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If you want to be the proud owner of clean, shiny, and white-grout tile flooring, you want to hunt down the best mop for tile floors.
Having a pristine-clean tile floor in your home wouldn’t be possible otherwise unless you’re willing to get down on your knees and scrub on a daily basis.
Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be such a chore, pun intended! It can be as easy as reading one article, making some light thinking, and hitting a buy-now button! Sounds convincing, doesn’t it? The good news is you’re already halfway through the first step! All you have to do is go on reading.
Because we wouldn’t leave you stranded, we’ve prepared and ranked the best mops for tile floors out there. They’re a wide variety so you’re bound to find your perfect fit!
We’ve also included a little guide so you know exactly what you’re supposed to be looking for.
Why Is It Important to Find the Right Mop?
You’re probably wondering what the big deal is, a mop’s just a mop, right? Wrong again. Using the wrong mop can cost you time and, in some cases, hundreds of dollars! Does it sound insane? Let us explain ourselves.
Time is precious, why waste it scrubbing your floor every day? If you want perfectly clean tile flooring, that’s exactly what’s going to happen! This can simply be avoided by strategically choosing the right mop.
There’s a wide variety of mops on the market and for a good reason too, not all mops can be used on the same floorings.
The most obvious example is the steam mops. While they’re growing popular, they can’t be used on any flooring because they might damage the floor.
Top 10 Best Mops for Tile Floors
1. Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop – The best mop for tile floors
Bissell steam mops dominate the market and it’s well-deserved! The Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop is the perfect example! It also happens to be great for tile floorings.
You know the drill; steam mops sanitize the house and so on. What’s special here is that PowerFresh has three cleaning modes.
This is extremely important in steam mops since high steam can be harmful. PowerFresh gives you complete control over it.
What makes PowerFresh unique is that you can add fragrance discs to leave a fresh scent behind, hence the name. We love this! It leaves your house smelling amazing and you don’t have this option with other steam mops.
- Swivel head
- A scrubby pad is provided for better cleaning
- A carpet glider is included for carpet cleaning
- Comes with two fragrance discs
- 16-ounce tank capacity is decent
- Budget-friendly
- Water tank knob could break
2. Shark Steam Pocket Mop – Runner-Up
Shark is another high-profile brand of steam mops. Steam Pocket Mop is one of its best products.
The aesthetically-pleasing purple mop is very practical, thanks to its dual-sided head. In case you’re not sure what that means, it means that the pad functions as two!
If the pad grows dirty while you’re halfway through the cleaning process, flip it over to the other side, and start anew! Quite handy, right?
Pocket mop works with all sealed floors, according to Shark. Marble, laminate, vinyl, stone, and hardwood should all be game!
- Tile-friendly
- Washable pads
- Swivel head
- Comes with another microfiber pad
- Lightweight
- Within-budget
- The short cord can make it hard to clean large spaces
3. Bissell Spinwave – Best Non-Steam Mop
Bissell Spinwave is a unique kind of spray mop. It’ll mop will leave you spinning!
When it comes to scrubbing, this is your mop. The two circular mop heads spin side by side to clean every speck off your floor.
The microfiber pads are gentle on the surface of your flooring so it scrubs without leaving behind any scratches.
Whenever moisture’s needed, spray some! Water or a diluted cleaning solution in the container, you can spray just the amount needed for cleaning without leaving any water behind.
The sparing use of water combined with the microfiber pads makes this mop ideal for use on almost all floorings! Whether it’s hardwood, tile, or even natural stone tile, this one can do it all!
- 28-ounce container capacity
- Mop head swivels
- Washable mop pads
- Ideal for large areas
- A bit heavy
4. PurSteam Steam Mop Cleaner 10-in-1 – Most Practical Steam Mop
The name says it all here. PurSteam is a 10-in-1 steam mop that takes practicality to a whole new level!
Ok, let’s take this one step at a time. First things first, this steam mop has 3 modes for you to pick the one that best suits you.
This mop can be used on hardwood floors, vinyl, and tiles including marble, ceramic, and porcelain.
