Prepare to be floored by the best mops of 2026. (Kristin Granero/Yahoo)
A great vacuum is essential for cleaning your floors, but it's not the only tool you should have in your arsenal. Spills happen, and when they do, you need one of the best mops. These handy helpers quickly capture crumbs and are essential for tackling sticky, gooey messes.
As Yahoo's resident cleaning products tester, I researched dozens of mops and then put 11 of the most popular, highest-rated models to work. I used them on everyday dirt, then I took the mess up a notch by spilling tomato sauce, honey, jelly and other goopy substances on vinyl floors. Whether you're looking for a spongy string mop that sops up spills or a smooth, flat mop that dusts and washes floors in a few swoops, behold the best mops for rejuvenating tile, laminate, hardwood and more.
Here are some things to think about when deciding which mop type works best for your home.
✓ Mop style:
String (round) mops consist of a bunch of rope or fabric pieces that are woven together. These mops are particularly good at trapping water and high-density substances like jelly or spaghetti sauce. Given the flexibility of the strings, they're also able to get into narrow crevices and up against ledges.
Rope mop heads are tougher, both as a material and against stuck-on substances.
Fabric string mop heads are usually made of microfiber, which is gentler on delicate surfaces so that they may be best for hardwood floors. They can typically go in the washing machine when they need cleaning.
Flat mops have long, thin pads that attach to a mop head (or base). They're usually not as absorbent (or "webby") as string mops, so they can't capture or contain as much liquid or dirt. Their rectangular shape allows for wider, more streamlined passes, making them ideal for everyday cleaning — especially in shallow areas, such as under a bed or sofa.
Scrubbing pads are tougher against caked-on dirt and sticky messes, but may not be suitable for hardwood or other more delicate surfaces.
Microfiber pads are gentler, making them great for dusting and maintenance-washing, plus delicate floors.
Electric mops often offer a deeper clean and mean less manual scrubbing. This category includes steam mops, spin mops (which use automatically spinning pads to buff and/or scrub surfaces) and wet vacs (which combine suction with pads or moistened brush rollers for wet/dry messes like spilled cereal and milk).
✓ Bucket or spray: It all comes down to preference, as well as the task at hand.
Traditional mops with a bucket typically have a manual squeegee or wringer for squeezing out extra water and debris. More sophisticated bucket systems feature two sections — one for clean water and one for dirty — so the water you're replenishing the mop with is clean.
Spray mop systems involve a spray bottle or canister that you fill up with water/cleaning solution and attach to the mop pole. You pull a lever to release the water, eliminating the need to carry a bucket. Because you're not actively cleaning or squeegeeing your mop pad, you might need to replace it as you go, especially in larger homes or for messier jobs.
✓ Maintenance: The best mop is the mop you'll actually use! Here are a few more things to consider when it comes to convenience.
High-capacity water tanks and buckets mean fewer refills, especially for larger homes, while lower capacities often mean less heavy lifting.
Single-use mop pads can be tossed when finished, but require replenishing. Traditional mop pads are more cost-efficient, but need (machine) washing.
Vacuum-style mops typically require the least amount of effort when cleaning, but you may need to empty a dust cup or clean brush rollers.
I assessed each mop on comfort, agility and absorbency. I also considered convenience: how easy the mop was to set up and use, and how much maintenance it needed.
To gauge performance, I also set up a "kitchen obstacle course," splattering spaghetti sauce, chocolate syrup, grape jelly and honey on a kitchen floor. I then put each mop through its paces.
Libman Tornado Spin Mop System: This string-mop-and-bucket system is similar in form and function to O-Cedar's, but it lacks a separate clean-water chamber. O also preferred the O-Cedar's foot pedal and the triangular shape of the mop head, which allowed us to get into corners.
Bona Hardwood Floor Premium Spray Mop: This spray mop didn't come with a mini scrubber or extra mop pads like the Rubbermaid Reveal. That said, it arrived pre-filled with an expert-recommended, wood-safe cleaning solution, and it holds more water/cleaner solution overall. I'd consider it the best spray mop for hardwood floors as long as you don't mind sticking to one pad or springing for a few replacement pads.
O-Cedar ProMist Max Microfiber Spray Mop: The mop pad on this O-Cedar spray mop didn't have as much scrubbing grit as others. But I liked how the soft microfiber mop pad attracted hair and dust and felt gentle enough for delicate surfaces. You should be able to get two uses out of the pad before tossing it in the wash, as it completely surrounds the mop head, and the mop head flips.
Joymoop Flat Mop and Bucket Set: This set includes a flat mop and a tall bucket with a squeegee. The mop head is large, and the pad has some grit, though it's not as absorbent as others. You have to keep the bucket pretty full to get the entire mop pad wet, and the water can get dirty quickly. But I've had one for a while and would recommend it for "maintenance" washing (and occasional scrubbing).
A traditional mop is typically used in conjunction with water and a cleaning solution. Meanwhile, a steam mop heats water and uses it to loosen caked-on dirt and grime, making it particularly effective for tackling soap scum, grease and stickier spills. Steam mops don't require cleaning solutions, so you don't need to worry about wringing out a mop pad (or rinsing floors to ensure no suds are left behind), but they can damage certain types of flooring, so use them with caution.
While most mops are compatible with tile floors, string mops are better at getting into grout lines and crevices that flat mops might be too surface-level to reach. Steam mops can also help lift particularly sticky or gooey substances, such as jelly or honey. This is a place where a good spin scrubber or grout cleaner can also come in handy.
For a mop-and-bucket system, you'd typically rinse and wring out the mop pad in the bucket, then empty and rinse out the bucket itself, allowing everything to dry before storing. For a spray or canister-style mop, you'd empty the tank and rinse that out, cleaning or replacing any pads or brush rolls as directed. Some mop machines also have a self-cleaning function.
With single-use, wet-pad mops, you just throw the wet pad into the garbage when finished … easy on the cleaner, but the pads can stack up in terms of financial (and environmental) impact.
Update, June 8, 2025: We've confirmed current pricing and availability for all products. Our No. 1 pick remains unchanged, but we replaced the Bissell SpinWave, which is no longer available, with a new model from recent testing.
We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.
