• Kitchen mopcd_hogar-4-ayala image by Paco Ayala from Fotolia.com
  
  Anything that makes cleaning your house easier is worth considering. The latest gadget on the housekeeping scene is the steam mop. Before you purchase one, it would be wise to consider the pros and cons of steam mops.
  
  

Convenience

• Steam mops require electricity.Electric Plug image by JJAVA from Fotolia.com
  
  With a steam mop, you no longer need to fill and carry heavy buckets of water to clean your floors. You simply fill the reservoir, plug it in and begin cleaning. The drawback is that the steam mops require electricity, and the cord may not be long enough to reach all parts of your floor conveniently. The microfiber mop covers are washable, but they should not be washed with other laundry as they may shed lint. Some steam mops also can be used on fabric, including mattresses and upholstery. With others, you can remove the handle and use them on countertops and other flat surfaces. You should consider all the features of a steam mop before purchase, as not all brands are equal and may not meet your individual needs.
  
  

Cleanliness

• Tiled floorwooden texture of the floor - ideal background image by Elnur from Fotolia.com
  
  The steam from the mop makes it easier to loosen grime and grease that may be on your floor. The heated vapor can also penetrate crevices and cracks, which regular mopping does not touch. It also leaves less moisture and dries quicker. Steam mops can rid your house of mold, mildew, viruses and stains on your floors. However, certain brands of steam mops do not create steam that is hot enough to completely sanitize the floor.
  
  

Thriftiness

• Cleaning productsCleaning materials image by TekinT from Fotolia.com
  
  Generally, using a steam mop should save you some money, since they do eliminate the need to purchase expensive detergent and chemicals. Often floor cleaning products can leave residue on your floors. Steam mops use the power of steam, which definitely is a greener way to clean. However, if you use tap water that has excess chemicals in it, you will need to purchase distilled water to make your steam mop last longer. The mop covers must be replaced every few months. Also, some steam mops use filters that need replacing at least twice a year.
  
  Depending on the type of flooring you have, the steam mop may or not be as effective. They are designed for use on tile, vinyl, sealed wood and laminate flooring. When used on waxed floors, unsealed wood or cork flooring, it seems to leave a haze because the steam can melt the wax. If a steam mop is left in one place for very long, it could damage certain types of flooring.