Grout is a trench full of dirt below the surface you are mopping. Heat alone does not reach it, which is why this ranking is about mechanical action rather than steam.
Everyone in this category says they tested twenty vacuums. We have not tested any, and we say so. What we do instead is read the manuals, compile the published specifications, and work out what each machine costs to run for three years — the method is written out in full.
We earn a commission if you buy through the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend or the order we recommend it in. Full disclosure.
The short answer: the Bissell PowerFresh 1940A. It is the only machine here with a built-in flip-down grout scrubber, it publishes three steam settings and a 23-foot cord, and it carries a two-year warranty against Shark's one across the line. For grout specifically, a dedicated scrubbing edge beats a bigger pad every time.
Why grout is a different problem from tile
Tile is a hard, sealed, flat surface. Steam and a pad handle it comfortably. Grout sits below that surface, is porous, and holds dirt in a channel a flat pad simply bridges over. You can steam a tiled floor until the pad is filthy and the grout lines will still be dark, because nothing ever touched them.
So the ranking here is about mechanical action reaching below the tile surface. Bissell's Easy Scrubber flips down to a hard edge that gets into the channel. Shark's Steam & Scrub machines put rotating pads at a published 150+ scrubs per minute across the whole head, which works the grout as it passes. Both approaches address the actual problem; a flat pad with more wattage does not.
Tank size fights you in this category
The machines best suited to grout are the ones that use water fastest, and — awkwardly — they have the smallest tanks. The Shark S8001 and S8201 both publish 11.83 fl oz, the smallest on the site, while running rotating pads. The Bissell 1940A publishes 16 fl oz and the S2001 publishes 500 ml.
For a bathroom that does not matter. For a large tiled kitchen and hallway, it means refills, and it is the strongest practical argument for the Bissell or the S2001 over the Steam & Scrub machines.
The cord matters more on tile than anywhere else
Tiled areas are usually kitchens, bathrooms and hallways — rooms with few accessible outlets and awkward geometry. The published cord lengths differ by a third: Bissell publishes 23 feet on the 1940A, Shark publishes 18 feet on the S1000. Over a kitchen-plus-hallway run, that is the difference between one outlet and two.
#
Product
Best for
Score
Price
01
Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop (1940A)Three steam settings, a flip-down scrubber and a 23-foot cord, with a two-year warranty that is double everything Shark offers.
Shark Steam & Scrub All-in-One (S8001)Rotating pads at over 150 scrubs a minute, and Shark publishes the test standard behind the 2x stain claim rather than just asserting it.
Shark Steam & Scrub with Steam Blaster (S8201)The S8001 plus a trigger-controlled steam blast for individual spots, at the cost of two more pounds in your hands.
Shark Professional Steam Pocket Mop (S3601)1,200 W and 16.9 fl oz with Shark's Intelligent Steam Control — the Pocket Mop for people who kept running out of water.
Shark Steam Mop for Sealed Hard Floors (S1000)Under 5 lb, steam in 30 seconds, an 18-foot cord and nothing else — the cheapest way to stop mopping with a bucket.
Scores are ours, from the published rubric on the How We Pick page. They are editorial judgments about published specifications — not test results. We have not handled these machines.
01 · Best for tile and grout
Bissell PowerFresh Steam Mop (1940A)
Three steam settings, a flip-down scrubber and a 23-foot cord, with a two-year warranty that is double everything Shark offers.
Flip-down Easy Scrubber for dried-on messes and grout
Cord
23 feet
Cleaning path
12 inches
Sanitization claim
Kills 99.9% of germs, bacteria and viruses when used as directed
Warranty
2-year limited
Rated surfaces
Sealed hard floors — sealed hardwood, tile and ceramic, granite, marble
Every figure above is the manufacturer's own published number. Where a manufacturer publishes nothing, the row says "Not published" rather than an estimate.
What the numbers say
+Three steam settings — the only genuinely variable machine under $110 here
+Built-in flip-down scrubber is the correct tool for grout and nobody else at this price has one
+23-foot cord, the longest published here
+2-year warranty, double Shark's across the line
Where it stops
−6.2 lb, the heaviest steam mop on this page
−Scent discs are an optional consumable that quietly adds up if you start using them
−1,500 W is the highest draw here, which matters if the outlet is shared
Who it is for
Tile and grout kitchens and bathrooms, where the mess is baked on rather than dusty.
Skip it if
Your floors are all sealed hardwood. You are paying for a grout scrubber you will never flip down, and the lighter Shark units suit hardwood better.
Our score: 7.7 out of 10
Steam control9.0
Tank size6.5
Weight and handling6.5
Pad system7.5
Running cost8.5
Scored against the published rubric on How We Pick. These are judgments about spec sheets, not measurements.
02 · Best rotating-pad scrubber
Shark Steam & Scrub All-in-One (S8001)
Rotating pads at over 150 scrubs a minute, and Shark publishes the test standard behind the 2x stain claim rather than just asserting it.
Up to 2x better stuck-on stain removal versus traditional steam mops, per IEC/TC SC 59F (mustard), tested against the S1000
Pads
4 machine-washable Dirt Grip pads included
Lighting
LED headlights
Every figure above is the manufacturer's own published number. Where a manufacturer publishes nothing, the row says "Not published" rather than an estimate.
