I work as a janitor and can say, you're likely fine. Steam is probably safer than wet mopping because it evaporates and dries way faster. And it kills many types of bacteria. Most bacteria die at around 140°F and most steam mops heat up to 200°F making your house sanitary as well as clean.
Excellent Review. I put full plank bamboo floors in my 3 story home in 1990. Before doing that I took a 10 centimeter by 10 centimeter piece of the bamboo plank and soaked it in water for 6 months. After that I examined the damage or lack of damage. Oh, the plank was approx 2.5 centimeters in depth. I have steamed those planks quarterly over the past 34 years and I do not see any damage but I do see that the surface is not as shiny as day 1. I am going to get a Brava M6 made by iRobot/Roomba an American Company. My floors have had a robot clean them every other day for the past 34 years. I hand clean the corners and the base boards when I feel ambitious. I will be 80 years old and these "GRASS" floors will outlive me. No trees were harmed by cutting the bamboo and no animals live off of the 50 feet tall grass where they are grown. I too, do not use chemicals in my home. Bona has reported that their product is safe for animal life and is not tested on animals. I will follow your story as I was raised on an organic farm and chemicals were not used on the farm except for the tractors that used gas and oil. My father and grandfather did not spray chemicals and the neighbors could not spray within 50-100 feet of the boundaries which was rare in the 1940's to the 1970's. We had dogs but they had their own houses. We had 3 black labs. We had horses, cattle, chickens, ducks, cats to eat mice, no pigs, goats or sheep. However, when the kids entered the house the shoes came off in the porch and back on going out. My mother was the sheriff and enforced the law. Today, I still do not wear shoes in the house and all visitors leave their shoes at the front or back door. In the winter my feet are covered with socks starting in EARLY December to the end of March. Your floors should last your lifetime and beyond. I shall try to watch your channel and check in once per month. Excellent Professional Review on this Topic.
This was the best review I’ve seen, straight to the point, addressing any possible challenges , and research done to support or disprove any claims, plus the yearly updates. THANK YOU. Now I can buy a steam mop in peace .
I own a commercial & residential cleaning biz & have NEVER had any issues with my steam mop, whether on tile, laminate or 100 year old wood! My clients are amazed that no harmful chemicals are ever used & likewise delighted that their pets & babies are safe. Girl, you need a shark genius mop though! Double sided head & no touching the dirty pad! Love it!
Dale it’s not about harmful chemicals you might get away with it for a while but you’re introducing Moisture into the wood every time you steam mop! You hit the wrong floor with it and it can cause you a huge insurance claim
@@jakewilson1600 When I cleaned houses, a lot of people swore by them. They claimed to use them for years with no issues. I think it’s overblown. It evaporates so fast, how is it any worse then traditional mopping? For old or historic hardwood, best to stay away of course.
The worse thing about steam mops? That terrible smell that wafts up from some pet owner’s homes. At least you know the odors aren’t staying embedded within the floor 😷
UPDATE 8/20 - Still using the steam mop on our floors, still not seeing any damage, and still loving it. If you want the exact steam mop supplies we use, I just posted a Kit list with all the steam mop items we love, which you can view here. kit.co/oakabode/steam-mop-supplies Didn't do it at the beginning because I didn't know this video would get quite so much attention, but hopefully better late than never. I'm also seeing some questions on the mop covers -- I use 3 to clean a roughly 1600 sq ft house. But I use one for the kitchen, alone, because it's usually the dirtiest. I included the interchangeable mop heads we use in the link above, too. Happy mopping! - UPDATE 5/20 - Hey guys! After receiving a threat for posting this video (yes, actually), I just want to reiterate that we are not professionals -- we can only share our own personal experience, and recommend that you follow manufacturer instructions. Thus far, we are still happy with how the mop is performing. Though it was only one, threatening comments will always be blocked. 🙄We do, however, encourage sharing your own experience using adult dialogue. If you have personally used a steam mop on hardwood floors and either HAVE or HAVE NOT experienced damage, PLEASE leave a comment below so we can all have an accurate representation of real users' experiences.
Amazon is out of stock , can you give me the model number so I know I'm getting the same one you have, thank enjoyed very much your video on the ruggables my corners are turning , go to try what you did . Thank Carol , NC
First off... *ANYONE WHO THREATENS ANYONE FOR ANY REASON IS A TROLL NOT WORTH YOUR TIME, NEVER MIND AN ANSWER!!!* You know what you know & you're speaking through your experience, or admitted lack thereof, and it is YOUR EXPERIENCE. You have every right to it, so STAND YOUR GROUND... never mind the trolls. Report them. Second... *I APPLAUD YOU* for genuinely seeking information & experiences from others... A refreshing change in this "know-it-all" world now-a-days!!! Research will always make what you do better because by doing it, you make better decisions. Cleaning is chemistry, pure & simple. If you understand the chemistry of "dirt," it makes cleaning it up sooooooo much easier!!! Dirt sticks because surface lipids(fats & oils) cling to surfaces, generated from everything we do(cooking, respiration & sweating, regular daily movements, etc.), & dust & "carried in" dirt from outside & forced air ventilation systems all stick to those lipids, creating all that sticky, VISABLE dirt. Regular old fashioned hot water & a rag with a surfactant is inescapable sometimes... The steam mop takes that concept to a whole other level, because the steam action LIFTS the dirt up, the surfactant breaks up the lipid bond to the surface, & you effectively remove both with relative ease, leaving a streak-free shine in it's wake. Stand Your Ground, because the chemistry of cleaning backs you up.💜
I am a flooring sales woman, we never recommend using steam mops for anything OTHER THAN ceramic/porcelain tiles. The heat of the steam will ruin the finish on your hardwood or luxury vinyl tiles or planks, after a while the finish gets pulled off your hardwood floors. We had a customer recently call us and send photos of her hardwood and almost all her finish on her hardwood was gone unfortunately.. Using a steam mop usually will always void your warranty for hardwood or luxury vinyl planks and tiles. The "dirt" you see on the mop head is actually the finish and stain on the wood, im not just saying this because "i think i know all", I work flooring sales, I talk to sales reps from Armstrong, Casabella, MastersCraft, All Tile, etc etc. And they all say no steam mops. You can use water and vinegar, but you do need a mineral cleaning product for hardwood (like bona or woodpecker cleaners) which restore that mineral in your wood, making it stronger over time. Steam mops are marketed for every floor, but their end game is just to wow you with the infomercials and get your money but after a year of continual use, you will see a change.. Lots of people will say "ive used steam mops for X amount of years and no problems at all" but im sure that isnt the case if you took a picture when you first got your floors to X amount of years later, there will be a change. And BTW you most definitely can use water on your hardwood, just dont let spills sit on your hardwood because your hardwood will suck it up like a sponge. Just be mindful. Just thought id put my two cents in.
I always steam our hardwood floors. A neighbor just this morning told me that I'm not supposed to. I panicked thinking that eventually they will buckle however, after watching yr blog I feel confident that it's fine. I've been doing it for about two years without noticing any damage so I'm going to continue because we also have a dog and he's a bit of a slob:) Thank you for taking the time to inform others of yr results.
Laminate floors are much tougher than people think. Before we installed laminate in our home, we got a sample and put it in a bucket of water out on the picnic table for over a month. When we fished it out and dried it out, by laying it on the picnic table in the sum, it was still in very good condition. We were amazed and had it installed. What we did to the sample was more mistreatment than any floor would get in a life time, so a steam mop would be great because it leaves very little water on the floor. Thanks for you info.
I like that the floor is more sanitized, too. I like that the pads can be washed and used again and again. I start mopping in less used areas (cleaner), then move on to more traveled areas.
