11 Best Mops of 2023, Tested by Experts

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We updated this story in April 2023 to add new recommendations and more details about how we tested.

There's no shortage of tools available to keep your home's bare floors clean. Even if your home is covered in wall-to-wall carpeting, you likely have bare floors in the kitchen, bathrooms and other areas that need both dry and wet cleaning. But even the top vacuum cleaners can't do it all. For those times when fine dust and stuck-on scuffs, stains and grime mar your wood, ceramic, laminate and vinyl plank floors, what you need is a good mop.

Fortunately, today's mops are neater and easier to use and store more cleanly than the old cotton string or butterfly sponge mops of yesteryear. Disposable or washable microfiber pads and onboard canisters of cleaning solution make them super convenient cleaning tools, while the best robot mops can virtually do the mopping for you and the best steam mops can clean without the need for cleaning chemicals. But wet and dry mops serve different purposes and the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab recommends having both on hand to tackle any cleaning job.

To find the best mops, we use built-in panels of wood, vinyl, laminate, ceramic and marble floors for testing the dozens of dry and wet mops, vacuum mops and hardwood floor cleaners that we evaluate every year. Based on our extensive testing, these are the best wet and dry mops you can buy for cleaning all types of floors.

After reading our reviews, you can find more information on how we test mops, what to look for when shopping for one and answers to questions about when to replace a mop and more at the bottom of this guide.

With its oversized model, this is the original Swiffer Sweeper on steroids. It has a head that's one-and-a-half times larger than the original, so it makes cleaning large areas quick and easy. Swiffer has long been a GH Seal star and favorite of the GH Cleaning Lab for how well its disposable cloths grab and trap the fine dust other tools miss and its ability to reach under low-profile furniture where most vacuums can't go. In fact, we like to say that when Swiffer was introduced over 25 years ago, it changed the way Americans clean, making it easy to mop floors whenever you had a few spare minutes.

This Swiffer Sweeper is safe for all floor surfaces and, because the head pivots and locks at 90º, it can even be used to dust vertical surfaces like walls. Along with the Sweeper, the kit includes eight dry and two pre-moistened wet cloths. Wet mopping with the Swiffer is as easy as dry dusting, however, the wet cloths can dry out if left unused for too long and a second wet cloth may be necessary to finish especially large jobs. Replacements cloths need to be purchased regularly.

Looking for one mop to take care of all your floor cleaning needs? We had to choose this Bona Microfiber Floor Mop as our best value pick because it comes with two washable, reusable and interchangeable microfiber pads. The soft fluffy pad with both short and long fibers is for the dry pick-up of dust, pet hair and other debris. The low looped pad for wet cleaning has scrubber strips on each side to loosen stubborn grime while the center section absorbs and locks it away. Both attach easily to the 16.5-inch mop head that has soft, flexible corners to keep from damaging woodwork and cabinets. It really is a do-it-all choice.

In GH Cleaning Lab tests, we've found Bona mops to be very maneuverable and easy to use. What we particularly like about this one is the telescoping aluminum handle. It's lightweight and adjustable to accommodate users of varying heights. In our repeated wash tests, the pads hold up very well. For wet cleaning, pair this mop with one of Bona's spray floor cleaners for hardwood, stone, vinyl and laminate floors or even the PowerPlus Hardwood Floor Deep Cleaner that performed so well in tests, we gave it a Good Housekeeping Best Cleaning Award.

This electric scrubbing mop from Bissell will put your grandmother's old floor scrubber to shame. It's got a sleek design, is corded for non-stop power and comes with one set of soft and one set of spinning and scrubbing washable and reusable microfiber pads. To safely clean and scrub all sealed and finished floors, simply fill the tank with water and some of the included Bissell floor cleaning solution.

While we haven't tested this specific model in the Lab, we have tested many Bissell full-size and portable vacuums and carpet cleaners, so it's a brand we trust — and this mop has good online reviews, so we are comfortable recommending it. We especially like that the cleaning solution only dispenses when you press the trigger, so you have better control over how wet the floor gets — a real plus when cleaning hardwood. Since it's not a steamer, we are also comfortable recommending it to clean finished hardwood and laminate floors.

This mop can be used dry for buffing, too, so scuffs and other marks can be removed with just a quick spin of the pads. But because the pads are round, they won't get completely into tight corners.