It can also be used to clean carpets! Impressed? There’s more!
There’s a detachable, handheld unit for separate use! And you thought you’d just be buying a mop. You can use this mini steamer as a steam cleaner, garment steamer, window, mirror, and glass cleaner!
- There’s a window squeegee included
- Free straight nozzles, bent nozzles, and nylon brushes for grout cleaning included
- Comes with extra microfiber pads
- Pads are machine washable
- Great value for money
- Small reservoir
- Too lightweight so it requires some pressure
5. Shark Steam Mop – Best Within-Budget Steam Mop
Shark Steam Mop’s beauty is in its simplicity. It’s quite tile-friendly.
Its price is quite desirable. It costs around half the price of most moderately priced steam mops. It’s a rare breed, see what we did there?
Seriously though, this mop has the benefits that come from buying a steam mop. The sanitization, microfiber pads, and little amount of effort.
Add a compact size to the list! At 4.84 lbs, you have just enough weight that you don’t need to push down on it but not too much that you have to drag it around painfully.
That’s not to say that its container is inadequate, on the contrary! The tank is 12.6 oz, so it’s up for the job! It should be just enough to get you through one mop, but it varies according to the size of your place, of course.
- Looks awesome
- Easy to store
- Mop head swivels
- Great at picking up grime
- You have to pump it to get the steam out
- Only has one steam setting
6. Bona Stone Premium Spray Mop – Best Spray Mop
Hear us when we say that Bona Stone Premium Spray Mop could be the answer to all of your prayers if you own stone floorings! It might make your struggle to keep your home clean a memory!
This mop specializes in tile, laminate, linoleum, sealed porous marble, and terrazzo! It can even be used with non-wax sealed tiles like ceramic, quarry, and Mexican Saltillo! In other words, your tile should be safe here.
The container is quite impressive. Its capacity is 34 oz so this spray mop could be perfect for you if you have a large area to cover. One fill and you’re good to go.
- Secondary grip for easy maneuvering
- The mop head has rubber corners so it doesn’t damage your furniture
- Lightweight
- Pads are machine washable
- Retractable hook for easy storage
- A bit expensive
7. O-Cedar ProMist Max Spray Mop – Best Within-Budget Spray Mop
Budget plus spray mop equals O-Cedar ProMist Max Spray Mop. Tile or no tile, it’s an awesome choice.
You know we love our practical mops, this is definitely one of them! The dual-sided pads mean you basically have an extra pad in your pocket. Once one is unclean, flip it over!
Add to that its 25-ounce container and you get a spray mop that’s ideal for covering large spaces.
A defect of most spray mops is that people fumble with the containers to get them free, not this one! At the touch of one button, your container is ejected and ready to be filled.
Another common defect that’s not in this genius mop is leakage. The container is sealed off to prevent the liquid from leaking.
- Scrub zones on microfiber pads to make cleaning easier
- Large mop head covers a lot of ground in one sweep
- Machine washable pads
- Ergonomic design
- The mop head can come off during cleaning
8. Turbo Microfiber Mop – Best Microfiber Mop
Turbo Microfiber Mop is where simplicity meets excellence. It sounds too much? You can see it for yourself!
These microfiber pads can do it all. It’s compatible with almost every floor kind out there! No more scratches!
Used alone, you can dry mop. If you want some moisture, you can either wet the pads and mop or use a spray as you go!
- The aluminum mop handle is very durable
- Telescopic handle for an adjustable length between 35 – 60 inches
- Large mop head for quick cleaning
- Can be used on walls, windows, and most surfaces
- Machine washable pads
- Lightweight
- Swivel mop head
- Might need to use a scrubber
9. Bona Premium Microfiber Mop – Best Within-Budget Microfiber Mop
Another Bona prodigy, Premium Microfiber Mop is also an impressive microfiber mop that’s budget-friendly!
This is a considerate mop. How come? The corners are made of rubber so that it doesn’t scratch your furniture!
Its slim mop head enables you to mop under your furniture too! Its wide design gives you around 7 inches to do so.
