Shark Steam Pocket Mop Review

Dirty floors are icky. If we want to keep them clean, it’s important to sweep and vacuum on a regular basis. As much as we’d hate to admit, however, cleaning can be a tedious chore. After all, who enjoys scrubbing bathroom tiles? Luckily for us, there are various gadgets out there that can make things a bit easier. For instance, you can easily get rid of dirt and debris using a mop; carpet cleaners are also an option if you have carpet. In any case, you’ll want to make sure that whatever you get is suitable for your floors.

As you can probably guess, we’ll be focusing our attention on the mop. Highly versatile, it is a great tool to have if you like keeping your floors clean. Perhaps one of the best things about the mop is the fact that many can be used on a variety of surfaces (eg. tile, vinyl, linoleum, hardwood). Some of the most common ones today are made out of microfiber, yarn, cotton and sponge.

On this page, we will be reviewing the Shark Steam Pocket Mop. How well does it sanitize with steam? Is it durable? What are some advantages to this particular model? Disadvantages? We will be taking a look at the answer to these questions below.

The Shark Steam Pocket Mop

Shark—otherwise known as SharkNinja—is a popular brand of household appliances. Founded in 2003, the company produces a variety of vacuums and steam mops, all of which are designed to fit the lifestyles of busy people. Outside of the cleaning realm, they also produce kitchen gadgets such as blenders, coffee makers, pressure cookers, food processors, and more. As of 2018, they have more than 1,000 employees worldwide. For the past few years, they have also been doing nearly $1 billion in annual sales.

The Shark Steam Pocket Mop is designed to remove everyday dirt and grime. In fact, its super-heated steam is capable of killing up to 99.9% of all germs and bacteria—without any chemicals. Together with the microfiber pad, dirt and grime will be no more. Ergonomic with swivel steering, it can easily be maneuvered around furniture and other hard to reach areas. To make the job easier, it even comes with a soft-grip handle for added comfort. Ideal for hard-floor surfaces, it can be used for tile, wood, vinyl, and linoleum. As soon as you turn it on, it will heat up within 30 seconds—quick and easy! To emit steam, simply pump the handle while you push the mop forwards. 

What’s Included

The Shark Steam Pocket Mop comes with all the gadgets you need to get started. These include:

• 1 Triangular Mop Head
• 2 Microfiber Pads
• 1 Water Tank

…really, that’s all you need! To assemble the mop, insert the handle and pole into the lower body; a screw may be necessary to secure the pieces in place. From there, attach the mop head to the main unit; be sure to twist all the way until you here a “click.” With that done, all that’s left is to add water into the tank, which is located at the back of the mop. As always, instructions will also be included inside the box.

Prior to cleaning, you’ll want to stick one of the microfiber pads onto the mop head. To do so, slip it over the bottom; afterwards, secure it with the velcro strips. The great thing about its design is that it’s double-sided. In other words, you can flip the mop over to use the other side, instead of having to swap it out—this is a great time saver. Once it becomes dirty, you can just put it in the laundry. Like that, it can be reused multiple times (remember not to throw it in the dryer). Given that you use the pads properly, the two that they provide you with should last you many months. If you need extras though, you can purchase them separately.

As mentioned earlier, the mop also comes with a water reservoir. Unfortunately, it’s not removable. Instead, you’ll have to pour directly into the tank. Don’t worry, though, the process is pretty straightforward—simply unscrew the lid, and add the water in (it may help to tilt the unit back a bit). As a general rule, distilled water is preferred to tap water; the calcium and mineral deposits from the latter can impact the mop’s performance over time. It’s also important to note that you should not add any cleaning solution to the tank as it may damage the mop or make it unsafe for use.

Build Quality

As a friendly reminder, you should always examine the quality of a product prior to making a decision. In terms of mops, you’ll want to take a look at its materials and constructions. Is it made out of plastic? Does the handle seem breakable? Go with your gut—if something looks and feels flimsy, it probably is.

The Shark Steam Pocket Mop features a metal handle and a plastic lower body. At the top of the device, there is also a soft-grip handle, which allows you to maneuver the unit without straining your back. Towards the bottom, you’ll find the plastic water tank. To get the steam going, you’ll have to “pump” the handle a few times; vapour will eventually come out of the mop head. Overall, the unit is lightweight and easy to use; it even comes with a long cord that enables you to clean larger areas.

Wondering about the cleaning pads? You’ll be happy to know that they are thick and textured. Not only are they great at picking up dirt and grime, but they are easy to put on and take off with the velcro. Remember, they are also double sided—this means that they are capable of twice the cleaning compared to a regular pad. The way that they’re designed, they also wash beautifully in the laundry. Don’t have time to change them out while you’re mopping? Why not just rinse them with water in the sink? You’d be surprised to know just how easy to clean they are! When they start becoming frayed though, you’ll probably want to get some new ones.

