Best Spin Mops

Buying guide for Best spin mops

Let’s face it: cleaning the floor probably isn’t your favorite pastime, but a good mop makes this necessary household chore easier, quicker, and more effective so you can get back to enjoying your life.

Luckily, spin mops can help you keep your floors clean without too much fuss. Armed with a few key details, you'll be able to find the spin mop that will work best for your household.

Aim to mop your kitchen and bathroom floors at least once per week. If you have pets, kids, or a very busy kitchen, you’ll probably need to mop more often.

Why a spin mop?

Your grandmother probably used a soapy sponge to scrub her kitchen floor, kneeling down with a bucket of water near at hand. But that’s a trigger for back and knee pain. In fact, bursitis of the knee was once called “housemaid’s knee.”

Today, a mop with an extended handle is the hard floor cleaner of choice.

There are several mop types to choose from: sponge mops, string mops, flat mops, spray mops, and steam mops. And, of course, there’s the spin mop.

Spin mops add a variety of conveniences to the admittedly mundane chore of cleaning your floors.

• There’s no need to touch dirty water or a dirty mop.

• You don’t need towels or rags to wipe up excess water.

• There’s no long wait time for floors to dry.

• With most spin mops, the head is reusable and machine washable.

What’s more, spin mops add a little bit of fun to the cleaning process. There’s something satisfying about watching the mop head’s merry-go-round motion in the spin basket.

"When used properly, the spin mop head is just damp enough for effective cleaning."

How to use a spin mop

Different spin mop brands come with varying instructions, but they all entail the same basic cleaning process. For best results with any mop, spray your floor with a cleaning solution first and let it sit. This way the hard-to-clean dirt is already lifted by the time you pass over it with your mop.

• You fill the mop bucket with water and add a cleaning solution (if you desire).

• You dunk the mop head in the water and place it in the spinning basket attached to the top of the bucket.

• Depending on the mop brand, you either pump the handle of the mop or step on a foot pedal to start the basket’s spin.

• You repeat this process whenever the mop needs rinsing.

Valuable spin mop features

The market boasts a wide range of spin mops with a slew of different features. You might not need all of the features in the following list, but a good spin mop will include most of them.

Ease of use

You shouldn’t have to struggle to mop your floors. A good spin mop system offers clear directions and is easy to use. It’s also gentle on your hands while you work. Be sure to rinse your mop head after every few wipes. If not, you are just spreading the dirt around the floor.

Microfiber mop head

Just about every spin mop head is made of microfiber. This synthetic yarn effectively gathers and holds dust, grit, and grime, and it easily releases debris when rinsed. In addition, microfiber resists staining, so your mop continues to look fresh.

Mop head replacements

Some spin mops include an extra mop head. If yours doesn’t, you may be able to find replacement heads for it. The best spin mop manufacturers offer this option.

Mop head size

While it’s not a critical factor, you may appreciate a larger mop head if you have extensive hard flooring to clean. Similarly, you may appreciate a smaller mop head if you have a small kitchen with lots of nooks and crannies.

"Use your spin mop dry to pick up dust, hair, and small bits of dirt before you mop. This makes the job easier and decreases the risk of scratches to wood or laminate floors."

Telescoping handle

The best spin mop systems have an adjustable handle that enables you to mop comfortably, regardless of your height.

Pivoting head

You should be able to angle the mop low enough to push it easily beneath furniture, behind the toilet, and into tight corners.

Sturdiness

A good mop can withstand reasonably vigorous use without bending or breaking.

Wheels on bucket

A bucket full of water is heavy. Some spin mop systems include wheels that allow you to easily move the bucket right where you want it.

"Take advantage of your spin mop’s rotating head by scrubbing in 'figure eight' patterns rather than back and forth in straight lines. You’ll get better scrubbing power that way."

Spin mechanism

There are two basic systems for spinning the mop head basket: a foot pedal or a lever on the mop handle. While one isn’t necessarily better than the other, many users find a foot pedal to be inconvenient.

