Weindependently evaluateall of our recommendations.
If you punch links we provide, we may receive compensation.
See which of our picks mopped the floor with the competition.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
We found that this mop was extremely easy to maneuver.
At times, it felt like it was anticipating our movementsthats how easily it moved across the floor.
We also put this mop to the test when it came to cleaning up various messes.
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock
The hardest messes for this mop to tackle were the ketchup and the butter.
Overall, we continued to be pleased with the performance of this mop.
We washed it with other clothes after almost every use, and it was also clean afterwards.
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock
It didn’t shrink in the dryer, and none of the fibers frayed or hardened.
The mopping pads are disposable, so this is not an eco-friendly option.
TheSwiffer PowerMopis the best mop for hardwood floors if youre looking for a budget-friendly option.
We were able to move it effortlessly around corners and under cabinets thanks to its lightweight design.
“I would recommend this mop to literally anyone.
It would work just as well for a small apartment as it would a large home.
It’s affordable, accessible, and effective.
We found that it was safe for hardwood floors, and that it easily cleaned up spills.
This mop also impressed us when it came to how simple it was to clean after use.
No matter how many times we test and retest mops, O-Cedar always comes out on top.
As far as maneuverability, there werent many places that we couldnt reach with this mop.
The microfiber mop head was able to reach into corners and along baseboards with ease.
Although the mop head doesnt swivel, the microfiber strands were long enough to reach tighter corners and crevices.
Corners are difficult to clean since the mop pads are round.
Its our pick for the best electric mop for hardwood floors.
The first detail we noticed while testing was how easily this mop was able to glide over the floors.
It also comes with a small, portable charging cord.
It also can be used wet or dry, making it versatile, too.
The scrub brush is removable to make cleaning the scrub head simple.
We used water for our testing, but it is possible to put another hardwood-safe cleaning solution.
On average, we needed about 5.5 sprays of water per stain.
However, it did impress us with how easily it picked up the soil and dirt on hardwood.
The mop came with two machine-washable, microfiber mop heads.
Despite frequent washing, the mop pads held up well, and there were no loose threads or frays.
After performing a series of tests, we determined each mops overall value.
Next, we recorded how many passes of the mop it took to clean the stain.
If the mop was cordless, we recorded how cleaning drained the battery.
Plus, these longer handles make it easier to get into corners and other hard-to-reach spots.
Care
The best mops for hardwood floors are easy to maintain.
Your Questions, Answered
Does mopping damage hardwood floors?
A tester inserts the cleaning solution into the Swiffer PowerMop. We liked that the cleaning solution makes water unnecessary during the cleaning process.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock
Mopping your hardwood floors can damage them if done improperly.
Excessive water can seep into the wood causing it to warp, swell or even crack, Little says.
Thats why its important to use as little liquid as possible when mopping them.
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Little says that damp mopping is the way to go.
What cleaning solutions should you use on hardwood floors?
Sokolowski recommends a natural, pH-neutral floor cleaneranywhere between 6 and 8 on the pH scale is fine.
Little explains, Using harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaners can damage the finish and the wood itself.
Its important to usehardwood-specific cleanersthat wont strip away the protective finish.
What is BHG Recommends?
Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed ourBHG Recommends seal of approval.
In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.
Who We Are
Andrea Wurzburgeris a writer atBetter Homes & Gardenswho covers a variety of home products.
This article was updated byBrandi Fuller, who has been an editor for Better Homes & Gardens since 2022.
She has also written for publications such as Southern Living, Real Simple, and PEOPLE.
Wringing out the O-Cedar mop pad in the bucket completely removed the stains so that we were able to continue mopping without spreading the mess around.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Two spinning mop heads and a swivel head help the Bissell SpinWave easily tackle sticky messes.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
This mop’s head has two spray nozzles, so the cleaning solution comes out with a wide coverage.Credit:The Spruce
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
