Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Shark Steam Mop review

So yesterday I bought a Shark Steam mop. I had seen the infomercial and I too wanted to clean my floors without toxic chemicals. Also, my current (non-steam) mop has been on the way out for about a month and I needed to replace it. Why not replace it with something that costs ten times as much? What a great a idea I thought. I dragged my children down to Sears and purchased the coveted item.

This morning I got to try the shark steam mop out. (I did read reviews found here before I bought it.) It was easy to assemble. I washed the microfiber pads as directed. Then I mopped my floor. Mopping with steam is fun. I wasn't sure if I would like the "steam as you push forward" feature, but I actually do like it. I just need to remember to pull back hard. In my usual mopping I do most of the cleaning pushing forward, but that doesn't work as well on this mop. I also need to buy some distilled water for it since the water here is very hard. I have a small kitchen, dining room, and two small bathrooms that I mopped. I used both pads and had to refill once. I saw some spots afterwards that I went at with my regular mop and it couldn't get them up either, so it did an OK job. As one of the reviews said, this will clean about as well as a regular mop, although I like it better since it picks up all the dirty water instead of the water staying on the floor like it did with my old mop.

The pads need to be washed separately from other laundry. I tried wrapping them in a pillow case and washing them with everything else, and they still came out covered in weird little things the microfibers picked up from the other laundry.

Pro:
  • Floor is dry almost instantly because the steam evaporates quickly.
  • Relaxing hissing sound from the steam
  • Arm workout since I am pushing forward and back more than I usually do. (This is good since most of my mopping consists of "the floor is wet, that must mean it is clean".)
  • Cord is long.
  • You can refill the reservoir without waiting for the mop to cool.
  • Works well on my wood floors.
  • Got a big glob of dried yogurt up off the floor. (I had to go over it a few times, but at least I didn't have to get out my putty knife like I usually do.)
  • Mop stays more sanitary since I will clean the microfiber pads every week.
cons:
  • Does not work well on my upstairs bathroom vinyl flooring. I'm not exactly sure what the deal is since the shark mop works fine in the kitchen and other bathroom, both of which have vinyl flooring. I think the texture might be giving it problems. My regular mop doesn't like that bathroom much either.
  • It can sanitize, but I'd have to mop very slowly.
  • It would be nice if the handle could turn, then I could store it against a wall.
I'll add more later after I've used it a few more times.

Update (11-17-07): So I have mopped with it a few more times. A few more things I've noticed. One of the pads seems to mop better than the other one. I'm not sure what the difference is. Also, I think my mop is slightly broken, but I think the problem is easily fixable (my best guess is a little part at the base popped out). I just need my husband to look at it to confirm my suspicions and help me pop it back in. I'm waiting for the mop to cool down. Also, if there is water in the mop and you lay it down or turn it upside down, it will leak water.
Update (12-04-07): I don't think the mop is broken. Still mopping away with it.
Update (12-17-07): Still mopping away. My final verdict is I'm not sure it is better than a regular mop, but mopping with steam is cool. I'd feel bad if I had spent budget money on it, but since I used my own spending money I like it just fine. I've also found a way around the upstairs vinyl problem...I just mop that with a rag under the steam mop instead of one of its mircofiber pads. Seems to work just fine. I'm wondering if my pads have shrunk (I did run them through the dryer once.) I'll have to remember to check my mom's and see if hers are slightly larger.
Update (10-17-10): my steam mop died several months ago.  It no longer heats the water.  I'm back using a regular mop.  I miss the quick drying time, but I don't miss it enough yet to go back and buy another one.  (Unlike my roomba.  When it died, I replaced it with in a month.)

98 comments:

Unknown said...

hi, your blog was most helpful...have you used it again, do you think its a good buy? thanks!

rcstanley said...

I've been mopping my floor with it for the past few weeks. I tried to mop up a major apple juice spill with it (don't). It can absorb the spill, but don't mop with it afterwards because it will make your whole floor sticky.

Currently my mop is acting up. I think a piece at the base might have popped out. I can still mop with it, but the head wiggles a lot now. I don't think it's broken broken, but I'm going to have my husband look at it :)

As far as a good buy, it's fun to mop with steam, and I think my floors are cleaner since the microfibers pick up all the dirt, but I don't know if they are $95 worth of clean.

Anonymous said...

I didn't know you could buy them at Sears. I really wanted one, because I thought it would clean better than regular mop and sanitize. Thanks for the post, so now I will think about it twice.
Thank you

Vickie said...

