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9 Best Mops of 2023

Aug 04, 2023Aug 04, 2023

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.

This versatile, lightweight mop has washable cleaning pads; you can put your favorite cleaning solution in the easy-to-use sprayer. Read More

The O-Cedar is a traditional mop with a spinner to help remove excess moisture. Its head is removable and washable, and the mop comes with a bucket. Read More

While the Norwex mop system is pricier than other options, it is incredibly effective, requiring only water. Despite this, it leaves no residue. Read More

A convenient, 16-inch swivel head with textured pads and detergent spray makes the PowerMop a quick clean solution that can take on the whole floor. Read More

This mop is quick and easy to use. It will take several sheets to clean more than one room, and that means buying lots of reinforcements. Read More

Updated June 30, 2023

Today’s finest mops aren’t your grandma’s. Sure, the option remains for you to go old school—with a ball of looped yarn or a rectangular sponge attached to a long handle—but why would you? A variety of mop options lining hardware store and supermarket shelves alike allow you to clean thoroughly and get the job done in less time.

We spent more than a week cleaning hardwood and linoleum floors, testing many different brands like Swiffer, O-Cedar, Gladwell, Norwex, Casabella, Amazon, Rubbermaid, and, even, Dollar Tree to see which mop cleans the best.

The variety of technologies and materials used to clean floors, as well as the outcomes, shocked us. The best mop we tested turned out to be the Rubbermaid Reveal (available at Amazon for $47.98) , for its lightweight yet rugged capabilities, and its nice price. If you prefer sticking with a traditional model, then we recommend the O-Cedar Twist Mop (available at Amazon).

If the environment is foremost on your mind, consider the Norwex Microfiber Superior Mop Package (available from Amazon).

Rubbermaid Reveal is easy on your pocket and the environment. Plus, it cleans great.

The Rubbermaid Reveal is a lightweight but rugged mop that frees you from hauling around a mop bucket. The Cleaning Kit comes with 3 machine washable microfiber pads and two bottles for cleaning solutions, making this a cheap and flexible floor cleaning option.

The design means the Rubbermaid Reveal is easy on your pocket and the environment. You don’t need to buy batteries, disposable pads, or brand-specific cleaning solutions. The washable pads can be reused for years, and you can choose whatever cleaning solution you prefer, including biodegradable options. We recommend pairing it with our best floor cleaner, Better Life Natural.

The microfiber pads can be used dry for dust and dirt pickup or with a cleaning solution for light mopping. The mop head includes a scrubbing pad to deal with tougher messes.

We don’t usually get a chance for a long-term product test, but Dave Ellerby, our Chief Scientist, has owned one for over a decade, and it’s still going strong. The latest version is even better than the original, with a more rugged build and a larger scrubbing pad for tough stains.

Washable pads

Scrubber for tough stains

Lightweight

Handle isn't adjustable

The O-Cedar is our favorite if you're looking for the best traditional-style mop.

If you’re most comfortable with the traditional model, meaning a long handle with a head that consists of woven strands of cotton fibers, go with the O-Cedar Twist Mop. It has a number of features that make it one of our Best picks, including a removable mop head, so you can throw it in the washing machine after each use; a bucket, so you can easily wet and then rinse it off while cleaning up; and a spinning mechanism to help wring out extra water while in use.

The mop and bucket are very easy to assemble. The spinner on the O-Cedar Twist Mop was the simplest and most effective of all we tested, requiring only a single spin to get the bulk of the water out of the head; other mops required multiple spins or were left sopping wet.

The main disadvantage of this particular product, which was common to other mop-and-bucket packages we tested, was the amount of storage space required and prep time needed to be ready to clean. If you live in a smaller apartment, finding where to keep your mop when it’s not in use may be a challenge—you can’t just lean it in the back of a corner. The bucket is handy but large.

The O-Cedar mop worked well both on everyday dirt and on spills, though the amount of back-and-forth pushing was greater simply due to its design—it’s a manual mop, after all, meaning you do all the work. But it does get the floor clean, whether you have hardwoods, tile, or linoleum.

Washable

Spinner

Takes up space

Takes time to prep

Norwex Microfiber Superior Mop Package includes a microfiber pad for sweeping and dusting the dry floor first, as well as a mop pad you wet simply with water.

With the Norwex Microfiber Superior Mop Package, which includes a microfiber pad for sweeping and dusting the dry floor first, as well as a mop pad you wet, you don’t have to research which cleaning solutions are non-toxic or environmentally friendly—the Norwex mop doesn’t need anything but water. Thanks to the patented microfiber technology in the mop head, the Norwex mop picks up dirt and germs without having to kill them using an antibacterial cleanser.

