I caught some grief leaving the office with the Shark Steam Pocket Mop — but let those same people come check out my floors, and we'll see who is laughing now!
This steam mop got my floors the cleanest they've been since I moved in four years ago. I'm not sure those hardwood floors have been cleaner since the house was built in 1914. It also did wonders on the tile bathroom and kitchen floors. And it only took about 15 minutes to mop four rooms, twice. Another bonus is that dust — usually a huge problem — now is virtually nonexistent.
Tap water is all that is required. The two heads attach easily, with a large rectangular one better for larger rooms and a smaller, triangular head best for tight fits typically found in the bathroom. The removable cloth covers got fairly dirty (I said my floors have never been cleaner) after the first mop, but they were ready to go again after going through the wash.
The suggested retail price of $120 seems a little steep but is definitely worth it, especially considering no cleaning products are required — ever. I did find the Shark available online for $80. That's even better.
— Jason Cato
On the weekend when I was scheduled to test the Shark steam mop, it was a product I could not avoid: I think I saw infomercials for it or related Shark products (call now and also receive ...) practically every time I surfed TV channels. So using it had only a few surprises.
One was the sound: It huffed like a steam iron on steroids. The second was that it didn't glide smoothly over my vinyl flooring like they show in the video, and the smaller mop head for tight areas took a little getting used to, to get it into corners or behind fixtures in the bathroom.
But, based on the grungy mop heads when I was finished, it does get a lot of dirt off the floor. And like they show in the ads, there was no dripping and no dragging a bucket of water around like you'd have with a mop.
Another bonus, for people like me who are sensitive to some of the fragrances they add to cleaning products, was that there was no smell left behind.
— Vaunda Bonnett
I watched an infomercial on the Shark Steam Pocket Mop and was eager to try it out. The points that appealed to me: It claims to sanitize floors with nothing but steam (no extra cleaning products to buy!), and it dries almost instantly (no need to kick the kids out of the house!).
The mop did a great job on my ceramic-tile floors. It heated up quickly and was simple to use. The product offers a second, triangular mop head for tight spaces, but I found I didn't have to use it; the unit is lightweight and compact, and I had no problem with maneuvering it for my needs.
When I tried the mop on my hardwood, however, I was really disappointed. It comes with a special "steam pocket" — mop-head cover — for hardwood, but it left my dining room floor sticky and dull. Really dull. I find it hard to believe that the floor was sanitized, considering the amount of residue that was left behind. And when I washed the mop-head covers, they didn't come completely clean.
Considering that, the price of the Pocket Mop (MSRP: $120), and the lack of that gratifying smell of pine cleaner after a good mopping, I don't see myself purchasing one of these.
— Chrissy Zirngibl
Additional Information:The claim
Using the power of steam to clean and sanitize floors, the Shark Steam Pocket Mop cleans 2,000 square feet with less than 2 pints of water and eliminates the use of harsh chemicals. Its unique double-sided 'steam pocket' allows one side of the mop to clean while the other can be used to sanitize. Each mop comes equipped with five machine-washable microfiber pads, including triangular pads to reach deep into corners, and a carpet glider to freshen carpets and area rugs.Cost: $119.99
Where: Retailers such as Bed, Bath & Beyond; J.C. Penney; Target; Best Buy; or www.sharkclean.com
