5 Best Mops For Laminate Floors, According To Testing

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Having a good mop in your cleaning arsenal will keep your floor clean and shiny, which can be particularly useful for laminate flooring. An innovative and modern flooring option, laminate is made from cost-effective synthetic materials fused in a lamination process. The resulting floors are durable and great for high-traffic areas, but they need special care when cleaning them to keep them looking shiny and new.

For Jess Hayden, it’s important to focus efforts on light, efficient, and sustainable mops when cleaning laminate floors. “These qualities are the keys to effective cleans for both our housekeeping teams and our guests,” she says. “We look for mops that use materials that are gentle enough to not scratch the surface but effective in sanitizing and cleaning to keep the floors looking new.”

Jess Hayden is the vice president of operational excellence at McKibbon Hospitality, who oversees the housekeeping teams for over 100 properties and 12,000 hotel rooms across the Southeast.

To find the best mops for laminate flooring, we tested 58 mops to find the best steam mops, spray mops and spin mops on the market. We mopped up a variety of stains ranging from apple juice to butter to marinara sauce. First, we tested them in the lab. We then checked in after two months and after six months to see how the mops held up to regular use.

PHOTO: Amazon

Out of the 16 spray mops we tested, the OXO Good Grips Microfiber Spray Mop with Slide-Out Scrubber fared best thanks to its ease of use, included scrubbing pad, and slim profile. It came assembled in the box with one washable mop head and spray bottle already attached, making setup nice and easy. Hayden prefers a spray mop for cleaning laminate floors. “They allow limited water and controlled cleaning formula application,” she explains.

It does not have an adjustable handle but is lightweight and slim, standing at 50 inches tall. To begin cleaning, we only needed to detach the water bottle, fill it with our preferred solution, and reattach it. From there, a quick two to three sprays of liquid and we covered about 3 square feet of space. We found it easy to maneuver, going in and out of spaces like under chairs, tables, along shelving, and more, getting right up to the baseboards and edges.

The mop swivels left, right, up, and down and is flexible, with a push button on the handle to release more spray if and when needed. A full spray bottle mopped an entire 2,400-square-foot home.

We tested stains such as ketchup, butter, apple juice, and footprints. The mop removed most stains fairly quickly with only a few swipes. The butter was the only stain that needed a little extra elbow grease. On average, we needed about 5.5 sprays to completely clean up the stubborn stains.

The mop heads are changed by detaching the velcro at the bottom, making it an environmentally friendly option as no disposable refills are needed. We used the mop about twice a month for six months for big jobs and more frequently for small jobs.

To clean the mop heads after a small job, we put them in the sink, sprayed them with hot water and wrung them out to dry. For bigger jobs, we washed them in the washing machine, where they came out clean and fresh.

Ideally, the mop could come with more covers so that mop heads need to be cleaned less frequently. More mop heads would make large jobs like an entire floor of a home easier as well. While additional mop heads are available at $10 each, buying them ups the total price of the mop.

Overall, though, the OXO Good Grips Microfiber Spray Mop was easy to set up, lightweight to use, easy to clean, and most importantly, got stains out of floors with relatively no elbow grease.

Mop Type: Spray | Weight: 2.6 pounds | Mop Head Material: Washable microfiber pad | Machine-Washable Head: Yes

PHOTO: Amazon

What’s Great About It

Comes almost fully assembled
Affordable
Comes with cleaning solution
Easy to maneuver in tight spaces
Lightweight

The Swiffer PowerMop comes fully assembled with one mop head and water bottle attached. The kit includes one bottle of cleaning solution. However, the mop heads are single-use only and run about $2 each. If you are cleaning an entire floor or house, the cost of additional mop heads can add up.

The mop was easy to use over stuck stains, with the scrubbing strips working overtime to help remove them. Stain removal did require a little elbow grease, and we liked that we could influence this by spraying more solution onto the floor.

