In the following review, each of the Shark brand steam mops is a corded model with the exception of one that is a cordless optional model. In addition to using the model names, the model numbers will be referenced where applicable. Although these are all from the same brand, the warranty terms and lengths are different for each model. This will also be noted in each review.
Before using any steam mop it is important to determine if they are safe for your floor types. Most sealed floors can be safely steamed provided that they are not left overly wet for too long. If you are unsure it is always best to consult the flooring manufacturer and/or the installer if known. If you do decide to take the risk do a spot check first and always opt for the lowest level of steam if that is possible. Do not use steam mops on unsealed floors. None of the following model of steam mop can be used on carpets or rugs.
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Product
The Shark Steam Pocket Mop and Hardwood Floor Cleaner with Swivel Steering (Model no: S3501)
In addition to easy to use swivel steering for getting around furniture and other obstacles the S3501 has one of the largest water tanks in the Shark line for added convenience.
What is in the Box?
You receive the easy to assemble mop head and soft grip handle and 2 machine washable, microfiber floor pads.
The Features
The Shark Steam Pocket Mop’s water tank will hold 450 ml. of water. The pads are microfiber and easy to care for in the washer but should not be placed in the dryer because they may shrink over time. It is also recommended that they be washed with liquid detergent, no bleach and no fabric softener as these may leave residue that can cause white streaks to appear on your floor while mopping.
The cord is 20 feet long and the entire unit weighs just under 5 pounds.
To Operate This Steam Mop
This model does not have a button or control of any kind so to dispense steam you simply push the handle back and forth. This should be done as many as 10 times to get the steam started after the water has heated to the correct temperature. This unit takes about 30 seconds to heat and has an indicator light to let you know that it is ready to go.
The Warranty Coverage
The Shark Steam Pocket Mop is covered by a Limited Lifetime Warranty that covers the original unit/owner and all non-wearing parts. If the unit is replaced at any point, the new unit will be covered for an additional 2 years, only.
Is this a recommended steam mop?
Most people find that it takes a little bit of trial and error to get the hang of using this steam mop since it does not have buttons or a lever to control steam. The level of steam you get is created by the speed of use which may also take some getting used to. Overall, it is lightweight and the mop pads are easy to attach and remove. They are soft so they will not scratch your floors but should be replaced every few months depending on level of use.
- Very light and easy to use.
- Extra large water tank.
- Long cord.
- Washable microfiber mop pads.
- Easy to assemble.
- Lifetime warranty is one of the better warranties offered by Shark.
- Cannot adjust level of steam without effort.
- May take some practice to get used to.
- Some units stopped working after only a few uses.
- Because you cannot control the steam it may leave your floor too wet.
- Pads shrink in the dryer and need to be washed carefully so that they do not leave white streaks on the floor.
The Shark Genius Hard Floor Cleaning System Steam Mop (Model no: S5003D)
Several features make this a “genius” steam mop including settings for steam control and hands free technology. It also includes a steam blaster to direct additional steam to areas that need a little extra power like dried on messes.
What Comes in the Box
In addition to the easy to assemble steam mop and 2 washable, dual sided dirt grip mop pads, you get the easy to use flask for filling the water tank.
The Features
The Genius Steam Mop is fairly light at just under 6 pounds with a 22 foot long cord. The water tank has a 350 ml. capacity and is easily filled. Water is heated in around 30 seconds with an indicator light to let you know when the system is ready to go.
The electronic intelligent steam control system lets you choose from three levels of steam: dust, mop and scrub. You should choose your level based on level of dirt as well as the type of floor that you are cleaning. Some of the more delicate types of flooring should only be cleaned on “dust” regardless of the actual level of dirt on them. The steam blaster is located in the center of the mop head and can be activated whenever you need additional, concentrated steam.
The touch free technology lets you attach and remove the dual sided dirt grabber pads without ever having to touch them. Simply push the button and drop the soiled pad directly in to a laundry basket or hamper. You can also use this technology to flip the pad over while you are cleaning which gives you twice the amount of cleaning in a single pad.
The Warranty Coverage
The Genius Steam Mop is covered by a 5 year, VIP service guarantee. Original parts and components that are not “consumable” will be covered during this period. If a claim is valid shipping to and from service destination will be covered by Shark, otherwise it will be the consumer’s responsibility. Shark makes the final decision on whether or not a warranty claim is valid. Claims will be denied if there is evidence of misuse of the steam mop.
Is this a recommended steam mop?
