Lifestyle Home The 8 Best Mops of 2023, Tested and Reviewed Spin mops, traditional mops, and disposable options all passed our rigorous testing By Cai Cramer Cai Cramer Instagram Twitter Cai Cramer is a Commerce Writer at PEOPLE, covering the best and buzziest products across the beauty, fashion, health, and lifestyle spaces. Previously, Cai worked on the Digital Platforms team at PEOPLE after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Northwestern University. Cai loves to spend time outdoors no matter the weather, and she'll try any craft twice. People Editorial Guidelines and Amy Jamieson Updated on May 5, 2023 01:38 PM Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Photo: People / Jaclyn Mastropasqua The word mop rarely appears without the word mess, but cleaning up that mess doesn't need to be a pain. There are so many different kinds of mops to choose from — microfiber, butterfly, hands-free, self-wringing, bucketless, and more — with each mechanical detail promising to help you wipe your floors with ease. Truth is, some do that more effectively than others, which is why we're here to help you find the best mop to clean up any spill. "I'm always looking for grit, efficiency, and speed," TaskRabbit cleaning expert Vanessa Garcia tells PEOPLE. Mop heads with a more abrasive core can help scour off stuck-on messes without the need to bend over, and Garcia adds that choosing the right mop not only makes for a more efficient cleanup but also promotes better back health. We tested 15 popular mops in our PEOPLE Tested Lab in order to find the best one, no matter the mess. The obstacles we threw at these were truly meant for only the mightiest, with paprika, BBQ sauce, potting soil, and fruit punch in the mix. The results? The tested, tried-and-true 8 best mops for cleaning up any spill. Read on to see more of the best mops PEOPLE Tested. Best Overall: O-Cedar EasyWring Spin Mop and Bucket System Target Buy on Amazon Buy on Target Buy on Walmart Pros: Super lightweight mop and bucket was easy for us to transport Mop strings have great absorbency and quickly cleaned up our large test spillEasy setup with clear instructions included Cons: Time-consuming to clean the long mop strands after use The O-Cedar EasyWring Spin Mop has been a fan favorite for a while, and it still stands up. It is compact, light, and easily maneuverable — perfect for tucking away on a back closet shelf. The mop has long, fluffy bristle hairs and comes with a hands-free swirling mop bucket that's operated with a small foot pedal, making it super easy to use. Our tester found the O-Cedar mop to be exceptional at absorbing liquids — big praise for such a small mop. The included bucket's built-in spinner made it really easy to tackle big spills quickly because you could mop up and re-dry the mop head in two easy steps. The mop left behind little to no residue after passing through big wet spills or dry paprika dust. Setting up this mop was easy-peasy, and we especially appreciated the clear instructions included on the box. The O-Cedar was so lightweight that we were actually concerned that it was too light and might not last as long as some other sturdier options. And, while the included bucket spinner made this mop very easy to clean in between floor swipes, the mop's long strands were more difficult to clean after use. Overall, this mop gets our vote for the best and most effective mop for smaller homes. If you want to level up for a larger space, opt for the O-Cedar Spin Mop with Bucket version that keeps clean and dirty water separate. Price at time of publish: $43.63 (orig. $69.96) Type: Mop and bucket | Dimensions: 19.5 x 11.5 x 13.35 inches People / Tamara Staples Best Overall, Runner-Up: Simpli Magic Spin Mop Amazon Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart Buy on Home Depot Pros: Very absorbent mop strips quickly cleaned up sauce and juice with barely any residue Fluffy mop strings easily picked up dirt and paprika Lightweight and intuitive to use, with built-in wringer on the bucket Cons: Takes a few minutes to clean the mophead after use Bucket might be too large for some The Simpli Magic Spin Mop really exceeded our expectations. During a "wet test," it absorbed sauce, potting soil, and juice easily from every surface (though it performed slightly better on non-tile surfaces), leaving barely any residue. It also performed as advertised in dry ingredient tests, cleaning up messy paprika easily off the floor. Lightweight and easy to use, the Simpli Magic was slightly heavier when soiled, but not enough to weigh it down. While any bucket is heavier when filled with water, this one's durable handle made it easy to move around. And the bucket has a built-in wringer that can be used to conveniently squeeze the mop of excess water. All of these details make it a mop