Hello! First your furbabies are absolutely PRECIOUS!!! I had Engineered Hardwood Flooring installed throughout our home replacing all the carpeting. I got a steam mop soon after that mainly to use in the kitchen on the tiles. I saw on the box that you could use it on hardwoods and have a couple of friends that have hardwood and they use their steam mop with no problems at all. I called my installer just to be sure and told him the box said I could use it on hardwoods but he said does it say Engineered Hardwood. He suggested not to use it on our Engineered Wood Flooring. Just thought I would share that and I do love my steam mop! Love, love love! LOL
I have engineered wood flooring too and have the same concern. I think a steam mop on engineered wood is not a good idea as it’s vastly different from a hardwood floor. If anyone has any tips for cleaning engineered wood floors, please share! Thanks!
I have been using steam mop on our oak floors for years and no issues.. I use distilled water and they turn out awesome. This video is was reassuring for me as I heard never to use steam on your hardwood floors! All I will ever use is my steam mop. Thanks
We have hardwood floor. Not only do I use a steam mop, I also add a few drops of Murphy Oil makes my floor shines and smells good. Been doing this about 20 years. No problems.
Thank you so much for this video. I have been going back and forth trying to decide whether to purchase a steam mop or not. As you mention, there is conflicting info everywhere. Hardwood floor manufacturers say nay and Bissell says it's fine. We have engineered hardwood, tile, and luxury vinyl tile in our house and with two long-haired cats, it's difficult to keep clean. I think I'm gonna go for it. Thanks again for this video.
Thank you for your video I just got a floor steamer and I was scared to used it on my laminated wooden floors but now I can try it . Fingers crossed 🤞🤞🤞🤞
Thank you for such a great video. I was going to get rid of my steam mop which I have not used in a long time because I was afraid to ruin my hardwood floors. Now I have a new puppy and need to keep the floors super clean because of occasional accidents on the floor by the puppy. I will be using my steam mop now because of your video. I hate lugging a bucket of water and all the mess that goes along with mopping from a bucket of water. Many thanks for your informative video!
It does take wax off though. I use steam mops before I wax, and then just a damp mop with water vinegar a dash of dawn and tea tree oil for in between touch ups.
So far so good with this vacuum. ruclips.net/user/postUgkx8ISPQRRAfpAaX4msGjyodObTBnlj4T5g I was a little concerned to find it seems to be all plastic, but the reviews were good, so I'm hoping for the best. Very easy to assemble Recommened, and only attachments I've used so far work well, and are easy to use. Doing a good job on the new carpet in my bedrooms and stairs. Works well on the hardwood on my main floor too. Reasonable weight and cord length. I already knew from an earlier review that it wouldn't fit under furniture, but I can use my Eufy for that, so no problem - the high traffic areas that need a stronger suction was really what I bought this for. If it continues as it's started, it will be a good buy and well worth the money. I have had two Shark Rocket stick vacs in the past that are super easy to use, but the motors just don't last well, even with scrupulous cleaning of the filters. I'm hoping for better with this Bissell.
I had hickory engineered wood floors installed when I moved in nearly six (!!!) years ago. Because I live in the desert, I have used a steam cleaner on my floors on the regular. When you’re looking at 6 to 10% humidity in the summer, keeping those floors from becoming too thirsty is a must. I’ve had zero problems with my floors, and I recommend using a steam mop if you live in a dry area. I am currently shopping for a new steamer, And this one comes up as a number one choice on the regular. Good review.
Can you tell us what steam mop you're using that's the same one as in the video? I haven't been able to figure out the make and model used in the video. Thanks!
I have the same type of flooring only I live in the PNW meaning floors may get steam cleaned every other month while my laminate in kitchen gets cleaned weekly with light steam cleaning.
We have Brazilian Cherry solid wood floors, and I have been using a steam mop for years on them. To date, it has not caused any damage, and nothing cleans them better.
I always used a steam mop on all my clients hardwood floors.. it did depend on the finish they had and what I used, but for the most part, it was a steam mop. I never had any issues at all. We're installing a solid hardwood floor and I intend on using a steam mop, I love my dual O-Cedar mop system, but it is hard on my lower back, steam mop to the rescue!
We have the same steam mop. We use distilled water exclusively and make sure to use the lightest steam setting. We are in San Diego, our entire house is covered in Lauzon Ambiance glue down hardwood floor. We were told to never use a steam mop on our floor by the company who installed it but we steam mop it anyway and we haven’t had a problem in over a year.
+1 for using distilled water. If your tap water has high amounts of lime it can clog your steam mop over time (as it did to my first mop -- it got clogged enough that all attempts to clean it were unsuccessful, and I had to buy a new one). Distilled water eliminates that risk. I also use a little white vinegar mixed in when I clean the kitchen ceramic tiles.
On my second steam mop, first one shark, second a bissel, have really liked them both. Floors feel so clean. I’ve used it tile, and on laminate at the low setting. No issues thus far. 10 yr user.
I have 2 dogs 5 cats and clean my wooden floors frequently with my steam mop ive had no issues and my steam mop even helped get splashing of paint of my wooden floors as the steam softened the paint and i used my finger nail to take the spot of paint of
I’ve just been told you absolutely cannot use it on engineered hardwood since it would cause separation of the layers of wood. I wish I could use this. It looks so good.
How can you find out what type of wood floor you have? I just bought a steam mop, but now I'm worried seeing these comments. I have no idea what type of hardwood floor I have.
@@microbios8586 If you are on a slab, chances are you have engineered hardwood. I do. I was told by the installers to use Bona, so I did, but I was wondering if there was a better way.
Great Video!! We have Ac5 laminate flooring and have used our steam mop (same as yours) for 3 years with no issues! I agree with all your points on it also! I was hesitant at first but have seen no issue at all!
Great Q! There are certainly fewer nail scratches from the dogs underneath the rugs, but that's the only difference. Poly and color is exactly the same. -12/8/2020
I LOVE THIS! We have the exact same mop and I agree with how it keeps the floors cleaner for longer! I'm so OCD about my floor feeling smooth and clean because I love walking barefoot at home. I usually use the lowest setting for my hardwood floors and use the highest setting for my kitchen ceramic tiles. I'll NEVER go back to using a conventional mop or a Swiffer. So cost-effective and better for the environment. Thank you for reassuring me that I'm doing it right. SUBSCRIBED!
I would say that with out a doubt a badly done wood floor could be greatly effected by small amounts of water or steam. It has to do with how the wood floor is installed. If you have a floating wood floor then that is the worst case scenario. This allows for the water/steam to get under the wood. This causes warping and do to how badly the floating floors retain the wood they can move easily with out resistance. Really the only right way to install wood floors is with tons of urithane. It acts like a moisture barrier and retaines the wood super well. It is a pain to remove but it makes a wood floor much stiffer. You can easily tell the quality of installation of a wood floor by how hard it feels or stiff it is. If it give or does not feel like it has a solid backing then it was most likely done badly.
Wow. I was searching because my daughter was mis-sold vinyl flooring for her home for the kitchen/diner & hallway. She went in saying she wanted flooring she could use a steam cleaner on, they even had an ad on their counter for steam cleaners. They sold her a quality vinyl to do just that. When the fitters (another separate company) finished she said about getting her new steam cleaner now they were horrified, stating you can't use it on vinyl not only because it would warp but it would lift the glue & discolour the flooring. Having further checked they were right she couldn't. Despite her reassurances from the company that sold her it because she bought their higher brand & telling them this is what she wanted to use on it, they were adamant even when visiting her home later to measure up. I will put an update on what happened due to being mis-sold. The cost was into the thousands.
There are pine and hardwood floors in houses that are 200 years old that are still functioning as a floor. As long as they’re solid hardwood, I think they’re fine. I have used a steam mop on my floors for 5 years. No problems.
Bona does not clean the floors. Period. It also builds up even though you use the cleaner, not polisher. I had a person cleaning my laminate wood floors with Bona and the buildup was horrendous. Every footprint showed and they got dirtier much faster.
