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The 5 best flat mops for beautiful, smear-free floors
These tried and tested GHI picks make for quick and easy cleaning
Tested by Blossom BoothroydHomes Testing Manager
We all want bright, shiny floors that practically wink as you pass by. That’s why it’s important to find the right mop for your home — one that will give you that clean, smear-free look with the least amount of elbow-grease, and as little excess water as possible.
To find the best flat mops for your floors, we put them to the test in the GHI lab. These cleaning staples are great at getting into corners and their detachable cloth heads make quick work of picking up dust and grime.
While not all flat mops will give you the same sparkling results, the Good Housekeeping Institute’s top tried and tested picks are proven to deliver. These are our highest scorers at a glance, but keep scrolling for our full reviews and everything you need to know about this reliable cleaning tool.
Do flat mops work?
In short, yes. Although the level of performance entirely depends on the model and the cleaning job at hand.
Flat mops aren’t necessarily the best option for removing stubborn marks but, like spray mops, they’re great for day-to-day cleaning. To guarantee the best results for your space and lifestyle, these are the things you should consider before buying.
Reusable cloths
Almost all the flat mops we tested come with detachable, reusable mop head cloths that can be machine washed. This helps reduce your cleaning waste and keeps your mop head free of bacteria and dust. Just be sure to check the suggested wash cycle temperature to avoid shrinking or damaging the mop head.
Telescopic handles
These adjustable handles give you extra reach for cleaning corners, covering large spaces and sprucing up ceramic tiles in your shower. They can then be collapsed down for easy storage once you’re done mopping.
Spin buckets
Not all flat mops come with buckets, but of those we tested that do, spin buckets proved to be a great perk. They use a spin system to wring out the mop with minimal effort.
Mop weight and size
If you’re looking for a mop that can cover your kitchen and your upstairs bathroom, take note of its weight and size to make sure it won’t be too much of a hassle getting it up the stairs. If portability is at the top of your agenda, it’s worth considering a mop like this tried and tested Vileda Spin and Clean, which has a handle that can be broken down into smaller parts for easy lifting.
How we test flat mops
To test the cleaning prowess of these flat mops, our GHI experts first had to do the unthinkable – create a mess. Our testers dirtied vinyl, linoleum and tiles with mud, tea and cooking oil, before leaving the stains to set. They then recorded how many sweeps it took each mop to achieve a clean floor and how long it took for the floors to dry afterwards.
They also took note of how convenient each mop was to store, whether it could reach tight, small spaces and how comfortable it was to use. If the manufacturer said that the mop heads could be machine-washed, we gave them a wash at the suggested temperature to check how they fared.
These are the mops that left our floors squeaky clean.
Pros
- Light and compact
- Flexible cleaning head
Cons
- Left some watermarks behind on laminate
Score: 86/100
Looking for a mop that can easily cover your hallway, kitchen and utility room? This E-Cloth number has a wide head that makes quick work of cleaning entire rooms. We were particularly impressed with its ability to leave vinyl bright and smear-free, even when using water alone. In fact, no matter the floor type, you don’t need to use any solutions with this mop – just water – so it’s ideal for those of us looking to avoid harsh chemicals.
We’re also pleased to report that the detachable cleaning cloth looked great after we popped it in the washing machine – no shrinkage here. Our only small complaint is that the telescopic handle felt a little loose while we were mopping, but it’s still nice to have the option of extendable reach.
Key specifications
| Mop head material | 80% polyester, 20% polyamide |
|---|---|
| Suitable for | All types of hard flooring including laminate, wood, tiles, vinyl and stone |
| Machine washable head | Yes, up to 90C |
| Replacement heads available | Yes |
| Telescopic handle | Yes |
Pros
- Cleaning cloth attaches easily with Velcro
- Good at cleaning skirting boards
Cons
- Redeposited some dirt on close inspection
Score: 84/100
Although this mop wasn’t quite as effective as its big brother above, it still demonstrated excellent cleaning power and it has the added benefit of being more compact. An ideal option for smaller homes or renters, it fared fantastically on vinyl and its smaller head allowed us to get into all those awkward, hard-to-reach spaces.
Be warned that it did struggle to completely remove dirt from grouting and, much like its larger sibling, the telescopic handle felt a little loose at times. Still, if it’s a compact water-only option you’re after, this mop has convenience covered.
