After testing 25 steam mops, consumer group Choice has found the best way to get your floors gleaming may not require a premium price tag.
Testers evaluated steam mops on performance, including how much water they leave behind after mopping, as well as ease of use, scoring each product out of 100.
The top scorer
The Bissell PowerFresh Slim #2233F came out on top, earning a Choice Expert Rating of 79%, with an 80% floor-wetness score and 79% for ease of use. The stick mop carries a 0.35-litre water tank and retails for $394.
The budget match
The next best result, however, came at a fraction of that cost. The Kmart Anko 1300W Steam Mop (JC-230) also scored 79% overall — matching the Bissell exactly — and costs just $50. It edged ahead on ease of use with 81%, though its floor wetness score of 70% trails Bissell’s 80%. Its water tank is also slightly larger at 0.45 litres.
Don’t expect miracles on grout
Shoppers hoping steam mops will tackle grimy grout lines should temper their expectations. “A lot of you have asked us how well steam mops clean grout,” writes Matthew Steen, Choice’s Director of Reviews and Testing. “All of the steam mops we tested did a poor job of removing grout stains, and we don’t recommend them for this purpose.”
Steen also addressed questions about testing conditions. “Why do we use laminate flooring? It helps us recreate a realistic use scenario. While some floor manufacturers advise against steam mops, they’re still commonly used in Australian homes.”
The lower scorers
At the lower end of the scores is another Bissell steam mop. The Bissell Steam Mop Select (23V8-F), the cheapest Bissell reviewed at $169, earned a Choice Expert Rating of just 62%. Its floor wetness score of 50% means it is likely to leave a lot of water behind. A triangular mop head is marketed as better for tight spaces, but testers gave it an ease-of-use score of 65%.
Price is no guarantee
While a higher price tag might suggest a superior level of cleanliness, Choice’s test tells a different story. The most expensive model tested – the Karcher SC 5 EasyFix Premium Steam Cleaner, $969 (currently on sale for $799) – scored just 72% overall.
Despite its generous 1.5-litre water tank and a respectable ease-of-use score of 78%, it earned a floor wetness score of only 50%, meaning it leaves more water behind (and takes longer to dry).
Durability is one area where a cheaper mop may fall short over time, but the results show budget options can more than hold their own.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