Spin mops and buckets are a hit in the marketplace because they are an innovative way to wring out a string mop without all the arm twisting required by typical mop wringing mechanisms. But one problem they still hadn't solved — until now — was that with a traditional bucket, you keep dipping a dirty mop into the clean detergent solution until finally, you're cleaning with dirty water.

Thankfully, O'Cedar came to the rescue — which is why we are recommending it — with its EasyWring RinseClean system that has a dual water tank approach. Fill the top chamber with clean water and allow it to drain into the top bucket. That's what you use to mop the floor. After cleaning, wet the mop again briefly and spin it clean by pressing the foot pedal. All the dirty water spins off the mop and into the bottom tank away from the clean water. Then, you can refill the top bucket with clean water from the top chamber.

One GH analyst tested this O'Cedar system at home and gave it rave reviews. She found it easy to use and wring thoroughly so she was comfortable using it on her wood floors. The mop head is hefty, with fibers all around for 360º cleaning and removable for machine washing. We also like that the pole telescopes for more comfortable use. Like all spin buckets, it takes up a bit of storage space. With this O'Cedar system, you can't add cleaner to the bucket; it must be applied directly on the floor.

Wood floors need special care and Bona, with its long history of professional floor refinishing expertise, knows a thing or two about making the best wood floor cleaning tools and formulas. This mop comes with a full cartridge of cleaning solution that's easy to remove and refill with any Bona floor cleaner. With the appropriate solution, the mop can be used to clean hardwood, tile, laminate, stone or any type of flooring. In our tests, it dispensed a fine, even mist when we pulled the trigger and the floors dried quickly after mopping.

The microfiber pads are easy to attach, have scrubbing fibers to remove stuck-on grime and hold up well to washing while the cleaning formula dissolved dirt and dried stains quickly, easily and safely. Soft bumper corners on the large mop head keep it from accidentally marring walls and furniture as you go. The ergonomic pole has a soft grip mid-section for more comfort while scrubbing and there's even a pull-out loop at the top for easy hanging during storage, though the pole length might be a bit long for some users.

A new category of floor mops — a mop and vacuum in one — deserves a spot in this roundup because they're changing how we're cleaning floors. Vacuum mops combine the dry pick-up of a regular vacuum with the wet floor cleaning performance of a mop. They even pick up chunky food messes, like spilled soup.

In our recent test of 11 models, this H11 Max from Dreametech was tops in our ease of use tests. It earned a perfect score in six of our eight ease of use categories, and was easy to maneuver around furniture and into tight corners. It weighs almost 11 pounds, but was easy to push because it's self-propelled. During our performance tests it ran for 36 minutes on a single charge and cleaned up spilled ketchup without leaving any streaks behind or causing bigger messes on our test floor, though a few drops of dirty water did dribble out when we lifted it off the floor.

The water tanks on this model from Dreametech are completely flush with the main body of the vacuum mop, giving it a slim, sleek, modern look that sets it apart from others. Thanks to a scraper on the brush roll cover, the brush roll gets cleaned as the vacuum moves forward, ensuring that messes don't build up and get re-deposited further along on your cleaning path. The H11 Max also automatically increases the suction as it detects more debris on the floor and has an LED screen that informs you of everything from debris detected to error alerts and battery levels. In our opinion, it takes mopping to a whole new level.

Reliable may not be a household name here in the US, but this Canadian company is well known for its irons that billow out lots of steam. So, it was no surprise to us that its steam mops performed well in our tests, too. In fact, the Steamboy Pro is among the best steam mops we've tested. The powerful steam it produces helps remove sticky stains with ease, and the water tank sits atop a cartridge that filters out impurities from the water so there's less risk of build-up and clogging inside the steamer.

Reliable's triangular swivel head gets into corners as does its built-in triangular scrub brush, and it comes with four reusable microfiber pads so you won’t have to worry about running out in the middle of a job. There's an attachment that snaps on to help freshen carpets, though we've never found these to be particularly useful or effective on any steamer we've tested. We like its slim design and large handle that makes it easy to carry up and down stairs.

The Reliable steams on demand, which means you have to press a trigger to release the steam. While it does offer more control than steamers that continuously pump out steam, we still don't recommend any steam mop for use on hardwood or laminate floors.

