By clicking a retailer link you consent to third-party cookies that track your onward journey. This enables W? to receive an affiliate commission if you make a purchase, which supports our mission to be the UK's consumer champion.
Best floor mops 2026: top picks for clean floors
Chris tests tons of sleep products. But it’s not all lying down on the job - testing running shoes, treadmills and exercise bikes ensures he works up a sweat, too.
The best mops glide smoothly across the floor, picking up dirt, debris and spills as they go.
We’ve tested a range of different mops – including spin, string, spray and flat types – to find which ones are a breeze to use and will help leave your kitchen spotless.
The biggest brands, including Vileda, Flash, Joseph Joseph and Minky, all feature in our tests of the best mop for laminate floors.
Three stood out and gained our Best Buy recommendation. We also have a pair of Great Value picks for good performance at a lower price.
How our tests find you the best
Cleaning performance
Muddy boot prints and spilt pasta sauce don't faze the best mops we put through testing.
Absorbency
We tell you which up soak up liquids with ease and which are likely to leave your floor a damp mess.
Gliding across a floor
The best mops easily move wherever you need them to, picking up dirt and debris as they go.
We also test...
Ease of assembly, ease of maintenance, and how well they get under furniture and into corners.
The best floor mops
Only logged-in Which? members can view the mop test results below.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.
| Mop | Price | Score | Type | Cleaning performance | Absorbency | Gliding across the floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations Unlock tableDigital first month £5, then £8.99 per month, cancel at any time. Already a member? | 89% | |||||
| 82% | ||||||
| 81% | ||||||
| 80% | ||||||
| 78% | ||||||
| 75% | ||||||
| 74% | ||||||
| 70% | ||||||
| 70% | ||||||
| 64% |
Sign up to reveal
Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations
Unlock tableDigital first month £5, then £8.99 per month, cancel at any time.
Already a member?
Log in
Date tested: February 2026. Page last checked: March 2026. We are not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
The mops we tested
All the mops we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best mops from our tests.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.
Bona Premium Spray Mop
Type Spray mop
Need to know Machine washable microfibre pad, 850ml bottle of Bona stone, tile and laminate floor cleaner included, 135cm handle length
E-Cloth Deep Clean Mop
Type Flat mop
Need to know Machine washable polyester head, adjustable handle up to 150cm
Flash Power Spray Mop
Type Spray mop
Need to know Starter kit includes one machine washable pad and two disposable pads, 1.25-litre bottle Flash Power Mop cleaning solution, two AA batteries
Flash Speed Mop
Type Flat mop
Need to know Starter kit includes eight wet mopping cloths and 16 dry sweeping pads
Joseph Joseph Spray Mop
Type Spray mop
Need to know Machine washable microfibre pad, 145cm handle length, wall-mounted storage bracket
Need extra cleaning power? See our reviews of steam cleaners
Minky Opti Clean Spin Mop
Type Spin mop
Need to know Machine washable microfibre head, dual-cavity bucket, 130cm handle length
Oxo Microfibre Spray Mop
Type Spray mop
Need to know Machine washable microfibre pad, 144cm handle length
Vileda 1-2 Spray Mop
Type Spray mop
Need to know Machine washable microfibre pad, 130cm handle length
Vileda Easy Ring Spin Mop
Type Spin mop
Need to know Machine washable microfibre head, adjustable handle up to 130cm, 6-litre bucket capacity, one-year manufacturer’s guarantee
Vileda SuperMocio Mop
Type String mop
Need to know Mop and bucket sold separately or as part of a set, 140cm handle length, 10-litre bucket capacity
How we test mops
We test mops from popular brands available at major UK retailers. We don't have to satisfy advertisers, and we're not influenced in what we test. We also buy all the models – no freebies.
We regularly revisit the mops on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing – and when we find them, we do.
Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.
Cleaning performance
We smear pasta sauce and stamp down muddy boot prints on laminate floors and ceramic tiles, before leaving them to dry. We then clean them up – either using water or the supplied cleaning solution – to assess which mops leave the floor spotless and which leave behind dirt and debris.
Absorbency
We spill water and then use precise scales to find out which mop heads absorb the most liquid. The best leave the floor bone dry, while the worst leave behind plenty of residue.
Ease of use
A panel of testers ranks the mops on a range of different factors, including how comfortable they are to grip, how easily they glide across the floor and how well they manoeuvre in different directions and under furniture.
Ease of maintenance
We rank the mops for how easy they are to maintain, taking into account whether the pads can be machine-washed and tumble-dried, and how much effort they require to wring out.
How to mop a floor
How do you mop floors? This seems like a simple enough question, but it depends on what type of mop you’re using.
Traditional string and spin mops require you to fill up a bucket with water (and cleaning solution if you’re using it) and get it damp rather than soaking wet.
Tackling one small section of the floor at a time helps to keep the job manageable. Some people go left and right; others prefer a figure-of-eight pattern.
Once you're finished, make sure you wring out the mop head thoroughly. When it needs to be cleaned, check if it can go in the washing machine and whether it should be tumble-dried or needs air drying.
Spray or flat mops tend not to be as absorbent, so vacuuming loose dirt first can be helpful. Spray mops require you to refill the bottle with water or detergent, while flat mops require you to wet the pad before reattaching it to hook-and-loop fasteners at the bottom.
Again, it's often possible to put the reusable pads in the washing machine, but check whether they can be tumble-dried. You can usually buy replacement pads once they wear out.
Speed mops have disposable wipes or pads that need to be attached to the base. Some are designed to pick up dust, whereas others are soaked in cleaning solution.
How to mop timber floors
To prevent water damage, don’t use a mop that’s too wet, as this can cause the timber floor to swell and warp. It’s better to clean when the mop is slightly damp.
You can reduce the amount of mopping needed by sweeping floors regularly, spot-cleaning quickly and vacuuming every few days. Some people use a special microfibre mop pad to pick up dust and debris first.
Can you mop laminate floors?
Yes, you can mop laminate floors, but it’s better with a nearly dry or slightly damp mop. For this reason, many people opt for a flat-head mop rather than a traditional mop and bucket.
Which is the best type of mop?
The best type of mop for you depends on your cleaning needs and how much space you have at home. Here are a few of the main types to consider:
String mop
This is the classic mop-and-bucket variety. They tend to be more absorbent and better at dealing with bigger stains than flat-head mops, but they also take up more space and are less suitable for floors that are prone to warping, such as hardwood or laminate.
Spin mop
These are almost identical to string mops. The only difference is that a spin mop comes with a rotating head and spinning mechanism in the bucket that lets you wring it out with a foot pedal rather than by hand. Again, these are especially suitable for deep cleans.
Spray mop
These flat-headed mops often have an attachable bottle filled with water or cleaning solution. You can then spray out liquid from the head using a trigger at the top. The cleaning pads are usually reusable and machine washable. It’s a convenient design for those looking for a simple mop for day-to-day cleaning.
Flat mop
Similar to a spray mop but without the spritz feature, flat mops usually have a washable and reusable pad that you wet before cleaning. Alternatively, there’s the ‘speed mop’ variety that has disposable wipes or pads that you attach and throw away once you're done.
Steam mop
Steam mops are electric floor cleaners that heat water to create steam. Generally, they're used for dirtier floors, as they can loosen grime and dirt. If you're interested in one of these, some feature in our best steam cleaner reviews.