So clearly you’re looking to find out more about steam cleaning. And you’re definitely hoping to find the best steam mop for laminate floors right? Well if you’re anything like us, you can relate to this hilarious saying:
“The true story of every parent is this… My house was clean. And then the kids woke up.”
But seriously, let’s talk about steam mops and specifically how they work on laminate floors! But first, if you’re in a hurry, we have a quick comparison table you can see. And check out our top recommended product!
OUR TOP RECOMMENDATION: The Best Overall Steam Mop For Laminate
The “dark horse” unknown brand in our pursuit of the great laminate flooring steam mops wins as our preferred choice. The biggest reason is in the title… it’s multi-functional! So let’s check some features:
Features:
5-in-1 Steam Cleaner
20-foot power cord
Lightweight at 6 lbs.
Water tank is 11.5oz
3 adjustable steam settings
Ready to use in 30 seconds
1-year warranty
For most people who prefer the “name brand” you can check our #2 option which works just as well. But what separates this Light ‘N’ Easy model is the flexibility to use it in other areas. We have large curtains hanging in our living room that are a pain to take down. Steam cleaning makes that whole process so much easier! And this steam mop can detach into a handheld version.
The 5 different methods you can use it for are: floor cleaning, carpet cleaning (need to purchase a small adapter), handheld garment cleaner, window/mirror steam cleaner, upholstery steam cleaning.
So you can clean everything from your hardwoods to couch to drapes all with one machine. We love that aspect which nudged it over our #2 choice. Outside of the versatility, these top 2 options are basically the same laminate floor steam cleaner.
We also like the adjustable steam settings. Some situations require more steam and some will require less. Having options is always better in our opinion. Add that with the water tank that’s big enough to give 20 minutes of cleaning on the lower steam setting.
QUICK TIP: If you’ve never used a steam cleaner, definitely start on the lower steam setting to see how it works. Depending on your floor, you may never need the higher setting.
Ideally, we would’ve liked a slightly longer cord. The 20-foot cord isn’t bad, but many others on our list run 25-feet which is great when cleaning large rooms. Other than that, not much to complain about here. We love this steam mop.
Our second pick here for top steam mop for cleaning laminate floors is the Shark Genius Pocket Mop. It’s the Shark brand which has been featured in many of our vacuum reviews here and here, but now packing the power of a steam mop to get those dirty floors clean. And it’s definitely the top shark steam mop on laminate floors.
Features:
Electronic 3-level steam control
Weighs about 8 lbs.
22-foot cord
11.5 oz water tank capacity
Comes with 2 dirt pads
Auto-pad detachment
5-year warranty
So we all know Shark makes great vacuums. Their quality is undeniable and we even own a Shark vacuum as our primary cleaner. Brand recognition is a lot these days, but there’s no joke about the quality of this Shark Pocket Steam mop.
The first thing we love is the multi-level electronic steam control. This is done automatically and adjusts for you as you move. No need to constantly squeeze a button or handle to get steam. The Pocket mop ejects steam for you.
The other amazing feature is that hands-free dirt pad attach and detach operation. You literally don’t need to ever touch a dirty pad again. Just press the release button and the dirty pad will drop off the Pocket Mop into the hamper. It’s quite a clever design to be honest and one we think other companies should consider.
The power cord is slightly longer than the Light ‘N’ Easy steam mop which we like, and it also comes with 2 dirt pads right in the box. You can obviously purchase more pads, but 2 should get you started just fine.
QUICK TIP: If you have real hardwood floors, make ABSOLUTELY SURE your floors are sealed properly before using a steam mop. On unsealed floors, a steam mop can severely damage and warp the floor boards. Don’t guess, have an expert tell you for sure because a steam mop will never cost more than a complete hardwood redo…
Overall, we like the Shark Genius Pocket Mop a lot. If the Light ‘N’ Easy model wasn’t a multi-use tool, this Shark steam mop would be our top pick for best steam mop for laminate wood floors.
Bissell is another well known cleaning product brand. They are especially well known for vacuums, but obviously know how to maeke great floors cleaners in general. And this PowerFresh steam mop is no exception. Let’s look at some features:
Features:
On-board spot booster brush
Duel steam control level
Spring breeze scent insert discs
Comes with 2 microfiber pads
25 foot power cord
2-year warranty
Here we have the newest lineup of Bissell steam mop products in the PowerFresh Deluxe model. This newer model features 2 amazing and unique changes to previous models. And those 2 little features make a world of difference for us!
First, the SpotBoost brush (as it’s called) is how you give an extra boost to tough sticky floors. It’s just a detachable feature on the overall steam mop. It has bristles and a very concentrated amount of steam to really dig in and get tough messes clean.