Thank you for your review of the Shark Steam Mop. I am thinking about ordering it, even at almost $100 (I will also check out Sears website). My only concern and maybe you can offer some insite. When I clean my regular vinyl floor, I like to perk up the shine by using an acrylic floor finish like Future. Do you know if the steam mop will "melt" this finish? I usually have to use an ammonia based product to strip the floors once the dirt and grim have been embedded into the acrylic finish to get them really clean and then start all over. It is hard for me to believe that water (even super hot water can break down the acrylic. So I'm afraid the embedded dirt won't be cleaned by the steam mop. My "Dream Mop", if there is a such thing, would allow me to get my floors really clean and dry, allow me to apply the acrylic finish (with a regular sponge mop) and then to be able to use the steam mop to keep the floors clean without having to strip and reapply the acrylic. I understand that when using an acrylic product that the floors needs to be striped about twice a year and redone. I just wish I could find a product that could clean the dirt and leave the shine (my old floors have no original shine left). Thank you for any info you can provide.

rcstanley said...

To be honest, I know very little about acrylic. I mop my floors and ignore them the rest of the time :) Best guess, I doubt it would take off the shine since the steam is on any particular spot for only a short time, and if you used distilled water there should be no residue. I don't know if it would be able to get the dirt off like you want though.

rcstanley said...

I thought of a way to test if the mop would take the shine off without actually buying a mop. Find a friend that has a scuncci steamer or one of those little steam makers that were so popular a while ago. Lay a rag down on the floor in an unobtrusive area, squirt steam at it for a second or two and see how the shine is. There is no guarantee that the mop would behave exactly the same way,but it would at least give you an idea.

Anonymous said...

You can now get one at Bed Bath and Beyond for $79.99 and with their 20% coupon it's only $64.

Anonymous said...

HAS ANYONE USED IT ON TILE? I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF IT CLEANS THE GROUT? THANKS, ROBERTA

rcstanley said...

I'm pretty sure it won't do grout. I think I've seen that mentioned in other reviews. Also, it doesn't get the cracks in my vinyl flooring, so I doubt it would get the grout in tile.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your blog. I am very intersted in buying this steam mop. I wanted to wait and see how other people liked using it first. I see more positive comments here than negative, so that makes me feel better about buying it. I am glad bed bath & beyond now has it. Thanks!

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for your blog and these comments. It's very helpful to me. I too am considering buying this mop. I would love to steam clean my floors. I DREaD mopping so much and hate that my floors are wet forever afterwards. Not to mention the cleaners! Expensive and stinky. I'm going to see what kind of deal I can find to buy it. Thanks again!

Anonymous said...

Based on this, I'm going to see about getting one tonight. BB&B doesn't send me coupons, so they were going to make me sign up in the store and wait 6 to 8 weeks for the coupon. I said, "So you're going to make me wait 6 to 8 weeks to purchase the mop?" He generously offered to give me the 20% off without the coupon this *one time only*. I'll post how it does on laminate...

dolphinboy said...

Hello, I hope that you don't mind if I ask a question(s). I have a very light tan, porcelain tile and I've gone through 3 different kinds of mops and end up always on my hands and knees going over almost 800 square feet over again with a wet rag and paper towel. No matter what I do, the mop tends to just move the dirt around on this tile leaving horrible ugly blotches that are worse than if I didn't mop. I've tried just doing small portions of the tile at a time with clean water and thus going through several buckets of water to make sure that clean water is going on and not dirty water. It never makes a difference. Sponge mops leave ugly streaks on this kind of tile and the mops with string are the ones that just seems to move even the slightest dirt around leaving me with the ugly dirt blotch marks. The box for this steam mop especially states that a plus to owning this mop is that it won't just move dirt around. If I get extra pads, do you think this finally might be the answer to my year long fruitless battle to find the right mop for my "difficult" tile. I think you mentioned it takes more work, but I'm going over my floors so much with the mops and then ending up on my knees going over the mess that's left behind, so I can't imagine the physical part being a problem. I can also always wipe up small messes on the floor myself. I'm just looking for something that I can use that won't make my floors look worse, much worse, than before I mopped and keep me from having to redo door the floor on my hands and knees. Thank you so much for your blog and any info that you might be willing to provide about whether this or something else might be best for me would be greatly appreciated.

Anonymous said...

You can see an independent video review of this product at asotv.info, free of charge. This is one of many As Seen On TV video product reviews available as a free consumer resource.

rcstanley said...

One thing I have noticed with the steam mop is that it really is good about not leaving puddles of dirty water around. The microfiber pads are great at picking up the "dirty water dirt."

If your tile is textured, I'm not sure how well it would do, since it won't get dirt out of grooves. Another thing is if your tile is dusty dirty (for lack of a better term), the steam mop will not do as well. It has problems in my bathroom with the towel lint that gets on the floor. It tends to push it into a little pile. Just sweep well first.

Anonymous said...