On average, it took about one spray and six swipes to get up a variety of stains such as apple juice, butter, canola oil, and ketchup. The mop did not swivel but was easy to get up against bookcases and under furniture. The relatively slim profile makes it a good option for those short on space, with the mop head folding up onto itself.

We found it to be an improvement over the brand’s popular WetJet model thanks to a larger mop head, which is almost double the surface area of the WetJet’s, scrubbing strips, how easy it was to maneuver, and the fact that the solution can spray fairly far.

Because it is so portable and easy to use, we reached for it often. That held true even after six months of use. Out of 58 mops tested, this one came out best for its price, ease of use and the way it tackled stains.

Mop Type: Spray | Weight: 4.68 pounds | Mop Head Material: Polypropylene | Machine-Washable Head: Yes

PHOTO: Southern Living
PHOTO: Southern Living

True & Tidy True Clean Mop & Bucket System

PHOTO: Amazon

What’s Great About It

Easy to use
Adjustable handle
Separate clean and dirty water tanks
Comes with two microfiber mop heads
Portable and compact
Bucket is more compact than other models

What Could Be Better

Oil-based spills were harder to pick up
Hard to maneuver into smaller spaces
No wheels on the bucket
Needs to be unlocked for every spin

The True & Tidy Spin Mop & Bucket System is best for weekly light cleaning or quick spills that are not oil-based. It did require setting up, although it took us less than two minutes to connect the three handle pieces and mop head. We liked that it was easy to use in most spaces, including corners, but the oversized mop head made getting around some furniture a little more difficult.

Because the mop head is a flat surface, we could apply equal pressure throughout, unlike more traditional corded mop heads. However, to spin the mop and soak up clean water, the mop handle needs to be unlocked every time, which is a nuisance for larger spaces.

While the mop picked up apple juice, dirt, and marinara sauce easily, it had a harder time with oil-based spills like butter and canola oil. It took five times as many passes to wipe up butter than it did apple juice, and the mop still left streaks behind.

Despite not having wheels, we found the bucket system lightweight and easy to move around the room, even when full. There are two distinct buckets, one for clean water and one for dirty water, which is a nice feature that some other spin mops do not have. The bucket takes up about one square foot, making it easy to empty and refill.

The mop did not come with directions on how to wash the two included mop heads, but we detached them from the velcro and washed it in the sink by hand. Only a few marinara stains remained after doing so. When tossed in the washing machine, they were even cleaner, although the marinara stains did linger. The mop heads and buckets held up after six months of use.

Mop Type: Spin | Weight: 3.46 pounds | Mop Head Material: Microfiber | Machine-Washable Head: Yes

PHOTO: Target

What’s Great About It

Fast and easy setup
Easy to maneuver
Cooled down quickly
Comes with washable mop heads
Sanitizes as well as cleans
Comes with a 20-foot cord

Setting up the True & Tidy STM-500 was easy. There was a button to release the water tank to fill it up, and a button to turn on the mop. The button turns red when the mop is on and blue when it’s ready to use. The dial on the front allowed us to adjust the steam level, which we set to the maximum for our testing.

To get stains up, we tested a variety of time lengths and found that holding the steam over the crusted-on stains at maximum strength for 30 seconds yielded the best results. We didn’t see a huge difference between the minimum steam and maximum steam levels. However, it still took a lot of passes to get many of the stains off, and anything sticky needed soap to loosen the stain before passing the mop over it. To get the pad to fully cool after using the mop took about a minute and 20 seconds.

At 6.6 pounds, this is the heaviest mop we tested. While it wasn’t cumbersome for our testing purposes, it could be heavy if used for extended periods. The mop also had a hard time standing up on its own and tipped over easily thanks to the head shape. However, that same head shape made it easy to get around furniture, swiveling easily.

It has a 20-foot cord, which can be wrapped up to store. The mop comes with two removable and washable microfiber mop heads which got dirty fairly easily and were more difficult to get clean than other mops.

The True & Tidy STM-500 steam mop is a good choice for light everyday maintenance use on laminate floors, but it was less effective at getting up crusted-on stains and heavy traffic areas. It does sanitize the floors, though, which can be good as a last step in a cleaning routine.

