Buying guide for Best spray mops
We turn houses, apartments, and dorms into homes with personal touches and décor. Besides maintaining the aesthetic elements, it’s important to stay on top of basic household maintenance. Cleaning is at the top of the list — whether it’s daily tidying up or deep cleaning — especially when it comes to floors.
For homes with hardwood, vinyl, or tile floors, a spray mop is an essential cleaning accessory to have on hand. It’s a gentle cleaning device that utilizes homemade dilute solutions instead of harsh chemical cleaners, and the microfiber pad is safe for all types of floors. Make no mistake, though — spray mops are great at scrubbing away dirt and spills in minutes. Simply fill the bottle or cartridge, attach a fresh microfiber pad, and you’re ready to go. Once you’re done, empty the leftover solution and wash the cloth for future use.
Spray mops are definitely the way forward, especially if you’re looking for an environmentally friendly, compact cleaning accessory.
Key considerations
Manual vs. electric
You have a choice between manual and electric spray mops. It really comes down to preference and budget when choosing between the two, however, because both types do a decent job of cleaning floors.
Manual mops are less expensive than electric since they rely on a hand-operated mechanism to spray solution on the floor. Some consumers say that it’s easier to control the spray with a manual mop.
Electric mops spray or squirt a steady stream at the press of a button. These mops either need to be plugged in during use, charged between uses, or require batteries.
Surfaces
Spray mops are ideal for cleaning laminate, hardwood, tile, vinyl, and bamboo floors. While these surfaces hold up to many years — even decades — of wear, they still require cleaning that won’t damage or deteriorate the finish. Spray mops offer the right amount of cleaning without being abrasive or using harsh chemicals. Another perk is how easy a spray mop is to use. They don’t require much effort, so it’s simple to maintain your floors on a daily basis to avoid any unnecessary buildup that gets harder to clean over time.
Spray mops are incredibly versatile and can be used to clean surfaces other than floors. Certain models (mostly manual) can be used to clean windows. Choose a lightweight model, since you’ll have to pick it up, and you can squeegee your windows clean in no time.
Solution
When it comes to spray mops, they handle gentle, regular surface cleaning, so you won’t need any harsh cleaning products with this device. Instead, you make your own dilute solution, which is mainly water with a small amount of a recommended liquid cleaning product.
The solution recommendations vary between mop manufacturers, some of whom sell their own concentrated formulas to add to the water. Some consumers create the solution with mild dish soap, while others go as natural as possible with lemon juice and essential oil mixes. You also have the option to use plain water with your spray mop, though it might not clean stubborn dirt as well.
Reservoir
Spray mop solution is contained in a couple of ways within the device. Some mops have a refillable container that can be removed and easily filled at the faucet or by pouring in a premixed solution. On other spray mops, you fill the detachable mophead.
Expert Tip
When washing your mop heads be sure to not use any detergent or fabric softener. Washing them in just water helps your mop head last longer.
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Spray mop features
Pads
Traditional mopheads can hold on to dirt and leftover solution and be challenging to clean. Spray mops eliminate that difficulty. They utilize removable pads that can either be machine washed or discarded, so you’re always using a clean mop.
Reusable: Most reusable mop pads are made of microfiber, a unique polyester and nylon blend that’s known for its impressive absorbency. The towel-like texture of the microfiber pads kicks up dirt and holds onto it, leaving your floor cleaner. Microfiber pads are also environmentally friendly because you can wash and reuse them.
Disposable: Some spray mops use disposable cleaning pads. Certain pads are only good for a single use, but others can be reused until they’re dirty. Using disposable pads could get pricey if you use your spray mop every day and need to replace the pads often. They’re best for light or infrequent cleaning when you can get a couple uses out of the pad before changing it.
Expert Tip
When choosing a spray mop, keep in mind the type of solution that you’ll use on your floors. For example, if you prefer the Bona solution, the Bona mop would fit you best. If you prefer a multipurpose cleaner, Rubbermaid or O-Cedar mops will work well for you.
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Accessories
A few spray mops, usually electric models, come with extra accessories and attachments. These are usually a bit more expensive than basic models, but they can do double duty, such as scrub bathroom tile and grout using a spinning brush-head attachment.
Spray mop prices
Spray mops range in price between $20 and $150, so you can find one to fit any budget.
Inexpensive
The least expensive models cost between $20 and $40. This price range includes manual models that usually come with cleaning pads to get you started.
Mid-range
Between $40 and $60, you’ll find more efficient spray mops that are more durable for more frequent use, typically with thicker plastic and more reliable spray operation.
Expert Tip
Reusable spray mop heads can be washed with your washing machine.
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Expensive
If you spend $60 to $150, you’ll find a wide range of electric models as well as some high-end manual ones.
Tips
Get one for the dorm. College dorms often have hardwood, laminate, or vinyl floors, so a spray mop is ideal. Tidying up can be done in minutes, and the spray mop is compact enough to be stored behind a door or in a closet.
Empty the refillable container between uses. You’ll always want clean water and fresh solution, so empty the container on the mop between uses.
Clean the microfiber pads separately. Because the reusable microfiber clothes pick up dirt and debris, you might want to clean them separately from your towels, linens, and clothes. Some can be hand-washed and hung up to dry, while others can be thrown in the washing machine.
Add a spray mop to a registry. Spray mops are convenient household items that can be used often. They’re ideal to add to a registry, not only for couples but also expecting parents who will appreciate the time- and energy-saving device.
- Opt for pet-friendly solution. When you’re mixing or choosing the cleaning solution, do your research to find out which ones are the most pet-friendly. Even some natural solutions that contain simple ingredients can be unsuitable to use around animals.
FAQ
Q. Can I make my own cleaning solution for my spray mop?
A. Yes, and many people do. In fact, it’s recommended that you create a dilute solution with plenty of water. Harsher solutions could damage internal parts of the mop and very strong concentrations can be too abrasive for some floors.
Q. My spray mop comes with additional attachments with different types of brushes. What is the best way to clean them?
A. It depends on what they’re made of, although it’s typically hard plastic and bristles. You can soak them in a bleach solution to disinfect them. Others are safe to clean in the dishwasher, but always refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations to be sure.
Q. How hard is it to clean with a spray mop?
A. Spray mops are lightweight and easy to handle and take the hard work out of cleaning floors. You don’t need to expend as much energy because you only apply a fraction of the pressure to wipe it across the floor. In fact, you don’t even need to bend over to wet or wring out the mop, since you can operate the spray from the handle.
