Regular cleaning can keep laminate floors clean and shining like new, but you’ll want to keep in mind an important rule of thumb when cleaning this particular kind of floor: Avoid excessive moisture. Too much moisture can cause a laminate floor base to swell or warp, ruining the smooth finish.
The best mop for laminate floors isn’t very wet; in fact, it should be barely damp. The ideal mop is also gentle. Although laminate is scratch-resistant, tough scrubbing can damage the flooring’s surface and reduce its shine. Read on to learn more about cleaning laminate flooring and the best mops for this popular floor type.
- BEST OVERALL: Microfiber Wholesale 18″ Professional Mop
- RUNNER-UP: Bissell SpinWave Cordless Hard Floor Spin Mop
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Bona Premium Microfiber Floor Mop
- UPGRADE PICK: Nellie’s Wow Mop
- BEST FLAT: Oshang Flat Floor Mop and Bucket Set
- BEST SPRAY: O-Cedar ProMist MAX Microfiber Spray Mop
- BEST SPIN: O-Cedar EasyWring Microfiber Spin Mop
- BEST WET/DRY: O-Cedar Microfiber Flip Mop
- BEST FOR PETS: Swiffer PowerMop Multi-Surface Kit
- BEST FOR SCRUBBING: Libman Wonder Mop
- ALSO CONSIDER: Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop Kit
How We Chose the Best Mops for Laminate Floors
We researched the most sought-after mops for laminate floors in their respective categories and discovered that the best models are determined by their type, mophead material, ease of use, compatibility with multiple surfaces, and other special features included by top brands.
While searching for the best mops for laminate flooring, we found the most popular types among users were the spray, flat, spin, electric, and wet/dry combo options with microfiber pads. Many of these picks are suitable for laminate, but most can also be used on hardwood, tile, vinyl, ceramic, linoleum, stone, and other sealed hard floors.
Though the majority of these picks do not have hands-free wringing mechanisms, select picks come with large mopheads, manual hand triggers, 180- to 360-degree mopheads, additional accessories or scrubbers, telescoping handles, and refillable bottles for ease of use.
Read reviews of the following products in our Best Mops for Tile Floors guide:
- Microfiber Wholesale Store 18″ Professional Mop
- Libman Wonder Mop
Read reviews of the following products in our Best Spin Mops guide:
- Bissell SpinWave Cordless Hard Floor Spin Mop
- O-Cedar EasyWring Microfiber Spin Mop
Our Top Picks
A gentle and slightly damp mop is the best choice for laminate flooring. The top mop for laminate floors won’t leave moisture behind and is nonabrasive to protect the flooring’s smooth outer layer. With these factors in mind, the best mops for laminate floors below are soft and easy to dry to provide a safe and streak-free clean.
Photo: amazon.com
With its extra-wide 18-inch swivel head, this microfiber mop can quickly tackle large cleaning jobs. The wide frame covers more surface area with each swipe, and the 360-degree rotating head allows the mop to swerve around furniture.
This set includes two mop pads and one dust pad, and each is machine washable and made of soft microfiber. The dust pad features a perimeter of microfiber loops surrounding a soft pad to grab and lock dust and hair. The two mop pads have a foam core to absorb messes and a soft microfiber outer to leave a streak-free shine.
The stainless steel handle is sturdy, comfortable, and extendable, making it good for scrubbing and daily cleaning. It adjusts from 42 inches to 70 inches with a twist of the locking mechanism to reach from floor to ceiling.
What our tester says: Amanda Lauren, Bob Vila writer and product tester, notes, “One of this mop’s best features is its mophead, which has a 360-degree swivel with a lock. The swivel lock feature keeps the head in place to prevent side-to-side swiveling.”
Product Specs
- Type: Flat
- Mophead material: Microfiber and foam
- Wringing mechanism: No
- Compatible flooring types: All hard flooring
Pros
- Extra-wide 18-inch mophead covers more ground per swipe
- Includes 2 machine-washable microfiber mop pads and 1 dust pad
- 360-degree swivel head makes it easier to clean around and under furniture
- Telescoping handle extends up to 70 inches long for a better reach
Cons
- Lacks a spray mechanism; users will need to use a separate spray bottle
Get the Microfiber Wholesale mop for laminate floors at Amazon or Microfiber Wholesale.
