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There are probably few homes that would not benefit from a portable or spot carpet cleaner. Small carpet shampooers can be a lifesaver for wine or other spills of colored liquids, pet accidents or for tracked-in mud. However, they can't handle big jobs or whole house cleaning; for that you need a.
Free antivirus software is very popular - some packages simply offer enough protection for the average user without having to part with any of your hard-earned cash. However, what defines an average user? The short answer is that we can’t define an average user and always believe safety should always come first. So, is a free antivirus for your Mac sufficient or should you contemplate upgrading to a paid version?
There are a lot of drawbacks with free AV software from display ads and pop-ups to limited features and reduced performance, so why would anyone choose to put up with this? The main drawback to upgrading is of course, cost. Some people don’t spend enough time on their PC to justify spending money on software that they can get for free.
Free software packages often lack additional features that can prevent viruses, such as advanced financial protection, spam filters, firewalls and browser protection. Not only that they can become obtrusive on your system with reminders/pop-ups of upgrading to a paid version.
Free anti-virus software equates significant cost savings, which is appealing to cost-conscious costumers. Avast and AVG offer free acceptable protection at no cost at all.
The choice between free and paid anti-virus software comes down to the user’s activities. If you tend to use your computer to play offline games like solitaire, to create documents and have limited internet access then a free anti-virus will probably suffice. On the other hand, if you are a heavy online user that accesses internet banking and social media sites everyday, a free version will not cut it.
While cleaning tile floors is still a chore most of us could live without, the evolution of floor care tools has made it easier and more effective than ever. Finding the best vacuum for tile floors, or the best steam mop if that’s your priority is now the challenge. For more on tile and stone flooring cleaning, care and maintenance click here.
The good news is that you’ve got tile floor vacuum and steam mop options to suit your style, and we explore them in this guide to cleaning tile floors and other hard flooring. To jump to our vacuum and steam mop reviews click here.
*This post was updated for 2020 and includes two new tile vacuum reviews, the Hoover Floormate and the Oreck Commercial Orbiter.
What is the Best Tile Floor Cleaning Machine for Your Home
This overview of tile floor vacuums and mops will assist you in selecting the best type for your cleaning routine. Below, you’ll find vacuum and steam mop reviews of the top products in each category.
Vacuums for tile floors
Removing loose debris before mopping means you won’t be collecting dirt in your mop – dirt that can act like an abrasive as the mop goes over the flooring while creating the need to change mop water more often. If you’ve ever spread dirt around a floor you’re trying to clean you know how frustrating that can be. You’ve got two primary options for tile floor vacuums:
A multi-function vacuum: The best and most cost-effective machine if you’ve got carpet and hard flooring is an all-purpose vacuum designed for both.
The upside is better value and the need for just one tool in the closet.
The downside is that you must remember to turn off the rotating brush (aka brushroll or beater bar) before using it on hard surfaces to prevent scattering dirt before it can be vacuumed up and, worse, damaging your flooring. If the brush rotation cannot be turned off, the vacuum is not an option for tile or any other hard floor types. Also, if you choose a multi-function vacuum, select one with soft or coated wheels to prevent them from scratching your floors. Click here for more on using vacuums on hardwood floors.
Below you will see our top choice for a tile floor vacuum but you may also be interested in our reviews of the best upright vacuums currently on the market.
A hard/tile floor vacuum: All the top manufacturers make vacuums designed just for hard surfaces. They are lightweight for easy use, and they don’t include a roller brush that might damage your flooring.
The obvious disadvantage is that they are not effective on carpet.
Steam mops for tile floors
If you’ve got a method you are happy with for removing the loose debris and want a machine that will replace your mop and bucket, this is your best option.
Most of these machines feature a water tank, heating element, replaceable pad to do the mopping and adjustable steam setting based on your cleaning needs. For most of these types of floor care tools, a tank of water lasts 15 to 20 minutes based on the steam setting.
Steam mop advantages include no hassles with water buckets and the ability to both clean and sanitize floors. Most steam mops work with just water, but some users add cleaner too. If you combine a detergent with the water, make sure it is safe for the type of floor you’re cleaning.
The manufacturers recommend using distilled or demineralized water in steam floor cleaners in order to prevent the buildup of mineral deposits that can harm performance and shorten the tool’s life. Also, the floor should be free of loose debris before using a steam mop. If the broom pad picks up excessive dirt or a small pebble, for example, the debris might very well scratch the tile and dull its finish.
You can read our reviews of the best steam mops this year by clicking here.
A vacuum and mop in one tool
While there are slight variations in function among machines in this category, most offer these options:
- Vacuuming only
- Washing the floor with gentle scrubbing heads safe for tile floors
- Vacuuming up the cleaning water to leave floors dry or nearly dry
The better machines have small squeegees that direct the water to the vacuum. The obvious advantage to using a vacuum mop is that you get both functions in one tool. Separate tanks for clean and dirty water mean you’re always applying clean water to the floor. In a pinch, these machines can be used on carpet in vacuum-only mode, but they don’t work as well as vacuums designed for carpeting.
