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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Do I really need a steam mop? If so, which one?

26 replies

wedders · 23/10/2013 20:52

Help! I have just searched the internet to buy a new microfibre mop to replace a very tired vileda one, but am now confused. There are so many reviews from people saying how amazing their steam mops are that I am beginning to wonder if I need one too? Will it really transform my cleaning or will it be another expensive electrical item that stays in the cupboard, alongside my juicer and breadmaker!?????

OP posts:
zumo · 24/10/2013 07:36

Just another invention to take your money

Roshbegosh · 24/10/2013 07:42

It will gather dust in your cupboard. Don't bother.

nkf · 24/10/2013 07:43

I want to know this too. There is one in the tv where ghetto dirt seems to melt while you drink coffee. Too good to be true?

KalevalaForMePlease · 24/10/2013 07:45

Does it really not work? Really? But there's the ad! With the guy! And the dirt is just gone and all the surfaces are gleaming! I watch and salivate...

Fragglewump · 24/10/2013 07:52

I do like mine! It doesn't clean the floor by itself but it is better than a normal mop! I think the main difference is the heat as when you use a normal mop or cloth by the time it touches the floor the water is almost cold.

Lizzylou · 24/10/2013 07:54

We got a steam cleaner, not a mop and whilst it isn't a miracle worker it has been fab for bathrooms and the kitchen.

nkf · 24/10/2013 07:58

Not sure what ghetto dirt was meant to be.

fruitloop84 · 24/10/2013 07:59

We have one and I really like, doesn't take up.much space and is really quick to give the floor a quick nice over.

sooperdooper · 25/10/2013 12:08

I've got one, used it a few times but given up on it now, it doesn't clean properly imo, and it's a vax decent one

Much prefer a bucket of hot water and bleach and a proper mop

CremeEggThief · 25/10/2013 18:09

I used mine a handful of times, then stuck it on eBay!

Katinkia · 25/10/2013 23:17

I use mine all the time. I have a good vax one. It's good for a quick spruce and is good for cleaning the tiles in the downstairs toilet. Bit of added germ killing for my sprinkled on tiles.

But I get the cleaner to go round and give the place a good hot mop around with bleach once a week.

Original poster
wedders · 07/11/2013 23:30

Thanks for the replies...looks like some people really like them but not sure how good it'll be for me - have discovered that my Mum has one too - may see if I can borrow it for week or two.

OP posts:
TicTacZebra · 08/11/2013 09:25

I would definitely borrow your mums first if you can. Then you'll be able to see if you get on with it or not. I personally love mine and use it all the time. I don't have carpets (Sad) so it's great for me to give the floors a once over without much effort.

hermioneweasley · 08/11/2013 17:59

I am pleased with mine. It's not as amazing as the infomercials woukd suggest, but floors are gleaming, i've got a fair amount of grime off my curtains and removed some other stubborn things. I've got the Morphy Richards 2in1. It's pretty good, but steam isn't completely continuous and the smaller hand held element is actually quite heavy if you're holding it over your head to do high up things

lolalotta · 17/11/2013 19:25

I like the Lakeland own brand cheapest one...about £60.00? Much lighter weight than some brands which suits me.

valiumredhead · 19/11/2013 13:13

No, don't bother!

struggling100 · 28/11/2013 08:54

I am thinking of getting the Abode steam mop for around £50. I have a black tiled ceramic floor in the bathroom and infuriatingly, however careful I am and however much I dry it, cleaning it by hand results in smears. The only thing that works is the Flash Powermop, but I am struggling to get hold of the fluid for it these days (and it's expensive when I find it). So I wondered about replacing with a steam mop. Thoughts?

ChristineDaae · 28/11/2013 08:58

I have a steam mop/cleaner and I LOVE it. I do all the kitchen and bathroom with it once a week, and it takes me about 10 min to mop the whole ground floor (I hate carpet, all wood/tile floors here)

struggling100 · 28/11/2013 09:53

Wow, 10 minutes? That's amazing!

Can you use them on engineered wood?

Weelady77 · 28/11/2013 10:37

I liked to use the steam mop in my old house as I had lots of hard flooring but in this house I've only got kitchen and bathroom so I use the mop and bucket everyday and once a week I get down on hands and knees and scrub with bleach!

unlucky83 · 28/11/2013 12:03

I got a cheap steam mop (£18 - 25% offer from Asda direct) - its an Abode make...
I got a cheap one because having read lots of reviews on Which the cheap ones make less steam - so aren't as good at cleaning but do seem to leave the floor dryer. (And if it did end up as a cupboard ornament at least it wasn't an expensive one)
It is flimsy - the head has fallen off twice - I've fixed it seemed less hassle than returning it.
And it does smear dirt around a bit if my floors are really mucky -sometimes need to change the head and go over it twice or it will be streaky.
And I do think that a mop and bucket might leave it cleaner ... but it does mean that I can whip over the floor quickly when the DCs are around and it dries so quickly that there is less chance of them leaving a trail of dirty footprints - or worse slipping...(actually I could mop it and then steam it and it probably would dry as quick and less streaky than just mop)
I use it on a mid range laminate (against manufacturer's instructions) and so far no problems - but then again the floor is scratch etc anyway -so not worried if it does damage it...
Get spare pads! You wash them in the washing machine - but they are filthy and I have never have anything I want to put them in with...I collect them and then soak them and wash the worst out of them by hand in washing up liquid (works better for me than bio powder/soda etc) so I can put them in the machine with something else....
I already had a steam wallpaper stripper with attachments (not pressurised and no on/off switch on the body) so had a good idea of how good steam was - not as good as the TV adverts!
Also I bought a £15 handheld steam cleaner from Lidl (like the yellow ones on amazon) - it is ok - not very controllable - I find it good for cleaning fiddly bits - around taps, around the supports on loo seats, in the crevices of the shower screen, down sink overflows and speeded up defrosting the freezer... rubbish on the cooker though!
(They will also both steam up your windows etc!!!! -not good if you have condensation problems)

Goandplay · 29/11/2013 04:14

I've never thought of bleaching my floors. I have crawling twins - can I do this?

Weelady77 · 29/11/2013 07:22

Yeah I bleach my floors always have done, when my baby's were crawling I used to do at night to make sure they were dry for the following day

SilverSixpence · 29/11/2013 11:47

karcher steam mop is good and quite cheap on the outlet site.

NuzzleandScratch · 29/11/2013 19:22

I've got the basic Lakeland one and have been really happy with it. As others have said, the beauty of them is you can whip them out for a quick once over without the faff of preparing a mop & bucket. I find I actually clean my floors more often for this reason, as it's as easy as running round the vacuum cleaner. We've got 2 dogs & a crawling baby, so I aim to keep the floors clean enough so the baby doesn't get grubby knees! We have mostly lino type stuff, but slate tiles in the hall, and they come up lovely. Silly as it sounds, I found it took me a few uses to work out how to get the best results (slower mop forwards, as that's when the steam comes out). The only thing I miss is the fragrance after a mopped floor! Love how the floors are dry straight away too, much safer with small children.