The other feature that we love is the ability to insert spring clean scent discs for a fresh smell. In the front of the steam mop, there’s a little opening to insert these Bissell made scented discs. Essentially, they look like little dishwasher tablets. But they dissolve as you steam clean the floor and leave a fresh scent behind. Who doesn’t love fresh scents?!
Combine those two unique features with the steam control (two levels available) and longer 25 foot power cord, and the Bissell PowerFresh is a solid contender. Plus it comes with 2 washable microfiber pads so you can usually handle the whole house with those.
QUICK TIP: Make sure when you are using a steam cleaner for laminate floors, you never stop on one spot for too long. Many steam cleaners produce steam based on time intervals (only highly sophisticated ones use other methods). So if you’re standing on one spot, it will obviously produce a lot of hot steam. Well even properly sealed floors can’t handle that intense heat for long. So keep moving and if you have to stop… unplug the steam mop!
We really don’t have many complaints about the Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe. It’s even a little cheaper than both options above it. In our opinion, those 2 models are just slightly better. But you definitely cannot go wrong with this Deluxe model.
“THE BEST BUDGET FRIENDLY STEAM MOP FOR LAMINATE FLOORS”
If you’re on a tight budget, this great little machine will help get you through cleaning your laminate flooring. It’s missing most of the bells and whistles of some previous models on our list, but it has all the basics done well.
Features:
Extremely lightweight (under 4 lbs.)
7.4 oz water tank
Comes with 1 pad
19.6 foot cord
1 year warranty
Again, this is a no-frills type of steam mop which is one reason we love it. For anyone on a tight budget, this Light ‘N’ Easy model costs around half the other bigger brands and packs a ton of punch.
It lacks any sort of steam control, so please be cautious when using it for the first time. Try a small area (or closet ideally) to make sure your laminate floors can handle the amount of steam. Assuming that works well, this mop just constantly pumps out the same amount of steam as you work.
It has a slightly smaller water thank than many previous models here on our list, but that’s a sacrifice most people can live with for the cost. If you don’t mind filling up the water tank at least 1-2 more times per cleaning session, this model can work for you.
The power cord is a little shorter than we’d like, but once again this is all about budget-friendly. It’s long enough to handle most jobs. And most homes have enough outlets scattered around to accommodate. You’ll likely have to unplug at least once, but that’s not too bad.
There’s no multi-functionality here either. You get a steam mop and nothing more. If that’s all you need, you’d be all set with this mop. But look at some of our earlier recommendations if you also want a drapery, upholstery or carpet cleaning addition.
Overall, it’s a solid machine that does it’s one job well. It steam cleans laminate (or hardwood) floors. So for that, it deserves a place on our top laminate floor steam mop list.
SKG is another brand that few people are familiar with. They aren’t a Hoover or Bissell (btw did you notice how Hoover hasn’t even made the list yet…), but they still make solid quality steam mops. Just check the Amazon ratings saying as of 1/22/2018 over 160 people reviewed this steam mop and rated it 4.4 stars!
Features:
6-in-1 Accessories kit
Lightweight (under 6 lbs.)
Dual steam settings that you control
Alert sounds when water tank is low
Water tank holds 7.6 oz
20 foot power cord
Includes 3 pads
2-year warranty
As you can see from the features, it’s got a solid lineup of options. Obviously, it’s versatile and comes with a ton of attachments. Here’s all the areas you can clean with this SKG steam mop:
Floor cleaner
Carpet refresher
Upholstery cleaner
Window steamer
Grout cleaner
Fabric steamer
So clearly this model was built to be versatile. If you prefer or need a large variety of items steam cleaned, this SKG model clearly has the most options. Our recommended Light ‘N’ Easy model mentioned above is lacking the grout cleaner.
Here’s what we really like about this model (besides the versatility). First, it comes with 3 pads in the box. That’s more than any other steam mop we reviewed and that’s definitely a plus. It also has a nice design that get into a lot of tight places when cleaning.
But what we don’t like as much is the small water tank and shorter power cord. That’s what kept this SKG model from ranking higher. What good is a versatile tool if you’re refilling the water tank every 10 minutes? And the shorter power cord limits mobility with all those wonderful functions.
Overall, the SKG steam mop still makes a top 5 appearance on our list of Best Steam Mop For Laminate Floors. But it’s got some limitations to go along with those 6 versatile functions.
Honorable Mention: The O-Cedar Microfiber Steam Mop
The honorable mention for our list is the O-Cedar Steam mop coming in at number 6. It’s a solid brand, but very limited in our opinion.
