I Bought the Shark Steam Pocket Mop, and This is Why I Love It

It seems I go through a lot of mops, always trying to find the perfect cleaning tool that eliminates grime without over-saturating my floors. I also wanted a way to clean the house without having to use a ton of cleaning products—plus, I was tired of my spouse leaving the string mop sitting in the utility sink or the wring mop sitting in dirty mop water all day. Thanks to my trial and error with several mop designs, I thoroughly vetted a lot of steam mops before finally purchasing the Shark Steam Pocket Mop. But let me tell you—it’s totally worth it.

While conducting my research, I reviewed dozens of the best steam mops on Amazon and compared the different mophead types—from triangle-shaped to rectangular. We lived in a one-bedroom apartment at the time, so I needed the mop to maneuver around corners, get behind the toilet, and reach under large pieces of furniture, which is no small feat. The Shark Steam Mop’s narrower rectangular mophead piqued my curiosity, plus it helped that it has over 26,000 5-star ratings on Amazon! 

What's in the Box?

• Steam Mop with Handle
• Removable Rectangle Mop Head
• Two Washable Microfiber Pads
• Filling Flask

How Does the Shark Steam Pocket Mop Work?

Using the Shark Steam Mop is pretty straightforward. First, attach the mop pad to the mophead, then fill the reservoir with water using the filling flask. Once the steam mop is plugged in, it takes about 20 seconds for the steam to build up, and you’ll hear the mop hissing. During the first use, I found that I had to pump the handle a few times to prime the steam pump. The water travels from the reservoir to the steam chamber, and from there, steam is dispersed through the mophead’s two nozzles that face opposite directions, thereby heating the entire mop pad.

What Makes the Shark Steam Pocket Mop So Great?

This is one of the best steam mops because of its simplistic design and function. The rectangular mophead covers more surface area than a round or triangle-shaped mophead, and it’s reversible, so you can mop longer without having to change out pads. You can effectively mop two times as long by using the reversible mopheads. The mop is perfect for homes with children, pet owners, and even those with a lot of tile and hardwood floors. I found that I can clean my floors faster thanks to the steam technology, plus steam is more effective at sanitizing floors when compared to standard mopping. Keep in mind that your floors must be sealed in order to use a steam mop on them.

Ease of Use

The steam mop was simple to use, and there was very little wait time during the heating process. There aren’t any indicator lights to let you know the mop is ready; however, once you plug it in, the logo lights up, and in less than one minute, you can hear the steam building. To keep the steam flowing, you must move the mop in a back-and-forth motion like a vacuum cleaner. The pumping action pumps water into the steam chamber and through the mophead nozzles.

Effectiveness

I found ceramic tile floors were much easier to clean than wood floors because of their surface texture, but both surfaces were still thoroughly cleaned. Any stains on the floor were easily removed without additional scrubbing. This mop would also be great for pet owners because it picks up pet hair, loosens dog saliva, and removes any food messes after a few passes. It doesn’t have a built-in scrubber, but you can purchase additional mop pads with a hook and loop construction that can act like a scrubber on stubborn stains.

Portability

Even with water added to the reservoir, the mop weighs just five pounds, making it very easy to transport throughout the house. If you live in a multi-level home, you can carry it without much effort, and I found that the 18-foot cord allowed for plenty of coverage between outlets. I didn't test the mop on the stairs because they have cascading runners on them, and the only surface the mop doesn't work on is carpet. Storing this mop is easy because you can hang it by the closed-loop handle once you’ve completed your cleaning.

Ease of Cleanup

There isn’t much to do when cleaning up after mopping with this model like you would with a mop and bucket system. The water can stay in the reservoir without any issues or souring, and once you unplug the steam mop, you can handle the mop pads almost instantly without worrying about being burned by the steam. The only turn-off that I’ve experienced with this mop is the pad removal process. While removing the mop pads is not difficult, I don’t enjoy using my bare hands to remove the soiled pads. Once the microfiber pad is removed, toss it into the washing machine on the regular cycle. I have washed them in a top loader as well as a front loader washing machine and added a bit of bleach because the mopheads stain easily from the dirt and grime.

Maneuverability

The mophead can swivel left and right and is also reversible, making mopping easier using both sides of the pad. It was effortless to move around furniture, and the rectangular shape of the mophead allows you to get into corner crevices. The only issue I found was cleaning the inside of a corner; it would be easier to clean that area by hand to ensure it was cleaned effectively.

Is It Worth the Money?

I’ve had the Shark Steam Mop for over a year and found that the price I paid is well worth the money. This basic model doesn’t have any bells and whistles, but it’s a workhorse and has made household chores much easier and less time-consuming. While cleaning my friend’s floors, it took roughly five passes to remove dried dog saliva, whereas a regular mop would need a scrubber. You can find the Shark Steam Mop at several retail stores with prices ranging from $60 to $130, and it’s regularly on sale. It’s worth the money because you’re not using any additional cleaning products—all you need is water, and the steam power does the rest. However, you can add a small amount of cleaning solution to the water reservoir to aid in the cleaning process.

The Shark steam mop is a long-lasting product and saves you money in the long run by removing the need for floor cleaners. While it’s made of lightweight plastic and aluminum, this mop is sturdy and durable. The only issue I’ve had is that the cord holder clip snapped off, so I now have to hold the cord while mopping; but you can just put the cord in the clip and tape around it.

To buy: $60 (orig. $90) amazon.com

Why Trust The Spruce?

Joe Morales is a senior commerce editor for The Spruce and has used the Shark Steam Pocket Mop to clean his Chicago apartment’s hardwood floors for the past year. He also tested the steam mop at his friend’s home, who has two large breed dogs. During this testing process, he was most impressed by the mop’s ability to effectively clean dried dog saliva and food stains from wood and tile floors. Joe made extensive notes during the home tests and analyzed every step to ensure a thorough analysis of how the steam mop could handle various cleaning tasks.