Photo: wayfair.com
The Bissell SpinWave cordless hard floor spin mop takes the hard work out of mopping. This cordless electric mop features spinning microfiber mop pads that help it glide safely across all types of sealed hard floors. The mop pads constantly rotate to gently scrub surfaces, including laminate flooring. You have full control of the spray mechanism, which means control over how much cleaning solution is dispensed—a plus for moisture-sensitive laminate flooring.
Each full charge provides up to 20 minutes of cleaning, which means this mop is best suited to smaller spaces. It is easy to carry around though, coming in at only 11 pounds. Included with this mop is a storage tray that helps align the mop pads to the unit and also provides a spot to place the mop in between cleaning days.
What our tester says: Katie Barton, Bob Vila writer and product tester, notes, “When we conducted our mess test, the SpinWave didn’t clean ketchup as well as the manual spin mops, but otherwise, it performed just as well.”
Product Specs
- Type: Electric
- Mophead material: Microfiber
- Wringing mechanism: No
- Compatible flooring types: All sealed hard flooring
Pros
- On-demand spray and microfiber mop pads; well suited for laminate flooring
- Cordless, lightweight, and quiet; convenient and easy to use
- Includes a storage tray that helps align the mop pads and provides a storage spot
Cons
- Only runs for 20 minutes on a full charge; not the best choice for homes with a lot of hard flooring to clean
Get the Bissell mop for laminate floors at Wayfair, Walmart, Best Buy, or Bissell.
Photo: amazon.com
The Bona Microfiber floor mop is also on the wide side, with the mophead measuring 16.5 inches across to quickly mop hard flooring. To tackle other cleaning jobs, this mop has an aluminum telescoping handle.
This handy mop also has a 360-degree swivel head to maneuver around furniture. In case of accidental bumps, the mophead features rubberized front corners to lessen the damage if it hits furniture or baseboards.
This mop set includes two microfiber pads. A fluffy dusting pad grabs dust and hair, and the mopping pad can clean dirt, dust, and scuffs. The reusable pads can be machine washed up to 500 times while maintaining their cleaning power. The two pads offer full-floor dusting and cleaning at an affordable price.
Product Specs
- Type: Flat
- Mophead material: Microfiber
- Wringing mechanism: No
- Compatible flooring types: All hard flooring
Pros
- Flexible rubberized corners prevent baseboard and furniture damage in the case of accidental bumps
- Durable and reusable microfiber pads are machine washable up to 500 times before needing replacement
- Affordable price for a combined microfiber sweeping and mopping system
Cons
- Some reviewers report the pads don’t always stay securely on the mophead
Get the Bona mop for laminate floors at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Walmart.
Photo: amazon.com
An electric mop takes the hard work out of mopping. The Nellie’s Wow mop is cordless and lightweight, bringing the benefits of an electric mop to an easy-to-use design. Just plug the charging cable attached to the mop into a wall outlet for about 3 hours to charge. Each charge lasts up to 55 minutes, providing plenty of time to scrub floors in one go.
The mop features two soft scrubbing pads that oscillate an impressive 1,000 times per minute to scrub and buff floors, giving them a deep cleaning with every pass. To distribute water or cleaning solution, the top of the mophead features a built-in water tank. A push-button liquid-delivery system allows you to control the flow of water or cleaner.
Because this handy electric mop does not emit any steam, it is safe for all types of flooring, including laminate, offering a deep clean at the push of a button.
Product Specs
- Type: Electric
- Mophead material: Microfiber
- Wringing mechanism: No
- Compatible flooring types: All hard flooring
Pros
- 2 microfiber pads oscillate 1,000 cycles per minute to gently but effectively scrub floors
- Lightweight and cordless design makes for easy and flexible maneuvering
- 55 minutes of runtime is long enough to clean many small to medium homes
Cons
- Pricey, especially compared to manual mops
- 55-minute runtime may not be long enough to clean large homes
- Requires 1 to 3 hours of charging time between uses
Get the Nellie’s mop for laminate floors at The Home Depot, Wayfair, or Walmart.
