By Jasmine Harding and Amanda Lauren | Updated Mar 21, 2022 11:36 AM

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Mopping is usually a pretty tedious task, but investing in the right mop can make the job easier. The best mop for tile floors is one that gets floors clean without damaging them. A great mop doesn’t just push dirty water around underfoot—it clears messes and stains from every crevice and is easy to wring out. A mop that’s also ergonomically designed and simple to use will get tiled kitchens, bathrooms, and utility rooms sparkling clean without leaving you with cramped hands or a sore back.

We rigorously tested some of the best mops on the market. Read on to learn about the features to look for when shopping for the best mops for tile floors and the type of mop that might be best for your household.

A mop is an essential tool in one’s housekeeping arsenal, but with so many options to choose from, it’s sometimes difficult to determine which model is best for your home. When choosing the best mop for tile floors, it’s important to consider such factors as the mop’s material, wringing mechanism, and maneuverability. Additional features such as adjustable handles, spray mechanisms, and electronic mopheads can make cleaning even easier.

The most common mop types for household cleaning include string, strip, flat, spray, and steam mops, and each type has its advantages and disadvantages.

The material from which the mophead is made affects how absorbent, abrasive, or gentle a mop is. Common mophead materials include cotton, synthetics, microfiber, and sponges.

To avoid damaging flooring, it is best to clean with a mophead that is damp but not too wet, which is where a mop’s wringing mechanism comes into play. Mop wringers are typically located on either the mop’s handle or in the mop bucket.

Most wringers on the mop come as either lever or twist mechanisms on the mop’s handle. Activating the wringer applies pressure to the mophead to squeeze out excess water.

Lever wringers are common on sponge mops. When the lever is pulled, the mechanism will fold or roll the sponge to squeeze out water. Some string and strip mops are marketed as self-wringing, which means they’re equipped with a twist mechanism that winds the mop fibers and removes water.

Bucket wringers are built into a mop’s bucket. Some wringers are fairly simple—they squeeze water from a mop using manual pressure. Buckets that come with spin mops allow for hands-free wringing—rather than touching a dirty, wet mop, one depresses a foot or hand pedal to expel water from the mophead. Spin mops are convenient to use and usually dry out better than most other bucket wringers.

A mop’s handle has a lot to do with how comfortable the mop is to use overall. Mop handles are commonly made from plastic, wood, or metal. Handles made of wood or metal are less prone to bending and breaking. Plastic is usually used for a handle’s extra features and accessories—its push buttons, levers, spray nozzles, and comfort grips.

No matter the mop handle’s material, it’s a good idea to look for one that features ergonomic or nonslip grips for added comfort. Nonslip grips help the user keep control of the mop, even with hands that are wet from cleaning and wringing. The more comfortable and ergonomic the handle’s grip is, the easier it will be to use the mop for an extended period of time without tiring or cramping. An adjustable-height handle also contributes to comfort.

A height-adjustable handle, which extends or contracts to suit users of all heights, is a useful feature to seek out when shopping for the best mop for tile floors. An adjustable handle also eliminates the need for stooping or wielding a too-long handle.

Those whose mopping duties range from quick cleanups to intense scrubbing should give mops with adjustable handles particular consideration. A shorter handle allows the user to apply more pressure while scrubbing hard, stuck-on messes. For lighter cleaning, a longer handle height allows mop users to sweep the floor with broad strokes and quickly cover more ground.

The most difficult parts about getting tile floors squeaky clean is getting under and around furniture, into tight corners, and up against baseboards. Flat mops, particularly those with rotating heads, are especially useful for these tasks because they are lightweight, have slim profiles, and can maneuver around and under furniture and other household obstacles.

Most string, strip, and spin mops are also fairly maneuverable. Most have round heads with cleaning fibers that are pliable and can reach into corners. Because they don’t have as low a profile as flat mops do, however, it may take more effort to clean under furniture and cabinets—and they may not get into every nook and cranny.

