The best mops in 2021

The best overall

With the Libman Spin Mop and Bucket you can clean every hard surface floor in your home with the same mop, from dry-dusting hardwood to wet mopping sticky kitchen messes.

Pros: Simple to use for all hard surface floors, hands never have to touch water, easy to assemble, removable and replaceable mop head

Cons: Plastic lever can break if used with excessive force

If you have multiple types of hard surface floors to clean in your home, it can be expensive to buy several different mops and frustrating to store them. With the Libman Spin Mop and Bucket, you can clean every floor with just one mop.

Libman combined a deep-cleaning microfiber mop and a mop bucket with a stainless-steel spin chamber to give you everything you need for mopping. The microfiber mop works great as both a dry-dust mop and a slightly damp mop for hardwood floors. Then, with the right cleaning solution, it’s perfect for scrubbing dirty floors in the bathroom and kitchen. The head is removable from the handle and can go straight into the washing machine to be cleaned.

I’m particularly impressed with the durable, adjustable stainless-steel mop handle and the stainless-steel spin bucket. Other brands have plastic components that are more prone to breaking.

With the lever system to activate the spinning mechanism, my hands never have to touch the mopping water, and I can adjust the amount of moisture left in the mop head. I’ve been using it for many months with no issues, but it’s good to know that replacement mop heads are available if this one ever wears out.

The best on a budget

Want clean floors without breaking the bank? Libman Wonder Mop uses microfiber strips, wrings out easily (but keeps hands dry), and is easy on the wallet.

Pros: Microfiber head is removable and machine washable, wringing action keeps hands dry, can be used wet or dry, the mop head is replaceable

Cons: Wringer can be difficult for someone with limited hand and wrist movement

If you are looking for a good, basic mop, the Libman Wonder Mop is inexpensive but durable.

Despite the multiple components of the mop, it’s also quite compact. The mop head can be removed and tossed in the washer for a good cleaning, the built-in wringer keeps your hands out of the cleaning solution, though it’s not ideal for anyone with limited mobility or movement.

I’ve owned a Wonder Mop for many years and found an amazing number of ways to use it beyond mopping the floor. Since the head is made of microfiber that attracts dust, I pull down the wringer sleeve to shorten the mop fibers into something resembling a stiff brush. I then use the mop to reach corners that seem to attract every spider web and insect possible. I’ve used the mop to absorb water from ice chests and to capture spills in car trunks. All this in addition to actually mopping floors.

Since I use it so often, I buy a couple of replacement heads so I can always be sure to have an extra for non-mopping use. When I do use it for regular mopping, I find that with hot water and a good floor cleaner, the mop does a very good job.

The best for wood floors

The easy to use Swiffer WetJet Wood Mopping Kit gives you everything you need for shiny, streak-free wood floors.

Pros: Compact, all-in-one mop and floor cleaner, cleaning solutions for other types of floors are interchangeable, refills are simple to find, great customer service

Cons: Spray nozzles can become clogged if the mop isn’t used regularly, cleaning pads aren’t reusable, pricier to maintain

Whether you have solid hardwood or engineered hardwood floors, the Swiffer WetJet Wood Mop will make cleaning them a breeze. With disposable cleaning pads and an all-in-one mop and cleaning solution, it’s a no-mess, no-fuss cleaning system.

Hardwood floors can easily be ruined if you don’t clean them correctly. They don’t stand up well to regular mopping with a strong cleaner and lots of water. Instead, when muddy tracks and spills happen, a delicate touch is best. As with any floor, they must be swept, vacuumed, or dry-dusted before any cleaning with a mop.

I love the Swiffer WetJet Wood Mopping Kit for many reasons. The pads are disposable so I can begin each cleaning session with a fresh surface. The cleaning solution is “built-in” to the mop so with just a touch of the battery-operated micro-mist spray, I can add the solution to the floor while I mop. And, as a bonus, the nozzles are illuminated so I can see just how much solution is hitting the floor and check if the area is dry after mopping.

With the Swiffer WetJet Wood Kit, you get the power mop, five mopping pads, a bottle of wood floor cleaner, and four batteries. You can easily buy refill bottles and pads and there are cleaning solutions for other types of floors like vinyl, stone, and ceramic tile.

If you have problems with the Swiffer WetJet, Procter & Gamble’s customer service is very helpful with tips to get you mopping again.

The best for ceramic tile floors

The grout between ceramic tiles is the toughest part of the floor to clean unless you have the Libman Nitty Gritty Roller Mop with Scrub Brush.

Pros: Built-in scrub brush with sponge mop head, simple to use, rollers for squeezing out water

Cons: Sponge mop heads usually do not last as long as microfiber

Ceramic tile floors in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and mudrooms are probably the easiest floors to clean. The tile doesn’t absorb stains, doesn’t scratch easily, and stands up to harsh cleaners. But just to make your life a bit more challenging, the tiles are put together with grout. Grout absorbs stains and doesn’t react well to harsh cleaners that can make it become brittle and crack.  

Enter the Libman Nitty Gritty Roller Mop with Scrub Brush. The soft absorbent sponge roller with textured cleaning pads works great to remove spills and surface dirt on the tile. Then, the built-in scrub brush can be used to get rid of the grime on the grout without having to get on your hands and knees to scrub.

To get your grout clean, I dampen the floor and sprinkle a bit of baking soda on the stained areas before scrubbing with the mop brush. Then pull the handle to activate the rollers and squeeze out the water back into a bucket or utility sink, and use the damp sponge mop to lift away the baking soda and dirt. Again, what I love is not having to get my hands wet with the dirty mopping solution.  

The best with disposable pads

If you don’t have space for a broom, mop, and bucket, the Swiffer Sweeper Dry and Wet is a good choice. 

Pros: Simple to use, no additional floor cleaner or water solution needed, refill pads readily available

Cons: Does not clean heavy soil effectively, refills can be costly

The best mopping results come from getting rid of dry loose dirt and hair first before you wet mop. With the Swiffer Sweeper Dry and Wet Mopping kit, you have everything you need at hand to take care of hard surface floors. The kit comes with a lightweight, easy-to-assemble sweeper, seven dry disposable cloths, and three wet disposable cloths.

I’ll say upfront that the Swiffer Sweeper Dry and Wet Mopping is not going to tackle floors that are really dirty. If you have lots of pets and kids who leave muddy footprints and spills, you need a heavy-duty mop. But, for light soil and quick cleanups, this is the ticket. There is no fuss, no mop bucket, and no need for additional cleaning solutions. I use mine all the time in my guest bedrooms and bathroom that don’t get daily use.

Once you buy the starter kit, refills are available everywhere. Swiffer just introduced Heavy Duty Wet Pads and Dry Pads refills that trap even more soil if you have been lax between cleanings.

What we’re looking forward to testing

We’re constantly testing new mops, so here’s what we’re looking forward to testing:

Rejuvenate: They make stick mop and cleaning systems that are similar to Swiffer, though the microfiber cleaning pads can be washed and reused. There are also different colored pads for dry dusting, wet mopping, and polishing so it’s easier to keep track of each one’s purpose. 

Check out our other great cleaning guides

• The best floor cleaners
• The best laundry odor removers
• The best cleaning products for kitchen and laundry appliances
• The best disinfecting cleaners