with skills, but the maneuverability of the Simpli Magic is its superpower. The rod moves with it, making it easy to get under chairs and around corners. The circular head and threads cover more surface area with each movement. While it sparkled in nearly every category, the mop received less-than-perfect scores in two important ones: set-up (4) and ease of cleaning (4). The instructions could be clearer in telling you exactly how to attach the head to the mop, but photos still make that process fairly intuitive. The mop includes three different heads, but PEOPLE Tested found they weren't a cinch to attach and remove, so keep that in mind. Those few caveats aside, the Simpli Magic Spin Mop is a great option for both wet and dry messes. The mop is easy to use and includes a handy bucket with a built-in wringer that was greatly appreciated while cleaning different surfaces. Price at time of publish: $39.99 Type: Mop and bucket | Dimensions: 18 x 11 x 11 inches | Weight: 5.89 pounds People/Tara Donne Best Budget: OXO Grips Quick Dry Microfiber Butterfly Amazon Buy on Amazon Buy on The Container Store Buy on Oxo Pros: Easy to assemble, no need for tiring instructions Butterfly design helps to wring this mop pad out faster and easier than most other mops we tested Cons: Lacking in maneuverability for tight spacesDoesn't pick up dry spills as well as some other mops we tried This lightweight butterfly mop is so easy to assemble that you may actually question whether you did it correctly. There are no instructions included, but after testing out this easy-to-use mop, we don't think it needs them. Once you hit the floors, you'll know you made the right choice. We were super impressed by how easily the OXO Good Grips Butterfly Mop cleaned surfaces; its wringing-out capabilities are top-notch. You can quickly wring this puppy out after every swipe — as you do when tackling especially messy surfaces — and that keeps the mop from getting too wet or spreading dirt around. You'll fall in love with the built-in lever tool. It took five seconds flat to use — and no need to get your hands dirty. Dry testing is where the OXO Good Grips hit a snag: It definitely left streaks of paprika after multiple swipes, and the orange microfiber layer didn't pick up very well, leaving the spice to pile up after stronger, faster motions. When the mop becomes fully caked in dirt and grime after continuous use, there's no easy way to deep clean the head. Instead, you'll need to fully replace it somewhere down the line. It's important to note that refills are sold separately. The OXO mop is super lightweight, but it's not turnable or particularly nimble at the base. So if you're planning to push this mop under furniture or inside tight spaces, you might want to look for one that can attack angles more effectively. Price at time of publish: $27.95 Type: Mop | Dimensions: 2.4 x 4.9 x 5.9 inches | Weight: 2.2 ounces People/Tara Donne These Are the Best Vacuums Under $200 Best Swivel: Bosheng Mop and Bucket Amazon Buy It! $32; amazon.com Pros: Absorbant mop pads work well on multiple surfaces Mop is lightweight in hand and easy to maneuver Wringing feature easily removes water in seconds Cons: Setup isn't intuitive We found the bucket to be a bit heavy to lug around So our favorite and least favorite aspects of this mop may actually be the same: the bucket. The bucket is key to its functionality. The mop itself is lightweight and performed exceptionally well on every single surface, removing dirt, fluid and most of the paprika during our floor tests. While the wringer feature is also awesome and takes mere seconds to use, lugging around that bucket could be taxing after a while. Cleaning with this mop, however, is a pleasure. It's super maneuverable and has a great swivel connection between the handle and the head. It was easy to take it around corners and into tight spaces. Clean-up after using it may take more time. Emptying the large bucket, swapping out the head, and wringing the mop out afterward could be a hassle. We noted that it takes a few minutes and requires gloves and hands-on work. The set-up was not a breeze with this bucket-mop combo set, either. The instructions are vague and leave out key details that you'll have to figure out on your own. So, it may clean floors fabulously, but the bucket and tricky assembly may hold you back. Price at time of publish: $31.99 (orig. $39.99) Type: Mop and bucket | Dimensions: 15.86 x 9.49 x 7.36 inches | Weight: 3.89 pounds People/Tara Donne Best with Disposable Mop Pads: Swiffer Sweeper 2-in-1 Sweeping and Mopping Starter Kit Target Buy on Amazon Buy on Target Buy on Walmart Pros: Disposable pads mean no extra cleaning hassle when you're finished moppingHandle is lightweight and easy to maneuver Comes with 7 dry-mopping and 3 wet-mopping pads, making