If you are sensible, use the low steam setting, and don't use a harsh detergent it's a good cleaning method. I use a Shark steam mop and change the cleaning cloth often. It takes PROLONGED contact with water (flooding, leaks, etc.) to warp a solid hardwood or good engineered floor.
Thank you so much for sharing! I just got the “courage” to ask an adultier adult how she cleans her hardwood floors and her answer was, of course, steam mop! I have never seen one used, so this was very helpful, especially to see how fast you go in the real-time clips. I can’t wait to get one! Hoping this will be goodbye to our swiffer!
I know this video is a little old but thank you for making it. My shark steam mop said it was good for hardwood so I thought it would be okay to use but all those articles online saying don't use it scared me. I have engineered hardwood and I feel better about using it now after your video. Thanks! Xx
I damaged a hardwood floor with a steam mop. If you aren’t careful and a allow the mop to sit in one location too long and it cause boards to swell and crack. Depending on the patterns and flooring type this can happen in just a few seconds. (More likely with tight complex patterns and laminates but still possible on wide tongue and groove floors.)
Your fine !! Steam mopping hardwood floors is the way to go in my opinion. I actually just got the o-cedar spin mop & I love it. I noticed it makes the mop very wet as opposed to a steam mop. If anything a regular mop would make the floors buckle over time not a steam mop! New subbie !!
We also have a 100 year old house with beautiful original hardwood floors. We have refinished the kitchen floors and bedroom floors only so far,. The rest of the hardwoods in the house need to be refinished, but they do have some sealant still on. I use the steam mop on both the newly refinished , and old finished floors. We have lived in the house for going on 4 years and I have not seen any ill effects from using the steam mop. I have to say, there is a reason these 100 year old houses have been able to stand so long, and the original floors are still wonderful. Maybe newer wood wouldn't be as resilient as these? I have used the highest steam setting when cleaning the floors by the doggie door where they bring in mud-- no ill effects. I feel like the steam dries faster than regular water, and I do not like the sticky residue left from other "Swiffer" products. Folks need to chill out, no need to threaten anybody. These are FLOORS. Floors. People!! Not even your floors--- someone else's floors.
We've used a steam mop on our laminate floors quite a few times with good result. They are hardly the good quality stuff either, they cost us like $1.25 per square foot 15 years ago when we were broke, in our mid-20s, and first building our home. Only issue we had was user error when we bit off too much at one time moving the furniture around and left it sitting on the pad too long on the laminate. Now we have a spot by the back door that's much shinier than the rest of the house lol. Just motivation to finally replace it with better quality stuff after all these years really.
10+ years and the steam has not damaged my hardwood (or my sheet vinyl) even in the few areas scratched/destroyed by chairs etc. Dont stress about direction when you clean your floors.. that sort of logic come from a time before vaccuming, which you clearly did. If you like light grout get it sealed and reseal every few years, I think all dark grout looks dirty.
We are in the market. Our new house downstairs i tile. My wife is tired of looking at dirty sock (really Dirty). Vacuuming with our awesome Dyson is not enough. Traditional mopping is taxing, and requires several bucket dumps to get a good clean. I like that you showed the dirty mop. I saw you mentioned that cleaning is easier now. Question, when you first started using your steam mop, how many times you had to rinse the mop cloth during the cleaning, or did your order multiple cloths, and how many times did you or do you go over the floor in one cleaning?
You have to change the mop head when it is dirty. Otherwise you're pushing dirt all over your floor! I will go over again with a new cloth to make sure the floor is clean.
xochilt jimenez I’ve used it on ours for over 3 years. We have a home depot brand. Actually, I left scraps outside in my burn pile for 3 months and when I went to burn it all the scrap laminate pieces still looked brand new. Outside for 3 months of sun, heat, and rain and no damage. I doubt steam mopping will hurt your flooring unless you just let it sit on there for hours.
Been using steam mop on laminate, carpet and vinyl for years with no issue, I do know that if laminate isn't installed properly, any dampness can cause boards to bevel and pop up.
I'm glad I tossed the wet mop, It's difficult to pick up my stools and move them to another room like you did. It's so much simpler to just scoot them aside, steam the area, and scoot them back.
I love my bissell steam mop! FYI! That plastic ring the stand the mop in… you can use that to go over your carpets and give them a refresh, great for pet dander!
I have back issues and mopping and sweeping were my hardest and most strenuous chores to do in the house. My husband at the time was my boyfriend lolll He bought me a hand held shark steamer and a shark steam mop for my birthday. That was in 2010. Oh my what a difference. No more strenuous chores when it came to my floors. Not to mention I have deadly allergies. So these were a win win for me. Later in 2012 we ran across an awesome sale right before Christmas and he bought me the shark lift away vacuum that also goes from carpet to bare floors. Absolutely Awesome. Last but not least, we built a new house where it's all hardwood flooring and tile. Love love love these tools for my floors.
Glad it is working for you and based on reviews here just ordered a Shark Steam mop. I must say however, any husband who buys his wife cleaning machinery for birthday and Christmas gifts, is not what I would call a great catch. Unless of course you plan to give him a shop vac, new garbage cans, manual lawn mower, rakes, power washers etc., for his birthday or Christmas gift. :).
yeah, my former neighbor kept doing that to their hardwood floors, daily. THANKFULLY said person moved out... but when the new neighbors moved in, they had to gut the hell out of the floors of the place.
We have landed on the Rejuvenate mop and solution for cleaning our hard wood floors. Over the past 23 years we have used just about everything and really like the ease of use and results the floor cleaner gives us.
I’ve had that exact same steam mop for over 5 years now and I’ve used it once in a blue on the hardwood floors is both of my houses but I was always super cautious and suuuuper anxious as I would use it. You don’t even know how much this video put me at ease!!! Will definitely be breaking out this steam mop tomorrow as my floors are in SERIOUS need of a steam mopping! 😆
So glad to hear it! Of course, we can only speak to our experience, but after seeing that Bissell says it's safe for hardwood floors, it put our minds at ease too!
After using the steam mop for about a year, I found our hardwood floors lost their shine. As if the top coating has disappeared. I agree with you that Bona will attracked more dirt and drives us nuts to see our dogs paw prints on the floor literally an hour after cleaning, but I find this to be the case more so since we lost the floor shine.
I’m a house cleaner. A smaller amount than the bottle calls for of Murphy’s oil soap doesn’t leave tacky residue and maintains shine quite well while still cleaning existing dirt. I don’t like Bona because it leaves almost a waxy coating over time that won’t mix with other cleaners and eventually needs to be stripped.
I’m a housekeeper and mopping is my least favorite thing to do. I found myself mopping over and over the same areas because they didn’t look/feel clean. I came across the Bissell CrossWave. Wow... game changer. It vacuums and scrubs the floor at the same time with a soft microfiber brush roll. No more pushing around dirty mops. It sprays clean water out while suctioning the dirty water into a separate tank. My clients always tell me how beautiful the floors look and feel. No more residue. Its safe for hardwoods too 👍🏼😁
I used to watch Truman Steemers here on YT and he said the worse thing you could use on your flooring is those spray and mop type of things. He was always going in and stripping all that wax off of hardwoods caused by those products. He is in one of the hotter southern states and said you could tell in summer bc the wax in those products would get gummy on the floors causing you to stick or leaving dents/marks in the wax making it look like the floors were damaged when it was really just that thick layer of chemical junk! I will say, we have linoleum and I find a steam mop even if its on the safety pad thing to protect the floor, can cause it to bubble up and wrinkle. Our floors are wrecked anyway thanks to years of kids and dogs, so its not a huge issue for us, but if I was using it on new flooring, I would not use it on linoleum or vinyl because of this, but would use it on wood and wood lamanint.