While the water tank works for its purposes, it is fairly small. Depending on how large the cleaning area is, you might find yourself having to refill it often. One thing to keep in mind is that there is no “fill” mark to indicate when it’s full. Instead, they provide you with a cup that you use to fill the tank with. Interestingly, though, it doesn’t say anywhere in the instructions how much water exactly you’re supposed to pour in—it’s just a “guessing game.” Unfortunately, the fact that it’s not removable also makes it tricky to empty when you’re finished cleaning.

Some Possible Issues with the Shark Steam Pocket Mop

Compared to some of Shark’s older models, this mop doesn’t seem to produce as much steam. More specifically, the steam pressure tends to be low, which can impact how its effectiveness at cleaning. Granted, you do have to pump the handle continuously while you push forward for the vapour to come out.  If you want a device that will put out continuous steam, you’ll want to look elsewhere. In some cases, the temperature of the steam may also not be hot enough; fortunately, this only appears to be an issue with some units. Should this occur with your unit, you may want to look into Shark’s 1-year limited warranty. For more information, be sure to check out their website.

Sometimes, the mop may also become clogged; this causes steam to build up inside the machine. If this happens, you want to be very careful when you’re removing the mop head as the steam tends to “explode” once its off. If the pressure is high enough, there’s also a chance that scalding hot water and steam will fill the room. Given the risk of burns, it’s probably not a good idea to use it around children and pets. Even if it’s not clogged, you’ll want to be careful when using the device.

Another common issue is that the mop tends to leave streaks on the floor (though you might not notice until it has dried). Depending on the type of flooring you have, you might also notice a “film” on the surface. Obviously, this can be frustrating when all you want to do is clean. Some users on Amazon have also noted that it gives the floor a matte and dull finish, even if you go over the area a second time with a clean pad. Considering this, the Shark Steam Pocket Mop is probably not a good option for those who want their floors to be shiny.

As mentioned earlier, there are also a couple of issues with the water tank. Not only is it small, but it cannot be removed from the body unit. As a result, refilling can be a pain. Instead of being able to fill it directly at the sink, you have to pour the water in through a hole in the middle. In addition to that, there’s the issue of there not being a “fill” mark. Speaking of the tank, the plastic cap that it comes with also becomes brittle over time. As it is, Shark does not sell cap replacements; if it dies, you’ll essentially have to buy a new machine.

Does it Clean Well?

Sure, there may be a few issues with its design, but does it clean well? The thing is, the mop does a good job of cleaning when the steam works. You might have to pump continuously, but the double-sided cleaning pad is great at picking up gunk from the floor. For those hard to reach areas, the head also swivels, which is a big help. In addition to hard floors, it can even be used for spot cleaning carpet—just run it over the problem area a few times and you’re good to go. It’s important to note, however, that the steam can warp flooring if it becomes too hot; to be safe, you’ll want to avoid leaving the mop head in one spot for more than a few seconds.

The reversible pads are also great. With its rectangle head, you’re also able to maneuver into narrow areas. For the most parts, you’ll find that they turn grey pretty fast; this is a good thing though—it means that they’re getting rid of the gunk that was on your floor! Seeing as how it has two sides, you’ll also be able to get a lot more cleaning done without having to change it out. For the best results though, you might want to first vacuum up some of those dust mites from the floor (this can help to prevent the streaking issue that was mentioned earlier). 

What kind of messes is the unit good for? As per its product description, the Shark Steam Pocket Mop is designed to fight against dried spills, dusty and ground-in dirt. In terms of pet hair, vacuuming might be a better option; it does do a good job of getting rid of muddy pawprints though. With all that it does, it’d make a great choice for houses, apartments, and offices— perhaps even in classroom settings! 

Cost and Pricing Information

The Shark Steam Pocket Mop is not cheap; however, it’s not expensive either. Priced at $79.99, it falls right into the mid-range price point. To give you a better idea, similar mops sell for $60 to $120+ on Amazon. With that said, the product tends to be discounted from time to time. In fact, Amazon currently has it on sale for $59.99. If you decide to take advantage of that, you’ll also get free two-day shipping. For those who’d rather buy it in-store, you can check out their official website to see which retailer has it available.

Although you don’t have to buy refills constantly with this model, you will have to replace the pads every once in a while. As far as “when”—it depends on how often you use the mop. As a general rule, though, it’s probably a good idea to switch to a fresh one every few months, or when you notice that they’ve started to fray. In terms of replacements, you can buy them on Shark’s official website for $11.95. If you don’t mind using off-brands, you can even get 3 for $12.99 on Amazon (the reviews seem convincing enough). There is even a scrubber pad for $14.95 that you can get for tougher stains, should you want to try that out.

If necessary, you can also buy other replacement parts through the Shark website. For instance, you can get a new handle for the mop for $39.95. If your device breaks down, this beats having to buy a whole new unit, right?

Shark Steam Pocket Mop Overall – Is It Worth It?