June 2008

I jsut purchased a shark steam mop. i have been reading reviews on them for about 9 months and finally took the plunge. The ice breaker for me is that our local Costco started carrying them AND they come with 5 cleaning pads! So I figured with their fabulous return policy I could try it out. I have polyurathaned hardwood and tile in the house. My kitchen takes a huge beating as i have a 3 year old and 18 month old twins + 2 cats (although they are the least messy!) I have not done the tile yet. But I am happy to say I have no streaking or "haze" on the floors. I used tap water as our water is softened - but I think I am going to grab distilled next time I am at the store anyways. I can tell a difference between the halls and foyer from the kitchen/dinette area. I am guessing that I have some signifigant build up. My pads are not "filthy" so eitherit's not lifting the dirt, or my floors are pretty darn clean. I can feel a big difference in the drag from the kitchen to the other area. of course my kitchen gets washed three time more often than the other places. My old mop is the Shh-mop with a terry cloth head and I have used water/vinegar (streaking), melaleuca tough and tender (haze), and Murphey's oil Soap wood floor cleaner (haze over time and seems to build up). I was able to clean ALL the floors (And we have about 1000 SQ of wood ont he first floor) on 1 tank of water. That was great and it's easy to fill. I didn't have any puddling, streaking, or dripping. I think i do need to mop slower to get more effect. I don't understand how to "mop on the drag" better vs on the push. that seems awkward. i wish the head swiveled b/c It's hard to get into small spaces and you still have to do the sides around the toilet and my pedestal sink by hand (or old mop).

Over all pleased - need to tinker more! I think I am going to do a test patch experiment.

Anonymous said...

I love that comment that went 'my 3 year old and 18 month old twins + 2 cats..." and said her floor took a beating. My kitchen vinyl has six kids under 13 and two large hounds to survive under. I'm interested in this Shark mop because I've had to refinish the paneling in my kitchen island due to the water that the old mop sloshes around when the troops clean the kitchen. The water ruins the last two inches of the wood and I'm ready for this low moisture mop. Thanks for the reviews, I'll post the results soon in my kitchen.

Anonymous said...

I just purchased this product this weekend and used it on my hardwood floors for the 1st. It seems to leave streaks even after washing the pads first and using distilled water. Any help hints or insights? I really, really want this to work as I have over 1,000 square feet of hardwood flooring to clean.

rcstanley said...

I don't know why it is streaking, I don't have that problem. I had two ideas 1) the finish on your hardwood doesn't like the steam. I'd suspect wax wouldn't like it much. 2) There is residue on your wood from the cleaners you used previously that the mop is stirring up. I don't really have a good solution to either problem, if it's 2 you could pick a small area of floor, scrub it really well normally, then try mopping over it a bunch of times, changing pads in the middle. This would let you know if a streak free shine is possible on your floors. (Needless to say, pick somewhere not obvious in case the finish doesn't like steam.)

Unknown said...

I am trying to choose between the Shark and the H20 mop. I saw in some reviews that the latter leaves a lot of pooled water and no one has said that of the Shark. My concern is that I have "bumpy" ceramic tile that looks great but is a nightmare to clean. Has anyone had luck with the Shark on textured tile?

rcstanley said...

I haven't had a problem with pooled water. I think it would have problems with the bumpy tile. If a normal mop has trouble with it, the steam mop will have trouble with it. Depending on how dirty your floor gets, you could use the steam mop for general mopping, then "power clean" every once in a while.

Anonymous said...

I too have been looking into the differences between the Shark and the H2O mop, and have noticed more negatives with the H2O one. I think I might go ahead and purchase the Shark. I have seen it carried in Target for those looking for a cheaper price, you may want to check there.

Anonymous said...

I purchased one of these to clean the tile in my kitchen. My tile has a shiny finish to it and I was always having to go back over after I mopped to get rid of the streaks. The shark cleans the floor and gets rid of the streak problem at the same time. It doesn't clean the grout, but neither did my regular method of mopping. Hope this helps.

Anonymous said...

I purchased the mop when I saw the infomercial. With the regular sponge mop, my kitchen tile floor never really got clean, it seemed to leave a sticky residue. THe steam mop is much better. The cons are: 1.There isn't an on/off switch - so you have to plug it in and hold the mop up because the instructions say not to leave the pad on the floor in one spot - it will cause damage.The reverse is also true - when you finished, lift the mop and carry it to the outlet to unplug to stop it. 2. If you use the mop close to the baseboards, walls or furniture - they get wet and have to be wiped down afterwards. It's better than a sponge mop but not at all that it is cracked up to be or worth the money.

Anonymous said...

Costo has them for 68.79 in my neck of the woods (Ventura, CA). And it came w/ 5 pads. I tried it on my wood floors. I think it did much better than having to get out the mop/bucket.

