Hoover SteamScrub Pro Steam Mop Review

Whether it’s the kitchen or bathroom, mops are a great way to keep your floors clean. After all, there’s a reason why so many businesses use them for cleaning. As you may already know, there are a variety of different types out there; some of the more common ones include cut end mops, loop ended mops and microfiber mops. Obviously, they all have their advantages and disadvantages. For instance, microfiber mops tend to be gentle, and non-abrasive; this makes them suitable for different types of flooring including wood, tile, linoleum, and stone.

On this page, however, we will be talking about the steam mop. Extremely convenient, these machines use the power of steam to clean and sanitize floors. For the most parts, they also have a microfiber pad on the bottom that locks and traps away dirt. The Hoover SteamScrub Pro Steam Mop is one of these devices. Wondering whether or not it’s worth the investment? As you can probably guess, we’ll be reviewing this particular model in the post. How effective is it at cleaning? What are some of its noteworthy features? How is the quality?  These are all things that we’ll be going over below.

The Hoover SteamScrub Pro Steam Mop

Hoover was founded by William Henry Hoover—the owner of a leather goods store—in 1908. One of their most noteworthy innovations from the 20th century was the beater bar, a tool that both swept and clean. Since then, the vacuum cleaner company has continued to design easy-to-use products for more than 100 years. In addition to vacuums, the household icon also sells hard floor cleaners, carpet cleaners, and more. After many years of being a part of the Whirlpool Corporation, they were sold to Techtronic Industries. Today, they operate under TTI Floor Care North America, which is based in Glenwillow, Ohio.

The Hoover SteamScrub Pro Steam Mop kills and removes up to 99.9% of all bacteria on sealed hard floors. Great for hardwood, tile, and vinyl, it features SteamStream technology, which sprays direct steam onto the ground for high power sanitization. With its trigger control, you’ll also be able to apply just the right amount of vapour each time. Not only does it heat up in a matter of seconds as indicated by an easy-to-read light, but it comes with two large reservoirs—one for solution, and another for clean water. It’s a great tool to have for those who’d like to clean and renew their hard floors with precision and ease.

What’s Included

The Hoover SteamScrub Pro Steam Mop comes with a few accessories to get you started. These include:

• 2 Cleaning Pads
• 1 Carpet Glider
• 1 Bottle of Solution

Like most steam mops, this unit comes with two cleaning pads that you can use for your first cleaning session. To attach it to the mop head, stick it onto the rubberized spikes at the bottom (similar to velcro).  From there, insert the body into the head until it “clicks” into place. Next, you’ll want to insert the handle at the top. With that done, you just have to fill in the water tank. With that done, you just have to fill in the twin tanks. To do so, press on the release button towards the top; you’ll be able to remove the container by twisting the cap counter-clockwise. At the sink, fill the water tank to the fill line. Next, add the solution to the solution fill line and top it off with water. Ensure that the hard water filter is in place, before clicking the twin tank back into place on the unit.

In addition to the cleaning pads (which are reusable, by the way), the set comes with a carpet glider, which you can use to refresh your carpets. Attaching it is easy—with the microfiber pad on the head, hook the mop head into the front of the glider—you should hear a “click.” From there, you can clean with the “steam only” setting. After you’re done, you can remove it by pushing on the clip at the bottom with your foot, and lifting the steam mop upwards.

Last but not least, the Hoover comes with a bottle of cleaning solution, which you can use to fill the twin tanks. Using it is optional though as the mop can clean equally as well without it. If you want, you can always just use water. 

Build Quality

Prior to buying the Hoover StreamScrub Pro Steam Mop, it’s a good idea to look at it in person. That way, you’ll be able to know exactly what it’s like—from the materials used to the quality of its construction. After all, you’d want to make sure that it’s a durable product before forking over the money.

The Hoover SteamScrub comes with a metal handle that attaches to the lower body, which is made out of recycled plastic. Like most steam mops, it also features a plastic handle at the top, which contains the trigger for the spraying mechanism. To dispense steam or solution, simply hold it down. At the bottom, you’ll find the triangular mop head. Before cleaning, you’ll want to attach a fresh pad, as instructed earlier.

Speaking of the pads, they are made out of a thick and absorbent material. Trust me, you’ll be shocked at just how dirty the water will be when you wring it out. Don’t worry though, they are very easy to clean and wash—simply throw them into the washing machine, and lay flat to dry (do not put them in the dryer). Depending on how often you clean and how dirty your floors are, you might be able to get a few weeks or a few months use from a single pad. When the time comes for replacements, you’ll know—they usually get either permanently stained or frayed. 

The twin tank that it comes with is also robust and sturdy. However, it might be difficult to fit back into the unit after refilling. Assuming that the reservoir isn’t cracked from damage, there should be no issues with leaking, even when both of the tanks are full. If you want, you can always empty out the excess fluid over the sink after cleaning.

