Marillyn Hewson
New Member
Unlike vacuum cleaners which collect dry dirt and debris, mop vacs (you may also see them called “vacmops” or “wet-dry vacuum cleaners”) suck up dirt and debris while also mopping hard floors with a constant supply of fresh water and cleaning solution. The fresh water comes from the machine's fresh water tank and works with a rotating soft brush roller to mop the floor. In the same pass, the mop vac sucks the used water back into a separate dirty water tank where it filters out any solid debris. If the vaccum mop is any good, it should also leave your floors fairly dry.
If you're anything like me—a person for whom mopping was once a rare and onerous occurrence—a good mop vac can transform you into a regular and enthusiastic mopper. This is especially true for parents and pet owners. In addition to weekly cleaning sessions, I bust out my mop vac when my kids make a mess under the dinner table when my dog tracks mud into the house, and when I get a little overzealous in the kitchen (the best vacuum mops can tackle grease and grime). My mop vac is also great for doing a quick panic clean when I'm expecting guests.
While some mop vacs can technically be used on area rugs, none of the models I tested impressed me with their rug-cleaning abilities. Most mop vacs are meant for cleaning hard surfaces and they're safe and effective on sealed hardwood, vinyl, laminate, and tile floors. Because a mop vac effectively and efficiently mops a floor while also sucking up dirt and debris, it cuts cleaning time in half. At least. So if you have a substantial amount of flooring not covered by carpet, and you would like to spend less time cleaning those floors, a mop vac is for you.
If you're anything like me—a person for whom mopping was once a rare and onerous occurrence—a good mop vac can transform you into a regular and enthusiastic mopper. This is especially true for parents and pet owners. In addition to weekly cleaning sessions, I bust out my mop vac when my kids make a mess under the dinner table when my dog tracks mud into the house, and when I get a little overzealous in the kitchen (the best vacuum mops can tackle grease and grime). My mop vac is also great for doing a quick panic clean when I'm expecting guests.
While some mop vacs can technically be used on area rugs, none of the models I tested impressed me with their rug-cleaning abilities. Most mop vacs are meant for cleaning hard surfaces and they're safe and effective on sealed hardwood, vinyl, laminate, and tile floors. Because a mop vac effectively and efficiently mops a floor while also sucking up dirt and debris, it cuts cleaning time in half. At least. So if you have a substantial amount of flooring not covered by carpet, and you would like to spend less time cleaning those floors, a mop vac is for you.