Keep your floors squeaky clean with our top picks. - by Show
There’s nothing like a freshly mopped floor to make you feel happy and result in a clean house, a lovely sense of achievement and pride in your home. Forget dragging around a heavy old floor mop and bucket though. Depending on the type of flooring you have in your home, there’s a bunch of hardworking floor mops on the market with accelerated features that can help you make this happen with less fuss, less effort and even a spring in your step as you get the job done. Our buyers guide finds the best mop for every kind of flooring. We’ve done the research for you on which mops are best for tile floors, for wood floors, for laminate floors and also for concrete, stone and marble floors.
Getty What to look for in a mopWhen choosing a mop check the manufacturer’s instructions against your flooring type and look for good quality materials and construction. It pays to make a longer-term investment and “Buy once, buy well”. Lighter weight plastic and cheap construction often means the mop will snap or break easily with use and need replacement after a short time, contributing to landfill. Look for removable and machine-washable pads or mop heads and accessories that mean less waste and a longer lasting product, so more affordable in the long run. Different types of mopsSpray mops
Getty In a similar way to how an iron mists your clothing, spray mops incorporate a water reservoir on the handle and a trigger to dispense water ahead of the mop head as you clean the floor. It works just like wiping a bench with a damp cloth so dries within minutes and does away with the need for a bucket of water. Spray mops are a great way to control the amount of water you use, particularly on natural timber flooring, which can buckle over time with too much water applied through excessive cleaning. A quality spray mop is an efficient way to do a good regular and consistent job of cleaning your floor without leaving streaks and can also be used as a wall cleaner mop. Top tips:
Best spray mops1. Dolanx Tripod Grip Spray Mop, $25, catch.com.au
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2. Bona Spray Mop, $84.55, Kogan
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3. Housenliving microfibre self-wringing spray mop, $39.99, catch.com.au
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Spin mops
Kogan Closest to a conventional mop in the way it works, a spin mop has a microfibre mop head and a mechanism on the head that allows it to spin on the end of the handle and comes with a companion bucket that has a fixed basket in the top. The mop is placed in the cleaning water and drained using a pedal to rotate the mop head at speed, removing excess water – similar to the way a salad spinner works. Lightweight plastic microfibre mop heads snap on easily to extendable handles and are usually machine-washable. Spin feature means they rotate 180 degrees for simple cleaning action on the floor without leaving streaks behind. Top tip: Ensure mop head is clicked to angle after spinning for easy, flexible cleaning ability. Best spin mops:4. Magic 360° magic spin mop, $21.99, Kogan
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5. Sabco compact spin mop set, $40, catch.com.au
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Steam mops
Getty images Steam mops are a great solution for quick and easy cleaning without chemicals, instead using hot steam to clean. Steam mops are said to be excellent for cleaning windows and glass and effective in killing bacteria, dust mites and neutralising pet smells. Water is heated to above boiling within the unit and steam is passed through the mop head to clean hard flooring, glass and freshen carpet. Steam mops require access to a power point at all times to maintain steam at high temperature. Some users report steam mops leave floors overly wet after cleaning. Top tips:
Best steam mops:6. Bissell Select steam mop, $149, Godfreys
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7. 5-in-1 steam mop stick, $65.99, Kogan
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8. Vax Fresh twin tank 1600W steam cleaner, $149, The Good Guys
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Bionic and automated mops
iRobot Powered by electricity, there are several mops on the market that take the heavy work out of using a floor mop. These range from power assisted pushing to fully automated and are great for those with back pain sufferers or who find bending and pushing difficult. Best automated mops:9. iRobot M613800 Braava Jet M6 robot mop, $888, Amazon
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Basic mop systems
Getty images A good old-fashioned flat-head mop is still the tool of choice for many. This can also take the form of a sponge mop, which is a great wall cleaning mop due to it’s padding and long reach. Now with the added option of a head which you can:
Best flat head mops:10. Dettol antibacterial floor cleaning system, $27, catch.com.au
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11. Easy Squeezy Mop, $19.99, Kogan
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Diana Moore Content expert, florist and interior decorator Diana Moore has been passionate about helping others make the perfect home ever since she moved into her own. From styling her local bar to feel like your best friend’s lounge room, to randomly restyling people’s bookshelves, Diana is a firm believer in making the best of what you have in front of you. What is the best way to clean laminate floors?Use a gentle cleanser to spot-clean visibly dirty areas, and always follow up by wiping the area with a dry, absorbent cloth. One simple cleaner that works well with laminate is: 1 part rubbing alcohol + 3 parts water + a squirt of dish soap, applied using a lightly dampened cloth.
What do professionals use to clean laminate floors?What you'll need to clean laminate floors. Canister vacuum.. Mop (experts recommend a reusable mop with a microfiber head). Vinegar.. Baking soda.. Dish soap.. Warm water.. Medium-sized bucket.. Is Spin mop good for laminate?Microfiber spin mops are simple to keep clean, dry quickly, and very soft. You can also use chamois cloths on laminate floors. However, avoid cotton spin mops because cotton is more absorbent, so they hold excess water, which is damaging to the laminate.
Are steam mops OK to use on laminate floors?Unfortunately, no. Laminate flooring is sensitive to heat and moisture, so the humidity from your steam mop can cause harm. It won't cause as much damage as a wet mop, but could eventually cause your floor to warp, loosen or peel.
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