Yuck-o! Now that we got rid of the chemicals, they really gross me out. This is great info, thanks for sharing! Bummer about the linoleum, that does make a lot of sense. But it really is all about that practical/longevity balance, isn’t it!
Spray mops are ideal, just use it with a PH natural wood cleaner. There is a difference between that and using a spray solution that contains some wax.
Love my steam mop! Use it almost daily on hardwood floors due to the dirt and salt brought in from the snow. Make sure I sweep, vacuum and then steam mop. Like the fact we aren't using chemicals. I see no damage to my hardwood floors. On Angela Brown (cleaning expert) YT channel she interviewed an expert on how to clean hardwood floors. I follow his guidelines.
I thank You very much❤️ I'm doing research tonight and you are the first video that I've seen Tonite that is not trying to sell/push a brand. Most have been diluted or freshmen info. Thanks for the nonmyth info✌️✌️👍👍👌☺️👋
I have tile, engineered wood and vinyl. I started first using the Hoover hard floor cleaner. No more mopping with dirty water. I liked how clean my floors were. It finally broke and I tried the Bissell, same as you have. It also worked well for me until it fell over and broke. I just got the Bissell Pet Pro, which comes with all kinds of attachments. Smaller reservoir, I'm not pleased but it still does a great job cleaning. I do prefer using my own cleaning solution. I learned NOT to use any bleach solution on my hardwood floors! I use Murphy's Soap for my hardwood. I spray the floor then steam mop. I have an old kitty (20) that sometimes has accidents. I do let the steam mop stay in place for several seconds to kill all the bacteria so there is no odor. I've not had any problems with any of the surfaces on my floors except for that one time I used a light bleach solution on wood. I bought cheaper mop heads because the Bissell ones are like $10 vs $2 each. If I run out of those, face towels work just as well. Europe has used steam cleaning for decades that I know of. They can't use the chemicals we do because of the pollution. Steam cleaning is very safe and as you mentioned, leaves no residue that attracts dirt. Everything stays clean longer and for those sensitive to chemicals, good way to keep your house clean. Thanks for the video!
As for vinyl flooring, todays brands are much more resilient than a decade ago. I installed a home depot brand, $2 and some change per sq/ft. I left the scrapes outside for over 3 months during the summer. Sun, heat, rain, etc... and those pieces still looked brand new. No swelling, no fading, no peeling. I don’t think steam cleaning will do any damage if you do it the correct way.
It definitely seems this way, doesn't it? Since the results seem to vary across the board, I can't help but think that user error plays a huge part in the end result -- whether it be mistakes by those using the steam mop, or perhaps improper installation/sealing jobs play a role, too.
Steam is water in its gas state. It’s still h2o! Steam will evaporate faster than liquid water because the molecules are moving faster. Simple physics. The only thing I would say is steam may screw up the varnish but don’t let it sit on the floor just cooking the top coat.
Just wanted to drop a note saying that I found myself in your exact same situation (freaking out after buying and using a steam mop on vinyl with little to no research) so coming across this vid was incredibly reassuring... thank you!!
I have a potentially stupid question: Do you also change the cloth during cleaning the whole house? Usually, I'd wring out the cloth several times during cleaning, often whilst cleaning the same room. Is that not necessary with a steam cleaner?
I change out my cloth pad multiple times during the cleaning. I have extras.. by the time I'm done, I've used about 3 or 4 pads and wash them all at the same time in the washing machine when I'm done cleaning.
Another Pro tip. Do get a robot vacuum! I have pets and this has saved me so much time. Get a NEATO D4,5,6,7 or 8 vacuum which is made in San Jose California. I have the Neato D4 vacuum which does a fantastic job around the house.
Unfortunately, I haven’t noticed the steam mop cleaning the grout any easier. But our grout lies pretty significantly below the tile. It might work better for grout that is level with the tile.
Your hardwood well be fine with steam because it's solid hardwood 90% of hardwood is now engineered and that small veneer on plywood is only attached with adhesives and the steam well loosen the bond. I blame it on manufacturer cheaping out.
I work as a janitor and can say, you're likely fine. Steam is probably safer than wet mopping because it evaporates and dries way faster. And it kills many types of bacteria. Most bacteria die at around 140°F and most steam mops heat up to 200°F making your house sanitary as well as clean.
very helpful comment!
Thanks for the advice! Didn’t know this. With covid these days, steam mop might be the way to go
Thank you. Think I’m gonna get a steam mop.
To the janitor, do you recommend any particular steam mop. I purchased one but the bucket was too small and I had to keep refilling
Can steam mop use in vinil floor
Excellent Review. I put full plank bamboo floors in my 3 story home in 1990. Before doing that I took a 10 centimeter by 10 centimeter piece of the bamboo plank and soaked it in water for 6 months. After that I examined the damage or lack of damage. Oh, the plank was approx 2.5 centimeters in depth. I have steamed those planks quarterly over the past 34 years and
I do not see any damage but I do see that the surface is not as shiny as day 1. I am going to get a Brava M6 made by iRobot/Roomba an American Company. My floors have had a robot clean them every other day for the past 34 years. I hand clean the corners and the base boards when I feel ambitious. I will be 80 years old and these "GRASS" floors will outlive me. No trees were harmed by cutting the bamboo and no animals live off of the 50 feet tall grass where they are grown. I too, do not use chemicals in my home. Bona has reported that their product is safe for animal life and is not tested on animals. I will follow your story as I was raised on an organic farm and chemicals were not used on the farm except for the tractors that used gas and oil.
My father and grandfather did not spray chemicals and the neighbors could not spray within 50-100 feet of the boundaries which was rare in the 1940's to the 1970's. We had dogs but they had their own houses. We had 3 black labs. We had horses, cattle, chickens, ducks, cats to eat mice, no pigs, goats or sheep. However, when the kids entered the house the shoes came off in the porch and back on going out. My mother was the sheriff and enforced the law. Today, I still do not wear shoes in the house and all visitors leave their shoes at the front or back door. In the winter my feet are covered with socks starting in EARLY December to the end of March. Your floors should last your lifetime and beyond. I shall try to watch your channel and check in once per month. Excellent Professional Review on this Topic.
This was the best review I’ve seen, straight to the point, addressing any possible challenges , and research done to support or disprove any claims, plus the yearly updates. THANK YOU.
Now I can buy a steam mop in peace .
I own a commercial & residential cleaning biz & have NEVER had any issues with my steam mop, whether on tile, laminate or 100 year old wood! My clients are amazed that no harmful chemicals are ever used & likewise delighted that their pets & babies are safe. Girl, you need a shark genius mop though! Double sided head & no touching the dirty pad! Love it!
Thanks so much for sharing your experience! And oh man, that sounds heavenly, I’m going to have to look at that one now!
Dale it’s not about harmful chemicals you might get away with it for a while but you’re introducing Moisture into the wood every time you steam mop! You hit the wrong floor with it and it can cause you a huge insurance claim
Hell yes I own a pet biz use that like everyday
@@jakewilson1600 When I cleaned houses, a lot of people swore by them. They claimed to use them for years with no issues. I think it’s overblown. It evaporates so fast, how is it any worse then traditional mopping? For old or historic hardwood, best to stay away of course.
The worse thing about steam mops? That terrible smell that wafts up from some pet owner’s homes. At least you know the odors aren’t staying embedded within the floor 😷
I used a steam mop, next day the house was destroyed by a tornado. The steam mop ruined my house.
😂😂😂 Seems to be the logic, these days!
Thank you so much stranger, this has cheered me up. Sorry for your misfortune. Send the cursed mop to your enemies
Lmao
Don’t know weather to laugh or commiserate at that. You can choose 😊
What was the brand name? I want to read reviews and see how many others suffered this damage.
I have the same mop and I use it on our hardwood floors. It’s so satisfying seeing that much dirt on the mop.
