In a world of growing interest in luxury vinyl plank (LVP), hardwood flooring and wall to wall carpeting, tile floors are showing up less and less in residential homes.
However, tile is still one of the most affordable solutions for kitchens, bathrooms and basements.
Because tiles are cheap, fairly easy to install and are waterproof, wet area installation is a simple choice.
Caring for a tile floor, though, can pose a challenge.
Sweeping and mopping are the obvious choices for cleaning the floors, but what about sterilization and protecting the shine?
The answer is in the mop you choose to use.
Best Mops for Cleaning Tile
While it is possible to mop your tile floors with any kind of mop (or even a sponge and bucket of water), there are some mops better suited for the job.
- Our top pick – BISSELL PowerFresh Steam Mop Tile Cleaner.
- Best spinning mop for tile – BISSELL Spinwave Powered Floor Mop and Cleaner.
- Best stick mop kit – Turbo Microfiber Mop Floor Cleaning System.
- Best string mop for tile – O-Cedar EasyWring Microfiber Spin Mop. le –
- Best robot mop for tile – iRobot Braava Jet 240 Robot Mop.
- Best versatile steam mop – PurSteam ThermaPro 211 10-in-1 Steam Mop.
- Best battery powered mop – VMAI Cordless Electric Spin Mop.
- Best spray mop for tile – Bona Premium Stick Spray Mop.
Should You Mop Tile Floors?
In what may sound like a silly question, it has a lot of thought and depth behind it. Should you mop your tile floors? Yes, they are waterproof. They are installed in wet areas of your home or even outside on decks and patios.
But the question has merit. Some tiles have coatings, paint, designs, etchings, and other decorative details. These tiles are waterproof, yes, and you will mop them eventually. However, if you use a power mop, or a scrubbing pad, can you damage the tile?
Make sure you check the warranty and paperwork that comes with your tile purchase. If you no longer have these papers, you can check with the vendor you made the purchase from, or contact the manufacturer directly.
Knowing if you can scrub, fully wet mop or use cleaning chemicals (or not) will make your decision on which mop to buy a whole lot easier.
Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Perfect Mop for Tile
Once you have decided if your tile floors can be mopped and to what extent, you are well on your way to choosing the best mop for your needs. The following consideration factors will also help narrow down your choices.
Pro Tip: Invest in a quality mop that suits your cleaning needs. I’ve found that more expensive models tend to last longer and perform better in the long run. Take the time to research and invest in a mop you know will do a great job and save you time and effort with its efficiency
Cleaning Head Type
They type of mop is generally dictated by the cleaning head it has. You have several options including manual and electric.
Manual cleaning heads are those that require only your effort to power them. String mops, microfiber mopping pads, etc. fall under this category.
Electric cleaning heads have brushes, microfiber pads, or scrubbing pads and generally oscillate or rotate to get a deeper clean on the floor.
These come in corded or battery powered options (see below) which adds another element to your decision making process.
Power Supply
If you do decide to go with a powered mop, you will usually end up with a more thorough and deeper clean, but there are drawbacks. Corded models need outlets and can have shorter power cords, making you change outlets often.
Battery powered models may not last long enough to finish the entire floor, so you must recharge the battery and wait with a half-finished floor while you do.
Wet, Damp or Dry Mop
When you hear the term mop, you may conjure images of a janitor pushing a large yellow bucket down a corridor. However, mops have evolved a lot in recent years and you don’t even always need water.
A dry mop, also known as a dust mop, will collect dirt, dust and debris from the floor while leaving a shine to the floor behind. You can also use a dry mop with a spray cleaner. Instead of getting the mop head wet, you spray the floor and mop up the spray. This is called a damp mop.
Alternatively you can get the mop head wet and use that to mop the floor, a more traditional wet mop.
All of these options are available for tile floors. Some mop kits include the ability to use two or more of these mopping options, too.
Disinfection and Sterilization
Mopping with a cleaning solution is great and leaves your floors clean and smelling great. However, germs and bacteria can survive some of these chemicals and you need special cleaners or UV lighting to get rid of them.
Most mops won’t offer the UV sterilization (though some do). Instead you will work more with a disinfecting mop.
Robot mops and some electronic mops will have UV lighting to help kill bacteria and germs left behind from mopping. You just need to decide if this is something you actually need.
Replacement Parts
No mop will last forever. For standard mops it usually means tossing the old mop and buying a new one to replace it.
However, modern mops have pieces and parts. Instead of buying a whole new mop, you can simply replace the part that is worn out or broken. Mopping pads are the most common replacement part and are readily available.
