As someone who can’t function amidst chaos, speed cleaning is my specialty. I take out dirty dishes before they ever hit the bottom of the sink, corral my kids’ toys, and vacuum up crumbs about… a million times a day. But the one thing I never do? Mop.
I realize this is ill-advised, and it’s not to say I’m against deep cleaning. But all of the drama of mopping just goes too far beyond my time threshold I’m willing to devote to home upkeep. That is, until I discovered the Shark steam mop.
“Steam cleaning is not just the latest fad. Steam is the only natural way to clean and can kill up to 99.9 percent of germs without the use of chemicals,” says Jacqui Knapp, CEO of Knapp House and professional organizing expert.
Shark Steam & Scrub Steam Mop — $130.00
- Sanitizes and deodorizes without using cleaners and harsh chemicals
- Comes with 6 scrubber pads, each of which is machine washable
- Quick acting (steam activates in 20 seconds) and dries quickly
- Can be used on all sealed hard floors
- More earth-friendly by using less water than traditional mopping
- Does need to be plugged in (though cord is long)
“Shark products have been leaders in the cleaning business for decades and The Shark Steam & Scrub Mop is no exception,” says Knapp. “It does the job of three products for the price of one and is easy to use covering numerous surfaces. The Steam Blaster Technology gently scrubs, mops, and sanitizes without the use of harsh chemicals.”
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The “without the harsh chemicals” bit is particularly helpful for me, since I have young children at home. The Shark steam mop keeps toddlers and pets safe from bacteria and viruses,” Knapp adds.
The Shark steam mop comes with six pads, which click into place on the bottom of the mop. You fill the tank with water, plug it in, wait about 20 seconds, and then you’re good to go. Steam mopping is just as easy as vacuuming up crumbs.
Traditional mopping isn’t effective due to the lack of high-temperature water along with the need to use harsh chemicals to sanitize. Mops can develop mold that can spread easily. Replacing a traditional mop with a steam mop is a total upgrade using less water with zero waste.
After my first use, I was impressed by how clean the scrubbing pads came out, ready to be used again. My three-year-old even joined in the cleaning session with his own toy mop. The Shark steam mop sanitized every room in my house and removed stubborn dirt, stuck-on food, and even paint drops from the floor.
From a safety POV, just be sure to keep kids a healthy distance away from the steaming action, and use distilled water in your tank to make your mop last longer. The Shark steam mop can be used on all sealed hard floors.
“Using a steam mop is basically a one-stop shop,” says Knapp. I concur—and I’m adding it to my speed-cleaning rotation immediately.