I have used the wood floor cleaners and they are so hard to use w/ the swiffer style contraption and pads. Just seems like I'm working really hard with the back and forth motions. A CHORE actually.

This Shark Steam Mop was much easier as it seems the steam allows the mop to "float". I must say, though, that I will probably have to go over the wood floors several times because I think there are months of gunk on them (other cleaning products, etc). I don't mind though because like I said, the mop kind of floats along.

Also, I may have to put something down after to shine up the floors but at least they're getting clean (I think).

Oh and I used it on my kitchen floor which is vinyl. Seemed to work rather well. The vinyl is just a year old and is kept very clean so there wasn't much of a before and after. We'll see how it works on the tile around the toilets next (house full of boys). Ugh.

Anonymous said...

Has anyone tried this with the attachment on carpet?

rcstanley said...

I don't have the carpet attachment, but maybe someone else does and can comment.

Anonymous said...

waiting for my shark mop to come in mail i did not know you could get it at different locations. will post after i use firt time i have 5 chihuhuaus and my floors get dirty

Anonymous said...

I was initially very excited to use the Shark Mop in my small cleaning business. I liked that it advertised to clean all floor types without any cleaners ~ and that it was very light weight. I have used the Shark Mop for the past several weeks and I have to admit that I was determined to use this new tool and be successful with it. I have found that realistically, I need to change out the mop pads for every room which I use it (also based on the room size). I have also found that the mop pads simply push the dirty grime around. At the end of cleaning each space, I have to go back and use a paper towel to collect the left over residue. I must say that I'm quite disappointed in the product and will be returning it for a refund.

Anonymous said...

I couldn't decide between the Shark, the H2O and the Bissell. I read reviews of everything and came down to those three. Reviews on amazon and sites like this help. Then I asked different friends for any experiences. No one had tried the H2O and 2 had tried the Shark but didn't like it, so I ordered - with great trepidation - the Bissell from HSN when they happened to have one of their specials (I think it's still on flexpay online). What my friends didn't like about the shark was having to pump it, that it wasn't great around corners, and tended to leave streaks. They felt the steam part was good and good see the difference from a regular mop. So armed with research and advice, I awaited delivery which was amazingly fast. Assembled quickly and was anxious to try on my kitchen tile. WOW WOW. The tile is white and old and despite scrubbing it looked stained or dirty. This steam mop removed it all. So....while my friends did like part of the shark steam mop they are anxious to try mine.

Anonymous said...

I borrowed my mom to see how the Shark did on my slate floors and Hardwood Floors. I thought it did great! I did have to wash the pads alot however, but I guess you would have to do that with a mop too! I think I may buy one soon...especially if i can get it at Costco with lots of extra pads.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your blog and everyone's comments. We just bought this "mop" from Costco tonight. With the return policy at Costco, we thought we would buy it and then see what people say about it before we use it. Seems like most people here like it. I am going to try it out this week, we have about 1500 SF of hardwood floors and a couple tiled bathrooms. The 3 extra pads sold us on it as well.

Anonymous said...

hi i just saw the infomercial about the shark and just read this blog. i seem to have the stuck cereal to the floor problem with my 3 kids.. will it "sweep" up stuff my broom can't get? also anyone try shark vac?

Anonymous said...

Thanks everyone for your reviews. I have seen really good, average and horrible reviews.

I am someone who loves to organize, but HATES to do the down and dirty cleaning. Mopping is an all time least favorite and I hate to admit that I let my kitchen floor go for 3 weeks before mopping it. It takes a beating, too with 3 boys (6yrs, 4yrs, 20 months old) and a dog.

I found it at Costco w/ the 5 pads and tried it out tonight. So far, I LOVE it! No buckets, no vinegar smell, no waiting forever for my floors to dry. I would always have to mop after the boys went to bed otherwise, they'd run in and slip and fall on our tile floors.

For those of you who asked about grout, I think this did as good a job (maybe slightly better) than my original mop method. I found when I really steamed the area several times and waited a few seconds, any regular spills came right up. The tougher grime was made much looser with the steam. I will still need to do a good scrubbing from time to time. BUT, since I love this mop (so far), I see myself picking up spills and dirt much more frequently making it that much easier to keep the grout cleaner.

I haven't tried our hardwood floors yet - something I'll save for another day to test out.

I think I did a lot of steaming to pick up heavy grime, so I did have to refill the mop once, but with a regular mop, I'd be wringing and re-filling the mop head much more frequently. I like that it sterilizes with the steam heat killing dust mites and other allergens. So, all in all, it gets A+ reviews from someone who hates cleaning.

Anonymous said...