As for the carpet glider, it is rimmed with plastic. In addition to carpeted areas, it is great if you have area rugs that need a refreshing. Just keep in mind that it is designed for light cleaning. If you want to be able to thoroughly clean your carpets, you’ll want to go for a different type of tool. 

Some Possible Issues with the Hoover SteamScrub Pro Steam Mop

Now, you’re probably wondering—what are some disadvantages to this particular model?

One issue that seems to come up frequently is that the handle tends to fall apart with repeated use. There is also a risk that it will break if the steam mop accidentally topples over. Unfortunately, this probably has to do with inferior construction. Fortunately, the product does come with a 1-year warranty; if your handle breaks, it may be worth calling their customer service line. If you’re out of the warranty period, they do have handle replacements that you can buy on their website. Do note, however, that they tend to be out of stock.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the cleaner tends to leave some sort of film on the floor that can be difficult to get off. If you want to keep the surfaces shiny, you might want to pass on the solution that’s included with the set. Depending on the type of flooring that you have, the steam might also leave noticeable streak marks. To prevent this from happening, you might want to give the ground a good vacuuming before plugging in the steam mop.

As briefly mentioned earlier, the twin tank also has a tendency of falling out of the machine. The way it’s designed, the reservoir is held in place with a few plastic clips; unfortunately, these tend to crack off over time, which ultimately renders it useless. Some people have had success reinforcing it with duct tape, but obviously, that isn’t a long-term solution. With it falling off, there’s also a chance that the tank will become damaged, which can lead to leaks.

Overall, the steamer is also pretty heavy (especially when the tanks are full), which makes it difficult to maneuver. The way it’s designed, it’s also prone to falling over; to be safe, you should always prop it against something like the wall. If you want something that’s lightweight and easy to move around, this is probably not the mop for you. If you don’t mind a bulky cleaning tool though, it does manage to get the job done.

While the steam works for its purposes, holding the trigger down for long periods can be tiring, especially if you’re cleaning a large area. Here’s a tip from us—you can actually tie down the button with something like a piece of fabric or a zip tie; that way, you won’t have to tire out your fingers!

Does it Clean Well?

Thanks to the size of the mop head, the Hoover SteamScrub is able to cover a large surface area with each pass. The flow of the steam is also constant and strong, which is great when you’re trying to sanitize and clean every bit of the floor; it also dries fast. Remember, it comes with four different settings (steam only, spot cleaning, general cleaning, tough stain)—this allows you to control just how much steam you need. As mentioned earlier, however, the disinfectant solution that comes with the set tends to leave a sticky film on the ground. If that’s not your thing, you might want to just use water, or mix your own cleaner. All in all, though, it’s a good choice for dirt, dust, debris, and spills. If you have pets, it’ll help to vacuum up the hair first.

The cleaning pads are also quite solid. Not only do they get rid of the grime from the floor, but they do a good job of keeping the excess moisture off the floor. By adjusting the steam level, you can also control how moist you want the pad. For the most of us, though, one pad won’t cut it when it comes to mopping the house; you’ll definitely have to swap them out half-way, if not more often. This is where extra pads come in handy—if you decide to buy more, you won’t have to keep rinsing the two while you’re cleaning. At the end of the session, you can just toss all of them into the wash!

As far as the cleaner goes, it’s really a hit and miss. Depending on the type of floor that you have, there’s a possibility that it can leave streak marks on the surface; you might also notice some residue at the top. Many people, however, have had success with it—so you never know. Given that it’s included with the set, though, there’s really no harm in trying it out first; if it doesn’t work for you, you can just set it aside somewhere. Instead, you can just use water or mix your own cleaning solution.

For those of you who have carpeted areas, you’ll be happy to know that the machine can also be used to “freshen” it up. After vacuuming, you can go over the section using the carpet glider—just make sure to use the “steam only” setting. Sure, it’s not a full-on carpet steamer per se, however, it does manage to pull some of the dirt that the vacuum cleaner left behind. For deep cleaning, though, you’ll want to invest in a proper carpet cleaner.

Cost and Pricing Information

Honestly, the Hoover SteamScrub Pro Steam Mop is quite affordable. Currently, the unit sells for $43.99 on Amazon. Unfortunately, however, it’s no longer available on Hoover’s official website. Nevertheless, it’s price point is very reasonable. In fact, it’s one of the more inexpensive options out there when it comes to steam mops. Looking at some of its competitors, many are priced between $50 and $100+. If you don’t mind waiting a bit, you might also be able to grab it while it’s on sale; this tends to happen pretty frequently with Amazon.

If you need extra cleaning pads, you can purchase them for $9.45 each on Hoover’s website. On Amazon, there are also a few off-brand ones that you can get for cheaper. For instance, you can get a set of 4 for $16.99. Judging by some of the reviews, they appear to work just as well as the official ones. We haven’t tried them out though.

In terms of refills, the pads are really all that you’ll be needing. If you want, you can get their cleaner, but it’s not necessary (you can just use what you have in the house). When you consider that, the mop is pretty economical in the long run.

The Hoover SteamScrub Pro Steam Mop Overall – Is It Worth It?