For people who are less than thrilled about having to either stoop over or flip up a potentially leaky steam mop to remove a dirty mop pad, the touch free technology is a great advance. The ability to set the level of steam is also a bonus especially for those people who may have been concerned about using steam on certain types of flooring.
- 3 steam settings, controlled electronically.
- No touch technology ends fumbling with wet and dirty mop pads.
- Easy to use, easy to fill.
- Lightweight.
- Steam blaster gives an added boost to extra dirty areas.
- The warranty is confusing to some with many complaints about poor customer service.
- The Genius Steam Mop has some issues with leaking that ranges from minor drips to full leaking.
- May not be durable.
The Shark Lift Away Pro Steam Pocket Mop (Model No. S3973)
This model features the added bonus of a removable handheld steamer that can be used for cleaning above the floor, steaming garments and drapes and more.
What’s in the Box
In addition to the Lift Away Pro Steam Mop, you get the Lift Away Pro mop head plus 1 dual sided, dirt grabber mop pad, a triangular scrub head with pad, a 3 foot hose and a garment steamer.
Features
The Lift Away Pro has one of Shark’s largest water tanks at 500 ml. The entire unit weighs just under 5 pounds and has a 22 foot long cord. The handheld unit has a 3 foot long hose.
This unit has the electronic, intelligent steam control which lets you choose from three levels of steam. It also has the touch free technology so that you can change or remove the dual sided mop pad without ever having to touch it. Like the others with these pads, you can flip this over during cleaning so that you have a clean surface to work with. When both sides are dirty, click the button to drop the pad in to the laundry basket without ever touching it.
The Warranty Coverage
The Lift Away Pro only has a 1 year, limited coverage warranty. Those who are filing a claim must ship their unit prepaid to Shark and must also send the return shipping fee before processing.
Is this a recommended steam mop?
In theory, this would a great choice for people who like to steam clean more than just their floors however, there are some issues that may be cause for alarm. First, when using the handheld steamer you are at a greater risk for burns as the design allows water to sputter out. The warranty coverage on this unit is also one of the worst offered by Shark in general with frequent denials of valid claims. Shark has better models than the Lift Away Pro.
- Very lightweight at only 4.8 pounds all together.
- Three levels of steam can be chosen electronically.
- Steam blaster for added steam when needed.
- No touch technology for mop pads.
- Dual sided, dirt grabber mop pad.
- May not work as expected especially when using as a hand held steamer.
- Handheld steam leaks and sputters and may cause serious burns.
- This is not a durable unit.
- The warranty coverage is not great and may cost more than half the original purchase price just to be inspected.
The Shark Professional Steam Pocket Mop (Model No. S3601D)
With an extra large water tank and additional features, the Shark Professional Steam mop is easy to use for most situations.
What’s in the Box
In addition to the steam mop, you get two quick release mop heads, 1 rectangular and 1 triangular. You get the 2 dual sided, dirt grabber mop pads for those mop heads; both are machine washable. You also get a filling flask.
The Features
The Shark Professional Steam Pocket Mop has a swivel head with quick release technology for easy application and removal of the changeable mop heads. The rectangular head is used for typical cleaning and larger surface areas while the triangular mop head is used for corners and tight spaces. Each comes with a dual sided, dirt grabber mop pad which is machine washable.
The extra large water tank holds 350 ml of water, no cleaners needed. The entire unit weighs around 5 pounds even when full of water. The cord is 22 foot long. The Professional Steam Pocket mop has 3 level, electronic steam control which lets you choose from dust, mop or scrub based on dirt levels and type of flooring that you are cleaning.
The Warranty Coverage
The coverage for the Shark Professional Steam Pocket Mop is a 1 year, limited warranty. Like other models with this warranty, you must ship your unit, prepaid for inspection before claims will be approved. You must also include a fee for return shipping.
Is this a recommended steam mop?
The Professional Steam Pocket Mop does most of what it is supposed to do and does it fairly well. It is not perfect and there are some issues that may show up like slight leaks or units that stop working in an unreasonably short period of time but overall, it is a decent steam mop with less than adequate warranty coverage.
- 2 quick release mop heads including a triangular one for corners and small spaces.
- Dual sided, machine washable dirt gripper mop pads.
- Lightweight.
- Easy to fill, extra large water tank.
- 3 level, electronically controlled steam system.
- Swivel head to get in and around tight spots.
- Ready to use in 30 seconds.
