Cordless steam mops are the latest innovation in the home cleaning industry, but is it better than your traditional mop, and should you invest in it? Here’s everything you need to know.
What is a cordless steam mop?
To really understand the benefits of a cordless steam mop, let’s break it down into two, first of all, the cordless element and then the steam mop. A cordless mop is powered by an onboard battery, which eliminates the wires that limit how far they can reach.
Meanwhile, as the name suggests, a steam mop uses steam or hot water to remove the debris and dirt and disinfect surfaces. You can use it on different kinds of floors, including vinyl, tile, and wood.
Why you should buy cordless steam mops
A cordless steam mop is a great tool that makes cleaning hassle-free and efficient. So if you don’t have one yet, here’s why you should buy one:
Quick & easy
This type of mop helps you clean the house easily and quickly. They also help keep floors fresher and cleaner.
Great design
Cordless steam mops usually feature a compact, discreet, and neat design. Plus, unlike their corded counterparts, you don’t need to connect additional wires or change the sockets as you move from your room to the lounge or vice versa.
In addition to that, cordless steam mops can effectively and quickly clean even the most demanding and tightest areas like under tables. Some mops even come with powerful LED headlights to help find dirt and debris hidden across your house.
Suitable for different flooring
Most steam mops don’t use detergents for cleaning, and even if they do, they use very mild concentrations. This makes them safe for use on flooring, including sealed stone and hardwood, which they’ll have sparking within minutes of cleaning.
Can kill mold
Because steam mops work by turning water into steam in just a few seconds, they provide a natural, powerful mopping motion. As a result, they help eliminate up to 99.9% of mold and germs, minimizing the possibility of you getting sick, particularly on humid days.
Easy to maintain
Of course, the ease of maintaining a steam mop depends on which one you invest in and the number of parts and features it has, but generally, all of them are easy to maintain. In some cases, you might just need to machine-wash the pad or filter to clean it.
Since maintenance is easy, you don’t have to spend too much on it. Plus, since you don’t need to do it frequently, it helps extends the mop’s life.
Are there any drawbacks?
Like all machines, cordless steam mops do have some disadvantages. These include:
Cost
Cordless steam mops cost more than their traditional counterpart, but the higher price is justified. Note that by paying more for a cordless steam mop, you get several excellent features not present in a traditional mop. Plus, it is more efficient and gets the job done quicker, which helps save time.
Requires battery
Depending on the model you have, you will have to charge your mop before you can use it or use batteries. So in some cases, the battery might run out in the middle of your cleaning session, but that rarely happens. In the case of a mop with an onboard battery, you might have to get the battery replaced after some time if it malfunctions or becomes weak.
You need to be patient.
Once you switch on the steam mop, you have to wait for a few minutes for it to warm up and produce steam. However, in most cases, the wait time is around a minute or so, so you don’t need to wait long.
Careful use is required.
Since a steam mop uses steam, you can expect things to get hot. If you’re not careful, steam can burn your hands. But by following the instruction guide, cleaning the mop carefully, and doing your best to avoid injury, you won’t have any problems.
Things to look for in cordless steam mops
There are a plethora of cordless steam mops on the market. To make sure you buy the right one, here are some things to keep in mind:
Battery life
Cordless steam mops stand out from other mops in terms of battery life and performance. Most manufacturers use a lithium battery for their mops that take about 2-3 hours to charge fully and last for at least one cleaning cycle.
Battery life and performance go hand in hand. On a full battery, the mop will be faster and more efficient, ultimately saving the amount of time you need to spend on cleaning.
Tank capacity
Another factor you need to be mindful of is the tank capacity, which will depend on the size of your house. So if you have a big area to clean, you’re better off with a large tank capacity unless you want to continuously refill the tank while cleaning.
Design
You will have to carry your cordless mop from your cleaning closet to the room you have to clean, but it will make things difficult for you if it is too heavy. We recommend going for a flexible and lightweight model that is easy to carry around and convenient to use.
Mop head
Steam mops are available with three different kinds of mop heads: swivel, triangle, and rectangle. As the name suggests, the swivel head allows you to maneuver around things in your way. Meanwhile, a triangle head is ideal for tight spots and corners, while a rectangle head is suitable for open areas.
The type of flooring
Before investing in a product, consider the kind of flooring you want to use it on. Generally, cordless steam mops work great on tiles or linoleum flooring. But in case of deep grout or uneven tiles, you should opt for a steam mop with a spray function or one that uses pressurized steam.
