Steam Mopping On Hardwood Floors

There are a number of different ways in cleaning hardwood floors, such as vacuuming, traditional mopping, dry rug wiping, and steam mopping. The latter is becoming more and more popular these days as it brings a number of benefits. Those who are not familiar with what steam mopping is and why it is an excellent way to clean wood floors, the information provided below will prove invaluable.

Why Use a Steam Mop for Hardwood Floors?

Unlike traditional mops, steam mops do not require the use of a bucket and a significant amount of water. This means less equipment to haul around and no risk of spilling water all over the floor. In addition, steam mops these days are much lighter and easier to use so cleaning would take a lot less time and effort.

Potential Drawbacks of Steam Mops

It is important to note that not all steam mops are designed to work well for wood floors. More importantly, if the floors are not properly sealed, the moisture from the mop can seep in and rot the floors from the inside out. When purchasing a steam cleaner for your home, be sure to get one that has been designed to work on hardwood floors without inflicting damage.

3-Way Steam Mop Comparison

Steamfast SF-370 Multi-Purpose Steam Cleaner

Powerful Motor for Pressurized Steam - The 1500 watt motor of this multi-purpose cleaner creates pressurized steam and delivers it whenever needed. It makes for smooth and easy cleaning without having to wait for the steam to get ready.

Deep and Natural Cleansing - This steam mop utilizes water and does not need any additives such as harsh chemicals for comprehensive cleaning. The pressurized steam alone is enough to remove deep seated dirt so that you can keep your home neat sans the use of potentially harmful ingredients.

Large Water Tank - The steam tank of the SF-370 can hold up to 45 ounces of water, which allows for non-stop cleaning even for spacious homes. One full tank of water can deliver up to 45 minutes of uninterrupted cleaning.
Wide Range of Cleaning Accessories - Anything that you can possibly need when steam cleaning your home is included in this package. There are 15 various accessories and attachments included in the package so you have all the help you can get regardless of the type of space you want to clean. Among the attachments included are the following:

Extension wands
Mop head
Microfiber pads
Jet Nozzle
Squeegee
Scrubbing tool
Corner tool
Nylon utility brushes (2 in the box)
Brass utility brush

Hoover TwinTank Disinfecting Steam Mop - WH20200

Very Light with a Slim Profile - At 5.5 pounds, and with a very svelte body, this machine is a great performer in a very small package. For those who like their home spotless without the burden of carrying around cumbersome cleaning equipment, the Hoover TwinTank would make for an excellent choice.

Dual Tank System - This feature allows you to choose between cleaning with steam alone or with the addition of disinfectant. This is especially helpful when cleaning the bathroom and/or the kitchen floor since it is where microbes are usually in abundance. The solution control dial also allows you to decide how much disinfectant you wish to use at any given time. Both tanks are removable for easy maintenance.

Clean Control Dial - Adjusting the cleaning power output is a lot easier with the dial installed in the machine. You can choose to save power when doing light cleaning or keep the performance up when tackling particularly challenging surfaces.

Triangle Swivel Mop Head - Hard to reach areas are a thing of the past with this steam mop. The triangle swivel allows for maximum movement as it reaches challenging corners and crevices that you normally just give up on.

Cooling Tray - This is particularly useful for protecting hardwood floors since extreme temperature tends to cause long term damage to its structural integrity.

Steam Ready Indicator - No guessing game is involved when using this machine as the indicator tells you when the steam is ready for use. It usually only takes 30 seconds for the steam to be ready for cleaning.

Other features include the following:

Carpet glider (for refreshing rugs and carpets)
Microfiber pads (washable pads that are designed for deep cleaning)
30 ft power cord (for a wide cleaning range)

Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop

SmartSet Steam Control - Various floor surfaces require different levels of cleaning, which is why it is handy to have a control system for how much steam you need. The SmartSet steam control can be adjusted to suit light as well as heavy cleaning requirements.

Built-in Easy Scrubber - When you really need to get into deep areas to achieve maximum cleanliness, the Easy Scrubber makes it a lot easier. It can flip down and provide deep cleansing action whenever needed and flips right back when it has done its job.

Digital Steam Control - This machine allows you to choose how much steam you need and when. The digital accurately adjusts the amount of steam so that the machine dispenses accordingly.

Fragrance Discs Included - For some people, the cleaning task is not done until the house smells great. The fragrance discs included in the box provides a bonus for those who want their floors not just to look clean but smell clean as well. If you are not keen on using fragrance, the mop can still be used with just the steam.

Package inclusions:

Power-fresh steam mop
Micro fiber mop pad (1)
Scrubby micro fiber mop (1)
Spring breeze fragrance discs (2)

Verdict and Recommendation

All there machines are highly capable and reasonably priced. It will depend on what features you are looking for and how big of a steam mop you want for your home. Some of the added features such as the dedicated disinfectant tank may prove attractive to some customers, but each one truly has more than enough to offer and would make for an excellent steam mop cleaner for any home.