Key specifications
| Mop head material | 80% polyester, 20% polyamide |
|---|---|
| Suitable for | All types of hard flooring including laminate, wood, tiles, vinyl and stone |
| Machine washable head | Yes, up to 90C |
| Replacement heads available | Yes |
| Telescopic handle | Yes |
Pros
- Removed majority of the dirt in one sweep
- 180-degree swivel mop head navigates obstacles well
Cons
- Didn’t pick up dirt from grouting
Score: 82/100
This flat mop’s innovative accompanying bucket wrings out enough water to make it suitable for use on wooden flooring. It left our tiles almost spotless and lifted all dried mud from laminate, both with minimal effort. On vinyl, it cut through most grease but struggled with some stubborn stains.
Its pivoted head proved easy to control and made tackling awkward areas easier. The microfibre cloth can be removed and washed without getting your hands dirty, earning it further ease of use points, but note that the non-adjustable handle is on the long side.
Key specifications
| Mop head material | Microfibre |
|---|---|
| Suitable for | Hard floors, including wood and laminate |
| Machine washable head | Yes |
| Replacement heads available | Yes |
| Telescopic handle | No |
Pros
- Cloths suitable for recycling with TerraCycle
- Left vinyl and laminate shiny and streak-free
Cons
- Thin handle doesn't feel premium
Score: 80/100
If you’re after a fuss-free, wallet-friendly mop that will do a decent job, consider this flat Flash. It doesn't feel the sturdiest, and you can’t adjust its handle, but its head pivots into tight spaces and its recyclable, scrub-tipped cloths proved straightforward to fit and remove. They were also fantastic at grabbing and trapping dirt, which made for a satisfyingly speedy cleaning session.
It fared well on tiles, but the grouting called for a bit of extra scrubbing and collected some excess soap. It didn’t glide quite as easily on vinyl as it did on laminate, but it cleaned both very effectively.
Key specifications
| Mop head material | Synthetic |
|---|---|
| Suitable for | Sealed hard floors only |
| Machine washable head | No |
| Replacement heads available | Yes |
| Telescopic handle | No |
Vileda Spin and Clean Floor Mop and Bucket Set
Pros
- Handle comes in three parts for easy storage
- Manoeuvres smoothly
Cons
- Didn't clean grouting well
Score: 71/100
This flat mop's circular-shaped scrubber head cleverly folds up so it can easily sweep along skirting boards and into tricky corners. Plus, the centrifugal spinner in the accompanying bucket means there’s no need to bend down when you want to get rid of excess water, making it perfect for mopping delicate floors that you don’t want to saturate.
Unfortunately, it did struggle to clean heavily soiled floors and the head clogged up quite quickly, which means it needed regular rinsing. Luckily, the head is machine washable, so it's very easy to clean.
Key specifications
| Mop head material | Microfibre |
|---|---|
| Suitable for | All hard flooring, including tiles, laminate and wood |
| Machine washable head | Yes, up to 60C |
| Replacement heads available | Yes |
| Telescopic handle | No |
The verdict on flat mops
Our testers loved the Spontex Full Action Mop for its simple spin bucket that easily wrings away excess water and leaves the mop head ready for more effortless cleaning.
If you’re tight on space though, the E-Cloth Mini Deep Clean Mop is a good choice. It only needs dampening with water and should easily slip into your cupboard. That said, its full-sized sibling, the E-Cloth Deep Clean Mop, tackled dirt more effectively and doesn't cost much more, so one to consider if you have a little more space.
Why you should trust the Good Housekeeping Institute
We take cleaning seriously at the GHI – after all, we've been doing it for over 100 years. In our West London lab, we have a whole room dedicated to testing floor cleaners, so that we can assess mops like these on a range of hard flooring.
Our homes testing manager, Blossom Boothroyd, heads up our tests, ensuring each mop is held to the same rigorous protocols as the last. Once we've collated our results, homes writer, Megan Geall, analyses and interprets them to deliver detailed reviews that help you choose the best flat mop for your home.
10 April 2025: Article headlines and introduction were updated, and stock levels and prices were ensured to reflect the best available deals.
Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s senior homes and lifestyle writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market and has written hundreds of product reviews on everything from the best vacuum cleaners and coffee machines to the best ice cream makers and robot window cleaners.
When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her running every distance from 5km to 100km or relaxing at home with her cat – there really is no in between.
Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, Women's Health, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall.
Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.
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