In addition to the standard cleaning pad, you also get a microfiber dusting pad for dry cleaning. If you have pets, this could be your lifeline!
- Swivel mop head
- 60″ telescoping handle
- Works on tiles, natural stone tiles, and hardwood floors
- Machine washable mop pad
- Might need to apply pressure for better results
- Mop pads are protruding from the head
10. O-Cedar Easywring Microfiber Spin Mop – Best Spin Mop
O-Cedar Easywring Microfiber Spin Mop is quite popular!
While it looks like a regular mop, its mop head is microfiber. This means that it has the best of both worlds! If you want to stick with the old school mop design, you can enjoy the modernity of this one too.
Spin mops are popular for their easy wringing mechanism. No more pushing! Simply step on the pedal and it’ll do the job for you.
The most distinct feature of this mop is its triangular shape. This is what we love the most about it! It means you’d no longer have dusty corners in your house! It can easily clean them and can generally get to hard-to-reach places.
- Safe on any hard floor surface.
- Easy to spin
- The bucket has splash guard against splashing while spinning
- 360 degrees swivel
- Machine washable pads
- Could be out of budget
- The telescopic handle might be faulty
Final Verdict
They’re all going to help you to get the job done but we can still declare a winner. The best mop for tile floor is Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop!
If a steam mop isn’t an option for you, Bissell Spinwave is just as amazing! It’ll leave your floor shiny and smelling amazing!
O-Cedar ProMist Max Spray Mop is a within-budget option where you have to make minimal sacrifices! Don’t let its price mislead you, it’s an impressive little thing!
Buyer’s Guide
While we’ve ranked the mops based on which ones we think are the best, there are other factors that should influence your decision.
What Kind of Tile Is Your Flooring?
The word “tile” is an umbrella term that includes various floor types. It’s super important that you make sure the mop you’re planning on getting works for your floor.
Porcelain Or Ceramic Tiles
If your tiles are porcelain or ceramic then you’re in luck! You get to pick whichever mop you like!
The best part is that steam mops are definitely an option here. If they’re within your budget, they’re the best option when it comes to thoroughly clean the tile and grout as well! We definitely recommend them to you.
Spray mops would also work perfectly. Do you want to know a secret? Both kinds of mops could work perfectly together. Steam mop to sanitize every once in a while and spray mop regularly using a cleaning solution. We suggest using essential oils for a fragrant finish!
Spin mops, microfiber mops, and regular mops are also options here. We don’t love them since they tend to require some work over the other two but they sure would work. Not to mention, their prices are quite appealing!
Natural Stone Tiles
You need to be very cautious when cleaning natural stone tiles. The smallest mistakes could cost you thousands of dollars. Yikes!
Fear not, we’re here to prevent that!
Here’s where opinions vary. Some people claim that, since chemical cleaning solutions aren’t an option, steam cleaners are the best way to clean natural stone tiles. Not all steam mops can do so without damaging the tile so beware which ones you buy, if you’re going to attempt this.
Others, however, warn against this. The heat and steam could ruin your beautiful floor.
Since there are steam mops out there that can clean the natural stone tile without damaging, you can try this option if you wish.
They probably come with their own instructions but make sure you set the steam mode on low and keep the heat to a minimum. Also, try to mop quickly and not linger. Going slow can be a risk so mopping at a quick pace should be your safe bet.
It’s advisable that you avoid doing so altogether. Why risk it?
The alternative is a spray mop filled with a diluted natural stone cleaning solution. This way, you use the second-best type of mop with the correct cleaning solution. The spray keeps the water to the minimum to protect your tiles.
When it comes to completely dry mops, microfiber is your buddy. Don’t try to use any other material or else you could end up scratching your floor. We suggest using a microfiber mop.
A spin mop would be pointless even if its head is microfiber since it requires using plenty of water which is inadvisable.
What Kind of Mop Do You Have In Mind?
Which kind of mop are you planning on getting? Get to know all of the options before making your final decision.
Steam Mop
Steam mops have a padded mop head and they use, wait for it, steam to clean the floor. Quite the surprise, isn’t it? They’re growing widely popular and here’s why.