UPDATE 8/20 - Still using the steam mop on our floors, still not seeing any damage, and still loving it. If you want the exact steam mop supplies we use, I just posted a Kit list with all the steam mop items we love, which you can view here. kit.co/oakabode/steam-mop-supplies Didn't do it at the beginning because I didn't know this video would get quite so much attention, but hopefully better late than never. I'm also seeing some questions on the mop covers -- I use 3 to clean a roughly 1600 sq ft house. But I use one for the kitchen, alone, because it's usually the dirtiest. I included the interchangeable mop heads we use in the link above, too. Happy mopping!
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UPDATE 5/20 - Hey guys! After receiving a threat for posting this video (yes, actually), I just want to reiterate that we are not professionals -- we can only share our own personal experience, and recommend that you follow manufacturer instructions. Thus far, we are still happy with how the mop is performing. Though it was only one, threatening comments will always be blocked. 🙄We do, however, encourage sharing your own experience using adult dialogue. If you have personally used a steam mop on hardwood floors and either HAVE or HAVE NOT experienced damage, PLEASE leave a comment below so we can all have an accurate representation of real users' experiences.
So this pick up old age dog drool spots?
Amazon is out of stock , can you give me the model number so I know I'm getting the same one you have, thank enjoyed very much your video on the ruggables my corners are turning , go to try what you did . Thank Carol , NC
Please...what mop do you use? I am just starting to look and many have bad reviews!
First off...
*ANYONE WHO THREATENS ANYONE FOR ANY REASON IS A TROLL NOT WORTH YOUR TIME, NEVER MIND AN ANSWER!!!* You know what you know & you're speaking through your experience, or admitted lack thereof, and it is YOUR EXPERIENCE. You have every right to it, so STAND YOUR GROUND... never mind the trolls. Report them.
Second...
*I APPLAUD YOU* for genuinely seeking information & experiences from others... A refreshing change in this "know-it-all" world now-a-days!!! Research will always make what you do better because by doing it, you make better decisions.
Cleaning is chemistry, pure & simple. If you understand the chemistry of "dirt," it makes cleaning it up sooooooo much easier!!! Dirt sticks because surface lipids(fats & oils) cling to surfaces, generated from everything we do(cooking, respiration & sweating, regular daily movements, etc.), & dust & "carried in" dirt from outside & forced air ventilation systems all stick to those lipids, creating all that sticky, VISABLE dirt. Regular old fashioned hot water & a rag with a surfactant is inescapable sometimes... The steam mop takes that concept to a whole other level, because the steam action LIFTS the dirt up, the surfactant breaks up the lipid bond to the surface, & you effectively remove both with relative ease, leaving a streak-free shine in it's wake. Stand Your Ground, because the chemistry of cleaning backs you up.💜
Gammy 60 BISSELL PowerFresh Steam Mop, Floor Steamer, Tile Cleaner, and Hard Wood Floor Cleaner, 1940,Blue Powerfresh
I have used this exact same stem mop on the low setting for 4 years now. I have bamboo hardwood and they still look beautiful.
bamboo is not hardwood. its actually mostly epoxy resin. mixed with bamboo.
What model is a good bissell steam mop?Theres so many!
I've been using my steam mop on our hardwood floors since day one (9 years ago) and they look great... no issues at all.
Are your wood floors treated? Sealed?
Same question. My floor is not well treated and sealed, so I worry
I am a flooring sales woman, we never recommend using steam mops for anything OTHER THAN ceramic/porcelain tiles.
The heat of the steam will ruin the finish on your hardwood or luxury vinyl tiles or planks, after a while the finish gets pulled off your hardwood floors. We had a customer recently call us and send photos of her hardwood and almost all her finish on her hardwood was gone unfortunately.. Using a steam mop usually will always void your warranty for hardwood or luxury vinyl planks and tiles.
The "dirt" you see on the mop head is actually the finish and stain on the wood, im not just saying this because "i think i know all", I work flooring sales, I talk to sales reps from Armstrong, Casabella, MastersCraft, All Tile, etc etc. And they all say no steam mops.
You can use water and vinegar, but you do need a mineral cleaning product for hardwood (like bona or woodpecker cleaners) which restore that mineral in your wood, making it stronger over time.
Steam mops are marketed for every floor, but their end game is just to wow you with the infomercials and get your money but after a year of continual use, you will see a change..
Lots of people will say "ive used steam mops for X amount of years and no problems at all" but im sure that isnt the case if you took a picture when you first got your floors to X amount of years later, there will be a change. And BTW you most definitely can use water on your hardwood, just dont let spills sit on your hardwood because your hardwood will suck it up like a sponge. Just be mindful.
Just thought id put my two cents in.
yep I made this mistake and ruined my hardwood floors.
I always steam our hardwood floors. A neighbor just this morning told me that I'm not supposed to. I panicked thinking that eventually they will buckle however, after watching yr blog I feel confident that it's fine. I've been doing it for about two years without noticing any damage so I'm going to continue because we also have a dog and he's a bit of a slob:) Thank you for taking the time to inform others of yr results.
I've been using a steam mop on our oak floors for 4 years now and no issues.
What steam mop do you use?
Laminate floors are much tougher than people think. Before we installed laminate in our home, we got a sample and put it in a bucket of water out on the picnic table for over a month. When we fished it out and dried it out, by laying it on the picnic table in the sum, it was still in very good condition. We were amazed and had it installed. What we did to the sample was more mistreatment than any floor would get in a life time, so a steam mop would be great because it leaves very little water on the floor. Thanks for you info.
lol that's a great way to test it out before installing lol 😆
I like that the floor is more sanitized, too. I like that the pads can be washed and used again and again.
I start mopping in less used areas (cleaner), then move on to more traveled areas.
Hello! First your furbabies are absolutely PRECIOUS!!!
I had Engineered Hardwood Flooring installed throughout our home replacing all the carpeting. I got a steam mop soon after that mainly to use in the kitchen on the tiles. I saw on the box that you could use it on hardwoods and have a couple of friends that have hardwood and they use their steam mop with no problems at all. I called my installer just to be sure and told him the box said I could use it on hardwoods but he said does it say Engineered Hardwood. He suggested not to use it on our Engineered Wood Flooring. Just thought I would share that and I do love my steam mop! Love, love love! LOL
I have engineered wood flooring too and have the same concern. I think a steam mop on engineered wood is not a good idea as it’s vastly different from a hardwood floor.
If anyone has any tips for cleaning engineered wood floors, please share! Thanks!
@@maryamah Try using lowest steam setting while mopping quickly to avoid excess moisture on wood?
I've used a steam mop on high for years. I like the sanitization. No issues at all.
I have been using steam mop on our oak floors for years and no issues.. I use distilled water and they turn out awesome. This video is was reassuring for me as I heard never to use steam on your hardwood floors! All I will ever use is my steam mop. Thanks
I've heard that the moisture can actually be good for the wood floor. The dry swiffer cloths dry it out and that's what causes them to separate.
We have hardwood floor. Not only do I use a steam mop, I also add a few drops of Murphy Oil makes my floor shines and smells good. Been doing this about 20 years. No problems.
How do you use the Murphy’s? Do you put it in the steam mop water reservoir? Just a few drops?
Thank you so much for this video. I have been going back and forth trying to decide whether to purchase a steam mop or not. As you mention, there is conflicting info everywhere. Hardwood floor manufacturers say nay and Bissell says it's fine. We have engineered hardwood, tile, and luxury vinyl tile in our house and with two long-haired cats, it's difficult to keep clean. I think I'm gonna go for it. Thanks again for this video.