Features:
Modestly priced
Lightweight at 5 lbs.
Swivel triangle head
Includes 2 microfiber pads
Includes carpet glider
Overall, it’s definitely a solid choice for a steam mop. There’s some features we just love more about the other 5 options on our list than this O-Cedar model. But as I’m sure you’ve seen on Amazon, there are far more bad choices in steam mops than this one.
Plus this O-Cedar model is very reasonably priced. Considering it can also be used as a carpet refresher, it was worth a mention here.
There’s different thoughts on the absolute “best” way to clean your laminate floors. We even did a detailed review on cleaning laminate floors here. So let’s give you several different methods we’ve seen and give you our opinion on finding the best laminate floor cleaner machine. Some ideas might work better than others, and some are probably just not ideal for your floors.
First Thing is A Good Vacuum For Laminate Flooring
The first thing you’ll want to invest in is a great vacuum for laminate floors. Thankfully, we did an entire article discussing vacuums for laminate floors here. Check it out and pick something that fits your budget and gives the quality you need.
Vacuums get the larger debris off the ground. Crumbs, pet hair, dirt, etc. can easily be removed by a vacuum instead of a full blown clean. You don’t want to over-clean your floors or you’ll strip the coating on top. So grab a vacuum for the day-to-day cleaning and look to do a deeper clean 1-3 times per week.
Using The Soap & Water Method To Clean Laminate Floors
Some people subscribe to the “good-ol-soap-and-water” methodology for everything. Just plain soap mixed at the right concentration can solve anthing right?!
Well maybe not.
See soap usually has chemicals designed to destroy things. The aim is to destroy germs, but sometimes cheaper soaps just destroy everything. Ever notice how your hands feel rough and dry after using cheap hand soap? That’s what we mean.
That soap just tried to kill everything and ended up stripping your skin of all good and bad things. Not ideal for your floors.
We don’t personally recommend the standard soap and water method because it leaves too much to chance. What if you use the wrong chemical soap? What if you put too much on the floor? You’ve spent a lot of money on those floors….don’t risk it.
Using A Micro-Fiber Cloth Mop To Clean Laminate Floors
This method is actually pretty good. It’s not our preferred method (for reasons we’ll discuss in a minute), but it’s a good option that can serve a purpose.
Here’s our opinion…
We use a micro-fiber cloth for more day-to-day cleaning of our laminate floors along with the vacuum. And then use something else for a deeper clean once or twice a week.
Why are micro fiber mops good?
Because they trap a good chunk of dirt without doing harm to the floors. And there’s usually no water (or very little water) involved. And if there’s one thing you remember about our post, it’s that floors HATE standing water on them.
That’s the #1 warning from all manufacturers…. DO NOT USE EXCESSIVE WATER WHEN CLEANING. Because it will damage the floors very quickly. And that damage is beyond repair.
A micro fiber cloth can be used with a quick spray of cleaner and attack most areas of your house in just a few minutes.
Our Preferred Method: Using A Steam Mop To Clean Laminate Floors
Why a steam mop?
Great question. It combines all the best elements together in a way that work well for cleaning laminate floors. So let’s jump into the details now and explain what is a steam mop and why it can be used on laminate floors.
What Is A Steam Mop?
This may be silly for some people, so if you’re already familiar with steam mops feel free to skip this section. If you are brand new to steam mops, let’s explain more.
It’s quite simple really. A steam mop is a unique mop-looking device that heats up water (creating steam) to clean and disinfect surfaces. Most steam cleaners are geared toward floors, but some models can be used for carpets, counter tops, bathroom tile, etc.
But let’s just focus on steam mops for laminate flooring.
In most models, you fill up a water tank attached to a mop. When you plug in the steam cleaner, it heats up the water to create the steam. Then you push it around the floors. Some models require you to pull a trigger to activate the steam and others don’t.
Steam mops are becoming quite popular these days. They are simple to use and disinfect without harsh chemicals or crouching on your knees. Sometimes people have asked us this question….
Can You Use A Steam Mop On Laminate Floors?
The short answer is yes!
But Will A Steam Mop Damage Laminate Floors?
No, not if used properly.
Take a look at the Shark website here which discusses how using their product which is designed for laminate floors. Many products are designed specifically for the unique creation that is laminate floors. So hopefully that gives you a solid understanding of how to use your top steamer for laminate floors.
Wrapping It All Up
We hope you enjoyed our list here of the best steam mop for laminate floors. Obviously, new mops come out all the time so we’d love to hear comments from you. If you agree with our list or have some suggestions for better ones, let us know.
