How They Work

• All steam mops operate in a similar way. They are all electrical for water heating and they all have a small water reservoir. At the bottom of the steam mop is a pad that you can wash and reuse. While you push the unit back and forth over the floor and with a push or pull of a trigger located on the handle, steam is released and pushed through the pad, which in turn picks up dirt, grime or scuff marks from your floor.
  
  

Pros

• Steam mops keep you from dragging out a bucket, a mop, detergents and hard cleaners to clean your floors. There is no scrubbing involved as with a traditional sponge mop and your floors will be left streak-free. These mops are environmentally friendly in that no chemicals are used, making cleaning safe for your family and your pets. Steam mops are relatively light weight, easy on your back and are easy to operate and maneuver. Most steam mops come with pads that can be washed and reused, cutting down on the expense of replacement pads.
  
  

Cons

• Steam mops are not the best choice for cleaning unsealed hardwood floors. If you are not careful, irreversible water damage can result. These mops are not meant to vacuum the floors, only to lift up dirt and grime. Your floors will need to swept or vacuumed prior to using a steam mop. Although many brands claim to sanitize the floor surface, they fall short of this claim. To sanitize, you will need to allow your mop to stay in place for several seconds, extending the cleaning time. You also will find that steam mops are not very effective when cleaning deep grout lines in tile flooring. The pad will not reach deep enough into the grout line to lift the grime.