Hot Water Magic
Cleaning with cool water just isn’t the same as it is with hot water. The latter is much better at leaving your floor pristine clean. It picks up much more dirt and grime.
Disinfectant
Steam mops are every germs’ worst nightmare and every human being’s savior. Steam effectively kills germs, leaving your floor thoroughly disinfected.
Floor Compatibility
As amazing as they are, sadly, steam mops can’t be used with all types of floorings. The good news is that they can be used for most tile floorings!
They’re generally not recommended for use on anything that’s unsealed or has any adhesives. The heat and steam can damage both. Needless to say, hardwood is definitely out.
Microfiber Mop
Microfiber mops are like a modernized version of mops. Their mop head contains a flat microfiber pad that has revolutionized mops.
Multipurpose
These mops can be used with different floor types without damaging them. Even hard to clean floors, like hardwood and natural stones are safe with this one.
You control the amount of water or even dry-mop and the microfiber is gentle on the surface so it doesn’t scratch it.
You can’t go wrong with microfiber mops. If you want versatility, a microfiber mop is the one for you!
Lightweight
Mopping is now pain-free! No need to bend down or hurt your back by carrying around a heavy, water-soaked mop! Microfiber mops remain lightweight even when they’re drenched.
Spray Mop
Where the steam mops fail, spray mops succeed! They’re the next best thing! Why? Ok, we’ll try to keep it short.
First, let us tell you what they are. They’re basically a microfiber mop that has a container. The container is filled up with water and you can use the trigger at the handle to spray water on the floor before you as you clean.
Cleaning Solution
Spray mops give you versatility where cleaning solutions are concerned. They’re also perfect for almost all tile floorings!
You can simply use water, a mixture of water and a cleaning solution, soap, or a detergent.
Our personal favorite is that you may even add essential oils! Anything you want to add should be diluted with water first, but you can definitely add essential oils to your water tank and leave your house smelling amazing!
Environmentally Friendly
Say bye-bye to your water bucket. No more wasting water with spray mops. They spray just enough water to moisturize your mopping without a single drop to spare.
All-Purpose Cleaning
Since they spray water rather than soak the floor and the pads are most likely microfiber, spray mops can be used with almost any floor type.
You can control the cleaning solution you need and keep the spraying minimal if you’re using it with a hard-to-clean floor type like hardwood or natural stones without any damage!
Versatility
The mop head is flat and usually swivels 360 degrees. This way, you can reach even underneath your furniture with no trouble.
Economical
The mop head pads are changeable and probably reusable. Most of which are microfiber and can be machine washable. So basically you throw it in the washing machine whenever you want to clean it.
If your mop pad reaches the end of its lifecycle, simply buy another one! Most spray mops come with spare mop heads to last you a long time but even if they don’t you can buy them.
Unlike regular mops, you don’t have to throw the whole mop away if it’s worn out, just replace the pads!
Regular Mop
These are the good old mops that you find in every household. You probably have them already.
They probably take up the least amount of space, unless they come with a bucket, and they’re definitely the cheapest.
The problem with these traditional mops is that they require the most effort. You need to fill up a bucket of water, add a cleaning solution, and mop. You’re likely going to have to do some scrubbing to get the results you seek.
Not to mention, you’ll end up using a lot of water. This could make it extra hard for you to achieve that spotless, shiny finish.
Don’t even get us started on wringing.
Spin Mop
Spin mops are kind of like regular mops except they’re more versatile.
Their mop head can spin, making it much easier to wring and clean. Wringing is made even easier since they most likely have a pedal for hands-free wringing.
Step on the pedal, twist, and voila! Good as new!
Mop Head Material
One thing you might want to consider is the material of the mop head itself.
Microfiber
Microfiber is a very thin material made of polyester and nylon. It’s popular for its precision, ability to clean bacteria, and high water absorption.
The beauty that is microfiber means that you could use around 95% less water than you’d need using a regular mop.
Cotton
Many regular mops out there have cotton mop heads. They’re generally good at cleaning since they absorb water very well but they’re not the best out there.