Photo: amazon.com
Keeping the mophead clean while mopping prevents dirty water from being spread around the floor. This microfiber mop and bucket set features a mop-cleaning mechanism and wringer. This handy design keeps the mop clean and relatively dry for mopping laminate floors.
To wet the mop, one section of the bucket contains the water and a washing groove. When the mop is dirty, a few swipes on the washing groove can knock out grime and dust. Then the separate drying mechanism squeezes out excess water. A couple of passes dries the mop enough to use on laminate flooring.
This user-friendly design is completely hands-free; there’s no need to fiddle with a dirty mophead or squeeze the pad manually. Four microfiber mopheads are included, which can be used dry or wet.
Product Specs
- Type: Flat
- Mophead material: Microfiber
- Wringing mechanism: Yes
- Compatible flooring types: All hard flooring
Pros
- Mophead cleaning and wringing design is hands-free (using a foot pedal instead)
- Raised bucket edge helps prevent spills during the cleaning process, keeping excess moisture away from laminate floors
- Comes with 4 machine-washable microfiber mop pads for user convenience
Cons
- Clean and dirty water are not kept separately in the mop bucket
Get the Oshang mop for laminate floors at Amazon, Wayfair, Walmart, or Oshang.
Photo: amazon.com
Spray mops eliminate the need for unwieldy mop buckets or spray bottles. The O-Cedar ProMist Max takes the convenience factor up a notch with its dual-sided mop head and refillable bottle for water or cleaning solution.
The microfiber pad fits over the entire mop head, covering the top and bottom. When one side is dirty, the mop head can flip 180 degrees to use the other side of the pad. This design provides double the cleaning surface with no need to switch out the mop pad in between. The mop pad is machine washable and can be used dry or wet to grab dirt, hair, and dust.
For wet mopping, use the handy spray feature. The comfortable handle includes a manual trigger to release the spray, so no costly batteries are necessary.
Product Specs
- Type: Spray
- Mophead Material: Microfiber
- Wringing Mechanism: No
- Compatible Flooring: Vinyl, hardwood, and ceramic
Pros
- Dual-sided, machine-washable microfiber mop pad
- 180-degree swivel head
- Hand trigger
- No batteries required
Cons
- Only 1 mop pad and bottle included
Get the O-Cedar ProMist mop for laminate floors at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Walmart.
Photo: amazon.com
This spin mop set from O-Cedar includes a soft microfiber strip mop and a bucket with a spin-wringing mechanism. The built-in wringer is controlled using a foot pedal for hands-free use. There’s no need to bend or stoop to use or wring the mop; the extendable handle adjusts from 24 to 51 inches to suit all user heights.
The mophead features soft and fluffy strands of microfiber that trap dust and grime. The triangular head is on a swivel mount to allow the mop to reach into corners and under furniture. When the mophead is looking a little dingy, it can be thrown in the washing machine for a deep clean.
What our tester says: Katie Barton, Bob Vila writer and product tester, notes, “The mop cleaned up dried-on ketchup and apple juice without a problem. It also maneuvered well into corners, under cabinet edges, and into tight areas. The O-Cedar EasyWring spin mop only comes with one mophead, which is easy to take on and off. While it features a telescopic handle, it’s hard to adjust.”
Product Specs
- Type: Spin
- Mophead material: Microfiber
- Wringing mechanism: Yes
- Compatible flooring types: All hard flooring
Pros
- Hands-free, foot-controlled wringer is easy to use and dries the mophead effectively
- Splash guard prevents water from escaping during the spinning process
- Triangle-shaped mophead helps to clean in corners and tight spaces
Cons
- String-style mophead takes longer to dry than most mop pads
Get the O-Cedar EasyWring mop for laminate floors at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Walmart.
Photo: walmart.com
The O-Cedar Microfiber Flip mop features a dual-sided design to gently dust and mop flooring. One side has a dusting pad, with thick chenille strands to trap dust, hair, and fur. The other side has a microfiber mopping pad. The pad features gentle scrubbing strips to remove embedded dirt and grime from floors. The mophead is machine washable and gentle enough to use on all hard floor types from hardwood to laminate.
