Steam Mop vs Regular Mop: Which Is Better?

By the Steam Glide editorial team · Updated 2026 · How we test & score

Should you switch from a traditional mop and bucket to a steam mop? They clean hard floors differently, and each has its place. Here's how they compare.

Steam mop

A steam mop uses hot steam and a microfibre pad to clean and sanitise sealed hard floors with no chemicals, killing most germs and drying fast. It's hygienic, convenient and avoids buckets of dirty water. The limits: it only suits sealed floors, the pads need washing, and it won't mop up a wet spill - it's for cleaning and sanitising, not soaking up liquid.

Regular mop and bucket

A traditional mop is cheap, works on any water-safe floor (including unsealed in moderation), and is the right tool for soaking up spills and very wet messes. The downsides are using chemicals, wringing out dirty water, slower drying, and arguably less hygienic results since you're spreading the same water around. It's simple and versatile, but less sanitising than steam.

Which should you use?

For routine, hygienic cleaning of sealed hard floors, a steam mop is the better, more convenient choice - no chemicals, fast drying, kills germs. Keep a regular mop too for spills, unsealed floors and very wet jobs. Many homes use a steam mop for everyday floor cleaning and a normal mop as backup.

Our top picks

Frequently asked questions

Is a steam mop better than a normal mop?

For sealed hard floors, a steam mop is more hygienic and convenient - it sanitises with steam, uses no chemicals and dries fast. A regular mop is still useful for spills, unsealed floors and very wet messes, so many people keep both.

Bottom line

Our top pick is the PurSteam Steam Mop (our score 9.6/10) - A practical steam mop (2-in-1 mop + handheld) for quick, chemical-free floor cleaning at home..