Other things like batteries, lights, or cleaning solution pumps may be less frequently purchased but can save you money in the long run. You need to make sure that all replaceable parts for your chosen mop are available for sale and in stock.
Price and Warranty
Finally, the price will play a big part in your decision. Staying in budget for things like a mop isn’t generally something we need to consider. However, modern mops can get expensive. They come with a lot of features and extras that make the price tag go up.
Find a mop that fits your needs, does the job and doesn’t cause you to break the bank. You also want to inspect the warranty (if there is one) before you click the Buy Now button.
Understand how long coverage lasts and what is needed on your part to make a claim.
8 Best Mops for Tile Floors
1. BISSELL PowerFresh Steam Mop Tile Cleaner
Bissell has many tools and products to help keep your floors clean. Among them is the PowerFresh Steam Mop, our top pick for cleaning tile floors. Since tile floors don’t get damage from heat and moisture, this is the perfect pairing to help your floors stay clean and retain their shine.
The heat from the steam will loosen and lift stains and dried on messes. In the event this isn’t enough though, there is a flip down power scrubber that lets you use your foot to help get the stains lifted.
The best part is that steam is a great disinfectant and will kill off a lot of bacteria and germs. So you clean your floor and disinfect in a single pass. You can also control the level of steam created with a simple selection switch for low, medium and high.
To help with the clean feeling, you have the optional use of fragrance discs. These discs fit in the mopping pad and the fragrance is released by the heat. The 27-foot power cord means you don’t have to constantly hunt for outlets either.
The one downside is that the water reservoir is only 16 ounces. When used on the high setting, this may not be enough to clean the entire floor without stopping to refill.
| Pros | Cons |
| Steam disinfects as it cleans | Small water tank |
| Power scrubber foot pad | Reusable mopping pads get dirty fast |
| Comes with deluxe mop pad kit | |
| Add fragrance to your mopping (optional) | |
| Long power cord |
2. BISSELL Spinwave Powered Floor Mop and Cleaner
If the top pick doesn’t do it for you, Bissell is also our runner up. The Bissell Spinwave is a powered cleaner for all hard flooring. While it doesn’t have a steam option, it is great for tile floors because of the dual spinning pads.
You can choose to use this as a scrubbing mop or a faster method to mop your entire floor. There are two spin pads included. The soft pads are great for light mopping, and your weekly mopping day to keep your floors clean and presentable.
The scrubbing pads are designed to help you get rid of stains and stubborn, stuck-on messes. This powered mop does the work so you don’t have to. No more scrubbing your floors on your hands and knees.
The 28 ounce water tank is actually an ideal size. Because you aren’t constantly putting water on the pads, you control when to spray the water to the floor. You can use as much or as little as needed for the area ahead and the Spinwave will do the rest.
With a 22-foot power cord you should be able to only have to use 1 outlet per room. The swivel steering and 11-pound unit is easy to maneuver and gets into hard to reach areas that you normally can’t get at to scrub clean.
| Pros | Cons |
| Long power cord | Can be difficult to scrub and buff at once |
| Control water/cleaning solution amounts | Washable pads last only a few months |
| Moderate sized water tank | |
| Scrubs or buffs as needed |
3. Turbo Microfiber Mop Floor Cleaning System
Turbo Microfiber gives you a stick mop that can be used for dry mops, damp mops or wet mops. It comes with everything you need to keep your floors spotless and it doesn’t disappoint. It is easy to see why this is the best stick mop kit on the market.
The extra long pads make quick work of your floors, cleaning in a wider pad than most other mops in this list. The pads are also machine washable and hold up for quite a while. This is good because replacement pads can be difficult to find.
Without any moving parts, you don’t need to worry about batteries, power cords or running out of water. You can spray your floors ahead of the mop for a quick, efficient damp mop, or you can soak the pads in your favorite cleaning solution for a great wet mop.
The handle is made from a durable aluminum alloy and telescopes out so you can get the perfect length, thus reducing strain or fatigue while using it. If you are one that likes more control over your cleaning tools, this mop makes the entire process a lot easier.
| Pros | Cons |
| Telescoping handle fights fatigue | Replacement pads can be hard to find |
| Machine washable pads hold up to 100 cycles | Plastic grip is a known weak spot on handle |
| Dry, damp or wet mopping | |
| Microfiber pads collect all dirt, dust and debris as you clean |
4. O-Cedar EasyWring Microfiber Spin Mop
If you are more of a traditionalist and enjoy the versatility of string mops, you are going to love what O-Cedar has created. The EasyWring system gives you hands free wringing and a new mop head design for better cleaning.
