Tested by Theresa Holland

Mopping isn't an everyday task (leave that to vacuuming and sweeping). But when your floors call for a deeper cleaning or you need to remove sticky residue following a spill, a mop is the guy for the job. Mops do a better job of agitating build-up so they can easily wipe it away with either a cleaning solution or water. Depending on the type of cleaner you use, mops can also remove up to 99.9 percent of bacteria and common household germs, while steam mops accomplish this with water alone.

Mops can get rid of that general layer of uncleanliness on hard flooring while tacking stuck-on grime and picking up dust and hair. Beyond cleaning floors, you can use a mop to wipe down your windowsills, dust the tops of your cabinets and even wash your walls. But mops aren't created equally. There are spin, sponge and spray mops, plus dry mops, steamers, electric mops and even hybrids. To help you narrow down your options, we tested some of today's best mops in a real-life home setting. Check out the winners, below.

How We Tested

We selected over 20 top-rated mops of various types and price points from tried-and-true brands, as well as a few we'd never heard of. After snapping the pieces together and looking over the instructions, we performed the following tests to see which models lived up to their claims.

Liquid Test: We spilled soda and juice on the floor to check for absorbency and see how well the mops soaked up liquid — or whether they just smeared it around.

Dust Test: For the dry mops, we ran the cloth heads along hard flooring to see how much dust, hair and small particles they picked up.

General Cleaning Test: We used all wet mops as directed on vacuumed floors to see how well they worked for general cleaning and removing grime. We also drizzled barbecue sauce on the floor, preliminarily wiped it up with a paper towel, and then used the mops to clean the remaining sticky residue.

Comfort and Maneuverability Test: The mops we tested weighed just over a pound to roughly 14 pounds for an electric model. We considered weight, size, shape, length, adjustability, head size, swivel abilities and overall ease of use when evaluating the comfort and maneuverability of each mop.

After testing, we took note of the mops' head pads, including washing requirements for the reusable ones and disposal and reordering for those with single-use pads. We also took into account storage, such as whether the mops fold or disassemble, tuck into their included buckets or hang from their handles.

What to Consider When Buying a Mop

Mop Type: There are a few types of mops to consider. Flat mops typically have rectangular flat heads that attach to a cloth, while sponge mops have sponge heads instead of cloth pads. Spin mops rotate 360 degrees and can be wrung out or saturated with a spinning mechanism. Spray mops come with attached containers of cleaning solution that spritz onto the floor when you pull a trigger on the handle. Dry mops can be used to pick up dust and hair. Then you've got electric mops, which might use steam or spray out a cleaning solution while spinning pads scrub the floor. And some mops fall into multiple categories, like a spin mop with a flat head.

Flooring Type: Not all mops can be used with every type of flooring. For instance, if you have unfinished hardwood floors, you'll want to avoid oversaturating them with steam or a wet sponge mop. Check the fine print for your mop and flooring material to make sure they're compatible (the same goes for the type of cleaning solution to use).

Size and Weight: Based on our tests, the best mops are lightweight, yet sturdy with durable, adjustable-length handles. Smaller heads are better for accessing hard-to-reach corners, while larger pads can quickly clean a bigger space. Ideally, the mop and all of its components will store compactly. Some mops slide into their buckets, and others have hooks at the ends of their handles.

Additional Features and Accessories: Many of the mops we tested came with reusable, machine-washable pads. But some included only one cloth, while others came with up to four. Other features and accessories you might want include a bucket, a built-in wringer, a pad scraper, a scrubber brush or an included cleaning solution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which type of mop is most effective?

The most effective mop depends on exactly what you're using the mop for. But based on our tests, a spin mop with a microfiber head is the most effective for general cleaning because the pad gently scrubs the floor to remove sticky residues and grime while picking up dust and loose hair. Steam mops can also be very effective for deep-cleaning and sanitizing floors, and they don't need any cleaning solution — just water.

Can you mop all types of floors?

Not all floors can be mopped. If you have unfinished hardwoods, unsealed tile or waxed floors, mopping generally isn't recommended, as oversaturating the material can warp or otherwise damage it. Most hard flooring materials can be mopped, though, including laminate, vinyl, linoleum, glazed tile and sealed stone.

What is the cleanest way to mop a floor?

The cleanest way to mop a floor is to first sweep or vacuum to remove dust, crumbs, hair, loose dirt and other debris. Next, dampen a clean mop head with a mixture of water and cleaning solution. Then run the mop head back and forth across your floors. You may want to go over your floors again with a clean pad dampened with water only to "rinse" them.

What is dry mopping?

Dry mopping is a method of cleaning floors that uses a dry pad or cloth rather than a dampened one and cleaning solution. It can be great for picking up dust, pet fur and small debris from floors, baseboards, windowsills, shelves and the tops of cabinets.

Why do you need a mop?

While vacuums suck up hair, crumbs and other loose debris, mops clean up everything left behind, like tracked-in mud or dirt from pets and shoes, coffee spills, stubborn stains and imperceptible bacteria. If you have a crawling baby, kids, pets or a messy household member, mops are an essential tool to keep floors clean and nearly germ-free.

Other Mops We Tested

We liked the self-propelling mechanism and spinning heads of the Bissell SpinWave, as these features eliminated much of the elbow grease required for traditional mopping. However, it's heavier and bulkier than the other electric mop we tested and sprays out cleaning solution rather than steam-cleaning, which we found to be more effective.

The Turbo Microfiber Turbo Mop weighs just 1.2 pounds and has a 360-degree spinning head. It's good for dry mopping and dusting and performed well removing stuck-on grime from flooring grooves, but the wide head isn't the best for tight corners.

We liked the on-unit sprayer of the Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop and appreciated the reusable, washable cloths. It did its job cleaning sticky floors. But when full with cleaning solution, it's on the heavier side, and unfortunately, the handle isn't adjustable.

Why You Should Trust Our Tester

Theresa Holland is a freelance shopping writer and product tester specializing in consumer tech, small appliances, home decor, household linens and lifestyle. She has substantial experience with hands-on testing and a keen understanding of what to look for when buying towel warmers and other plug-in devices. For HGTV.com, Theresa has covered the best cooling fans, essential oil diffusers, canister vacuums and automatic drip coffeemakers.

Why You Should Trust HGTV Shopping Experts

HGTV Shopping Experts believe the best method for testing products is based on how our fans are going to use them in the real world. In each of our Tested and Reviewed stories, products are not tested in sterile laboratory settings that don't mimic real life. Instead, we test products in real homes that reflect our readers' real lives, which can also include pets, kids, partners and more. We follow rigorous testing rubrics designed by our expert editors and take copious notes during the testing process. When choosing our top picks, we evaluate all of our testing data and take into consideration many factors including ease of use, price, product availability and practicality. Our goal is to choose the best products for our readers.