Sponge mops are stiffer and thicker than the other types discussed and may have trouble fitting into tight spaces. Electric and steam mops are the heaviest, bulkiest mops for tile floors and are generally the most unwieldy, particularly when carrying them up and down stairs. These mops are super effective, however, for cleaning areas that they can reach.

Many of the best mops for tile floors have multiuse functions and additional features. Some steam mops can tackle other deep-cleaning tasks, such as grout cleaning. Combined vacuum and mopping devices offer a two-in-one solution for cleaning tile flooring.

Some flat and microfiber mops include a dust mop pad that tackles dusting and mopping all at once. These pads can even be used for dusting walls and ceilings, and the mop’s long handle has a farther reach than that of a regular duster.

While researching the best mop for tile floors for your needs, it’s important to think about how often you’ll need to replace the mopheads and how much they cost. Mops have either disposable, reusable, or washable mopheads. Although disposable mopheads feel most hygienic, replacements are not great for the environment and can be pricey over the long term. Reusable and washable mopheads need frequent cleaning to prevent bad smells and mildew, but the extra maintenance is worthwhile—they are cost-effective and eco-friendly options.

When choosing the best mop for tile floors, another important consideration is the type of tile in your home. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are very durable and can pretty well handle any mop. On the other hand, some natural stone tiles, such as slate or marble, are more prone to scratching. They should be cleaned by nonabrasive mops without rough scouring pads. With these factors and the above features in mind, each mop on this list is gentle, easy to use, and provides a deep clean without the risk of damage. Keep tile floors in your home looking their best with these effective mops. All of these products were tested based on a variety of cleaning factors and mop features.

No elbow grease, no problem. The Bissell SpinWave has two rotating mop pads that easily power through dirt, scuffs, and stuck-on messes. We found this product to be the easiest to use because the mechanism does all the hard work for you. This electric mop is effective at cleaning tile, wood, linoleum, and other sealed hard floors.

Since it doesn’t use steam, the SpinWave is gentle enough for most sealed flooring. This mop is cordless, so it’s easy to maneuver, and each charge provides up to 20 minutes of cleaning time. Because it cleans so quickly, 20 minutes will more than suffice for even some larger spaces. Cleaning with this mop doesn’t feel like hard work. We felt the motor working and the mop was very easy to push along. It also cleans much faster than a typical mop can.

The SpinWave’s on-demand spray mechanism allows users to control the amount of cleaning solution distributed. Another point in this mop’s favor is that it comes with two soft-touch pads and two scrubby pads. The machine-washable mop pads are ideal for tile flooring—they’ll clean floors and restore the tile’s shine. What’s more, they’re cost-effective and eco-friendly.

For budget-friendly cleaning of all your home’s hard floor surfaces, reach for the Swiffer WetJet spray mop. It’s useful for cleaning sealed tiles, finished wood floors, and other hard surfaces.

Swiffer’s handy mop pads trap dirt deep in the pad rather than pushing it around the floor. Each pad has an absorbent scrubbing strip to pick up tough grime. The mopping pad works in concert with the dual-nozzle sprayer, which provides a wide mist of cleaning solution so no spot is missed.

The disposable pads don’t pick up as well as microfiber pads do. So, when we were testing this mop, we found it required more elbow grease than microfiber mops. You may need to use a bit of extra solution to lift stuck-on messes, but eventually the Swiffer gets the job done.

This starter kit includes one WetJet mop, one extra-power mopping pad, one regular mopping pad, and one 16.9-ounce bottle of cleaning solution. It has all the necessary parts included to get mopping, all for an affordable price. Better yet, it doesn’t take up a lot of space, so just stash it away in a closet for easy storage.

The extra-wide 18-inch mophead makes quick work of large rooms. Microfiber Wholesale’s mop set includes three microfiber mop pads: a dust pad to pick up dust and hair and two wet mop pads to tackle dried-on messes. The gentle mop pads are safe to use on any hard flooring surface; they also can work on walls and the ceiling for a full-home cleaning. It’s also light to move around, a bonus for people with injuries or limited mobility.