Unlike any mop we've ever seen, Melissa Maker's Maker's Clean mop is the first real innovation in traditional floor mops in years. If fact, we were so impressed with how it tested for us that we gave it a Good Housekeeping Best Cleaning Product Award. The mop head is taco-shaped, so it not only cleans flat surfaces with your favorite spray floor cleaner, but it squeezes into narrow spaces, like between the refrigerator and the wall, or around the toilet. The bottom edge fits perfectly into the 90-degree angles of stair treads and risers or along baseboards and floors.

Another standout feature in our estimation is that the pole telescopes, so it works for both tall or short users. There's even a non-slip ring at the top to keep the mop from falling over when it's leaning against a wall. The package includes two dry-dusting and two wet-mopping microfiber pads that were easy to attach and washed well in our tests. Or, use the grommets to attach a favorite cleaning cloth if you prefer to use one instead of the pads. The head pivots and locks vertically in place for simple storage or easy cleaning of walls, shower glass or corners. Because the cleaning surface is small, though, large floor and wall areas will take longer to clean.

If floor cleaning is not your favorite task, a robot mop could be the answer to your prayers. Who knows more about floor-cleaning robots than iRobot, the company that invented the category? iRobot vacuums always do well in GH Cleaning Lab tests, and an early version of this mop model that we tested in our Lab was no exception.

The Braava Jet robot mop comes with pads for dry sweeping and two types of wet cleaning pads: disposable and reusable. While some robot mops clean with just water, this one uses a mix of warm water and iRobot's own floor cleaner to moisten grime and gunk before one of the wet pads cleans dirt from your hard floors so it's actually cleaning.

To grab any pet hair and dust bunnies before wet mopping, start Braava Jet out in dry-sweeping mode and the electrostatic pad will pick up the debris. It's smart enough to know not to spray water when the dry pad is installed. Braava Jet's Smart Mapping technology learns the most efficient way to clean in patterns of neat rows and its accuracy improves the more often it cleans. Through the app, you can select which rooms to clean and which to skip, schedule cleanings when you are away from home and much more. While robot mops are great for hands-free cleaning, they will take longer to complete the task than it would take you to mop by hand.

Just like the Swiffer Sweeper transformed the way we dry dust floors, Swiffer WetJet did the same for wet mopping. This all-in-one device launched an entirely new category called spray mops and once consumers discovered them, they never looked back. Simply snap the cartridge of wood-safe cleaner onto the mop, attach the disposable pad, press the button on the handle to activate the battery-powered spray and go.

In our tests of this GH Seal star, we found the cleaner to be effective and quick-drying, something we especially liked with cleaning hardwood floors. We reviewed test data from the manufacturer showing the safety of the cleaning solution on wood over time. The mop is easy to assemble and maneuver and the disposable pads are super absorbent, picking up and locking in dirt you didn't even know was on your floors. A scrubber strip across the center gently scrubs away at stuck-on grime. Afterward, simply peel off the pad and toss it.

The mop even comes with two mini headlights to help illuminate dark corners and two spray nozzles for even application. This complete kit includes the mop, five pads, one mini bottle of solution and four AA batteries. Once the starter bottle of cleaner is empty, you'll have to buy a full-size replacement. The cleaner bottle isn't refillable and only Swiffer WetJet cleaner cartridges can be used.

We would be remiss not to include a basic sponge mop in this roundup and Libman has been around since 1896, so it's no surprise its mops are dependable, affordable and one of our picks. This sponge mop has a large head to clean hard surfaces or soak up liquid spills. As an added bonus, there's a scrubbing surface on the sponge and a built-in brush for scrubbing floors and tile grout so it's like getting two tools in one — a great value.

The wringing mechanism works well to squeeze out excess water; simply pull the handle on the pole back or push it forward. When the sponge head is no longer useable, you can pop it out and buy a replacement rather than having to buy an entirely new mop. To keep the sponge intact, it must be used with a non-bleach cleaner applied to the floor or diluted in a bucket. Some reviewers expected the sponge head to be more absorbent and complained that it popped off too easily.

You may think there isn't much to testing a mop, but we beg to differ. When we test mops in the GH Cleaning Lab, our evaluations begin the minute we open the box or package. We assess how easy the mops are to assemble, giving additional points to those that don't need any assembly at all. We evaluate how easy the pads, mop heads and cleaner bottles are to attach, remove, replace and, where appropriate, refill. The length of the handle is examined to determine if it will work equally well for tall and short users and whether or not the mop will be a challenge to store.