This simple and lightweight mop has a 360-degree swivel joint and a telescoping handle to adjust to different heights. The simple but functional design can help to dust and clean floors, walls, ceilings, and more for a full-home clean.
Product Specs
- Type: Flat
- Mophead material: Microfiber and chenille
- Wringing mechanism: No
- Compatible flooring types: All hard flooring
Pros
- Dual-sided mophead design: thick chenille for sweeping and microfiber for mopping
- Mop pad ends can be flipped upwards to make cleaning baseboards easy
- Lightweight and has a telescoping handle for dusting ceilings, walls, and furniture
Cons
- Only comes with 1 mop pad (extra pads sold separately)
Get the O-Cedar Flip mop for laminate floors at The Home Depot, Walmart, or Target.
Photo: amazon.com
The Swiffer PowerMop multisurface kit includes everything you need to get started, including the mop, two microfiber pads, the mopping solution, and batteries. The cleaning power is in this mop’s pads: Each disposable pad has over 300 scrubbing strips to pick up messes, including those from pets. They’re gentle, so they’re suitable for laminate flooring as well as other flooring in the home.
The PowerMop solution leaves behind a pleasant scent that lasts up to 2 hours after use—great for pet homes that need an extra boost of freshness. The bottle is not refillable, but this shouldn’t be a problem for shoppers who enjoy Swiffer’s cleaning solution.
This mop has a battery-powered sprayer, which means there is the ongoing consideration and cost to replace batteries. However, the sprayer creates an ultrafine mist spray that is great for covering laminate floors without saturating them.
Product Specs
- Type: Spray
- Mophead material: Not specified
- Wringing mechanism: No
- Compatible flooring types: All hard flooring
Pros
- Mopping pad features layers of scrubbing strips, which help to grab dirt and grime
- Includes a bottle of PowerMop solution, which leaves behind a fresh scent for up to 2 hours after mopping
- Sprayer creates a fine mist that won’t oversaturate laminate flooring
Cons
- Cleaning solution bottle is not refillable
- Mop pads are disposable and are not washable or reusable
- Requires batteries (though 2 batteries are included with initial started kit)
Get the Swiffer mop for laminate floors at Amazon, The Home Depot, Walmart, or Target.
Photo: amazon.com
Scrubbing strips make the Libman Wonder mop an excellent choice for deep cleaning floors. This strip mop features a microfiber strip mophead with the brand’s exclusive Gripstrips—textured strips that are designed to lift dirt from floors. It also has a sturdy steel handle that won’t crack or break, even with vigorous scrubbing.
For user convenience, the mop has a built-in hand wringer that squeezes out the mophead to relatively dry and makes it suitable for laminate flooring. This mechanism also means that there’s no need for a wringing mop bucket. The mophead is removable and machine washable, able to be washed up to 50 times before needing a replacement.
What our tester says: Amanda Lauren, Bob Vila writer and product tester, notes, “ We were impressed at how well this mop cleaned corners, under appliances, and along moldings. It’s also perfect for getting rid of dust bunnies. This mop lifted dirt far better than we anticipated, living up to its name.”
Product Specs
- Type: Strip
- Mophead material: Microfiber
- Wringing mechanism: Yes
- Compatible flooring types: Vinyl, linoleum, wood, laminate, marble, stone and ceramic tile
Pros
- Microfiber strip mophead is fast drying and features grippy details for gentle scrubbing
- Built-in hand wringer dries mophead nicely and takes away the need for a wringing bucket
- Mophead is removable and machine washable, withstanding up to 50 washes before needing a replacement
Cons
- Can be tough for some users to wring out the mop; hand wringer is not ideal for those with limited hand dexterity
Get the Libman mop for laminate floors at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Target, or Libman.
Photo: amazon.com
For households that need a tougher scrubbing mop, we recommend the Rubbermaid Reveal spray mop kit, which we reviewed with excellent results. With a microfiber mop pad and a separate nonscratch scrubber, this spray mop can handle daily light messes as well as stuck-on gunk.