Putting the handle and base together is simple, and the only work than required to use it is removing the dry duster head and replacing it with the wet mop head after you’ve run it under hot water. You get the best results with the Norwex by pushing the product in a figure-8 pattern on the floor. If the mop head gets extra dirty during use, remove it, run it under the faucet, and continue mopping. When done, remove the mop head and throw it in the washer— don’t use fabric softener, however, because that damages the microfibers and makes them less effective.

The only downside of the Norwex mop is that you have to wring the mop head out by hand before attaching it there’s no built-in wringing mechanism or device, like a spinner, that does that for you.

That said, we were curious about whether the lack of cleanser would mean dirtier floors. After spilling sticky orange juice, we went over it with the Norwex mop and found no residue (unlike some of the other mops). We also went over areas that had previously been cleaned by other mops using a cleanser and found the Norwex picked up dirt that had been missed or left behind by others.

Despite the fact that the Norwex mop system was among the most expensive we tested, the results and the fact that you don’t have to buy cleaning chemicals to use with it made it the best mop for families concerned about the environment.

Works with just water

Washable

No wringer

Pricey

Clean larger floors with ease.

The Swiffer PowerMop is a new Swiffer with many of the same features as the Swiffer WetJet, but adds an expanded mop head and a redesigned cleaning solution system.

The system retains the familiar cleaning solution jets that fire with the press of a trigger, disposable mop pads, and a lightweight easy-to-get-going build.

The PowerMop's larger 16-inch mop head has thicker tufted pads than the WetJet's. This head picks up more and covers more ground. In our tests, the pad sopped up a whole glass of milk.

The system also includes a redesigned attachment mechanism for installing solution bottles. Our testers were enthusiastic about this feature, finding that the redesigned bottles click into place satisfyingly with very minimal leakage.

The system does have a few downsides. We like the convenience that this mop offers, but beware it will require you to continuously reinvest in Swiffer mop pads and cleaning solution bottles. This new system uses smaller bottles of solution than the WetJet. These bottles currently cost about as much as the other system's larger bottles.

Still, we think the PowerMop is a great addition to the Swiffer family that improves many features found in the WetJet. Those who are already fans of Swiffer products will find an expanded toolset here.

Read our review of the Swiffer PowerMop.

Large mop pads

Easy detergent system

Quick and easy

Smaller detergent cans

Requires frequent resupply

While the Swiffer WetJet isn’t exactly a mop, it does all that you’d expect one to do namely, use a cleaning solution to pick up dirt from the floor. Only, the good news is that you don’t have to pull out a bucket and fill it with hot water and liquid cleanser to use it. In about two seconds, you can be swiping your floor, which is extremely handy when friends or your in-laws are at your door.

That’s really its best feature—ease of use. It doesn’t take up much space in the closet and is immediately ready to go once you attach the disposable paper cleaning head to the base. The starter kit comes with four AAA batteries, which powers the dispersal of the cleaning solution onto the floor, as well as the cleaner itself. Pop both the batteries in and load the bottle of cleaner and you’re ready to go.

Press the trigger button on the handle to spray cleaner on the floor and then push the WetJet around where it is needed. When you’re done, pull the disposable mop head off and toss it in the trash.

The one area where the Swiffer is less convenient is when picking up massive spills as its head can only hold so much liquid. You’ll need to have extras on hand to sop up the mess, and those cost. Expect to frequently reinvest in mop pads as you use your WetJet. It’s still convenient to use in that regard, but you’ll likely go through two or three sheets if cleaning up more than a glass of water or wine.

If you’ve heard rumors, as we had, about the Swiffer cleaning solution being dangerous for pets, you’ll be happy to know that several organizations have refuted that information. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center confirms that “this product can be safely used around pets.”

Quick to get going

Doesn't take up closet space

Intuitive to use

Sheet picks up only so much

Buying sheets and solution can get expensive

Like other traditional mop-and-bucket combos, the Hapinnex Spin Wringer Mop Bucket set delivers all you need to clean your floor. One of the smart features of the Hapinnex set is the drain plug at the bottom of the bucket, so you can dump the water without having to overturn the bucket completely. The spinner is also quite effective at extracting extra water from the mop, leaving less standing water on the floor.

One thing that was not so great was the mop’s design—one of the plastic edges of its head scraped the floor, rather than the microfiber head. It took effort to maneuver the mop to avoid having that edge scratch. However, the microfiber was extra absorbent, picking up big spills on the first pass, unlike some of the others.

Drain plug in bucket

Spinner

Head scratches the floor

The Casabella is a sturdy traditional sponge mop. It feels substantial and the handle halfway down the mop stick allows you to grab on to apply more pressure on stubborn spots. The design is smart and results in great scrubbing power. The built-in wringer is also effective at squeezing out excess water from the dense sponge.

That said, the length of the handle isn’t adjustable, and it does take more effort to use than other mops. That’s generally true of sponge mops though. It also didn’t absorb spills as well as it took care of every day tracked in dirt.