Mop Type: Steam | Weight: 6.6 pounds | Mop Head Material: Microfiber | Machine-Washable Head: Yes

Bissell SpinWave Cordless Pet Hard Floor Spin Mop

PHOTO: Amazon

What’s Great About It

Comes fully assembled
Comes with four mop heads, two regular microfiber and two scrubbers
Maneuvers easily
Comes with a storage tray

What Could Be Better

Only holds a charge for up to 20 minutes
Stains need debris removed before tackling
Mop heads take a long time to air dry

The battery-operated Bissell SpinWave Cordless Spin Mop came with everything attached. It arrived with four mop heads, a charging adaptor, a storage tray, and two bottles of cleaning solution. The mop handle did not adjust and was 45 inches long, about 5 inches less than most of the other models we tested.

The mop maneuvered through tight spaces well because of the swivel head. The mop moved very smoothly over the surface. This steam mop was easy to carry around. The water tank holds 28 ounces of water, which was more than enough to complete the stain removal tasks.

We tested five stains: apple juice, butter, canola oil, ketchup and dirt. On average, it took about five passes for each stain to lift, with the butter taking a full 10 passes before the mop got it up.

The mop requires using two mop heads at once, but they were easy to remove and re-attach as well as wash. The mop heads can be hand-washed and are also machine washable. When washing by hand, we were able to get them 60% clean with just soap and water. After 48 hours of air drying, they were still about 50% wet. After cleaning them by putting them in the washing machine and dryer, they retained odors and looked dingier than other machine-washable mop heads, but came out fully dry.

We liked that this mop could complete the job without needing to be charged. However, it only holds a charge for up to 20 minutes, which would make cleaning an entire room more difficult. It’s the heaviest of the mops we tested, coming in at 9.5 pounds, but wasn’t cumbersome for light or targeted jobs like stain removal.

Mop Type: Steam | Weight: 9.5 pounds | Mop Head Material: Microfiber, with and without scrubbers | Machine-Washable Head: Yes

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The Bottom Line

The OXO Good Grips Microfiber Spray Mop with Slide-Out Scrubber is our best overall pick for mops for laminate floors. It’s easy to use, comes assembled, and the head swivels 90 degrees, allowing it to get into nooks and crannies that other mops struggled with. The scrubbing pad can help lift stuck stains, and we like that the mop heads are washable and reusable.

We also liked the True & Tidy Spin Mop & Bucket System. This spin mop was easy to use, had an adjustable handle, and came with two microfiber mop heads. The bucket separated clean and dirty water unlike other spin mop models, and was more compact. The mop heads were easy to wash by hand and in the washing machine. While it was harder for the mop to pick up oil-based stains, it picked up other stains quickly.

Our Testing Process

To find the best mops for laminate floors, we tested 16 spray mops, 16 spin mops, and 26 steam mops. For the 58 mops, we did initial tests and then checked the effectiveness of them at two months and six months. We considered everything such as setup time, maneuverability and the mop’s effectiveness at getting up a wide variety of stains including water- and oil-based ones. Portability, ease of cleaning, price, and overall value were also considered.

Our follow-up touchpoints at two and six months included whether or not the mop had held up, how often we reached for it versus other cleaning products, how effective the spray mechanism was and how the washable mop heads had fared over time.

Tips for Choosing the Right Mop for Laminate Floors

Mop Type

There are three types of mops available that we tested: spray mops, spin mops and steam mops.

Spray Mops

Spray mops, like the Swiffer PowerMop and OXO Good Grips Microfiber Spray Mop with Slide-Out Scrubber, spray a solution onto the floor before having a mop head canvas the area. They have triggers that squeeze out cleaning solution and mop heads that can be washable or disposable. To clean with a spray mop, you spray the amount of solution desired onto the floor, swipe the mop, and let it air dry. Hayden says spray mops are preferred for laminate floors because of their more controlled cleaning method.