Agitator

A few spin mop systems have an agitator in the bucket. This helps rinse dirt and dust off the mop head.

Soap dispenser

Some spin mop systems have a built-in dispenser for your soap or cleaning solution, so you can add it to the water as you need it.

Scrubbing accessory

Many spin mops include a scrubbing accessory that helps you whisk away stubborn spills or stains on tile and other hard surfaces.

Splash guard

Nobody wants dirty water to splash onto their clothes or the clean floor. A splash guard on the spin mop bucket keeps the water where it belongs: inside the bucket.

Drain plug

Lifting and carrying a bucket full of dirty water can be tricky. A drain plug makes it easy to empty the mop bucket without fear of spills or other mishaps.

Tips for using your spin mop

• Don’t limit your mop to floors only; you can also use it to clean tile bathroom walls and shower stalls.

• Most spin mops that use a pumping handle to activate the spin function have locks to prevent pumping during use. Remember to unlock the mop before rinsing. Otherwise, it won’t be able to spin in the bucket.

• While a good spin mop angles easily to reach underneath furniture or into nooks and crannies, it’s important to keep the mop completely upright while rinsing or spinning in the bucket.

• The type of flooring determines how wet your mop should be during cleaning. Tile can handle quite a bit of moisture, but hardwood needs a nearly dry mop. Laminate and vinyl flooring do best with a slightly damp mop.

"Unless you change the water in the rinse bucket between rooms, clean your kitchen first. Tackle other areas with hard floors next, and finish with the bathroom. This will help prevent the spread of bathroom germs throughout your home."

• The faster you spin the mop head in the spin basket, the drier the mop will be.

• For the most effective mopping, make sure your spin mop’s yarn strands are fully fanned out from the head. If you give the mop a quick spin before placing it on the floor, it should naturally fall into place.

• Spare your back and mop more effectively by holding your mop at roughly a 45-degree angle during use.

• Angle the mop handle as necessary to reach into corners and behind furniture, but make sure the mop head itself remains flat on the floor.

• Microfiber mop heads are super-thirsty and can be useful for more than cleaning floors. You can use your mop head to dry your car, wipe up spills, or dry a wet bathroom floor.

Price

You needn’t strain your budget for a quality spin mop. Expect to pay between $30 and $60 for a sturdy mop that will get the job done right. Cheaper mops are likely to break or disappoint.

Less than $30

While these mops might save you pennies in the short run, they are likely to cost you more in the long run. Lower-end spin mops are far likelier than higher-end models to bend or break during use, meaning you’ll have to pay for a replacement.

The buckets that accompany cheap mops tend to be equally flimsy, with handles that make carrying a heavy bucket full of water a risky proposition.

"Watch the amount of cleanser you use. Too much soap will make your floor sticky and dull."

$30 and up

The adage “You get what you pay for” definitely applies to spin mops.

Even so, even the best spin mop shouldn’t set you back more than $60 or $70, and the majority of mops in the $40 to $50 range perform very well. Your extra dollars will buy you a sturdier mop with a quality bucket.

Wait until your freshly mopped floors are completely dry before walking on them. Otherwise, you’ll see dull footprints marring your shiny finish. Keep pets and children out of the rooms until the floors are ready for walking.

FAQ

Q. Are spin mops suitable for any type of flooring?

A. Yes, the soft microfiber mop head is gentle enough even for hardwood floors.

Q. How often should I change the water as I mop?

A. You’ll want to fill the bucket with fresh water whenever it becomes very dirty. If you mop your bathroom first, change the water before moving on to the kitchen or other areas of your home.

Q. How often do the mop heads need to be washed?

A. Ideally, you would wash the mop head after each use. But if not, let the head air dry completely before putting it away.

Q. Are spin mops really better than sponge mops or string mops?

A. Many consumers think so. The rotating motion of the mop adds to its cleaning power, and the spin basket allows you to tailor the dampness of your mop to your floor’s needs.