it a great value Cons: Wet-mopping pads aren't super absorbent After we've done all the work to mop up our messy floors, the last thing we want to do is clean the mop itself. The Swiffer Sweeper 2-in-1 saves the day with disposable mop pads that you can simply toss in the bin after use. This kit comes with 7 pads meant for dry mopping and 3 pads for wet mopping, and is super easy to use — just pop a mop pad onto the plastic head and then pop it off when you're done. During our testing, the swivel-head design maneuvered easily around corners and under furniture. The Swiffer performed well with lighter messes but left something to be desired (aka some leftover paprika residue) when tested with heavier spills. For its reasonable price and decent mopping job, we recommend the low-hassle Swiffer 2-in-1 with disposable dry and wet pads. But if you're looking for something that can handle more heavy-duty messes, a more traditional mop might better suit your needs. Price at time of publish: $16.99 Type: Mop with disposable pads | Dimensions: 23.03 x 5 x 2.01 inches People / Tamara Staples Best For Tough Messes: Rubbermaid Self-Wringing Ratchet Twist Mop with Blended Yarn Head Amazon Buy It! $32; amazon.com Pros: Scouring head works great to pick up ground-in messesSelf-wringing mophead was simple for us to use by twisted the handle Cons: Not as absorbant as some of the other mops we tested Crusted, sticky messes call for industrial-strength scrubbing power — and that's exactly what the Rubbermaid Self-Wringing Ratchet Twist Mop delivers. The blended yarn head is coarse enough to scour off tough spills and when you're done, it's easy to wring out with the twist of the handle ratchet. Our only qualm with this industrial mop was that it lacked some absorbency that we saw in other products we tested, but we're willing to overlook that because we were impressed with its hardcore and easy-to-clean loops. We think that a slight loss of absorbency was made up for by its rough-hewn scrubbing power. The Rubbermaid's self-wringing system and scouring head make this mop a worthwhile purchase for households with tough, stuck-on messes. We especially recommend this one for homes with pets that track mud inside. Price at time of publish: $39.99 (orig. $47) Type: Mop | Dimensions: 3.5 x 3.5 x 55 inches | Weight: 1.2 pounds People / Tamara Staples Best Microfiber: Libman Wonder Mop Amazon Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart Buy on Home Depot Pros: Microfiber strips easily picked up dust and dirt Mop strings can absorb lightweight messes Can both dust and absorb, making this 2-1 cleaning tool a great value compared to many other mops we tested Cons: Not as absorbant as some other mops we tested, so can't pick up heavy messes or big spills The Libman Wonder Mop combines the absorbing power of a mop with the dusting abilities of a microfiber cloth. The microfiber grip strips are antibacterial and wide enough to absorb light to moderate spills. We were pleasantly surprised with the Libman's lightweight body and efficient cleaning abilities, but also noted that the mop is better suited for light to moderate spills because it couldn't quite tackle heavier messes. With a built-in wringer to squeeze out all of the sopped-up spills and microfiber strips to effectively dust up paprika spills, the Libman faired well in our tests. We were shocked by the affordable price of this mop, and the 5-star reviews on Amazon agree that this mop performs as well as a more expensive cleaning tool. Price at time of publish: $38.89 Type: Mop | Dimensions: 3 x 6 x 58 inches People / Tamara Staples Best for Hard Wood Floors: Scotch-Brite Hardwood Floor Mop Walmart Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart Pros: Works on any surface, including tricky hardwood floorsMachine-washable mopping pads make cleanup a breeze Lightweight mop was easy for us to maneuver around corners and under furniture Cons: Not as absorbant as some of the other mops on our list As stunning as aged hardwood floors might look, they can also be a beast to clean. Picking up dust and dirt off delicate wood surfaces without eroding the finish or damaging the seams between boards can feel like a daunting task, but the Scotch-Brite Hardwood Floor Mop makes it seriously simple. The mop is made up of a 59-inch lightweight plastic handle and a removable scratch-free pad that works on sealed hardwood, laminate, and tile floors. One of the handiest features of the Scotch-Brite mop is that once you're done mapping your wood floors into a dazzling shine, you can remove the included mop pad and toss it in the washing machine to be re-used — a major win for eco-conscious shoppers. This mop is also super easy to maneuver and had no trouble getting under furniture and around obstacles during our tests. The Scotch-Brite mop isn't