Thank you for your video I just got a floor steamer and I was scared to used it on my laminated wooden floors but now I can try it . Fingers crossed 🤞🤞🤞🤞
Thank you for such a great video. I was going to get rid of my steam mop which I have not used in a long time because I was afraid to ruin my hardwood floors. Now I have a new puppy and need to keep the floors super clean because of occasional accidents on the floor by the puppy. I will be using my steam mop now because of your video. I hate lugging a bucket of water and all the mess that goes along with mopping from a bucket of water. Many thanks for your informative video!
It does take wax off though. I use steam mops before I wax, and then just a damp mop with water vinegar a dash of dawn and tea tree oil for in between touch ups.
That’s what I’m noticing on my hardwood floors, looks like strips and spots everywhere. So the essential oil doesn’t take the vanish off ?
Steam mops are not for waxed or unfinished wood floors. Wax melts with heat, and unfinished wood draws in moisture.
Have been using that same mop on my hardwood floors for three years now with no problems whatsoever. I use it on full steam too.
Love this ❤️
ditto. Never had a problem.
So far so good with this vacuum. ruclips.net/user/postUgkx8ISPQRRAfpAaX4msGjyodObTBnlj4T5g I was a little concerned to find it seems to be all plastic, but the reviews were good, so I'm hoping for the best. Very easy to assemble Recommened, and only attachments I've used so far work well, and are easy to use. Doing a good job on the new carpet in my bedrooms and stairs. Works well on the hardwood on my main floor too. Reasonable weight and cord length. I already knew from an earlier review that it wouldn't fit under furniture, but I can use my Eufy for that, so no problem - the high traffic areas that need a stronger suction was really what I bought this for. If it continues as it's started, it will be a good buy and well worth the money. I have had two Shark Rocket stick vacs in the past that are super easy to use, but the motors just don't last well, even with scrupulous cleaning of the filters. I'm hoping for better with this Bissell.
I had hickory engineered wood floors installed when I moved in nearly six (!!!) years ago. Because I live in the desert, I have used a steam cleaner on my floors on the regular. When you’re looking at 6 to 10% humidity in the summer, keeping those floors from becoming too thirsty is a must. I’ve had zero problems with my floors, and I recommend using a steam mop if you live in a dry area. I am currently shopping for a new steamer, And this one comes up as a number one choice on the regular. Good review.
Can you tell us what steam mop you're using that's the same one as in the video? I haven't been able to figure out the make and model used in the video. Thanks!
I have the same type of flooring only I live in the PNW meaning floors may get steam cleaned every other month while my laminate in kitchen gets cleaned weekly with light steam cleaning.
We have Brazilian Cherry solid wood floors, and I have been using a steam mop for years on them. To date, it has not caused any damage, and nothing cleans them better.
I always used a steam mop on all my clients hardwood floors.. it did depend on the finish they had and what I used, but for the most part, it was a steam mop. I never had any issues at all. We're installing a solid hardwood floor and I intend on using a steam mop, I love my dual O-Cedar mop system, but it is hard on my lower back, steam mop to the rescue!
We have the same steam mop. We use distilled water exclusively and make sure to use the lightest steam setting. We are in San Diego, our entire house is covered in Lauzon Ambiance glue down hardwood floor. We were told to never use a steam mop on our floor by the company who installed it but we steam mop it anyway and we haven’t had a problem in over a year.
I do feel like I use more Bona solution saturating the floor than what this uses.
+1 for using distilled water. If your tap water has high amounts of lime it can clog your steam mop over time (as it did to my first mop -- it got clogged enough that all attempts to clean it were unsuccessful, and I had to buy a new one). Distilled water eliminates that risk. I also use a little white vinegar mixed in when I clean the kitchen ceramic tiles.
On my second steam mop, first one shark, second a bissel, have really liked them both. Floors feel so clean. I’ve used it tile, and on laminate at the low setting. No issues thus far. 10 yr user.
Thanks for the insight!
I have 2 dogs 5 cats and clean my wooden floors frequently with my steam mop ive had no issues and my steam mop even helped get splashing of paint of my wooden floors as the steam softened the paint and i used my finger nail to take the spot of paint of
Nail polish remover is also amazing on dried paint to lift it up 😊
@@clara_ceri ooooh. Thanks for the tip!
@@clara_ceri Careful....as any acetone will eat finish. Trust me on this one. Been there done that.
I’ve just been told you absolutely cannot use it on engineered hardwood since it would cause separation of the layers of wood. I wish I could use this. It looks so good.
How can you find out what type of wood floor you have? I just bought a steam mop, but now I'm worried seeing these comments. I have no idea what type of hardwood floor I have.
@@microbios8586 If you are on a slab, chances are you have engineered hardwood. I do. I was told by the installers to use Bona, so I did, but I was wondering if there was a better way.
Great Video!! We have Ac5 laminate flooring and have used our steam mop (same as yours) for 3 years with no issues! I agree with all your points on it also! I was hesitant at first but have seen no issue at all!
Hi just put laminate floor on. How do you protect your laminate from water spills?
Q: When you lifted up the area rugs for extra cleaning, did you noticed any difference in the wood?
Great Q! There are certainly fewer nail scratches from the dogs underneath the rugs, but that's the only difference. Poly and color is exactly the same. -12/8/2020
I LOVE THIS! We have the exact same mop and I agree with how it keeps the floors cleaner for longer! I'm so OCD about my floor feeling smooth and clean because I love walking barefoot at home. I usually use the lowest setting for my hardwood floors and use the highest setting for my kitchen ceramic tiles. I'll NEVER go back to using a conventional mop or a Swiffer. So cost-effective and better for the environment. Thank you for reassuring me that I'm doing it right.
SUBSCRIBED!
Thank you for your video! I was on the fence about buying a steam mop and this makes me feel better about moving forward
I would say that with out a doubt a badly done wood floor could be greatly effected by small amounts of water or steam. It has to do with how the wood floor is installed. If you have a floating wood floor then that is the worst case scenario. This allows for the water/steam to get under the wood. This causes warping and do to how badly the floating floors retain the wood they can move easily with out resistance. Really the only right way to install wood floors is with tons of urithane. It acts like a moisture barrier and retaines the wood super well. It is a pain to remove but it makes a wood floor much stiffer. You can easily tell the quality of installation of a wood floor by how hard it feels or stiff it is. If it give or does not feel like it has a solid backing then it was most likely done badly.
Wow. I was searching because my daughter was mis-sold vinyl flooring for her home for the kitchen/diner & hallway. She went in saying she wanted flooring she could use a steam cleaner on, they even had an ad on their counter for steam cleaners. They sold her a quality vinyl to do just that. When the fitters (another separate company) finished she said about getting her new steam cleaner now they were horrified, stating you can't use it on vinyl not only because it would warp but it would lift the glue & discolour the flooring. Having further checked they were right she couldn't. Despite her reassurances from the company that sold her it because she bought their higher brand & telling them this is what she wanted to use on it, they were adamant even when visiting her home later to measure up. I will put an update on what happened due to being mis-sold. The cost was into the thousands.
There are pine and hardwood floors in houses that are 200 years old that are still functioning as a floor. As long as they’re solid hardwood, I think they’re fine. I have used a steam mop on my floors for 5 years. No problems.
Bona does not clean the floors. Period. It also builds up even though you use the cleaner, not polisher. I had a person cleaning my laminate wood floors with Bona and the buildup was horrendous. Every footprint showed and they got dirtier much faster.
I also use the steam mop on my previous laminate and now engineered hard wood with no problem whatsoever .
thanks for sharing!
I use my steam cleaner on my hardwood floor all the time I've been using for over 20 yes and my are fine
That's it! I'm now going to use my steam mop on my engineered hardwood floors!
Me too lol
If you are sensible, use the low steam setting, and don't use a harsh detergent it's a good cleaning method. I use a Shark steam mop and change the cleaning cloth often.
It takes PROLONGED contact with water (flooding, leaks, etc.) to warp a solid hardwood or good engineered floor.
