How to Use a Steam Mop in 5 Simple Steps

Refresh your floors in minutes

Photo: marchsirawit / Adobe Stock

Written by Catherine Hiles

Contributing Writer

Updated September 27, 2024

Difficulty

Easy

No experience? No problem.

Time to complete

1 hour

The exact time depends on the size of the room

Cost

$50 to $100

DIY with what you have

Need professional help with your project?

Get quotes from top-rated pros.

What you'll need:

TOOLS

Vacuum cleaner or broom
Steam mop
Mop pads

SUPPLIES

Water
Floor cleaner (optional)

A freshly mopped floor can transform an entire room from drab and dirty to fresh and sparkling. But traditional mops require you to lug around a heavy bucket of water, which can quickly get dirty when you’re constantly rinsing and wringing out the mop. Steam mops take a lot of the manual work out of cleaning your floors—all you need is clean water and some mop pads to get rid of dirt, dust, and bacteria. Learn how to use a steam mop properly and enjoy spotless floors the easy way.

Prepping to Use a Steam Mop

Using a steam mop to keep your floors clean is simple enough. But if you don’t prepare well, your floor could end up streaky or scratched.

Before you get the steam mop out, remove any dirt and debris from the floor using a broom or vacuum cleaner. If you skip this step, the steam can cause the dirt to become muddy, and the mop will spread that mud over the floors. Debris can also scratch wooden floors if not removed before steam mopping.

Verify that you can safely use a steam mop on your floor material. Different cleaning methods are recommended for every floor type, and it’s not recommended to steam mop floors that are not water-resistant.

How to Use a Steam Mop

Photo: jchizhe / Adobe Stock

Once your floor is prepped and you have a steam mop in hand, follow these steps to get your floor sparkling.

How do you prepare a floor for a steam mop?
Before steam mopping a floor, you must vacuum or sweep to remove dirt, dust, and debris. If you skip this step, you’ll just be smearing wet dirt around your floors. Hard debris can scratch wood floors if not removed before mopping, too.
Do you just put water in a steam mop?
In general, you only need to put water in a steam mop. Some manufacturers let you use certain floor cleaners, but using the wrong type can ruin the mop. Check the instruction manual for clarification.
Is steaming floors better than mopping?
Steam mops can be a better option than traditional mops because steam can lift even the most stubborn dirt from your floors without using chemicals. Steam can also kill bacteria and dust mites. However, steam mops are more expensive than traditional mops and require an electrical outlet to function, so they might not be ideal for everyone.
What floors should not be steam mopped?
You can use a steam mop on many surfaces, including tile, water-resistant laminate, and sealed hardwood. However, using a steam mop on vinyl, traditional laminate, or unsealed hardwood floors can cause damage.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Using a steam mop is an easy task for many homeowners. However, if you have mobility concerns or don’t want to buy a steam mop, hiring a local cleaner to mop your floors while cleaning the rest of your house can be well worth the money. Hiring a professional house cleaner costs between $120 and $240, with many homeowners paying an average of around $170.

Frequently Asked Questions

Before steam mopping a floor, you must vacuum or sweep to remove dirt, dust, and debris. If you skip this step, you’ll just be smearing wet dirt around your floors. Hard debris can scratch wood floors if not removed before mopping, too.

In general, you only need to put water in a steam mop. Some manufacturers let you use certain floor cleaners, but using the wrong type can ruin the mop. Check the instruction manual for clarification.

Steam mops can be a better option than traditional mops because steam can lift even the most stubborn dirt from your floors without using chemicals. Steam can also kill bacteria and dust mites. However, steam mops are more expensive than traditional mops and require an electrical outlet to function, so they might not be ideal for everyone.

You can use a steam mop on many surfaces, including tile, water-resistant laminate, and sealed hardwood. However, using a steam mop on vinyl, traditional laminate, or unsealed hardwood floors can cause damage.

Need professional help with your project?

Get quotes from top-rated pros.

Learn more about our contributor

Written by Catherine Hiles

Contributing Writer

Catherine is a content writer specializing in home improvement, home finance, and personal finance. She is passionate about making complex topics more digestible for the average reader. Catherine’s work can be found on BobVila.com and TIME Stamped, among others.

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