I bought one at Walmart for about $80. I like it better than a mop and with dogs in the house, I was constantly mopping. I find however that my floors both tile and laminate, are slick after I mop and it leave footprints after it's dried. Any comments from anyone would be appreciated.

D said...

I just got my new Shark and I've used it twice to try and pick up the built up grime from the standard wet mop. I noticed a film on the wood floor, I added vinegar to the water to help get up any hardwater and soap issues left behind. any idea how to strip the previous chemicals from hardwood and no-wax vinal floors?
Thanks

Anonymous said...

These review have been helpful, but after reading them it has still left a few of my questions unanswered.
My concerns are these: My kitchen has vinyl floor tiles.They were pre-pasted, but the man who installed the floor used additional glue. The glue has been continuously seeping though the cracks. Cat hair and grime get stuck to it and then dries, leaving black residue. I'm worried the steam will cause mt floor tiles to loosen.
I'm also worried about old wood floors. My house was built in th 1950's and has the original flooring. It has been re-stained with water based stain. I'm afraid a steam mop will remove the stain. Does anyone know?
My neighbor is interested in buying one. Her house is the same age as mine and she wonder about it cleaning old hard wood floors, rather than laminated wood flooring.

Ficklins said...

I am thinking about buying the shark. After all of this time...what is your overall suggestion? Yes or no? I have all tile downstairs. Does this work on Marble?

rcstanley said...

I haven't tried this on marble, only vinyl and parquet.

Overall, I'm still undecided whether it was worth it or not. I like not having huge puddles and it does a decent job. It just isn't any better than a regular mop. Although I do like that I can wash the pads, I like think my floor is cleaner because of it.

Anonymous said...

If you are thinking of getting a steam mop for work on wood floors read this article first! Product Review: Steam Mops on Wood Floors

Anonymous said...

I have purgo floors. Has anybody tried it on them? I also have been using the swiffer wet jet which leaves major residue; will my floors need alot of mopping to get it up?

Anonymous said...

I just borrowed my daughter's new Shark to use on older ceramic tiled floors---where the grout has worn considerably below level of the tile surface. It did do a great job on the tiles which are slightly textured but it did not touch the grout. I have ordered a McColloch canister type steamer (Home Depot) that has a wand attachment and I think this will work on the grout since the steam is delivered in a stream effect.

Anonymous said...

Hi, Thanks to all of you for the comment. I have pergo floors and tiles.

so, what's the final verdict? Shark is the best?

Anonymous said...

What an informative post! Thanks a lot :).

Bonnie said...

Hello,
I bought mine at Costco in Calif. for a little over $60.00 which included 5 pads. I love it so much that im getting one for my daughter.

Anonymous said...

Just recently had 4 rooms done in ceramic wood. My mop and (ceramic safe cleaners) leave streaks after drying. Has anyone used Shark on ceramic? I'm hesitating. Thanx

OliversMommy said...

I could not recommend this product to anyone. I used it three times and it stopped generating steam. I called the customer service dept. (a language barrier nightmare) and was advised that I have to ship the entire unit (I no longer have the box) to NC (insured), enclose a check for $9.99 and wait 4-6 weeks for results. They will either repair my unit, send me a refurb (I was informed this is the most likely outcome) or send me a new unit. If you receive a refurb it comes with a 90 day warranty. This means I miss out on 7 months of my original warranty! Since the original NEW unit didn't last 90 days I have little faith that a refurb will do much better - or it is likely to last 91 days! It is probably not work the cost of shipping and insurance to utilize the warranty - I will probably just purchase the Bissell equivalent - it seems to have better ratings. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

Costco now carries it for about $65.

Anonymous said...

All the the comments are great. So far I've had this steamer mop for a couple of months and the only negative I've noticed is if I haven't dust mopped in awhile (I'm disabled in my upper body) there will be residue from the pad doing the cleaning that I get behind on. Also when I want to get between grout I use a small amount of bleach which helps remove stains from unsealed ceramics. We also just got a four month old Rotteweiler and BOY!! does it comes in handy during potty training ; )

Anonymous said...

I like how it cleans, but can not get the pads clean in the washer. Any advice.

gw said...

I thought I would never in my life by a product off tv. Well, I have to say I was pretty intruiged by the commercial and it so happened that our rental house has in need of a lot of cleaning. For less than $100 dollars I was pretty impressed with the Shark Steam Mop. Who knows maybe I'll have to try buying another as seen on tv product :) Thanks for your review!

Unknown said...

I just bought my own today and wanted to read reviews from to others and came across your blog.

Pros: no chemicals
no additional monthly cost on spray and pads
easy and convenient
Seems to clean better then my mop
Dries right away (I have a 1 year old so it keeps her from falling.)