Thank you so much for sharing! I just got the “courage” to ask an adultier adult how she cleans her hardwood floors and her answer was, of course, steam mop! I have never seen one used, so this was very helpful, especially to see how fast you go in the real-time clips. I can’t wait to get one! Hoping this will be goodbye to our swiffer!
I use the Shark steam mop and I love it on my laminate floors! I think my floors actually stay cleaner longer
I have one, too, but was scared to try on laminate. Have you noticed any issues?
@@gimmelmom I’ve been using it for about a year and no issues so far
I know this video is a little old but thank you for making it. My shark steam mop said it was good for hardwood so I thought it would be okay to use but all those articles online saying don't use it scared me. I have engineered hardwood and I feel better about using it now after your video. Thanks! Xx
I damaged a hardwood floor with a steam mop. If you aren’t careful and a allow the mop to sit in one location too long and it cause boards to swell and crack. Depending on the patterns and flooring type this can happen in just a few seconds.
(More likely with tight complex patterns and laminates but still possible on wide tongue and groove floors.)
Your fine !! Steam mopping hardwood floors is the way to go in my opinion. I actually just got the o-cedar spin mop & I love it. I noticed it makes the mop very wet as opposed to a steam mop. If anything a regular mop would make the floors buckle over time not a steam mop! New subbie !!
You're not supposed to use a soaking wet mop on hardwood, but rather a damp one.
As long as your floors are sealed you should be fine! The type of wood that’s used for back decks etc are the only things you shouldn’t use it on!
Thanks for the practical remarks! Now I feel better about using my steam mop on my floor.
We also have a 100 year old house with beautiful original hardwood floors. We have refinished the kitchen floors and bedroom floors only so far,. The rest of the hardwoods in the house need to be refinished, but they do have some sealant still on. I use the steam mop on both the newly refinished , and old finished floors. We have lived in the house for going on 4 years and I have not seen any ill effects from using the steam mop. I have to say, there is a reason these 100 year old houses have been able to stand so long, and the original floors are still wonderful. Maybe newer wood wouldn't be as resilient as these? I have used the highest steam setting when cleaning the floors by the doggie door where they bring in mud-- no ill effects. I feel like the steam dries faster than regular water, and I do not like the sticky residue left from other "Swiffer" products. Folks need to chill out, no need to threaten anybody. These are FLOORS. Floors. People!! Not even your floors--- someone else's floors.
Right!? Thanks so much for sharing your experience - I think you have a LOT of good points. ☝️
We've used a steam mop on our laminate floors quite a few times with good result. They are hardly the good quality stuff either, they cost us like $1.25 per square foot 15 years ago when we were broke, in our mid-20s, and first building our home.
Only issue we had was user error when we bit off too much at one time moving the furniture around and left it sitting on the pad too long on the laminate. Now we have a spot by the back door that's much shinier than the rest of the house lol.
Just motivation to finally replace it with better quality stuff after all these years really.
Great to hear, thanks for the insight! We have yet to see any issues on our hardly-good-quality laminate, either.
Russell Borrego I’ve had something similar happen to me but the spot finally went away .... it took a year and a half or so, but it went away 😆
@@CLAWZGALAW, awesome. Ours definitely got more dull as time passed. Maybe we'll have the same results as you! Lol
10+ years and the steam has not damaged my hardwood (or my sheet vinyl) even in the few areas scratched/destroyed by chairs etc. Dont stress about direction when you clean your floors.. that sort of logic come from a time before vaccuming, which you clearly did. If you like light grout get it sealed and reseal every few years, I think all dark grout looks dirty.
Hi just put laminate floor on. How do you protect your laminate from water spills?
Now that it's been a few years have you managed to damage anything with steam?
Ty I have been wanting a steam mop.now I'm excited...I have always moped my hardwood floors but it is a chore !!
We are in the market. Our new house downstairs i tile. My wife is tired of looking at dirty sock (really Dirty). Vacuuming with our awesome Dyson is not enough. Traditional mopping is taxing, and requires several bucket dumps to get a good clean. I like that you showed the dirty mop. I saw you mentioned that cleaning is easier now. Question, when you first started using your steam mop, how many times you had to rinse the mop cloth during the cleaning, or did your order multiple cloths, and how many times did you or do you go over the floor in one cleaning?
Great question! I ordered multiple off Amazon, and we just wash them after we use them. It usually takes me 2-3 to clean a roughly 1600 sq ft house.
You have to change the mop head when it is dirty. Otherwise you're pushing dirt all over your floor! I will go over again with a new cloth to make sure the floor is clean.
I love my Bissel Crosswave floor cleaner. It leaves very little water on the floor and is easy to clean.
I have one as well. I use it inn vinyl and hardwood flooring. I have experienced no issues either.
Awesome! Thank you for sharing your experience!
I’ve used my steam mop on my laminate for ten Years with no problems
What is the manufacture of your wood laminate? I was using my bissel on my laminate until the manufacture told me it would voi the warranty
xochilt jimenez I’ve used it on ours for over 3 years. We have a home depot brand. Actually, I left scraps outside in my burn pile for 3 months and when I went to burn it all the scrap laminate pieces still looked brand new. Outside for 3 months of sun, heat, and rain and no damage. I doubt steam mopping will hurt your flooring unless you just let it sit on there for hours.
I clean houses and use steam mops on hardwood and have never had a problem.
Have to make sure they're properly sealed so water doesn't get to the wood.
Been using steam mop on laminate, carpet and vinyl for years with no issue, I do know that if laminate isn't installed properly, any dampness can cause boards to bevel and pop up.
I'm glad I tossed the wet mop, It's difficult to pick up my stools and move them to another room like you did. It's so much simpler to just scoot them aside, steam the area, and scoot them back.
Your border collie is adorable, we had a number of BC's all wonderful family members. Currently have a 12 year old girl Morkie also wonderful.
We also have super old floors but they are NOT this nice and they’re painted. I’m soooooo jealous!
My laminate is water resistant and a steam mop is awesome for cleaning this type of flooring....great vid! Thanks for sharing
I love my bissell steam mop! FYI! That plastic ring the stand the mop in… you can use that to go over your carpets and give them a refresh, great for pet dander!
I have back issues and mopping and sweeping were my hardest and most strenuous chores to do in the house. My husband at the time was my boyfriend lolll He bought me a hand held shark steamer and a shark steam mop for my birthday. That was in 2010. Oh my what a difference. No more strenuous chores when it came to my floors. Not to mention I have deadly allergies. So these were a win win for me. Later in 2012 we ran across an awesome sale right before Christmas and he bought me the shark lift away vacuum that also goes from carpet to bare floors. Absolutely Awesome. Last but not least, we built a new house where it's all hardwood flooring and tile. Love love love these tools for my floors.
Glad it is working for you and based on reviews here just ordered a Shark Steam mop. I must say however, any husband who buys his wife cleaning machinery for birthday and Christmas gifts, is not what I would call a great catch. Unless of course you plan to give him a shop vac, new garbage cans, manual lawn mower, rakes, power washers etc., for his birthday or Christmas gift. :).
Thank you, I also have hardwood floors and was worried about eventual water damage. I will buy one very soon!
How is it going? Did it ruin your floors?
@@Destiny44 not at all you can selectcbetween 3 levels of steam. I leave it on the lowest
Came to figure out what a steam mop was, ended up figuring out how cute those doggos are!
yeah, my former neighbor kept doing that to their hardwood floors, daily. THANKFULLY said person moved out... but when the new neighbors moved in, they had to gut the hell out of the floors of the place.
We have landed on the Rejuvenate mop and solution for cleaning our hard wood floors. Over the past 23 years we have used just about everything and really like the ease of use and results the floor cleaner gives us.