The mophead features a soft microfiber mop pad for tackling daily dirt and grime. On top of the mophead, a nonscratch scrubber is useful for cleaning tough messes on all types of flooring, including hardwood and laminate. We found the mop lightweight, easy to maneuver, and convenient too since it comes with two refillable bottles (to hold either water or cleaning solution) and three machine-washable mop pads. The spray trigger offers on-demand spray; the spray stream is on the weaker side, but this can be helpful to avoid oversaturating laminate flooring.
What our tester says: Amanda Lauren, Bob Vila writer and product tester, notes, “One of the best things about this mop is that it can be used with any cleaning product and comes with two bottles. So if you prefer to use a different cleaning solution for your wood floors than you use for your vinyl ones, all you need to do is swap the bottle out instead of refilling or wasting product.”
Read our full review: Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop
Product Specs
- Type: Spray
- Mophead material: Microfiber
- Wringing mechanism: No
- Compatible flooring types: All hard flooring
Pros
- Includes 3 machine-washable mop pads and 2 refillable cleaning solution bottles
- Non-scratch scrubber helps to gently clean away stuck-on messes
- Convenient manual spray trigger does not require batteries for use
Cons
- Spray stream is a bit weak, and it may take a few sprays to cover flooring
Get the Rubbermaid mop for laminate floors at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Walmart.
What to Consider When Choosing a Mop for Laminate Floors
Since laminate flooring is sensitive to moisture, choosing the right mop—one that won’t get sopping wet—is important to prevent damage. Choosing an appropriate mop type, material, and wringing mechanism is key. Additional features like spray mechanisms, adjustable handles, and multifunction mopheads can add to ease of use.
Type
Popular household mop types include string, strip, flat, spray, sponge, electric, and steam mops.
- String mops have a mophead consisting of fabric strings, often made from cotton. These mops are very absorbent but can be hard to wring out. Since they hold a lot of water, they are too wet for laminate flooring.
- Strip mops are similar to string mops, but they use synthetic fabric strips rather than cotton strings. The synthetic fabric is often less absorbent than cotton, so it can be an appropriate pick for laminate flooring.
- Flat mops are among the top choices for laminate flooring. These lightweight mops have a flat head with a cleaning pad. Flat models are easy to use and work well for daily mopping. Many have microfiber cleaning pads, which are an excellent material for cleaning laminate and other hard floors.
- Most spray mops are flat mops that include a spray mechanism on the handle. Spray mops are a convenient option that incorporates the cleaning solution into the mop—no need for a separate, unwieldy bucket. With the tap of a button or pull of a lever, the spray mop distributes the cleaning solution for a thorough cleanse.
- Sponge mops have a spongy head, often with a honeycomb texture that is great for scrubbing durable flooring. However, since the sponge absorbs a fair amount of water, these are not well suited for laminate flooring.
- Electric mops do most of the scrubbing themselves. These corded or battery-powered mops have rotating or vibrating mop pads to deep clean floors with minimal effort.
- Steam mops use hot steam to break down dirt and grime. Due to the high water content, many manufacturers recommend against using steam mops for laminate flooring.
Mophead
Common household mophead materials include cotton, synthetics, microfiber, and sponge. These various materials affect how soft, abrasive, or absorbent a mop is and how well it cleans certain messes.
When it comes to laminate floors, a microfiber mop is a popular pick, as this material is affordable, gentle, and easy to find. These mops often have washable microfiber pads that are soft, dry quickly, and are easy to keep clean. Other synthetic materials like chamois will also work for laminate floors.
Absorbent cotton and sponge mopheads are excellent scrubbers but hold too much water for laminate floors. It is best to avoid these mop types to prevent damage to flooring.
Wringing Mechanism
The wringer gets rid of excess water from the mophead. Since laminate flooring needs a drier mop, the wringing mechanism is an important feature to consider.