I feel there are more cons.... sadly
Cons: I hate the cord.... very inconvenient when mopping
I hate how you have to mop the same area over and over for results. The mop was easier to push
The cost was high upfront
Should hold more water
I hate how it doesn't swivel
Doesn't clean the grout on my tile

My end result is it is probably a lot better then a mop but I think someone needs to make one with no cord (rechargeable. I would pay more money for one that doesn't have a cord and one that steam cleans better.

Feel free to visit my blog
http://theropersfamily.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

I just bought one on sale at Kohls with a 30% disount. I paid only $55.99 without tax. I have not tried it yet though.

Anonymous said...

Costco has it for $68.00 now, i think i will go get one. all your comments helped me decide.

Diane

Anonymous said...

Hey don't buy this mop anywhere except QVC. It is only about $70.00 and it comes with 7 pads.

Anonymous said...

for those needing to clean tile grout...i (better yet my husband) actually used the scuncci with the wire brush to clean the grout. it took a little time but im amazed how well it worked. it didnt scratch the tile but i would test a little spot just to make sure. hope this helps a little!

Anonymous said...

I love my shark steam mop . I use it on a large kitchen floor and two tile baths with grout ( old) I was hoping the original grout color would return but it does look better ! The kitchen and baths get washed every two weeks with Pine-Sol etc. and then every month or so I use the Shark. I wash the pad by itself, spraying it first with Shout. Sometimes I think washing a very dirty floor first with Pinesol or such is a good idea and then the Shark can be used . I love the weight and the long cord. I am nervous about my kitchen floor which is large squares of vinyl, glued down. No grout. So I make quick passes. Also this weeks Globe said not to use the Shark or any steam cleaner o wood floors.

Anonymous said...

Great comments but there still was no answer to the carpet attatchment. Has anyone used it and does it work? Is it worth going to the Shark site and buying it online? Thanks

Anonymous said...

I purchased the Shark Steam Mop because I saw it on TV. I had it for less than 60 days and used it a total of three times. The bottom broke off. I called the company to send it back for a refund. It turns out that I will get a refund less my shipping/handling and I had to pay the shipping/handling to mail it back. So I am in the whole $34.00. I would like to advise people not to purshase this! It is a piece of junk!

Kelly said...

I just bought my shark at Walmart, it was about $80.00, but thought it would be a good idea in case it didn't work, or broke. I really like it! I have ceramic tile, and it did a super job. I went slowly over the grout sections a little slower, and it looks great! I like the low profile from (cleans under the front of the fridge, and under those pesky doorstoppers.)
I'm really sorry it didn't work for everyone, but it is sooooo much better than wringing a mop. It dries quickly and feels so clean on bare feet. I would recommend this to anyone. I hope it doesn't have any breakage, but if it does...back to Walmart I go!

theboltz47 said...

I just purchased the Shark steam mop and used it on my vinyl floor in the kitchen. It picked up the dirt ok, but left these dark stains. I was wondering if the hot steam could burn dirt into the vinyl?

Anonymous said...

You can buy it at costco and return anytime if not satisfied. I bought and returned it because after a while my floors started looking very dulled.

Unknown said...

I would like to thank everyone for their comment, I have been thinking about getting the Shark Mop I do not think i will get it now. the first steam mop I read about was the H2o mop and that did not get a good review either. I would like to fine a steam mop to do both laminate floors and tile if anyone knows of one that works please let me know.

Thanks,
tj

KSnyder said...

I thought long and hard about the Shark- but It's crazy how many more options there are now. I tried a mop from http://www.steamfast.com online and really like it because you don't have to pump it like the Shark one- which gets annoying over time. It was fairly inexpensive compared to others too. I'm not in love with the blue color but it definitely works well on floors.

Anonymous said...

This blog on the mop is so helpful! I have been reading blogs on the shark, steamfast and the bissell for months now. I am very excited to take the plunge and purchase the shark from costco today due to the cheaper price, amount of pads available and of course the return policy. I am a mom of three kids and have been carefully saving up my dirty vinyl floor for weeks-I will post more later...wish me luck

Anonymous said...

Mine broke after 15 minutes of use. The "trigger" snapped off. The warranty process is very difficult; the purchaser must pay shipping both ways.
It did not seem to be paricularly effective and left streaks on a linolium floor.
In my opinion this devise needs a major re-design. In my opinion, this is not robust enough for long term service.

Anonymous said...

Mine broke after 15 minutes of use. The "trigger" snapped off. The warranty process is very difficult; the purchaser must pay shipping both ways.
It did not seem to be paricularly effective and left streaks on a linolium floor.
In my opinion this devise needs a major re-design. In my opinion, this is not robust enough for long term service.

jolcar said...

Has anyone used the Shark steam mop delux on laminate floors?