I’ve had that exact same steam mop for over 5 years now and I’ve used it once in a blue on the hardwood floors is both of my houses but I was always super cautious and suuuuper anxious as I would use it. You don’t even know how much this video put me at ease!!! Will definitely be breaking out this steam mop tomorrow as my floors are in SERIOUS need of a steam mopping! 😆
So glad to hear it! Of course, we can only speak to our experience, but after seeing that Bissell says it's safe for hardwood floors, it put our minds at ease too!
After using the steam mop for about a year, I found our hardwood floors lost their shine. As if the top coating has disappeared. I agree with you that Bona will attracked more dirt and drives us nuts to see our dogs paw prints on the floor literally an hour after cleaning, but I find this to be the case more so since we lost the floor shine.
They may have been coated with a wax sealer. Also, do you polish the floors? All hardwood will need an occasional polish of course.
I’m a house cleaner. A smaller amount than the bottle calls for of Murphy’s oil soap doesn’t leave tacky residue and maintains shine quite well while still cleaning existing dirt. I don’t like Bona because it leaves almost a waxy coating over time that won’t mix with other cleaners and eventually needs to be stripped.
I’m a housekeeper and mopping is my least favorite thing to do. I found myself mopping over and over the same areas because they didn’t look/feel clean. I came across the Bissell CrossWave. Wow... game changer. It vacuums and scrubs the floor at the same time with a soft microfiber brush roll. No more pushing around dirty mops. It sprays clean water out while suctioning the dirty water into a separate tank. My clients always tell me how beautiful the floors look and feel. No more residue. Its safe for hardwoods too 👍🏼😁
I wanted that but out of my price range
Can it be used on engineered flooring
Fantastic to know. Thanks a lot! 👍🙏
I used to watch Truman Steemers here on YT and he said the worse thing you could use on your flooring is those spray and mop type of things. He was always going in and stripping all that wax off of hardwoods caused by those products. He is in one of the hotter southern states and said you could tell in summer bc the wax in those products would get gummy on the floors causing you to stick or leaving dents/marks in the wax making it look like the floors were damaged when it was really just that thick layer of chemical junk!
I will say, we have linoleum and I find a steam mop even if its on the safety pad thing to protect the floor, can cause it to bubble up and wrinkle. Our floors are wrecked anyway thanks to years of kids and dogs, so its not a huge issue for us, but if I was using it on new flooring, I would not use it on linoleum or vinyl because of this, but would use it on wood and wood lamanint.
Yuck-o! Now that we got rid of the chemicals, they really gross me out. This is great info, thanks for sharing! Bummer about the linoleum, that does make a lot of sense. But it really is all about that practical/longevity balance, isn’t it!
Spray mops are ideal, just use it with a PH natural wood cleaner. There is a difference between that and using a spray solution that contains some wax.
I’m just here for the dogs 😂. Kidding thanks for the info
Love my steam mop! Use it almost daily on hardwood floors due to the dirt and salt brought in from the snow. Make sure I sweep, vacuum and then steam mop. Like the fact we aren't using chemicals. I see no damage to my hardwood floors. On Angela Brown (cleaning expert) YT channel she interviewed an expert on how to clean hardwood floors. I follow his guidelines.
I’ve never had any issues either, I’ve used it about 7 times over an 8 month period. Just don’t linger over any one spot and you’ll be fine!
I've been doing the same for a couple years and then do a layer of Bona Floor Polish. It's the best ....
The company who installed our hardware floor told us to use ‘ward water’, basically vinegar+water, after giving it a good vacuuming. 🤷🏻♀️
Thank you, I'm sold! Buying one in the morning! Great vid by the way, very informative. Cheers!
Great vid, Thanks for sharing. Thanks for keeping it Very Practical
I thank You very much❤️
I'm doing research tonight and you are the first video that I've seen Tonite that is not trying to sell/push a brand. Most have been diluted or freshmen info. Thanks for the nonmyth info✌️✌️👍👍👌☺️👋
I have tile, engineered wood and vinyl. I started first using the Hoover hard floor cleaner. No more mopping with dirty water. I liked how clean my floors were. It finally broke and I tried the Bissell, same as you have. It also worked well for me until it fell over and broke. I just got the Bissell Pet Pro, which comes with all kinds of attachments. Smaller reservoir, I'm not pleased but it still does a great job cleaning. I do prefer using my own cleaning solution. I learned NOT to use any bleach solution on my hardwood floors! I use Murphy's Soap for my hardwood. I spray the floor then steam mop. I have an old kitty (20) that sometimes has accidents. I do let the steam mop stay in place for several seconds to kill all the bacteria so there is no odor. I've not had any problems with any of the surfaces on my floors except for that one time I used a light bleach solution on wood.
I bought cheaper mop heads because the Bissell ones are like $10 vs $2 each. If I run out of those, face towels work just as well. Europe has used steam cleaning for decades that I know of. They can't use the chemicals we do because of the pollution. Steam cleaning is very safe and as you mentioned, leaves no residue that attracts dirt. Everything stays clean longer and for those sensitive to chemicals, good way to keep your house clean. Thanks for the video!
You have used the steam mop on vinyl plank without any damage? I am looking for a way to kill Giardia from our luxury vinyl floating plank floors.
As for vinyl flooring, todays brands are much more resilient than a decade ago. I installed a home depot brand, $2 and some change per sq/ft. I left the scrapes outside for over 3 months during the summer. Sun, heat, rain, etc... and those pieces still looked brand new. No swelling, no fading, no peeling. I don’t think steam cleaning will do any damage if you do it the correct way.
It definitely seems this way, doesn't it? Since the results seem to vary across the board, I can't help but think that user error plays a huge part in the end result -- whether it be mistakes by those using the steam mop, or perhaps improper installation/sealing jobs play a role, too.
Steam is water in its gas state. It’s still h2o! Steam will evaporate faster than liquid water because the molecules are moving faster. Simple physics. The only thing I would say is steam may screw up the varnish but don’t let it sit on the floor just cooking the top coat.
Just wanted to drop a note saying that I found myself in your exact same situation (freaking out after buying and using a steam mop on vinyl with little to no research) so coming across this vid was incredibly reassuring... thank you!!
I have a potentially stupid question: Do you also change the cloth during cleaning the whole house? Usually, I'd wring out the cloth several times during cleaning, often whilst cleaning the same room. Is that not necessary with a steam cleaner?
I change out my cloth pad multiple times during the cleaning. I have extras.. by the time I'm done, I've used about 3 or 4 pads and wash them all at the same time in the washing machine when I'm done cleaning.
Another Pro tip. Do get a robot vacuum! I have pets and this has saved me so much time.
Get a NEATO D4,5,6,7 or 8 vacuum which is made in San Jose California.
I have the Neato D4 vacuum which does a fantastic job around the house.
Great video. I have had the same concern of using floor steam cleaner on my hardwood floors.
Thanks for your Extra info about this topics
Thx sooo much for this; it has put me at ease to start using my new steam mop on my newly installed hardwood floors. Appreciate it!
Thanks! Good video, sealed the deal for me. I was on the fence about using a steam mop on our hardwood, but now I’m getting one!
Is the steam mop able to clean and brighten the grout any easier?
Unfortunately, I haven’t noticed the steam mop cleaning the grout any easier. But our grout lies pretty significantly below the tile. It might work better for grout that is level with the tile.
I have done this before carpets and rugs stuck to the floor I also recommend a hetty or bush hoover
Your hardwood well be fine with steam because it's solid hardwood 90% of hardwood is now engineered and that small veneer on plywood is only attached with adhesives and the steam well loosen the bond. I blame it on manufacturer cheaping out.
I use a steam mop on our old 100 year old house wood floors too and I agree with you 100%! Works great!
Your dogs are the cutest ❤️🙏🏼
I have this mop & I love it so much! I use it everywhere.