Suggestions wanted: floor cleaner that's more than a broom and less than a full-on wet-mop

In My Humble Opinion
1

We have a house full of hardwood floors, ceramic tile, three cats and a kindergartener. Our floor take a lot of day-to-day cleaning.

Sometimes we want to do more than sweep or run the Swiffer Wet-Jet around, but don’t feel like mopping. We used to use a Shark “Steam” mop, which did a good enough job. Unfortunately, it gave up the ghost a week or two ago, and the spots and marks are getting a bit out of hand.

Before we run off to Amazon to replace ‘good enough’, we thought to ask you guys your opinions. With a budget of around $60 to $100 give or take, what would you get to take care of casual cleaning?

2

The Shark’s what we use when we mop: easy to use, minimal cleanup.

3

We have hardwood floors in the basement rec room, and I use a Bona Hardwood Floor Mop.

4

I love my Swiffer mop, it’s so light and easy. The cleaning solution I use has Gain in it, and it smells so good. It costs a whole lot less than you want to spend though.

5

I use an old fashioned string mop like this one:

It is inexpensive. The mop head is easy to remove and replace. The mop head can be washed in the clothes washer and dried in the dryer (but that can make it really fluffy if the mop head is elderly). If not too soiled, it can be left to dry and reused because it has a large cleaning area. You can use it dry (as a broom) or wet (as a mop). When wet, it both sweeps and mops at the same time and the strings get into the spaces between tiles. It also sops up spills nicely.

I use it just damp and not wet. You can dampen it with plain water or any normal household cleaner (Dilute! Dilute!). The best part is that it lays flat to get under chairs, tables, and couches. It will also retrieve lost shoes and toys from under couches at no extra charge!

I got mine locally at Sam’s.

6

Similar to Ca3799, I use a microfiber dust mop/push mop with removable pad that can go in the wash. It can be used dry (the way I use it daily) or can be wet. For tougher jobs with sticky stuff or something bigger, I just use a regular commercial-style string mop (not those crappy sponge things) with the wringer built into the handle. I run it under the hot water in the tub, wring, mop the area, rinse again and done. But part of that is my personal avoidance of things that need to be plugged in or be charged or have a battery.

7

Sh-Mop It’s lightning fast and cleans like crazy. The covers wash in the washing machine.