Anonymous said...

I have used the mop on a laminate floor, but it leaves streaks, not sure why, I think I have tried everything I could think of but just leaves streaks and even tho the floor is clean Im not happy with the way it looks>

Miami Girl said...

I bought the Shark from TV with the 4 mop heads. I love it because I can clean & disinfect w/o using clorox or other chemicals. I have a lot of pets. U do have to sweep or vacuum first, my white tile floors are shiny and the grout looks good too. So far, so good. My floors get very, very dirty, and I use 2 mop heads for the entire house. These turn over, so its like using 4. I bought extra mop heads from Target, thats how much I love it. I hope it lasts.

Serge said...

I have two very large house dogs and my wood floors get quite dirty from their paws. After watching a TV commercial on the Shark I purchased one from Bed, Bath, and Beyond.I tried it on the living room floor, the pad was filthy but I noticed the floor was sticky. I washed and dried the pad and tried a second time, the pad was dirty but the floor was still sticky. I got a bucket of warm water and Murphy's Oil Soap and washed the floor on hands and knees. The water in the bucket was clean and the floor was shiny and I could slide on it. I returned the Shark Steam Mop.

LoggerB said...

Used the Shark for 8 months and it did a very good job of cleaning our ceramic tile. It no longer generates steam and for repair I must follow the shipping instructions mentioned above. On to Bissel.

Anonymous said...

I love the Shark except that I too get streaks all over my wood floor. I switched to distilled water and it didn't help. Has anyone added vineger to their Shark mop? Will that help or will it mess up the mop? Any suggestions?

Unknown said...

Can a mixture of water and white vinegar be used in the shark?

rcstanley said...

The instructions say to only use plain water, so you can try vinegar, but its at your own risk.

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for these posts, they are most helpful. I will wait for the majic model that is cordless, streakfree, more user friendly, and less likely tear up. Thanks guys!

Frances said...

I have been trying to find a good steam mop (like the Shark) that has a removeable steamer unit--as I hoped the steam would help clean my fiberglass tubs and showers. I cannot find one that has as a review that is as favorable the Shark mop (without removeable steamer unit). Have any ideas?

Karen said...

I got mine on eBay for $59 new and 10 new pads for $10. I like it. Since I have dogs and a new grandchild, I wanted more CLEAN.

Anonymous said...

I just bought the H20 Mop; was recommended to me by a friend that has dogs as i do. I pd $90 at Zellers. I used it today and was quite surprised and disappointed that it left streaks after using for about 10 mins. I re-read the troubleshooting book and it said to take off pad, rinse, ring out and put back on to finish. Our water is on the hard side so next time i will use distilled/bottle water. I will give it a few more tries but wondering if the Shark or Bissell is better??

Unknown said...

I bought the mop last year, and still can't make up my mind wether I like it or not. I have white lineoleum and it is hard to keep clean. With the mop, especially in the kitchen, spots and drips are sometimes hard to remove. I feel like I spend most of the time in mopping, going over and over the same spot. Maybe it's because I have a three year old granddaughter living with me and she leaves endless spots and drips. It doesn't seem to work very well on scuff marks either. I also find it hard to work with in tight spots, like the bathroom and between cabinets. It doesn't store very well either because of the handle. It does a fair job, a better one than the Swiffer and Clorox mops did.

Anonymous said...

I love my steam mop, well worth the price then again i got it on sale for only $50.

Anonymous said...

I just got the Shark Steam Mop for my birthday. I tried it on my wood kitchen floor but it left a lot of streaks. Maybe its because it didn't seem to throw off a lot of steam. We have soft water in our house, so I didn't use distilled water. Any ideas?

Steam Mop said...

What is the difference between the Shark Steam mop and the H2O Mop Ultra Steam Ultra?

Unknown said...

I have the Euro-Pro Shark. My floors are heart pine with urethane coating throughout. Before, I only used a damp mop with vinegar/water solution, and it was labor intensive, but did leave the floors shiny. When I first tried the steam mop, I loved that I could mop "one-handed", though the floor would look slightly dull afterwards. I decided to try spritzing pure white vinegar (a light mist so it wouldn't leave the floor wet) on the floor just before mopping, and find this eliminated any dullness. I use only distilled water in the mop, per the instructions. I don't think my floors have ever been this clean, judging by the amount of grime on the pads when I am finished.

dave said...

we have purchased 2 sharp steam mop in the past and not really happy enough to purchase another. both time, the heaters stop working. we did not even use both of them more than 12 times and if the product is as good as advertised, should be better than that. we decided that the mop was not worth the money. will not be puchasing another.

Anonymous said...