Each mop pad is machine washable and long lasting. The wet mop pads have foam cores and two types of microfiber. Microfiber loops around the pads’ edges pick up larger pieces of debris, like hair and crumbs. The soft microfiber center grabs smaller pieces of dust and dirt, leaving tile floors squeaky clean.

When we tested this mop, we realized it could be used for more than just floors. It can easily help clean walls and ceilings. The adjustable handle extends from 42 inches to 70 inches with a twist of the handle lock to reach up high. One of this mop’s best features is its mophead, which has a 360-degree swivel with a lock. The swivel lock feature keeps the head in place to prevent side-to-side swiveling.

The only feature we felt this mop could have used was a lever to fold it in half for wringing out or for easier storage.

Some mop sprayers emit too much liquid and can make floors too wet, which creates a slipping hazard and makes mopping difficult, but not so with this spray mop. One nice thing about Bona’s mop is that it has a fine-mist sprayer, which coats floors in a layer of cleaning solution without making them too wet.

The mop’s refillable 34-ounce floor cleaner bottle comes prefilled; its large size contains ample spray for large rooms so there’s no need to stop and refill the fluid in the middle of a cleaning. It also won’t need to be replaced quickly, which is very helpful.

In testing, both the mop and solution helped us clean the room quickly and efficiently. The sprayer is easy to control with a trigger in the curved upper part of the mop’s handle. A second foam grip halfway down the pole allows for extra control, particularly during harder scrubbing. Overall, we were impressed with the spray trigger, which didn’t require batteries to work, so it’s an economical and eco-friendly choice. It was also one of the most comfortable flat mops we’ve ever used.

Those who are looking for reusable mopheads and have lots of obstacles to navigate while cleaning should consider the Bona mop. The mophead is made of a washable microfiber, which allows for gentle cleaning, and it has rubber corners to protect furniture and baseboards while scrubbing. It’s a great mop for most everyday uses and in homes.

O-Cedar’s EasyWring spin mop comes with both a microfiber mop and a bucket with a hands-free wringer. The EasyWring has a range of convenient features and is made to reach all corners of a room.

The pivoting mophead is triangular, which allows it to get into tight corners, under furniture, and along baseboards. For tough-to-reach spaces both high and low, take advantage of the telescoping handle, which can extend from 24 inches to 51 inches. The mop can be used wet or dry—its fluffy microfiber strands pick up dirt, hair, dust, and grime from hard floor surfaces.

The EasyWring bucket’s foot pedal provides hands-free wringing without having to bend over. Splash guards surrounding the wringer keep water inside the bucket, not all over your floor.

Our tests found this was the best mop for getting into small, tight corners. It’s also great for cleaning moldings quickly and efficiently. While it doesn’t have tons of bells and whistles, this mop is just right for anyone who worries about having floors that are too wet. It’s also very light, and therefore a smart choice for anyone with mobility issues.

The Shark Genius’s mophead has channels that distribute steam from edge to edge throughout the mophead. The steam creates an ultrawide cleaning zone to tackle messes on tile floors. For stuck-on stains, the Shark’s steam blaster feature sends a targeted stream of steam to loosen dirt from corners and grout lines.

One of the Genius’s unique features is that instead of a single-sided cleaning pad, the mophead has a double-sided cleaning pocket—simply flip the head over when one side of the pad is soiled and continue cleaning. Each absorbent side has cleaning grips that lift and trap dirt. After cleaning, the soiled mop pad can be released with the press of a button, right into the washing machine or laundry hamper if you like.

This is also a great mop for apartments because it can clean a variety of surfaces. Because it doesn’t take up too much space, it can easily fit in a closet or store hanging on a wall.

This mop was incredibly satisfying to test. It makes a sound as the steam heats up and releases. We suddenly had a feeling our floors were about to get really clean. Looking at the bottom of the pad, we were shocked at how much dirt came up.

For those who have pets and usually have to vacuum their floors immediately before washing them, this two-in-one vacuum and mop system can be a big time saver. The Bissell Symphony cleaning system vacuums, sanitizes, and steam-cleans floors, all in one sweep. Its vacuum draws up dust, dirt, and pet hair—and its dirt canister has hands-free emptying with the push of a button.