The mop head is a standard woven string mop. Instead of a loose end mop, though the threads are doubled over to provide more cleaning area and better control.
It is also shaped like a triangle to get better into corners and under tables or chairs. The swivel mount head helps with maneuverability and control as well.
The name-sake of this mop, though, is in the bucket. Filled with water and detergent or your favorite cleaning solution, you can wring the mop out without having to use your hands.
The mop fits in the EasyWring holder and a foot pedal spins the mop head to give you various levels of dryness. Two or three foot pumps will leave you a fairly wet mop for stubborn stains or extra dirt.
Five pumps will leave you with a wet, but not soaked mop head and more than 8 or 9 pumps will give you a fairly dry but still damp mop head. Either way, you control how wet or dry the mop is without a whole lot of effort.
| Pros | Cons |
| No-hand wringing of mop | Bucket handle may not support full weight |
| Angled mop head for corner cleaning | |
| Swivel head to get around furniture | |
| Use any cleaning solution you like |
5. iRobot Braava Jet 240 Robot Mop
The Braava Jet 240 is the only mop on this list that doesn’t require you to be home to use. This robot vacuum can be filled, the mopping pad put in place and the start button pressed and then left alone.
The Braava jet is a small robot and chooses it’s cleaning style based on the type of pad you put on it. There are dry cleaning pads, damp pads and full wet mop pads. You can also fill the tank with the cleaning solution or just water, however, a lot of solutions can clog the spout, so you want to make sure your cleaning solution is on the approved list.
Once started, the robot will run around and clean the floors as needed. The Braava 240 also has built-in containment so it will stay in a single room or entry way if you prefer. Otherwise it will run around until the battery dies out.
One of the best things about this little robot is that except for putting the clean pad on the robot, you never have to touch a dirty one. There is a pad eject that allows you to carry the robot over your trash and eject the used pad into the can.
| Pros | Cons |
| Runs automatically once started | May not be large enough to clean an entire home |
| Chooses cleaning method based on pad used | Water tank is quite small |
| Battery runs for over an hour | |
| Easily gets in places you normally can’t |
6. PurSteam ThermaPro 211 10-in-1 Steam Mop
For a steam mop to offer you more capabilities than just cleaning your tile floor, it instantly gains some extra value. The ThermaPro 211 from PurSteam is a model that cleans just about anything.
This 10-in-1 model is a handheld steamer that comes with nozzles, attachments, a floor cleaning handle, mopping pads and much more. When cleaning floors the steam will disinfect as it cleans and the microfiber mopping pads pick up dirt, hair, and stains.
In handheld mode you can steam just about anything. Using the various nozzles you can clean car upholstery, furniture and even clothing. Instead of putting your work shirt in the dryer or hanging it in the bathroom while you shower, you can use the PurSteam to iron out wrinkles directly on the hanger.
The water tank is about 12 ounces, but can be dialed down to three settings. In the lowest setting it will produce steam for up to 25 minutes. This is plenty of time to clean your kitchen floor and a few shirts.
| Pros | Cons |
| Steam cleans just about anything | Handheld unit can get heavy |
| Lasts for up to 25 minutes | No cleaning solutions used |
| Only takes 30 second to get up to temp | |
| Free replacement and 2-year warranty |
7. VMAI Cordless Electric Spin Mop
One of the best cordless power mops comes to you from VMAI. This model has two spinning pads that can buff, shine, clean or scrub your tile floors. It also features a spray trigger that allows you full control over how much water is released.
You can use tap water, or a cleaning solution of your choice with this model. Regardless of what you use for cleaning, the spinning pads will spread the water out and use it to get the grime off of your floor.
With a swivel neck the mop does all the work, even around furniture., You merely need to guide it where to go and the mop heads do the rest. When the battery dies, you can charge it separately. It pops out of the housing and you can save your storage space while the battery charges.
The LED headlights help you find those hidden streaks, stains and messes so you can clean and be done to move on with your day. The warranty isn’t the best, but the customer service offers lifetime support should you ever need it.
| Pros | Cons |
| Self-propelled cleaning heads | Not the best coverage warranty |
| Lifetime customer support | |
| Long-lasting battery | |
| Control the amount of water released |
8. Bona Premium Stick Spray Mop
Bona makes some of the best floor cleaners in the industry. Each one is designed for specific floor types and it only makes sense that they produce a mop to make the most use of their cleaning solutions.
The Bona Premium Stick is a spray mop with a lot of little features that truly stand out. The microfiber cleaning pads can be used for dry mopping, damp mopping or, for a full wet mop, depending on your specific needs.