- Terrible warranty coverage means paying nearly half the purchase price before even learning whether or not your repair is covered.
- Unit may not be very durable.
- Some people had problems with leaking from the water tank.
The Shark Steam and Spray Pro Steam Mop (Model No. SK460)
Of the Shark models the Steam and Spray Pro Steam Mop is the only one that uses anything more than water for cleaning. It still has many of the same features as the others plus one interesting innovation called the cordless, spray only mode. With this option, you can remove the 22 foot long cord. The unit is powered by 4 AA batteries (included).
What is in the Box?
In addition to the steam mop unit, you get 1, 12 ounce bottle of the Steam Energized Cleanser, 1 disposable Sanifiber mop pad, 1 washable multi layer mop pad, 4, AA Duracell batteries and 1 filling flask.
The Features
The water tank is among the largest in the Shark line at 450 ml. The cord is 22 feet long and is removable to use as a cordless steam mop. This unit weighs in at nearly 11 pounds. There are three levels of steam: dust, mop and scrub which are electronically controlled.
The mop head has a 12 inch cleaning path to make cleaning faster and easier. There are two mop pad options, a disposable for the worst messes and a washable for ordinary cleaning. The Steam Energized Cleanser is the recommended cleanser for this steam mop. Refills are available in single or multiple packs.
The Warranty Coverage
The warranty for the Shark Steam and Spray Pro is the 1 year, limited coverage. Like several other models with this warranty, the consumer must pay for shipping to and from the factory for the claim to be approved or denied.
Is this a recommended steam mop?
This steam mop has the added bonus of a cleanser and disposable pads for the really tough messes where the others rely on using just water. The ability to switch from corded to cordless is an interesting feature. The warranty is less than ideal and this unit is known to be less durable than one would hope. In addition, this is not a good choice for anyone with mobility issues or limited strength as it is one of the heaviest steam mops in the Shark line even before being filled with water/cleanser.
- 3 levels of steam: dust, mop and scrub.
- Large cleaning path.
- Steam Energized Cleanser is included.
- 2 mop pads, 1 disposable and 1 washable.
- Can be used as a cordless.
- Large, 450 ml. water tank.
- May be less durable than others.
- The warranty coverage is not good and requires spending a great deal of money without knowing if your claim will be honored.
- This is a very heavy steam mop and may be too unwieldy for some users.
Conclusion
Steam mops are great, when they work correctly. The best varieties will allow you to control the amount of steam and would ideally have a trigger that allows you to increase steam when it is needed. Steam is not the magic, fix all that it is often presented as being, however. To be effective, steam must be hot enough and must be in contact with a surface for long enough to kill germs and bacteria. Most steam mops do get the water to the right temperature but the steam that is generated does not remain in contact with the floor for the 10-20 seconds that is needed to kill some germs to the level considered “sanitized”. These mops fail to meet the standard for the time needed to make things “sterile.” Be warned, that because the water is heated high enough (212 degrees), these mops can result in fairly serious burns. These should not be used by or near children and pets should be kept from the area during cleaning as well.
While options and gadgets are great, they should never come at the cost of the basic functions of the mop. Consider what you are using the mop for the majority of the time and then choose the one that meets those needs first and foremost. If that means foregoing handheld units or other accessories, that is fine. Most people just want a mop that takes care of their hard wood, tile or other floors quickly and easily without having to deal with mop buckets and harsh chemical cleansers.
The washable mop pads, both the microfiber and dual sided, dirt grabber versions should be machine washed before the first use in a specific way. Only use liquid detergent with no added bleach or fabric softener as both can leave residue that is transferred to the floors during the cleaning process. The pad should only be air dried as they are likely to shrink if they are placed in the dryer. Most of these pads will last roughly 3 months under average conditions. Frequent use or more severe conditions will result in shorter life spans for these pads. Replacements are available. In addition, there are several blog posts that explain how to make your own mop pads for these and other mops. Keep in mind that using these types of “replacements” could technically void your warranty.
As a final note, remember to consider the actual warranty when choosing between these Shark models since there are several that vary not only by length but in actual benefits as well. The lifetime and the 5 year warranty are better in terms of service while the 1 year limited warranties are less than useful especially when comparing the cost of shipping and fees to the cost of a brand new, similar model steam mop.Shark customer service is typically responsive when dealing with questions, comments and concerns but have had some issues with handling warranty claims. Most people are satisfied with the interaction with the representatives even when they do not agree with the decision the company has made.