Then we put them to work. Dry mops are evaluated for how much pre-applied dust and hair they pick up from our Lab's wood, vinyl, laminate, ceramic tile and natural stone test floor panels. We even note whether the dirt clings to the mop or falls from it as it's carried around. Wet mops are tested on the same flooring surfaces for how well they remove scuffs, greasy grime and dried spills like chocolate syrup or soda. Whenever possible, we also test the mops in real home settings with consumer testers to see how easily they reach under low profile furniture and how easy they are to store.

For water-sensitive surfaces like finished hardwood floors that shouldn't get overly wet, we assess how much liquid the mop puts down on the floor and how long the floor takes to dry after cleaning. Wringing mechanisms are also tested for how much water they remove. Finally, any washable pads or mop heads are laundered multiple times and reattached to make sure they continue to perform after laundering.

In our last test of 11 vacuum mops, we cleaned up over 143 dry and wet messes, and in a previous test of 15 steam mops, 14 tests were conducted on each mop for a total of over 200 assessments. These numbers don't even include the one-off tests of new mops that come our way all year long or that enter our yearly Cleaning Awards.

But the testing doesn't stop there. We keep the mops in our Cleaning Lab when we need to clean up testing spills and messes to see how they hold up and perform over time and even loan them out to other GH Institute Labs when they need one.

✔️ Dry vs. wet: A dry mop won’t replace a wet mop, but it’s a great addition to quickly nab dirt and debris before wet mopping. If storage space is a concern, some mops have the option of wet and dry pads that attach to the mop and are interchangeable.

✔️ Mop head width: Mops with a larger head can cover more ground and help cut down on cleaning time but may not be able to navigate corners and smaller spaces as easily as a more compact mop head.

✔️ Disposable vs. washable mop pads: Disposable mop cloths are convenient and take the worry out of wondering if your mop is sanitary. However, you will need to buy refills when you run out. Washable mop cloths and heads can be used over and over. Simply toss the reusable cloth in the wash and dry per the directions.

✔️ Cost of refills: Most mops with disposable cloths require refills specific to the mop brand, and some also require a cleaning solution refill. Over time both of these can get pricey but may be a good option for someone who does not want to worry about storing a damp mop or likes the convenience of disposables.

✔️ Replacement heads: With repeated use over a long period of time, mops become dingy and may lose their effectiveness. You may want to consider a mop that has a replaceable head option so that when it’s time for a new mop, you can replace the head rather than the whole mop.

✔️ Type of floor: When shopping for a mop, make sure the mop head material and any cleaning solution it may come with are compatible with your floor. Certain types of floors like hardwood or natural stone may not be compatible with all cleaning solutions or harsh scrubbers. If you’re in doubt, be sure to check with the flooring brand as some types of mops, such as steam mops, can void the warranty if the floor gets damaged from it.

The most effective type of mop is the one that works best for your specific floor — there isn't a one size fits all solution, and each type of mop on the market has its own advantages.

✔️ Steam mop: If you’re looking to kill germs on your floors without the use of cleaning solutions, a steam mop is the answer. It can reach high enough temperatures to kill bacteria on hard floors in places that may need more attention like bathroom floors and pet areas. They are also very effective at loosening sticky messes like jelly or muddy footprints without the scrubbing regular mops require. The one downside: We don’t recommend steam mops for hardwood floors. Few hardwood floors are in perfectly sealed condition and if steam seeps under the finish, it can damage them.

✔️ Spray mop: Spray mops are a great way to wash away grime and clean sticky stains from floors without the mess of a water-filled bucket. Plus, because you control how much cleaner is dispensed, they are a safe and easy way to prevent over-wetting and damaging wood floors. Simply pop on a pre-filled canister of cleaning solution or fill the onboard bottle with your own water and cleaner mix. Then, just spray and mop. Spray mops use disposable or washable microfiber pads.

✔️ Dust mop: A dust mop is an excellent option for picking up dry dirt and debris. Lightweight and easy to maneuver, they are less cumbersome than lugging out a vacuum. Since most dust mops are made with microfiber materials they are also a good option for floors that may scuff easily with a vacuum's rotating brush roll or plastic wheels. They take either disposable or washable microfiber pads and because they are so slim and flat, they can slip into tight spaces and under low furniture where a vacuum often can’t go. Dust mops can also be used to clean baseboards, crown moldings and walls. ✔️ Sponge mop: These mops come in handy when cleaning up a spill since sponges absorb a lot of liquid fast. Most sponge mops are also slim and lightweight, making them a good option for someone who finds other types of mops too heavy or awkward to use or doesn't want to deal with disposable or washable pads. They come with either a roller or butterfly wringing design, and can require a fair bit of strength to thoroughly squeeze out the sponge. Be sure to rinse them well before storing them to control germ growth and odors. Once the sponge mop head gets too dirty to use or it falls apart, it’s time to replace it.