Spin Mops

Spin mops, like the Bissell SpinWave Cordless Spin Mop and True & Tidy Spin Mop & Bucket System, come with buckets and reusable microfiber mop heads. They either have a handle or foot pedal that wrings out the mop’s excess moisture before using it. To clean, add water to the bucket, dampen the mop head, and wring it out before passing it over a stain. Let the floor air dry.

Steam Mops

A steam mop, like the True & Tidy STM-500, is a corded or cordless power-operated mop that uses steam to clean and sanitize hard surfaces including laminate floors. It can also be used to clean tile, walls, windows, furniture, and anything else that won’t be damaged by water.

It heats water in a tank and then releases steam from the mop head. The steam evaporates, leaving the floor dry. Steam mops must be used carefully when cleaning laminate floors as too much steam and moisture can potentially damage them.

Mop Head Material

Depending on the type of mop used, there are two mop heads available, washable and disposable.

Washable

Washable mop heads are environmentally friendly. They can be made from cotton or microfiber and come in a variety of sizes to fit different mops. Some are flat like cleaning rags and others are corded and looped like a regular mop. They can be air-dried and some can be put in the dryer.

Disposable

Disposable mop heads are single-use mop heads that can be made of plastic, polyester or another synthetic fabric.

Portability

It’s important that a mop be easy to transport from room to room. We tested how portable each mop was, considering how much it weighed, how much space it took up, how it stored and if it came with additional accessories or other items that might make it bulky and awkward to carry around.

Questions and Answers

What is the best mop solution for laminate floors?

Hayden, who has almost 20 years of experience and is responsible for 12,000 hotel rooms that get mopped every time there’s a guest checkout, says that it’s important to use a cleaning solution that is correctly diluted. “Less is more,” she cautions. Many laminate flooring companies will provide suggestions on preferred brands to clean their floors.

She’s a big fan of gentle DIY solutions such as a cup of white cleaning vinegar mixed with hot water. “Vinegar’s acidic nature helps not only dissolve dirt, grime and grease but also kills bacteria. It’s safer than most cleaning products, is biodegradable, and is extremely cost-effective,” she says.

What is the best way to clean laminate flooring?

Hayden says that sweeping and or vacuuming before mopping gives you the best foundation for a deeper clean. “When it’s time to mop, use a spray mop with a vinegar-based solution to help preserve your floors,” she says. Make sure to never leave pooling water on the floors and make sure they dry completely.

If you have a spill, she suggests avoiding harsh chemicals or anything too abrasive. “Use a microfiber cloth or paper towel to soak up as much of the stain as possible, and then treat the remnants,” she says. Test a patch before using a solution to make sure no finish gets removed, and then get out the mop to clean the remaining stain.

How often should you mop laminate floors?

If you regularly sweep, Hayden says a bi-monthly mopping should do the trick for maintenance and spills should be mopped on an as-need basis. She recommends getting flooring under rugs a few times a year to help prevent them from losing shine in those areas. “To deep clean or refresh them, clean with a soft cloth, baking soda and vinegar mixture,” she says. A spray mop can restore shine.

Is a steam mop safe for laminate floors?

Hayden says that steam mops might be doing more harm than good if used excessively on laminate flooring. “Laminate is sensitive to both moisture and heat. They can potentially loosen the layers of the flooring and damage them,” she says. Look for machines that allow you to adjust suction and water flow or ones that have specific settings for laminate flooring.

Why Trust Southern Living

This article was written by Lauren Finney Harden, a writer for Southern Living who regularly reviews and writes about a wide variety of products. To curate this list of the best mops for laminate floors, we tested 58 total mops, including spray mops, spin mops and steam mops, evaluating each on quality, portability, maneuverability, stain effectiveness and more. Lauren also spent time researching each type of mop and how it performs. For expert insight, she turned to Jess Hayden, the vice president of operational excellence at McKibbon Hospitality, who oversees the housekeeping teams for over 100 properties and 12,000 hotel rooms across the Southeast.

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