equipped to absorb large spills — it's a pad mop and not a string one, after all. But, if you're looking for a mop to polish up your hardwood floors (or any kind of floor, really) with easy-to-handle reusable pads, we definitely recommend giving this one a try. Price at time of publish: $39.08 Type: Mop with reusable pads | Dimensions: 59 x 6.25 x 2 inches | Weight: 1 pound People / Tamara Staples Things to Consider Before Buying a Mop Type of Mop With so many different kinds of mops to choose from, it can be difficult to know which is the right one for your purposes. Some options, like the Simpli Magic Spin Mop, include self-wringing features, which are helpful when cleaning up liquid spills. Dustier or more crumbly messes are more easily picked up by mops with microfiber strands, like those in the Libman Wonder Mop. It's also important to consider whether you need a single mop or a mop that comes with a bucket. A mop-and-bucket combo makes it easy to wring out dirt and spills into a contained place, but if a bucket takes up too much space in your home, it may not be worthwhile for your day-to-day needs. Weight Weight will also matter depending on how long (and how often!) you plan to push the mop around. If you can handle a heavier mop and bucket, then you have a few more options at your disposal, but there are also plenty of really excellent lightweight options, like the O-Cedar EasyWring Spin Mop and Bucket System. Price Some mop options can cost over $50, and if you clean your house often or value pristine floors, it might be worth it to pay that price. Most mops will hover around the $30 mark, but there are plenty of options that work well at a lower price point, like the Swiffer Sweeper 2-in-1 Sweeping and Mopping Starter Kit that goes for just $17. However, note that some cheaper options may require additional purchases, such as mop pad refills. How We Tested Mops We tested 15 mops in our product lab. We spilled various sticky, grimy household ingredients on three different flooring surfaces — hardwood, tile, and laminate — and put each mop to the test. A swipe of a paper towel was the ultimate test in determining whether any dirt remained. Maneuverability, sturdiness, and weight when wet were some of the things we evaluated, as well as how well each mop cleaned nooks and crannies, corners, and around furniture. Factoring in all these elements and more, we winnowed down the field to the best-performing mops. These Are the Best Robot Vacuums That PEOPLE Tested FAQs What are the different types of mops? There are a few different types of mops available on the market today, each with their own special features that are helpful for different types of messes and lifestyles. Self-wringing mops are great for big, wet messes that require a lot of absorbency to pick up. For drier, dustier messes, there are microfiber mops which do better with less moisture. You can find mops that have built-in spraying features, or those that come with buckets that can be filled with your preferred cleaning solution. Some mops are softer and work well on all surfaces, while others might be too rough for hardwood surfaces but do better at scrubbing off stuck-on messes. What are the different sizes of mops? You can find mops of all different shapes and sizes, and the right one for you is dependent on your personal preferences. The mop should fit in your hand comfortably and be tall enough so that you don't need to hunch over and risk hurting your back over time. You can also find variations in the size of the mop head itself. While bigger mop heads might be better at cleaning up larger messes more efficiently, it's also important to keep in mind that they'll take up more storage space, so whether that tradeoff is worth-while is up to you. What are the best mop brands? With so many great mop options available at a variety of price points, it's hard to say that there's one brand that's better than the others. Our testers were partial to the O-Cedar EasyWring Spin Mop and Bucket System, which cleaned up both wet and dry messes easily and was lightweight and easily maneuverable. Why Trust PEOPLE? Cai Cramer is a commerce writer at PEOPLE, covering the best and buzziest products across the beauty, fashion, health, and lifestyle spaces. Cai wrote this story based on the testing results obtained from PEOPLE Tested Labs, which included blind trials on absorption, dust cleanup, and scouring power. Cai also consulted with TaskRabbit cleaning expert Vanessa Garcia, who provided insights on what to look for in a high-quality mop. What Is People Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don't stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we've awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase. Want more product recommendations? Check out all of our People Tested content.