Wringer

Second handle

Handle isn't adjustable

Microfiber Wholesale’s 18” Microfiber Mop’s advantage is in its size—the sheer volume of the rectangular mop head means you can cover more floor surface area in less time. However, like the Norwex microfiber mop, you have to take the mop pad off to wring it out once soaked in cleaning solution (or at least that’s what we did).

The mop did a fair job of picking up everyday dirt and absorbing the cup of spilled liquid, though we had to go over the spill slowly several times to allow it time to sop it up.

Covers more surface area

Hard to wring out

The best feature of the Libman Wonder Mop is the innovative wringer that squeezes out excess liquid from the mop head. By pushing the white plastic wringer down toward the bottom of the mop, you can quickly get rid of excess cleaning water. It’s quick and easy.

Because the head is made of strips of thin microfiber fabric, rather than twisted cotton strands, we found the Libman mop didn’t pick up dirt as well as other mops. Once dipped in cleaning solution, it worked well in sopping up spills, but it did leave excess water behind. And it was not effective with simply spraying cleaning solution on the floor first—you really need to get the whole mop head wet for it to perform. Fortunately, when you’re done with it, you can just throw the head in the washing machine.

Wringer

Washable

Leaves water behind

Microfiber fabric

Marcia Layton Turner, a freelance writer who has written for Woman’s Day, Health, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Businessweek, US News & World Report, and Forbes.com, did the majority of the testing for this article. Reviewed's lab staff also contributed.

To determine which mops performed best and which weren’t a good use of your money, we tested them over the course of a week on hardwood floors and linoleum. We wanted to see how well they cleaned everyday dirt and footprints, as well as paw prints.

But since mops are also important tools for spills, we also checked how well the absorbent material sucked up one cup of sugary orange juice. We tested on both hardwood and laminate, to see if there were differences in performance. We wanted to know how much effort the products required to get a decent result, which cleaned surfaces completely (versus leaving some kind of residue or streaks), and what the major advantages and disadvantages were.

If you haven’t spent much time considering all your mop options, now is the time to. Our testing has proven that cheap mops generally don’t do as thorough a job of cleaning your floor. Sure, if you go over them several times, you can probably reach the same level of cleanliness that some of the other mops achieved with just a few swipes, but why work so hard?!

Some of the factors you should consider when choosing a new mop include:

Price. Make sure what you’re spending is going to result in a longer-lasting, more durable, and better-performing mop. Cheaper is not better when it comes to mops, we found.

Machine washable mop heads. How are you going to clean your mop after you’ve used it? If you can detach the mop head and throw it in a washing machine, it’s going to be much cleaner the next time you go to mop your floor than one you’ve merely rinsed off. Start with a clean mop.

Size. How much storage space do you have in your place? If it’s not much, stay away from the mop packages that include a bucket. Also, consider whether the handle is adjustable; can it be made more compact?

Cost of use. The most convenient product also requires you to purchase replacement parts, meaning more packaged cleaning solution, batteries, and disposable mop heads. Other mops sell replacement heads, but you shouldn’t expect to have to swap them out often.

Extra parts. Does the mop kit you’ve purchased include extra pieces? Some mops include additional mop heads while others don’t. You’ll likely be able to extend the product’s useful life if you have replacement parts provided up front.

Durability. One of the cheaper models actually started to fall apart during the first use. You want a mop that is going to be able to be used for weeks, if not months or years.

Toxicity. If you have family members who are highly allergic to cleaning products, you may want to invest in a mop that requires little or no cleaning solution.

Common use. Do you expect to use your mop for everyday wipe-downs of your floor, or do you have young children who are spill-prone. If you’re mainly concerned with large quantities of liquid, you’ll want to lean toward more of the traditional mops, with highly absorbent mop heads.

It's easy to see the amount of dirt you pick up while using the removable pads on the Swiffer WetJet.

Marcia Layton Turner

Contributor

Marcia Layton Turner has written for Woman’s Day, Health, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Businessweek, US News & World Reports, and more. She currently writes for Forbes.

David Ellerby

Chief Scientist

Dave Ellerby is Reviewed's Chief Scientist and has a Ph.D. from the University of Leeds and a B.Sc. from the University of Manchester. He has over 25 years of experience designing tests and analyzing data.

Gabriel Morgan

Staff Writer, Home

Gabriel Morgan is a staff writer on Reviewed's home team, where he covers consumer education topics such as earthquake preparedness, radon in the home, and concerns about health and wellness in product design. He also writes product reviews and how-to articles on appliances, smart home technology, and goods for the home.

Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.

Rubbermaid RevealO-Cedar Twist MopNorwex Microfiber Superior Mop PackagePrice.Machine washable mop heads.Size.Cost of use.Extra parts.Durability.Toxicity.Common use.