The Best Mops to Buy in 2021, According to Experts

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woman mopping kitchen floor — Photo: Courtesy of Walmart

A good mop can be a game-changer for your homekeeping routine. "A well-designed mop can make your cleaning experience go more smoothly by providing easier access to hard-to-reach spots and surfaces—reducing both frustration and back pain," says Donna Dougherty, founder of Go Green Cleaning Experts. "Furthermore, a good mop will leave your floors cleaner." However, with all the mops available on the market, separating the best from the so-so can be tricky. "While there are many choices with lots of bells and whistles, there are some things that all mops should be able to do," says Michael Silva-Nash, executive vice president of Molly Maid of Greater Little Rock, a Neighborly brand. "They should absorb well—so you aren't just moving around the same dirt and mess from place to place—they should be machine washable, have a comfortable grip, be height adjustable, and ideally, offer a scrubbing action and require little (to no) wringing."

In addition to being efficient and easy-to-use, Rosa Nogales-Hernandez, head of home cleaning at Valet Living, says the best mops are ones that can be used for a variety of home cleaning tasks. "Beyond just cleaning floors, mops can be used to clean windows (so you can avoid using ladders), scrub shower walls, and clean baseboards," she explains. "Certain types of mops, such as microfiber mops with rotating heads, are helpful in cleaning under the couch, bed and other furniture that is too heavy to move." Interested in learning which specific mops professional cleaners deem the best to use at home and at work? From super sturdy styles with telescoping handles to electric ones that you can control from an app on your smartphone, cleaning experts share their favorite mops ahead.

Multipurpose Spray Mop

For a multifunctional mop with a rotating head, Kadi Dulude of Wizard of Homes recommends the POPTEN Microfiber Spray Floor Mop. "This comes with cloth attachments for wet-mopping and dry-dusting," she explains. "Dry dusting is a great, quick way to go over your floors daily just to keep them dust-free without taking much of your time. This also has the cleaning solution spray incorporated which makes cleaning so much easier."

Shop Now: POPTEN Microfiber Spray Floor Mop, $28.99, amazon.com.

Spinning Mop and Bucket Set

o cedar wringspring mop with bucket — Courtesy of Target

If you prefer to clean your floors simply using a mop and bucket, Steven Ip, owner of Cleanzen in Boston, Massachusetts says the O-Cedar EasyWring Spin Mop and Bucket System is the solution for you. "This affordable set features a triangular mop head that consists of microfiber loops that you can use for both wet and dry mopping," he explains. "The bucket has a hands-free wringer that you can access through a foot pedal, and the mop head is machine washable, so you get ample use out of it."

Shop Now: O-Cedar "EasyWring" Spin Mop and Bucket System, $36.99, target.com.

Long-Lasting Microfiber Mop

deep clean damp microfiber mop — Courtesy of Amazon

Dougherty says you can't go wrong with a microfiber mop with a three-year, 300 wash guarantee. "The E-Cloth Deep Clean Mop is effective at stripping grease, grime, dirt, and over 99 percent of bacteria from all types of hard flooring with just water," she says. "When finished, simply remove the mop head and pop it in the washer and it will be ready to use again."

Shop Now: E-Cloth Deep Clean Mop, $39.99, amazon.com.

Affordable Spray Mop

o cedar promist spray mop — Courtesy of Walmart

If you thought there was no such thing as a microfiber spray mop for under 20 bucks, then think again. "This affordable mop uses manual power, but its features can dramatically simplify your mopping chores," Ip says of the O-Cedar ProMist MAX Microfiber Spray Mop. "One side of the microfiber pad can be used to swipe away dust and other debris before you use the other side of the pad to mop the floor. When you are done, simply toss the microfiber pad in the washing machine so that it is ready for the next use."

Shop Now: O-Cedar "ProMist MAX" Microfiber Spray Mop, $19.98, walmart.com.