✔️ Vacuum mop: The newest category of floor cleaning appliance, vacuum mops can pick up dry dirt, wet messes and wet-clean floors all at the same time. They are revolutionizing the way we wash floors. Most are rechargeable, have separate clean and dirty water tanks and mop floors by dispensing a cleaning solution onto the floor via a spinning microfiber brush roll. Self-cleaning models are the easiest to maintain and most have app connections, multiple cleaning modes and voice prompts to guide you. They are convenient, easy to use and always ready when you need them. They do take up a fair bit of storage space, though, so keep that in mind before you buy.

✔️ Spin mop: Spin mops come two ways. They can be manual or electric. They either have round heads with microfiber strings that clean in all directions or they are electric appliances with spinning microfiber pads.

All floors can be dry dust mopped and most hard floors can be wet mopped, but you do have to take care to use a mop head that won’t scuff the floor and a cleaner that's safe for the surface. For floors that are prone to scratching like wood and laminate, you’ll want to use a mop with a soft material that’s non-abrasive. Ceramic, vinyl and porcelain tile floors are not as prone to scratching or water damage, so most mops should be suitable for this type of flooring.

Beyond the mop, you’ll also want to make sure you’re using the right type of cleaning solution for your floor. Some floors, like hardwood, require specific floor cleaners. Also, steam mops should never be used on any unsealed, peeling, glued or unfinished floors and even though mop manufacturers claim it is safe, we caution against using them on wood and laminate floors, too, even on the lowest steam settings.

Steam mops can sanitize floors because they reach temperatures high enough to kill germs. With the exception of steam mops, other types of mops will remove dirt and debris and wash away some germs, but they don’t actually kill bacteria or viruses. In order to kill germs and bacteria, you need to use a steam mop and pass it across the floor slowly enough to give the steam time to work. Check the manual of your steamer model to see how many passes you need to make or how long you need to steam to actually sanitize an area. Or use a floor cleaning solution that has germ-killing ingredients, following label directions.

Take note though: Most steam mops are generally safe for sheet vinyl, ceramic and porcelain tile floors, however, they may damage vinyl tile, wood or laminate floors — so be sure to check with your flooring brand to confirm if steam mops can be used and that doing so won't void your floor's warranty. Also, be sure to check that your cleaning solution is compatible with your floor type.

While there’s no exact time frame for when to replace a mop, a good rule of thumb is to check its condition regularly and — depending on how often you use it — replace the mop head or pads at least once or twice yearly. There’s usually no need to replace the pole unless it’s damaged. No matter how long you’ve had your mop, some signs it’s time to replace it are if the mop head material is wearing out, there are any broken pieces on the mop, if the mop is overly dirty, if the mop can no longer be cleaned or is no longer cleaning your floors well.

Carolyn Forté has over 40 years of experience testing and writing about all kinds of vacuums, mops and other floor cleaning products. She meets regularly with floor care industry experts to develop testing standards for appliances like steam mops, robot mops and more. As executive director of the Home Care & Cleaning Lab, she personally tests dozens of home appliances and cleaning products each year and oversees all of the testing done by our team of product review analysts.

For the most recent update of this story, Carolyn worked with writer Jamie Kim, who has over 17 years of experience developing products and researching, reporting on and testing consumer products in the home, cleaning, textiles, media and technology categories.

Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab. Using deep analytical testing and writing expertise in appliances, cleaning, textiles and organizational products, she produces cleaning and home care advice for GH, has authored numerous books and bookazines for the brand and partners with the American Cleaning Institute to co-produce the Discover Cleaning Summits. She holds a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York.

Jamie Kim is a consumer products expert with over 17 years of experience in areas of product development and manufacturing. She has held leading roles at both mid-size consumer goods companies and one of the most notable and largest apparel brands in the world. Jamie has contributed to several of the GH Institute Labs, including Kitchen Appliances, Media and Tech, Textiles and Home Appliances. In her free time she enjoys cooking, traveling, and working out.

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