You may have heard that wet-mopping your laminate floor can cause it to warp. Although laminate flooring is durable and resistant, it’s not sealed with a protective coating.
As a result, liquids can penetrate between the panels and cause them to lift.
The best way to sanitize your laminate floor is to use a steam mop or steam cleaner. Steam kills 99.9% of germs and makes it easy to remove grime.
And once you’ve steam-mopped the surface, it’s dry again in 30 seconds.
Best Steam Mops for Laminate Floors 2022 Reviews
We researched the best steamers for laminate floors and reviewed them in this article for you.
Many of them are versatile enough to help you disinfect the bathroom and clean other areas of your home, too.
1. BLACK+DECKER BDH1720SM SmartSelect Steam Mop
Black+Decker’s SmartSelect Steam Mop has a dial on the front that lets you choose the type of floor you’ll be cleaning, whether it’s wood or laminate, tile or vinyl, or stone and marble.
Once you’ve made the selection, the mop releases the perfect amount of steam for that surface.
This steam mop is ready in only 15 seconds, faster than most steamers.
You can tell when it’s ready because the LED light changes from red to blue.
Then, a full tank of water holds enough to give you 22 minutes of cleaning time. If you pause and leave the mop standing upright, the steam shuts off automatically.
The SmartSelect mop comes with a resting mat, a 23-foot power cord, and two washable microfiber pads.
It weighs only 5.2 pounds when empty. Plus it’s covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee and a two-year warranty.
2. Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop, Floor Steamer, Tile Cleaner, and Hard Wood Floor Cleaner, 1940
We liked the Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop because it has low, medium, and high steam settings.
It easily adapts to protect delicate materials but still deep-clean grimy spots.
And it also has a flip-down scrub pad to scour away ground-in dirt (but avoid using this too forcefully on your laminate).
The PowerFresh cleaner heats up in 30 seconds. It also comes with optional Febreeze fragrance discs that add a pleasant aroma to the air. Most importantly, Bissell offers a 2-year warranty.
3. O-Cedar Microfiber Steam Mop with Extra Refill
O-Cedar’s Microfiber Steam Mop is ready to use in 20 seconds. Like the Bissell PowerFresh, it has adjustable steam levels. And it only weighs 5 pounds before you add water.
In the accessory kit, you’ll find a snap-on carpet glider, a plastic frame that elevates the head just above the nap of the carpet.
With this additional tool, you can freshen up your rugs, not just hardwood, tile, and laminate floors. And you’ll get an extra reusable and machine-washable microfiber pad.
4. McCulloch MC1275 Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner with 18 Accessories
McCulloch’s Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner is an all-around steam cleaner that resembles a canister vacuum.
It comes with a floor mop attachment for laminate, wood, and tile flooring. But there are other accessories for all types of steam-cleaning tasks like shower stalls and garage floors.
For example, it comes with nylon brushes, a brass brush for grills, a jet nozzle, other scrub pads, and a squeegee.
The steam cleaner takes eight minutes to heat up to 200°F, but then it puts out 45 minutes of steam.
Plus, the 10-foot steam hose and 15-foot power cord facilitate movement all around your home. And it’s protected by a two-year hassle-free warranty.
5. Shark Professional Steam Pocket Mop S3601D
Shark’s Professional Steam Pocket Mop is ready to go in 30 seconds.
It has three levels of steam control that allow you to clean everything from bamboo and laminate to carpet and marble.
And it comes with both rectangle and triangle mop heads to help you reach into every corner.
One benefit of the Shark mop heads is that they are double-sided. They are also washable and reusable.
Finally, this model also has a 22-foot-long power cord for convenience.
6. Shark Steam Mop S1000A
Shark’s lightweight and compact Shark Steam Mop is good for small homes. It has an 18-foot-long power cord and a quick 30-second startup.
Those features save time moving from room to room and waiting for the mop to be ready. Plus, it comes with a reusable, washable scrub pad, too.
How to safely clean laminate floors with a steam mop
Each brand of steam mop may differ in features, so it’s best if you read the instructions that came with yours. Here are a few general tips on how to safely clean laminate floors with a steamer.
To begin, vacuum or sweep up loose debris like hairs or crumbs. (We also reviewed the best vacuums for laminate floors if you’d like to upgrade the one you have now.)
Next, fill the steam mop’s tank with water. Many manufacturers recommend using distilled water to keep the machine working properly without hard water buildup.
Once you plug it in or turn it on, the steamer will heat the water. You shouldn’t need any other cleaning liquids.
Once the steamer is ready, you’ll want to choose the steam setting (if there is one) that’s appropriate for the surface you’ll be cleaning. When in doubt, use the lowest setting on laminate floors.
When you’re ready to begin mopping, plan to attack the floor in small sections and try to follow the grain. As each section dries in a few seconds, move on to the next.
Once you’ve completed your cleaning, let the steamer cool, then remove the mop head and rinse it or wash it.
The best part about steaming a laminate floor is that there’s chemical odor and no residue left behind. The flooring should be so clean you can feel a difference with your bare skin.
Conclusion
Although not every steamer is ideal for use on laminate, many steam mops are safe and effective for cleaning this type of floor. The best steam mops for laminate floors are versatile enough to clean other parts of your home, too.