Handle wringers often have a lever or a twist mechanism, which triggers the wringer to squeeze excess water from the mophead. Bucket wringers are located in the mop bucket. Basic bucket wringers need manual pressure to squeeze water out of the mop. A more advantageous option is a spin mop. Spin mops are string mops that feature a bucket with a spinning mechanism to wring the mop for the user. Spin mops can dry the mophead quite effectively, enough for use on laminate flooring.
Many flat mops and spray mops don’t include a wringing mechanism. Instead of the user having to dip the mop in a bucket and wring it out, the mopping pad or the floor can be sprayed directly with a cleaning solution.
Handle
An ergonomic handle makes mopping more comfortable. Common handle materials include plastic, stainless steel, aluminum, and wood. Metal and wood are the sturdiest options, while plastic can feel more comfortable in the hand and can be shaped into ergonomic designs.
Many mops feature curved handles, nonslip coatings, or squishy foam grips for added comfort. Some mops feature height-adjustable handles that allow for even more flexibility. The best mops for laminate floors have a sturdy and comfortable handle that withstands frequent use.
Adjustability
A height-adjustable handle adds to the comfort and versatility of a mop. Adjustable-handle mops can switch to a range of different heights so there’s no need to stoop over or maneuver an unwieldy handle while mopping.
Some wet mops double as dusters. This feature is especially common with microfiber or synthetic mops, which are ideal for laminate floors. An adjustable handle helps the mop tackle versatile household jobs, like dusting walls or the ceiling. A telescoping handle means you can clean high-up or hard-to-reach places.
Maneuverability
The ideal mop for laminate flooring should glide across the floor and around obstacles. A well-designed mop is easily maneuverable to get into corners and under furniture.
Flat mops are quite thin, and most are able to slide under furniture. Most feature a swivel head to make it easy to change directions and move around obstacles. Flat mops are also lightweight, which contributes to their ease of use.
String, strip, and spin mops often have rounded mopheads. Thick fibers may allow them to clean into corners. However, since they aren’t as thin as flat mops, they may have more trouble cleaning underneath furniture.
Electric and steam mops are the largest and heaviest options, which may cut down on their maneuverability. Their superior cleaning power makes them an attractive option, but keep in mind that steam mops are not the best pick for most laminate floors.
Additional Features
Multiuse mops are a versatile pick to tackle more than just one household chore. It is common for microfiber mops, which are one of the best choices for laminate flooring, to function as both dry and wet mops. Mop sets may include extra dust and mop pads to dust and clean walls, ceilings, and floors.
In any case, having extra mop pads is handy. It means you can still get the job done if one set is dirty or in the wash. Some mops have disposable one-time-use pads. Most microfiber mops include reusable or machine-washable pads.
Electric mops offer a deep clean with little effort, but it is important to find a gentle option for laminate flooring. An electric mop with microfiber or other soft mop pad can result in a shiny clean.
FAQs
Cleaning laminate flooring is simple with the right mop. The best mops for laminate floors leave a streak-free and shiny clean. Still unsure about the best choice? Here are some common questions and answers to consider.
Q. How often should I mop floors?
Floors should be mopped every 2 weeks at a minimum. High-traffic areas and homes with pets or children may need more frequent cleaning.
Q. How often should I clean my mop?
Once the mophead starts to collect stains or picks up a lingering smell, it is due for a deep cleaning. Many mopheads are also replaceable and can be swapped out for a new one every 2 to 3 months, if needed.
Q. Why is my floor still dirty after I mop?
Using too much cleaning solution can contribute to dull and dirty-looking laminate floors. Consider using a laminate flooring cleaner to remove the residue, or avoid soap-based cleaners altogether and use a damp mop with plain water instead.
Why Trust Bob Vila
Bob Vila has been America’s Handyman since 1979. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series including “This Old House” and “Bob Vila’s Home Again,” he popularized and became synonymous with “do-it-yourself” home improvement.
Over the course of his decades-long career, Bob Vila has helped millions of people build, renovate, repair, and live better each day—a tradition that continues today with expert yet accessible home advice. The Bob Vila team distills need-to-know information into project tutorials, maintenance guides, tool 101s, and more. These home and garden experts then thoroughly research, vet, and recommend products that support homeowners, renters, DIYers, and professionals in their to-do lists.
