Our review compares steam mops on customer satisfaction, so you can find out what other Aussies think about the compared brands before you go ahead with a purchase. Think of it as like asking hundreds of your closest mates which steam mop they think is best!
Canstar Blue surveyed 685 Australians for their feedback on the steam mop(s) they’ve purchased and used in the last two years.
The winning brand is the one that receives the highest Overall satisfaction rating once all the scores from the Overall satisfaction criteria are combined and averaged.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included, so not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The brands rated in this survey are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.
Find more detailed information on our Most Satisfied Customer methodology.
Not sure which steam mop to buy? Check out our buying guide below.
Bissell was rated five stars across all categories, including performance, value for money, features & functionality, ease of use, design and overall satisfaction.
Known within cleaning circles, Bissell is an American brand that operates in floor cleaning industries, offering vacuums to carpet cleaners and other floor cleaners, including steam mops. Its steam mop range features the flagship PowerFresh range, which includes the PowerFresh V model, which comes equipped with a 7.6m cord, 560ml water tank, swivel head, steam trigger, multiple steam settings, fragrance discs to help leave behind a pleasant scent, as well as a measuring cup to help refill the water tank.
Shark was rated five stars for value for money, features & functionality, ease of use and design, with four stars for performance and overall satisfaction.
While arguably not offering the range of other brands, Shark does have a number of steam mop models available to choose from, including the Shark Klik N’ Flip Manual steam mop, which allows you to cover twice the floor area by simply flipping the head over. The Shark Steam Mop S1000 model features a 375ml water tank, 5.5m cord, washable dirt grip pads, a low-profile mop head to get into hard-to-reach spaces, along with a 30 second heat up time to help you get the job done.
Karcher was rated four stars for design, ease of use, features & functionality, performance and overall satisfaction, with three stars for value for money.
German brand Karcher offers a wide variety of cleaning appliances and utensils, covering the inside and outside of the house. Offering steam cleaners for those who have plenty of work to get through, Karcher also currently offers two steam mop models to choose from, the SC2 and SC3. The SC2 features a swivel head, 30 second heat up time, 5m cord, 400ml water tank, safety valve for safe operation as well as a descaler cartridge to help ensure that your cleaning water is fresh. The SC3 includes a larger water tank, three-step steam flow control and carpet glider for when you need to tackle more than just the hardwood.
Anko was rated four stars for ease of use, value for money and overall satisfaction, with three stars for performance, features & functionality and design.
Anko is the official brand name of all Kmart’s own-branded products. While a go-to for all your homewares and knick-knacks, Kmart may not offer the range that some of its competitors do, but if you’re not looking for a model with all the bells and whistles, you may be in luck. Kmart offers one Anko steam mop, with other steam cleaning appliances available. The steam mop comes with a 450ml water tank and provides approximately 25-30 minutes of steam time. In addition, it features a 180° swivel head to help clean tight spaces and under furniture. Replacement cleaning and microfibre pads are also available for purchase. In the box, you’ll find a measuring cup, carpet glider, and a microfiber cloth pad.
Hoover was rated four stars for ease of use and overall satisfaction, with three stars for performance, value for money, features & functionality and design.
An American brand, Hoover is known for its range of vacuum cleaners, but bolsters its range with carpet cleaners, portable cleaners and other cleaning solutions, including steam mops. Hoover’s sole steam mop model is the Hoover Dual Steam Plus steam mop, which can be converted from a steam mop to a handheld steam cleaner for those tricky areas, along with a dual water tank design to separate detergent and water for easier cleaning. It also features a steam trigger, swivel head, 300ml water tank, 6m cord and has 14 customised attachments to equip you for the cleaning job ahead.
Vax was rated three stars across all categories, including performance, value for money, features & functionality, ease of use, design and overall satisfaction.
As the name might suggest, Vax is a vacuum cleaner brand that also looks to help clean other areas of the house, with a number of steam mops available to purchase. The Vax Steam Fresh Pro model features a 500ml water tank, 20 second heat up time for 15 minutes of steam time, 250ml detergent tank and a 7m cord, while the Classic model includes a resting tray, 5m cord, 300ml water tank, 30 second heat up time and carpet glider for when you need to clean multiple surfaces.
Black & Decker was rated three stars for design, ease of use, features & functionality, value for money, performance and overall satisfaction.
While primarily known for its range of power tools, Black & Decker also offers a number of cleaning products to help keep the place spick and span, from vacuum cleaners to window cleaners and steam mops. Its steam mop range includes a number of models, with the entry-level 1300W model including a 15 second heat up time, while the 1600W model is ready to go in 30 seconds, while also including a removable water tank with built-in filtering system to battle against limescale buildup. It also includes AutoSelect technology to help clean certain floor types, allowing you to select the floor type and get the best clean for the surface.
Kogan was rated three stars across all categories, including performance, value for money, features & functionality, ease of use, design and overall satisfaction.
Known for selling multiple brands, Kogan offers its own range of steam mops, including a 3-in-1 model as well as a Premium 15-in-1 model for those who are looking to get stuck into the cleaning. The 3-in-1 UV Steam Mop heats up in 30 seconds, and has a built-in UV light to help sanitise and clean surfaces, along with a 370ml water tank, 5m cord, 12 minute operating time and 30 second heat up time. The 15-in-1 model includes features such as a scraper tool, adjustable handle, jet nozzle, carpet glider and other cleaning accessories to tidy up multiple areas of the house.
Not all brands in the market qualify for our ratings (based on minimum survey sample size), but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth considering. Here are several more brands to check out before making a purchase decision.
Not all steam mops are created equal. The type of steam cleaner you’ll end up with will be determined by a few factors such as how often you clean your home, the size and layout of your house, and your budget. Generally, there are three main types of steam mops:
Our research indicates that Australians spend an average of $149 on a new steam mop. With some steam mops costing as little as $45, there is quite a large spread between the cheapest and dearest. A common misconception about steam mops is that they’re much more expensive than regular old mops. While this might be true in some cases – since prices vary according to model and brand – the difference in price between the two is mostly small, especially when you consider the price of a good mop and bucket, plus the physical cost in terms of time and effort.
You can use a steam mop on carpets to lift superficial stains (think of it as a spot remover) and remove dust mites from deep within, as well as to deodorise and sanitise carpet fibres. Steam mops are an eco-friendly alternative to commercial carpet cleaners that contain chemicals which can damage your carpets and cause allergic reactions in humans and pets.
Steam mops can be used on wood floors, provided it’s sealed hardwood, as unsealed floors can be damaged by the excess moisture due to the exposed surface. If you’re not sure which type of flooring you have, it’s best to avoid using a steam mop until you’re sure you won’t damage your flooring.
This report was written by Canstar Blue’s Site Editor, Dean Heckscher. He’s our resident expert on all things automotive, health & fitness, streaming and more. Dean is also one of Canstar Blue’s customer research report producers, helping to turn complicated subjects into easily-digestible information for our readers. He’s passionate about helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services.
Samantha Howse is Canstar Blue’s Consumer Research Specialist, coordinating the consumer research program behind our customer satisfaction awards across Canstar and Canstar Blue in Australia and New Zealand. Sam has earned a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) from Griffith University and, with seven years in market research and 2 years in marketing, she is experienced in survey design, implementation and analysis, coupled with an understanding of marketing principles and best practice.
Here are the past winners from Canstar Blue’s steam mop ratings:
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