They’re not as meticulous as microfiber mop heads and would require the use of a lot of water. It’s okay when it comes to surfaces like tile, but they don’t give the best results. If your mop head is 100% cotton, it may leave lint behind.
Yarn
Yarn mops are also good where tile cleaning is concerned. They’re generally used to clean hardwood and tile and are highly absorbent. What’s great about them is that they don’t wear down easily.
The downside is that a lot of mopping and wringing are required.
Mop Head Design
What does the mop head look like? What good will it do?
Edges
This is where microfiber mops, spray mops, and most steam mops trump traditional yarn mops.
Their rectangular shape gives you the ability to reach the corners of your room and clean them thoroughly. Make sure the edges aren’t too curved in order to enjoy this pro.
Movement
How versatile is the mop head?
The ideal mop head can swivel 360 degrees. This means that you simply move around and the mop head adjusts itself.
This makes single-handed cleaning possible and facile. You basically just walk around moving the mop back and forth and it’ll do all the hard work. You can dance a little while you’re at it, might as well make cleaning fun!
Water Capacity For Steam and Spray Mops
If you’re going for a steam or spray mop, check the capacity of its tank first.
Having a mop that you have to refill every five minutes can be quite annoying, especially if you live somewhere spacious. Check out the containers of the competition as well so that you make sure you don’t end up with the short end of the stick.
Size and Weight
Here’s a pro tip, try to avoid heavy mops. The lighter the mop is, the easier your task would be. Choosing a lightweight mop can save you plenty of time and energy.
Size could also be important to some people if they don’t have much storage space. It could come in handy if you pick a mop that’s not too bulky so that storing it isn’t an issue.
Accessories
While this might seem like a trivial point, accessories can actually be quite important.
For instance, a cheap mop that comes with a single pad could end up being more costly than an expensive mop that includes multiple free pads.
Other accessories could also come in handy. For instance, some spray mops come with a scraper you could use for stubborn stains. Others have spare containers.
Post-Purchase Tips – What to do after you get the best mop for tile floors
Already hit the buy button? Find out how you’re supposed to properly treat your new mop!
How to Use Your Mop
Unlike what most people would say, there’s more to mopping than pushing some water around.
Steam Mop
Here are the steps to using a steam mop.
- It’s sweeping time! Sweep or vacuum the floor to avoid scratching your tile.
- Fill her up! Add clean water to the water tank.
- Power on! Switch your mop on.
- Patience is a virtue. Wait about a minute for the water to heat up. The waiting time varies from one mop to another.
- Wet your cloth. Give the handle a couple of pumps to make sure your cloth is damp and ready to go.
- Pick a mode! Set the settings you’d like to use.
- Mop away!
Make sure you don’t leave your mop on for too long on the same spot, especially if you’re using a high-steam setting. No matter what your floor is, too much heat and water would cause some damage.
Spray Mop
Now, here’s how to use a spray mop.
- Vacuum or sweep, again, to avoid damaging your undoubtedly costly tile.
- Pick your poison. Using the desired cleaning solution, fill up the container.
- Spray away! You can angle your mop so that the spray covers a large area of your floor rather than be concentrated in one spot.
- Now, stand like a queen, or king, and mop your tile with your straight back, spraying whenever needed.
- Here’s a pro tip, move your mope in S-shaped motions. Trust us, you’ll be done in no time!
Spin Mop
It’s time to take your mop for a spin! We couldn’t resist.
- Can you guess what the first step is? You got it! Sweep and/or vacuum!
- Fill your bucket with water.
- Add your cleaning solution to the water. Make sure you don’t use too much, it has to be diluted.
- Loosen the locking mechanism so that your mop can spin freely.
- Dunk your mop head in the water and spin it around so that it absorbs the water.
- Transfer the mop to the basket and spin again to get rid of the excessive water.
- Tighten the locking mechanism, or else you’ll risk making a mess of the floor and yourself.
- Mop, mop, mop!
Microfiber Mop
To use your microfiber mop for dry cleaning, the one and only step is to mop!