I don't believe the Shark steam mop is worth the money. I paid $99.00 for it in November of 2008.
I have not over-used it. As of today it will not steam. When it worked I felt it did a decent job but it still leaves a line of residue when you pull back just like a regular mop. The technology is lame at best. I have seen other steam mops that have a pad that has elastic and fits over the base and the base is shaped so that it can get into corners more easily. I do not like the fact that you have to "pump" it to get steam. It is hard on an already bad back. I don't recall any advertising that really explained that it needed to be pumped to activate the steam. As the pad gets wet the little "tale" at the back bunches up when the mop is pulled back. I wish I had done more research before making the purchase but those infomercials are so convincing. I would never buy another one. I guess for now it's back to the old mop (it's been in the garage singing it's sad song so I'm sure it will be glad to be back in service) until I have done considerably more research than I did before I purchased the Shark.

Anonymous said...

I have the shark steam mop. I have laminate floors in my kitchen and tile in my main entry. I don't think it cleans very well. I have resorted to mopping the floors with a regular sponge mop, then going over the floors with the steam mop to get rid of the streaks. It does a nice job finishing off my mopping and helping the floor to dry more quickly, but doesn't replace sponge mopping. I too have had problems with the pads bunching up when I pull back and rolling up when I push forward. It doesn't glide very well, especially on dry floors. What a pain. I'm disappointed in its overall cleaning ability. And all those who asked about cleaning grout on tile floors, nope, it doesn't even touch it.

Anonymous said...

my steam mop handle broke and would not lock after only 10 uses. Now the steam won't come out after 20 uses. Customer service uses people whop are rude, talk over you and have heavy accent. They don't keep your warranty card that they insist you send in so they don;t have a record of your purchase. When it did work it dulled my wood floors.

Rock said...

I am a home improvement specialist and we install flooring. Never ever use a steam mop on wood laminate or wood floors. Steam is water. Forcing hot water (steam)into your floors, over time, will cause your wood laminate and hard wood floors to warp! There are other products made for these type of floors that are much safer. We recommend a very slightly damp microfiber cloth for cleaning these floors. PLEASE - DO NOT USE STEAM!

Anonymous said...

Another terrible product made in china. I have had mine for 6 mos I bought from Target.It stopped giving out steam . Today I used it and I heard a loud pop and water started coming out. I lifted the unit by the base and burned my hand. I unplugged it as fast as I could because the base got really hot, very scary. I want to return it to target but they only give you 90 days now I have to go through the company. Don't buy nor worth it. I few weeks ago a friend told me hers stopped working and she took it back to Bed bath and beyond they took it back no problem. Don't buy this product not worth it. Look at other products.

BJHshopper said...

Beware! Explosive! Danger!
I bought the mop directly from the manufacturer back in 2010. It worked great. But after nearly 2 years of use, soft plastic tubing inside the machine melted.
The machine had been plugged in for 2 minutes. I began pumping it but was baffled by the lack of steam. Less than a minute later the pressure built to the point where the steam mop exploded, shooting the mop head across the floor amidst a 3 foot burst of steam that continued to spew till I unplugged the machine.
I will never purchase another Shark or Euro-Pro product.

Unknown said...

This thing is a piece of crap. Leaves a film on my laminate floor. too big to get into small places impossible to clean a toilet because of the bulkiness of the unit. has no ability to clean edges. The pads don't come clean in the wash and always look dirty. Does not serialize like it say it does. Give me my steam buggy any day and don't waste your money on this thing.

Anonymous said...

When i first saw it i thought that it was a good thing to buy and i got one from shark brand. It has been less the one year since i ordered it and it was working fine and just this week it stopped putting out steam. i couldn't believe... I am so disappointed with this product... I just waste my money!!!!! So if you are thinking in buy one don't do it.

Cleaning Mop said...

Wonderful blog & good post.Its really helpful for me, awaiting for more new post. Keep Blogging!

Young said...

I actually use a steam mop on all type of floors. Missus loves the device!

Creegal said...

I bought a Shark steam mop 2 years ago and used it lightly...maybe once or twice a month or less...yesterday, I plugged it in, noticed it was leaving small puddles of water everywhere...I bent over to touch the floor pad and my forearm touched the body of the appliance and it actually gave me a serious burn on my forearm...blisters, broken skin. I think this product is dangerous...the mop head itself was cool...the body was as hot as an element. I contact the store's head office and was given a file number...should be hearing back from then tomorrow...if you google shark complaints...there appears to be many people being burned by exploding caps...but not one about the body having the ability to heat up to the point of causing a burn with multiple blisters.

Steam said...

There are many version of Shark Steam Mop
I don't know which product that you are talking about
But, Shark is great brand on steam mop product

Garrett Norris said...

I think Shark Steam Mop is best mop out there. It has good cleaning qualities.