Microfiber Spray Mop

For a reliable mop that won't leave a trail of water behind, Nogales-Hernandez says you can't beat the MEXERRIS Microfiber Spray Mop (with a built-in spraying system). "Unlike ordinary mops, where you have to squeeze the excess water out and are still left with a puddle on the floor, microfiber spray mops give you the ability to determine how much water you use," she explains.

Shop Now: MEXERRIS Microfiber Spray Mop, $27.99, amazon.com.

Reusable Microfiber Mop

Nogales-Hernandez says a long-lasting, reusable mop can save you loads of money and cleaning time. "The Boardwalk Reusable Microfiber Mop Pad Kit lasts longer than traditional mops because you're able to wash the pad after every use, which also ensures the removal of bacteria from the floor," she explains. "Plus, microfiber mops are amazing for picking up dirt, hair, and crumbs around the house."

Shop Now: Boardwalk Reusable Microfiber Mop Pad Kit, $39.99, lowes.com.

Tried-and-True Mop

swiffer dry wet jet mop — Courtesy of Target

For an easy-to-assemble mop that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, Dulude suggests the Swiffer Sweeper Two-in-One Dry and Wet Multi-Surface Floor Mop. "Not only are they small and lightweight, but they can easily be taken apart so our cleaners carry them to all the jobs," she says. "They fit under the lowest furniture and tight corners." Instead of using store-bought wet and dry cloths that have to be thrown away, Dulude says you can use your own microfiber cloths for dry-dusting and wet-mopping. "They can easily be attached to the mop head just like the store-bought cloths," she explains.

Shop Now: Swiffer Sweeper Two-in-One Dry and Wet Multi Surface Floor Starter Kit, $13.99, target.com.

Functional Flat Mop

For a flathead mop that can cover a lot of ground, Silva-Nash recommends the Libman Freedom Spray Mop. "Flat mops are great because you can place a bunch of pads in the bucket of water and cleaning solution and once the one you are using is dirty, you can just get another one from the bucket," he explains. "This helps make sure that the water is not getting dirty and you are minimizing cross contamination or spreading dirty water across the room."

Shop Now: Libman Freedom Spray Mop, $20.57, walmart.com.

Dry Microfiber Mop

temple pride microfiber mop — Courtesy Amazon

If you're searching for a mop to pre-clean your floors that doesn't require any water or cleaning solution, Dougherty suggests the Temple's Pride Professional Microfiber Hardwood Floor Mop. "This mop provides a unique, dry microfiber experience," she explains. "Unlike a wet pad, the dry pad is much thicker, and is designed to collect dust particles and debris before you wet mop."

Shop Now: Temple's Pride Professional Microfiber Hardwood Floor Mop, $37.95, amazon.com.

Electric Scrubber and Mop

hommit electric spin scrubber mop — Courtesy of Amazon

For an affordable electric mop that can deep clean an assortment of surfaces, Ip recommends the Homitt Electric Spin Scrubber and Mop. "This mop is reasonably priced in comparison to many of the other electric mops on the market today," he says. "It is lightweight and cordless, and its many removable parts and accessories make it ideal for use on a wide range of floor surfaces, including bamboo, laminate, marble, tile and other types of floors."

Shop Now: Homitt Electric Spin Power Scrubber and Mop, $79.99, amazon.com.

Robot Mop

The only thing better than a cordless, electric mop is one that you can control from your smartphone. "The iRobot Braava Jet 240 Robot Mop does the cleaning for you as it learns the map of your home, can be scheduled via an app on your smartphone, and learns your routines," Silva-Nash explains. "It does a great job cleaning and gets under furniture while you sit and relax."

Shop Now: iRobot® "Braava" Jet® 240 Robot Mop, $179.99, store.irobot.com.

Power Mop

Consider Nellie's Wow Mop the Rolls Royce of cordless mops. Lightweight and rechargeable, Dougherty says this mop is lightweight and comes with two microfiber pads, as well as a charging station. "Nellie's Wow Mop also has a liquid holder that disperses solution on your floor as you need it," she says. "This is a more expensive option, but the fancier features may be well worth it for those with back problems or people who dread mopping."

Shop Now: Nellie's "Wow" Mop, $195.99, amazon.com.

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