If you want to use it for wet mopping, the steps are also quite simple.
- Get rid of dust and debris first! You probably know how by this point.
- Prepare a water solution, if you’re going to be using one, in a bucket or any container. If you’ll only be using water, skip this step.
- To make things easier, detach your mop pad and dunk it in your water solution. If you’re not using any, a few seconds under running tap water should do the trick.
- Wring out the pad to avoid drenching your floor.
- It’s cleaning time!
Regular Mop
This is what humans have been doing since the beginning of time. Ok, maybe not that long ago but you get the point.
- You know what you have to do.
- It’s bucket time. Bucket, water, cleaning solution, and mix.
- Dunk that mop.
- Wring it out.
- Mop!
How to Maintain Your Mop
Do you want to extend the life of your mop as long as possible? Who doesn’t? Here’s how!
Steam Mop
The most important thing to do in order to avoid damaging your steam mop is to make sure you put nothing in its tank except for water. Using anything else will cause damage, however diluted it is.
The best kind of water to use in your steam mop is distilled water.
Start with fresh water every time.
Don’t forget to unplug it after mopping. Leaving it plugged in could expose it to electric surges.
Clean the mop pad as soon as you’re done and dry it. If you skip this step, you could end up scratching your floor or not cleaning well at all.
Read the company’s instructions and replace the mop’s filter after the appropriate time has passed. Otherwise, it’ll clog up and can end up with some damage.
Every once in a while, make sure to clean the nozzles to make sure they stay unclogged. You can do so using a toothbrush.
Spray Mop
The good news is that maintaining a spray mop is super easy.
Once you’re done mopping, remove the pad and clean it thoroughly. Cleaning can be as simple as tossing it in your washing machine if it’s machine washable.
This extends the life of your mop pads so that you don’t go through them quickly.
When it comes to the container, its maintenance is as simple as not using harsh chemicals. Strong alkali or acid-based solutions are what you want to avoid using since they might cause some damage.
If your mop gets clogged, add some diluted vinegar to the container and spray a couple of times, it should do the trick. In fact, it’s better to do this every once in a while anyway to avoid that.
If it still doesn’t work, clean the nozzles from the outside using a toothbrush.
Spin Mop
This is an easy one. Clean it right after cleaning to elongate its life. We also suggest you keep the locking mechanism on at all times to avoid accidental spins that could wear it down in the long run.
Microfiber Mop
Just like with steam and spray mops, wash the microfiber pad right after mopping. Let dry and store. Once your pad wears out, replace it with another one. That’s it.
Regular Mop
Regular mops are also low maintenance. Just clean them once you’re done, dry them, and store them.
FAQs
Take a look at these questions before you go! You might learn something new!
Can toothpick clean grout?
Yes! You can use white, non-gel toothpaste to clean your grout.
Is it safe to use vinegar on tile and grout?
Yes! You can use vinegar to clean your tile floor. It can also be used to clean grout, but make sure that the grout is sealed. Otherwise, it can make its way into
Is vinegar good for cleaning tile floors?
Yes. Vinegar is a good, natural substitute for harsh chemicals when it comes to cleaning tile floors. It gets out stubborn stains and leaves your floor flawless.
Just make sure you dilute it first, otherwise, it could be too harsh. Use a ratio of a quarter to half a cup of vinegar over a gallon of water.
Why is my floor still dirty after I mop?
Can I add essential oils to my steam mop?
No. Your water tank should contain nothing but water.
The Bottom Line
Our journey together has reached an end. Unless you’re just skimming through, in that case here’s a summary of what you’ve missed!
Long story short, you need to know which mop best suits your type of tile floor, or else you can damage it by accident.
The best overall mop is Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop. It disinfects, cleans grout, and leaves your floor smelling fabulous!
Because not all floor types can handle a steam mop, Bissell Spinwave is the alternative. It’s a scrubber, spray mop, and microfiber mop combined.
Before you make your decision, you need to set criteria using the buying guide in order to avoid making the wrong choice!
Now that we’ve brushed up on the basics, you’re ready for your decision.
Happy mopping!
Further Reading