Disadvantages of vacuum mops include the fact that they are heavier than single-function tools. Some users complain of leaking tanks or cheap wheels that scratch floors. Water is the enemy of poorly sealed tile grout, so be sure that you towel-dry any water not picked up by the vacuum.
As with steam mops, only use cleaner formulated for the type of floor you have. Distilled water is highly recommended over tap water, especially hard water, for the machine’s long-term performance.
Tile Flooring Cleaning Machine Reviews
Now that we’ve covered your options, let’s take a look at the top vacuum and mop floor care tools in each of the categories.
Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional Upright Vacuum Review
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV356E is our favorite multi-function vacuum designed for carpet and hard flooring including tile. It gets high scores for being lightweight while having a large-capacity debris canister. The top features of the Shark Navigator vacuum include:
- Removable, portable canister that is easy to empty
- Continuous suction technology for more complete cleaning
- Reliable dust-containment seal around the canister keeps allergens from escaping
- Swivel steering for tighter turns and maneuverability around furniture without skidding wheels across hard flooring
- Roller brush with toggle switch for activating and deactivating
- Available with standard and premium brush options
- Disposable dual microfiber attachment pads for dusting hard surfaces
- HEPA small-particle filtration of 99.9 percent of allergens for cleaner exhaust air
- Excellent reach with a 30-foot power cord
This multi-surface vacuum weighs 14lbs. It is backed by a one-year limited warranty against manufacturer defect with typical residential usage. There are better warranties available on other units.
A concern for some, especially those with allergies, is that the canister is bagless. Taking it outdoors for emptying will prevent dust and dirt from being reintroduced into your living space.
Bissell PowerEdge Pet Hard Floor Corded Vacuum Review
The Bissell PowerEdge 81L2A Pet Hard Floor vacuum is an affordable, dependable tile floor/hard floor vacuum for those that don’t need a carpet machine. It replaces a broom and dustpan with a powerful vacuum motor. Top features of the Bissell PowerEdge vacuum include:
- A V-shaped head that channels large debris to the center where suction is strongest while fine dust is removed at the edges
- Excellent for edges with full-head suction
- Suitable for use on low-pile area rugs
- Swivel head design ideal for vacuuming around obstacles
- Removable dirt cup for easy emptying
- 20-foot power cord offers adequate reach for small to medium spaces
This stick vacuum weighs 10lbs and costs about $50, a good value for the work it does. It’s backed by a two-year limited warranty.
The Bissell PowerEdge gets high marks for the powerful vacuum suction that removes pet hair quickly and we consider it the best vacuum for tile floors if that is your main shopping criteria. The biggest negatives for many are the relatively short cord and the fairly small dirt cup that makes frequent emptying a necessity. Large amounts of pet hair can clog the intake port if it isn’t cleaned out regularly.
Shark DuoClean Rocket Corded Ultralight Upright Vacuum Review
The Shark DuoClean Rocket Ultralight Upright Vacuum has a slightly deceptive name because it is not a traditional style upright vacuum, but more like hand-held vacuum which can also be used in upright position. So effectively, and what’s great about it, is that you’re getting a two-in-one – a vacuum that’s good for flooring and that is also light enough for you to reach up and vacuum right up to the ceiling (if you really need to!).
Top features of the Shark DuoClean Rocket Ultralight Upright Vacuum HV382 vacuum include:
- Super light – when set to hand-held option it is just 4.6 pounds
- Versatility of being able to switch between upright mode and hand-held mode, great for stairs and hard-to-reach spaces
- Comes with Shark’s latest DuoClean technology, which switches easily from hard floors to carpeting and removes both fine dust and larger particles
- Also included are specially conceived tools for cleaning car interiors such as a 5.5” crevice tool, a dusting brush and a pet multi-tool for upholstery
- Easily maneuvered around and under furniture when in upright mode
- LED lights integrated on the floor nozzle and hand vacuum so you can see where you’re vacuuming
- 30-foot power cord offers excellent reach
What stands out about this hard floor vacuum is that the double bristle and brushroll system of the DuoClean technology does a superior job collecting the fine dirt and debris that others miss; and the excellent versatility to switch from upright to hand held is a great bonus. The vacuum is covered by Shark’s VIP Lifetime Service Guarantee, one of the best in the industry.
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For tiled flooring, be sure to use the lower and gentler power setting. The retail price for this vacuum is $225 – $299
This vacuum also appears in our reviews of the top rated Shark vacuums.
Bissell 1940 Powerfresh Steam Mop Review
If you’ve solved the problem of removing loose dirt, debris and pet hair from floors and want a tool to clean hard surfaces, this powered mop is the top choice on Amazon and most steam mop reviews. The steam both loosens stuck-on dirt and sanitizes the floor in the process. Top features of the Bissell 1940 Powerfresh mop include:
- Ability to kill 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses without using harsh chemical cleaners
- Flip-down scrubber is ideal for tough dirt and grout, and
- Speeds the cleaning process compared with standard steam mops
- Steam is customizable for each job with digital low, medium and high settings
- Includes a small supply of Febreze fragrance discs for the mod pad that disseminate fresh fragrance while you mop
- Water tank located high on the handle for easy filling
Bissell recommends that you use demineralized or distilled water only to prevent sediment deposits and that you do not use cleaners in place of or in addition to the water. The power cord is just 23 feet long, so changing outlets frequently may be necessary. Excessive use of the high-steam setting might cause damage to tile grout and hardwood flooring. Be sure to dry any water left behind during cleaning.