The cleaning head is oversized, too, giving you more cleaning area per pass than most other mops. The solution comes in a refillable container that saves on packaging and replenishment purchases. You can also fill it with any type of solution you need.
The spray trigger releases the solution in a fine mist spray so it doesn’t cause over-saturation, puddling or streaking. The pads soak up the solution after mopping the floor so there isn’t much need to run over areas a second time or dry as you go.
| Pros | Cons |
| Comfort grip handle for better control | Only has one cleaning pad |
| Rubber corners prevent damage to baseboards or itself | Solution may drip from nozzle |
| Machine wash pads | |
| Everything needed is included in purchase |
How to Mop Ceramic Tile Floors and Grout
Mopping tile floors isn’t a difficult process. However, if you don’t do it right, you can leave streaks, residue or debris behind. You can even go so far as to dull the shine of your tiles.
The first thing you want to do is sweep, vacuum or dust mop the floor. This will remove the dirt and dust from the floor and between the tiles in the grout and grooves. The more debris you can remove during the step, the better your final mop will be.
Pro Tip: Avoid neglecting the grout when cleaning your tile floors. From my experience, the grout tends to collect dirt and can become discolored if not cleaned regularly. A mop with a microfiber pad or a specialized grout brush can help you keep your grout looking as good as new.
Next, depending on the type of mop you have, a damp mop should be used. A new, clean mopping pad with a spray bottle or warm water is plenty. Spray as you go and mop up the spray. This will wet the floor and the pad, removing any dust, dirt or debris the sweep or vacuum left behind.
Finally you want to mop the floor with your cleaning solution and mop of choice. You want to avoid saturating the floor with water or leaving puddles behind. This will allow streaks and dullness to form.
Move to the next section and repeat the steps until the floor is completely mopped. Once it dries you should inspect it for missed areas or streaking. In the event you find these areas, mop them again and recheck. Once the floor is clean, dry and streak free, you can clean up the mop and water.
Other Uses for Mops
The best thing about cleaning your home (aside from having a clean home) is that you find new uses for things all the time. We all know things like bleach, baking soda and apple cider vinegar have multiple uses. Did you know that your mop might have alternative uses as well?
It’s true. Depending on the type of mop you have, you could be sitting on an answer for a hard to clean area of your home. Stick mops and those with stationary cleaning pads, for example, are great at cleaning walls and ceilings.
The handles are long enough and the mopping pads can hold water or cleansers to get stains, debris and whatever that is on the ceiling that looks like spaghetti sauce.
Do you have an odd use for your mop that you want to share? Use the comment section below the article and tell us all about it!
FAQ about Mops for Tile
Here, we answer some common questions about mops and mopping in general.
Q. Do I need to dry the tile after mopping?
- In most cases drying a tile floor after mopping isn’t a requirement (it is for hardwood floors, though). However, if you notice the floor is too wet, it may be wise to run a dry mopping pad or chamois over the floor to keep the water from drying and leaving streaks behind.
Q. Will cleaning solutions damage the finish or grout?
- On tile floors, the finish isn’t readily susceptible to damage from cleaning solutions. Even vinegar and bleach are okay to use for the most part. The grout, however, can be a different story. Depending on how old the grout is, and what type of cleaners you are using, you can break the grout down over time, causing the tiles to come loose.
Pro Tip: Don’t assume that all cleaning solutions are safe for your tile floors. I’ve had experiences where some cleaning solutions, particularly those containing harsh chemicals, can damage the finish and color of the tiles. It’s always wise to read the product label and use a solution specially formulated for tile floors.
Q. Can I make my own cleaning solution for my mop?
- You can make your own mopping solutions. Tile floors are hardy and can withstand most cleaners. A great solution is made from 1 cup of white vinegar to each gallon of warm water. You can also use ¼ cup dish soap to 3 or 4 gallons of water. If you use the dish soap, add the soap to the water, to minimize suds and bubbles. Don’t swish the mixture, just swirl to dilute the soap.
Q. How often should I mop a tile floor?
- Unlike other flooring, you can mop tile pretty much as often as needed. If you have a stain or mess that needs to be cleaned up, you can mop the area at any time. It is also recommended that you mop your entire tile floor at least once per month, in addition to daily or weekly sweeping and vacuuming.
Finding the Best Tile Mop – Final Words
Finding a great mop for your tile floors doesn’t need to be a chore itself. This article showed you what factors to consider when choosing your next mop. We also covered proper mopping methods and gave you 8 of the best mops for tile floors currently on the market.
If you are on the fence, or still undecided, take another look at our top pick. The Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop is an electric wet mop that steams your floors to help disinfect while it cleans. It is priced to fit most budgets and will work for all of your tile floors.
