Steam Mop vs. Regular Mop: Which One is Better?

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When I first started cleaning professionally, I started off with an ordinary mop. After some time I switched to a steam cleaner, and really, once I swapped, I never looked back.

While this may feel a bit odd to kick of a comparison being a little biased towards a steam mop, in this article I will be very objective in telling you the differences and the benefits of each.

Steam cleaning has become very popular these days. There is a good reason for this. Everyone will tell you the benefits it comes with including getting rid of germs all with very little effort.

Steam Mop vs. Ordinary Mop: A Comparison

Just to give you quick facts, here’s a summarized comparison between a steam mop vs a regular mop.

	Ordinary Mop	Steam Mop
Speed of cleaning	Time-consuming, and tedious.	Makes the whole process of cleaning very easy and less stressful.
Killing germs	Does not sanitize the floor as well as steam cleaning methods.	Steam cleaners remove 99.99% of germs when used correctly.
Drying time	The floor takes a longer time to dry.	Your floor will dry quickly, almost instantly.
Cost	Less expensive compared to a steam cleaner.	Costs a lot more than an ordinary mop.
Labor involved	A regular mark is very tedious to use and is not friendly to the back.	Steam mops make the work of cleaning much easier.
Allergens	Does not remove allergens so it may not be the best for pets and kids.	Steam mops remove allergens to create a safe environment for kids and pets.

Regular mops have also evolved over the years. Today they are flat mops sponge mops and all other different types that have evolved of off the ordinary mop. While the new versions make work easier, they are not yet up-to-speed compared to what a steam mop can do.

Comparing the Cleaning Process

There’s a big difference when it comes to the cleaning process. some people will argue at regular mop gives them the satisfaction at the end because of the smell of a freshly cleaned floor.

Although each may have its own benefits it is important to know how the processes of cleaning compare with these two different methods.

Cleaning with a regular mop

This process may vary depending on the exact type of ordinary mop you have. In general, the steps are as follows:

Prepare hot/warm water in a bucket and mix it with a cleaning solution.
Dip your mop in the water.
Scrub the floor by pushing the mop with your hands across the surface.
Rinse the mop in the water.
Wring out excess water.
Repeat steps 2 to 5 above.
Dispose of the dirty water in the bucket.
Rinse the mop and store it.

With this procedure, you have to allow time for your floor to dry up. If you have to walk on the floor, you’ll find yourself tiptoeing around and jumping over wet areas to step on the dry patches. This is generally one of the main disadvantages of using a regular mop. So let’s look at the process of cleaning using a steam mop.

Cleaning with a steam mop

The process of using a steam mop in the following:

Fill the reservoir with clean water.
Attach the mop pad to the head.
plug-in and allow time for the water to boil. this usually takes between 30 seconds and 2 minutes.
As soon as the indicator color changes, it means that the device is ready to be used.
Begin mopping by pushing the mop forward to release steam and backward to pick up dirt and particles on the pad.

When done keep the mop away.

As you can see the process of using a steam mop it’s much easier and faster. It is also eco-friendly because you do not need any cleaning detergent or chemicals for the job. All you need is steam for dislodging stubborn dirt as well as disinfect your floor, carpet, or whatever it is you are cleaning.

How to Choose the Right Cleaning Tool

In order to choose the right tool, consider the following:

Large floor surfaces: if you’re cleaning light floors, the right choice is a steam mop. you can do the work faster without leaving you tired.
Quick results: if you want your floors to dry quickly, the best option is a steam mop.
Budget: If you are on a low budget and are looking for a quick solution for your cleaning needs, then you need to go for a traditional mop.

Advantages and Disadvantages

In order to help you choose which method is the best for you, we will look at the advantages and disadvantages I have encountered over the years with my cleaning service business.

Steam Mop

Although a regular mop will get the job done, you should be aware of other forms of dirt that are not visible. I’m talking about germs. A steam cleaner will get rid of these for you, thanks to the high temperature the device produces with its steam.

Another benefit that comes with a steam mop is that you can clean other surfaces in addition to your floor. This will depend on the particular model you buy but in general, you can clean countertops, bathrooms toilets etc.

Stain removal is also easy. You do not need to scrub. just do Just let the heat do the loosening for you.

I also love the fact that some devices such as Shark come with three different settings: normal clean, deep clean and dusting. These give you even more options for getting the job done properly when you have different needs.

One of the main disadvantages of using steam mops is that it is not multi-surface friendly. Most of them are meant to clean tiled floors. even if you use them on hardwood floors you will risk voiding your warranty and damaging the floor.

If you have older versions, you time to prep the device and the surface. It is highly recommended that you sweep the floor first before you start using a steam cleaner. In fact, I noticed that the best way to thoroughly clean a floor is too fast to vacuum/sweep it, then use a steam mop, and vacuum it again. This is best for floors with stubborn stains.

Ordinary Mop

Do not be quick to dismiss a traditional mop. It has the following advantages over steam cleaning methods.

First, you will notice that there is a big difference in terms of the costs involved. Traditional mops are cheap because you only need to buy the mop itself, a bucket and some detergent. In the case of stubborn stains, you may need to buy a brush for scrubbing. This is generally a smaller budget to start off compared to when you want to buy a steam cleaner.

Another plus you’ll get with traditional cleaning methods is some little workout. Some people prefer to mop a few times a week as part of their workout routine.

One of the main disadvantages of traditional mopping is the inability to sanitize the surface, which means it is not safe for crawling children and pets.

Takeaway

I have used them up and pine sol, plus the Swiffer and I can tell you I felt like I was just pushing dirt around. When I started off with a Shark Professional Pocket Steam Mop, I could really get things clean. And even dry the surface way faster than an ordinary mop, just before the dogs could print the floor with their paws.