around the home.
It uses a brush system and heated water in a tank to mop the floor and, upon release of the handle, it then sucks up the water into a different waste tank to help dry the floor, picking up any dirt and debris on the way.
It’s an incredibly powerful system and I'd recommend this for larger homes.
The battery lasts a while and it provides a fantastic clean, however, you have to be prepared for a larger initial outlay cost-wise and a heavier unit; it is not quite as portable as the other steam mops featured in this list and I found it quite heavy lugging it between the floors in my house.
Weight: 5.4kg, Capacity: 750ml, Heat up time: N/A, Cable length: Battery powered
Avalla
Avalla T-20 High Pressure Steam Mop, £109.99
Pros: Superheat boost provides extra power, quick heating time, 500ml tank
Cons: Only a rectangular head included
Rating: 4/5
This was one of my top performers in testing, in no small part thanks to its superheat boost, which made short work of the most difficult of food stains on the floor.
This mop effortlessly cleans a variety of hard floors thanks to its intelligent temperature boost control, boosting the steam to 120 degrees, ensuring a quick clean, which is useful for day-to-day mopping.
I also liked the sleek and thoughtful design and temperature display, which feels a little more modern and futuristic than some of the other mops tested.
Weight: 2.2kg, Capacity: 500ml, Heat up time: 15 secs, Cable length: 8m
Eufy
Eufy Mach 1 Ultra, £749
Pros: Premium product, all-in-one solution, cordless, self-cleaning system
Cons: Very expensive, heavy and cumbersome, needs regular maintenance and care
Rating: 3/5
This Eufy cleaner is an all-in-one system that allows you to vacuum, mop and steam clean with just one unit.
It’s a premium product and you’ll need to have a good reason to spend this much money on a cleaning device, such as cleaning large surface areas, office spaces or commercial buildings, but it’s an intelligent product that provides a superlative cleaning experience, offering a self-cleaning and self-sterilising system so you always know you’re cleaning with fresh water.
Bear in mind that, unlike dedicated steam mops, this model is quite bulky to manoeuvre and takes up a bit more storage space.
Weight: 5.7kg, Capacity: 820ml, Heat up time: N/A, Cable length: Cordless
Where can I buy steam mops in the UK?
You can find steam mops on the high street in stores such as Robert Dyas, John Lewis, and also at discount retailers such as Home Bargains. You may even find a small selection in larger supermarkets, especially during the early part of the year when ‘spring cleaning’ is popular.
Online, check out large retailers such as Amazon, Argos and Wayfair, as well as individual brand websites.
Before buying, take into account the size of the floors you wish to clean and the type of functions you need. The best steam cleaner for your will be the one that meets the requirements of your household.
We found the steam mops tested in our feature at:
Is there an alternative to steam mops?
Steam mops make light work of cleaning hard floors, but of course there’s always the old-fashioned alternative of a manual mop and bucket!
Happily there are other, more high-tech alternatives on the market for wood, laminate and tiled floors, from companies such as Karcher – read our review of the Kärcher EWM2 Wiping Mop.
Tineco and Swan both offer a hybrid cleaner that vacuums and steam cleans in one, while the TurboClean Floor Cleaner from Lakeland sweeps, cleans, polishes and buffs hard floors.
If you have tiled floors you may also want to consider a spray mop, rather than a steam version as the spray hits the grout as well as the tile surface, cleaning it at the same time.
Can you use a steam mop on laminate floors?
Before you steam clean your laminate floors, there are a few things worth bearing in mind.
Laminate floors are made of multiple layers, including a fiberboard core, which is vulnerable to moisture. Therefore, when using a steam mop on laminate floors, it's a good idea to adjust the steam output to one of the lower settings.
This minimises moisture exposure and keeps excess water from sitting on the surface of the floor. Keep the steam mop moving to prevent moisture penetrating the laminate, and ensure your microfibre cloth or pad is clean and well-fitting. These are designed to trap moisture and stop it seeping into the seams of the laminate.
It's also worth trying out the mop on an inconspicuous area before using it across the entire floor, that way you can make sure there's no damage or warping.
How to use a steam mop?
One of the benefits of a steam mop is the lack of faff; they are relatively straightforward to use and can save you time when compared to a mop and bucket.
Before you start steaming, clear your cleaning area of any debris, dust, or loose dirt. Vacuum or sweep the floor to ensure it's as clean as possible.
Fill the steam mop’s water tank and switch on the mop. Most steam mops are ready to go within about a minute and many will allow you to adjust the steam intensity. Be sure to check the instruction guide to select the correct setting for your floors. Laminate flooring, for example, tends to need the lowest setting.
When mopping, clean in a slow, deliberate manner, divide the area into manageable sections and work your way from one end to the other. It’s important to use even pressure and check that the dirt is being picked up by the microfibre cloth underneath the device. If needed, replace this cloth periodically and dispose of it or pop it in the washing machine after use. Be sure to empty the water tank after use.
How much do steam mops cost?
Basic models start between £25 - £50, with mid-range models (many of which are reviewed here) coming in between £60 - £150. The difference between basic models and some of the upper range models are often bigger water tanks, adjustable steam settings and a larger range of accessories to clean different areas of your home.
High-end models, which include specialised attachments and higher steam outputs, cost between £150 - £250.
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