Right behind the vacuum are the steam-cleaning feature and mopping pad, which tackles dirt and stuck-on messes. This handy cleaning tool is safe to use on all sealed hard floors in the home. Just keep in mind that you need a container with a spout to fill up the water cup.

The Symphony kit includes two washable mop pads: one soft option for light cleaning and one scrubby pad for bigger messes. Because the Symphony mop was originally designed for cleaning up after pets, it can also be used with Bissell’s disposable mop pads (sold separately).

Disposable pads are a terrific option when pet messes are so considerable that it’s best to throw the pads away. However, our tests showed the disposable pads were better for lighter messes such as pet hair and urine while reusable pads were best for larger and stuck-on messes.

If you’re looking for an affordable mop that gets the job done without lots of extra bells and whistles, the Turbo Microfiber Mop Floor Cleaning System will not disappoint. Weighing in at just 1.2 pounds, this mop is lightweight and easy to control. The handle extends from 35 to 60 inches, so this is an optimal choice for households with people of different heights. It can also clean and dust walls as well as ceilings.

Four pads come with each mop. There are two microfiber pads perfect for everyday jobs as well as two scrubbing pads that are made from a steel wool type of material that grips and removes stuck-on food and grease.

When we tested this scrubbing pad, we were a bit nervous about it possibly scratching the floor. While it lifted stuck-on dirt from tile flooring, we wouldn’t use this on marble or anything that isn’t sealed.

Libman’s Wonder Mop is a back-to-basics, simple strip mop. Its microfiber mophead can be used on all hard floors, including tile, wood, stone, and vinyl; the head also has “Gripstrips” that scrub stubborn dirt. When the mophead starts to look a little grubby, toss it in the washing machine for a deep clean. Because this package comes with three mopheads, there’s no need to wait until laundry day to use it.

A mop with a durable handle is key for deep scrubbing, and the Wonder Mop’s steel handle can withstand deep-cleaning pressure. The handle also has a wringer cup, which pushes down over the mophead to squeeze water out. However, when we tested it, the cup was a bit hard to maneuver. This set includes three replacement mopheads that only last about 50 washings, but keep the cleaning cupboard well stocked with refills.

We were impressed at how well this mop cleaned corners, under appliances, and along moldings. It’s also perfect for getting rid of dust bunnies. This mop lifted dirt far better than we anticipated, living up to its name.

We love the Bissell SpinWave Cordless PET Hard Floor Spin Mop for its intense spinning power and ability to lift stuck-on messes. However, if you are looking for a more budget-friendly option, go with the Swiffer WetJet Spray Mop Floor Cleaner Starter Kit, which is great for cleaning any hard surface and has disposable pads.

We performed a variety of tests to determine the best mops for tile floors. We considered factors such as how well they cleaned dirt as well as stuck-on food and drinks, and how clean the floor looked after it dried. Everything was rated on a scale of 1 to 4 points.

In addition to cleaning, we tested the mops for maneuverability, wringing mechanism (if it was applicable), and how well the mop cleaned corners. Mops were also given points for how likely we were to use them again, as well as the overall value of the product for the price.

A mop is a simple cleaning tool, but there is a technique for keeping floors sparkling clean. For the best clean, always sweep or vacuum tile floors before mopping. Here are some questions and cleaning tips to consider when using your new mop.

Tile floors should be vacuumed or swept and then mopped about once a week. Combine your floor or tile cleaner of choice with warm water. If using a mop bucket, make sure to squeeze the excess water out of the mophead. Tile floors should be cleaned with a damp mop. Swipe the mop over the floor in gentle strokes, making sure to follow a pattern so you don’t miss any spots.

It is recommended to mop tile floors once a week and spot clean as needed in between.

Since most mops have a replaceable head, it is rarely necessary to replace the entire mop unless it has become damaged. Mopheads should be replaced once they are looking worse for wear, usually every 2 or 3 months. Permanent stains or a lingering odor typically indicate that it’s time for a new mophead.

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