Prime Day deal: The top-tested Shark S1000 Steam Mop is on sale for $60 during Amazon Prime Day.
I've tested thousands of floor cleaning tools, products and appliances in my 40+ years in Good Housekeeping's Cleaning Lab, and I'll be the first to admit that I have high expectations. When testing, I expect a product to clean well in just a few passes — without extra effort, without making more of a mess and without leaving remnants, streaks or residue behind.
As both a product scientist and editor, I know I've hit a home run when I find a great performing product at a great price — that's why I named Shark's S1000 Steam Mop a best value in our category review of the best steam mops. (And it just so happens to be on sale for Prime Day for $60)!
Pros
- Lightweight and easy to use
- Large water tank
- Well-priced
Cons
- Only one steam level
- No attachments
| Weight | ~ 4 lbs. |
|---|---|
| Water tank capacity | ~12 oz. |
| Cord length | 18' |
| Number of floor pads | 2 |
| Cleaning path width | 11" |
What is a steam mop?
Steam mops turn plain water into hot steam to dissolve and remove dirt, dust, grime and dried-on stains from floors using washable, reusable microfiber pads. And if you follow directions and use them correctly, they can even sanitize surfaces.
What I like
✔️ The price is right.
Other steam mops can sell for up to $200 or more, but at about $60, this Shark is a sturdy, smartly-designed appliance with an assortment of thoughtful features. If you are on a budget or don't need or want lots of extras, the S1000 delivers.
✔️ It's quick to assemble.
Right out of the box, this Shark steam mop is almost good to go. All you do to assemble it is click the pole and handle into place, attach the pad and you're ready to begin steaming.
✔️ It comes with multiple pads.
It comes with two microfiber pads that I found were easy to attach to and remove from the well-sized, 11-inch mopping head. And the pads have a scrubbing texture to help remove stuck-on messes from ceramic, vinyl and other floors.
✔️ It's simple to use.
Once you plug it in, the steamer heats up in about 30 seconds (there's just one power light to tell you it's working). Then, you just push it forward across the floor. The pumping motion of the handle is what pumps out the steam: no bells, no whistles and nothing to decide.
✔️ The water tank is a snap to use and remove.
After a full 10 minutes of steaming, the tank was still about half full — plenty to do multiple floors in a home. After, the large water tank was easy to remove, refill at the sink and replace.
✔️ It's easy to store.
There's a quick-release cord wrap clip and even a little slot to snap the cord into so it stays out of the way while you are steaming. And the S1000 earns extra points for standing upright by itself so its easy to store.
Room for improvement
There are no adjustable settings
As someone who likes to customize my appliance settings and selections to better suit my cleaning needs, I did miss the ability to select different steam levels to match different floor surfaces.
The S1000 puts out the same amount of steam no matter the surface and leaves floors a bit wetter than models that offer lower steam output. While I never recommend steaming wood, laminate or other moisture-sensitive surfaces, adjustable steam settings give you better control over the amount of heat and moisture put down on floors.
It lacks continuous steam
The S1000 produces steam only when you pump the handle. Unlike with continuous steam models that you literally just guide along, using the S1000 takes a bit of effort. When I lowered the handle and didn't pump it, the steam stopped and it simply wet mopped. Depending on how many floors you have to clean, it can give you a bit of an arm workout.
It's not all that versatile
If you are looking for a do-it-all steam cleaner to use on a variety of household surfaces, the S1000 isn't the model for you. This steamer just steams floors but what it does, it does well.
Bottom line: Is the Shark S1000 steam mop worth it?
If you are new to steam cleaning or simply want a simple, straightforward way to keep your floors clean without using traditional cleaning products or a mop and bucket, Shark's S1000 Steam Mop is a smart and cost-effective choice, especially while it's on sale for Amazon Prime Day. That said, there are more versatile mops on the market if, say, you want adjustable steam or cleaning modes — but they may not be available at so nice a price.
How we test steam mops
In the GH Cleaning Lab, we base our tests on industry-standard protocols established by ASTM International, an industry group of appliance engineers and technical experts. When we test steam mops, we allow stubborn stains, like jelly, spaghetti sauce, greasy salad oil and more to dry on to our vinyl and ceramic tile test floors. Then, we pass the mops across them until the stains are disappear or we reach a maximum of 30 strokes, whichever comes first.
We also time how quickly they heat up, measure how much steam they produce, time how quickly the floors dry and how easy the mops are to fill, use, clean and store. Finally, we launder the reusable pads multiple times to gauge their durability and any special features, like scrubbing brushes or handheld attachments, are also evaluated.
Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab. Using deep analytical testing and writing expertise in appliances, cleaning, textiles and organizational products, she produces cleaning and home care advice for GH, has authored numerous books and bookazines for the brand and partners with the American Cleaning Institute to co-produce the Discover Cleaning Summits. She holds a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York.