The Bissell Powerfresh 1940 Blue steam mop weighs just 6.2lbs, and it is covered by a one-year limited warranty. The cost is $80-$110 from various retailers.
Hoover FloorMate Deluxe FH40160PC Hard Floor Cleaner Review
The Hoover FloorMate Deluxe Hard Floor Cleaner is good addition to your current vacuum, providing a light-weight machine that will deep clean and dry any sealed hard flooring surface, such as tile, stone or wood. Its CleanSurge® Control technology allows you to add extra detergent for stains and heavily soiled areas, and is a helpful addition. The low cost is attractive too, but keep in mind that it does not have a vacuum function – this machine has three functions: sending water and detergent onto your floor, scrubbing them with the brushes, and then sucking up the dirty water to dry the floor. The features of the FloorMate FH40160PC include:
- Washing and drying tile and other hard floors
- 360° counter-rotating brushes for deep cleaning
- Brushes for both tile and wood flooring included
- 20-foot power cord
- Brushes that can be removed for easy cleaning
- Separate clean and dirty water tanks, so only clean water is applied to flooring
- Fairly lightweight at just under 14 pounds
- Some packages include specific cleaning solutions for pets and tile grout.
The wash and dry functions must all be done separately, and you have to physically switch brushes if you have both wood and tile floors. Another potential negative is that, because the brushes are slightly recessed (1/8 inch) within the brush attachment, you can get pretty close, but not right up against the baseboard or into corners.
Hoover doesn’t discourage using cleaner in this machine, but be sure the product you use is formulated for your flooring type. Distilled water will keep the Hoover FloorMate working optimally for longer.
The price of the Hoover FH40160PC varies widely from about $180 to less than $120. It’s a decent value at $130 or less.
Oreck Commercial ORB550MC Commercial Orbiter Review
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If you want to step your floor cleaning routine up a level with a powerful tool aimed for commercial use, then theOreck Commercial Orbiter Floor Machine is for you! This machine is designed to buff, clean and scrub virtually any hard flooring material to within an inch of their lives! It’ll even loosen dirt from commercial carpeting, though you’re unlikely to have any of that in your home. You can also use it to strip wax and sand your floors depending on which pad to attach to its base. Note that for buffing and polishing this tool is to be used after a general vacuum; then spray your floor with the correct polish or wax, choose the correct pad or brush for your Oreck ORB550MC, and let the machine glide over the floor doing all the hard work of polishing and buffing for you effortlessly. It is so easy to use that you can even operate it with one hand! Here are the main features:
- Versatile commercial grade polishing tool for tile, wood, stone, vinyl, cement or carpet flooring
- Cleans, scrubs, polishes, buffs, strips, waxes, sands and refinishes depending on which pad or brush you use
- Oscillating motion glides over surfaces effortlessly
- No torque, gouging, brush marks or swirling
- Incorporated hooks on the stem for storing the power cord
- 50-foot power cord allows you to get round your whole house
- Fairly compact design
- Brushes and pads NOT included
The main take away regarding the Oreck Commercial Orbiter, is that it works really well! However it is not cheap – retailing at around $350 – and you have to buy the pads/ brushes separately which retail between $5 and $20 depending on type of pad/ brush; and depending on your flooring you may need more than one type of pad/ brush. On the plus side you can wash and reuse the pads.
We still think that the Oreck ORB550MC is excellent value, however, since you get a truly professional finish and for the range of uses it has (especially as you can use both for weekly polishing, but also for refinishing your tile, stone or hardwood flooring as recommended every 5 to 10 years). Plus it has a good track record for longevity, so it should last a long, long time.
Choosing the Best Tile Vacuum or Steam Mop
We hope you noticed that each of our reviews included the odd negative comment along with the positives. While we think the floor cleaning machines we’ve reviewed are among the best we encourage you to make a check list of features that are indispensable to your home floors and look for them when buying. These tips will also help you select a machine you’ll be happy with in the years to come.
- The more tile and other hard flooring you have, the more it makes sense to buy a high-quality floor vacuum or steam mop.
- The less storage space you have, the more you should consider a multi-function model
- If you have pets, consider a powerful hard floor vacuum to remove pet hair before cleaning
- If you have small children that play on your tile floor, a steam-sanitizing tile floor mop is a worthwhile investment
- HEPA filtration is a must where household members suffer from allergies
Browse your tile floor cleaning machine options in light of your needs, and you’ll find the best tool for keeping your home clean and comfortable.
For all our guides to tile and stone flooring click here. And you may also be interested in our guide to the best cleaners for laminate floors.
Have we missed anything? Which model do you consider the best vacuum for tile floors? Let us know in the comments section below.