What the numbers say
+Names the test standard AND the model it was tested against — the most checkable performance claim on this site
+Three steam modes plus mechanical scrubbing, which is a genuinely different machine from a flat pad
+Four pads in the box, so you can clean the whole house before doing laundry
Where it stops
−11.83 fl oz is a smaller tank than the far cheaper S3601, and scrubbing uses water faster
−6.9 lb with rotating heads that pull the mop forward — an acquired feel
−Pads wear faster than on a static mop, because they are doing mechanical work
Who it is for
Kitchens with actual stuck-on messes, and homes where a flat pad has already failed.
Skip it if
Your floors are only ever dusty. You are buying a scrubber for stains you do not have, and the S3501 does maintenance cleaning for far less.
Our score: 7.5 out of 10
Steam control8.5
Tank size4.5
Weight and handling6.0
Pad system9.0
Running cost7.5
Scored against the published rubric on How We Pick. These are judgments about spec sheets, not measurements.
03 · Best for baked-on spots
Shark Steam & Scrub with Steam Blaster (S8201)
The S8001 plus a trigger-controlled steam blast for individual spots, at the cost of two more pounds in your hands.
3 — Light, Normal, Deep, plus a targeted Steam Blaster burst
Scrubbing
Rotating pads, over 150 scrubs per minute
Sanitization claim
Removes 99.9% of common household bacteria using water alone
Pads
4 machine-washable Dirt Grip pads included
Every figure above is the manufacturer's own published number. Where a manufacturer publishes nothing, the row says "Not published" rather than an estimate.
What the numbers say
+Targeted steam burst on a finger trigger, for the one spot that will not come up
+Everything the S8001 does, unchanged
+Four pads included
Where it stops
−8.9 lb is by far the heaviest steam mop here and it is a real difference over a whole floor
−Same 11.83 fl oz tank as the S8001 while using steam faster
−The blaster is the only difference for the extra money
Who it is for
People whose floors have specific recurring problem spots rather than general grime.
Skip it if
Weight matters to you at all. Two extra pounds over a whole house is the trade for a feature you will use on maybe three spots.
Our score: 7.2 out of 10
Steam control9.5
Tank size4.5
Weight and handling4.5
Pad system9.0
Running cost7.5
Scored against the published rubric on How We Pick. These are judgments about spec sheets, not measurements.
04 · Best big tank under 5 lb
Shark SteamSpot with Steam Blaster (S2001)
A 500 ml tank and three steam modes at under 5 lb — the most usable combination of numbers on this page.
3 — Light, Normal, Deep, plus a targeted Steam Blaster burst
Stain-removal claim
Up to 50% better stuck-on stain removal versus a traditional steam mop
Pads
1 Dirt Grip pad and 1 stiffer scrub pad, both washable
Sanitization claim
Removes 99.9% of common household bacteria using water alone
Rated surfaces
All sealed hard floors
Every figure above is the manufacturer's own published number. Where a manufacturer publishes nothing, the row says "Not published" rather than an estimate.
What the numbers say
+500 ml is the largest tank here and it comes in under 5 lb, which no other machine on this page manages
+Three steam modes plus the targeted blaster
+Two pad types in the box — one for maintenance, one for scrubbing
Where it stops
−Only one of each pad, so you are doing laundry sooner than with the four-pad Steam & Scrub
−No rotating scrub head, so it is 50% better rather than the Steam & Scrub's 2x
−The 50% claim does not name its test standard, unlike the S8001's
Who it is for
Anyone who wants the fewest refills and the least weight, which is most people.
Skip it if
You need mechanical scrubbing. This is steam plus a textured pad; if a flat pad has already failed on your floors, buy the S8001.
Our score: 8.6 out of 10
Steam control9.0
Tank size9.5
Weight and handling9.0
Pad system6.5
Running cost9.0
Scored against the published rubric on How We Pick. These are judgments about spec sheets, not measurements.
05 · Biggest tank in the Pocket line
Shark Professional Steam Pocket Mop (S3601)
1,200 W and 16.9 fl oz with Shark's Intelligent Steam Control — the Pocket Mop for people who kept running out of water.
Every figure above is the manufacturer's own published number. Where a manufacturer publishes nothing, the row says "Not published" rather than an estimate.
What the numbers say
+16.9 fl oz is a third more water than the S1000 at similar weight
+1,200 W heats faster and recovers steam faster between passes
+Keeps the double-sided pad system
Where it stops
−Shark publishes no heat-up time for this model, unlike the S1000 and S3501
−The steam-control feature is named but its levels are not specified
−Same 1-year warranty as the cheapest model in the line
Who it is for
Larger hard-floor homes where mid-clean refills are the annoyance.
Skip it if
You have a small apartment. The extra tank capacity is the entire upgrade, and in three rooms you will never notice it.
Our score: 8.0 out of 10
Steam control6.0
Tank size7.0
Weight and handling8.5
Pad system9.0
Running cost9.5
Scored against the published rubric on How We Pick. These are judgments about spec sheets, not measurements.
06 · Best under $60
Shark Steam Mop for Sealed Hard Floors (S1000)
Under 5 lb, steam in 30 seconds, an 18-foot cord and nothing else — the cheapest way to stop mopping with a bucket.
Sealed hard floors only — hardwood, marble, tile, stone, laminate, vinyl
Steam modes
Not published — single steam output
Every figure above is the manufacturer's own published number. Where a manufacturer publishes nothing, the row says "Not published" rather than an estimate.
What the numbers say
+4.6 lb and steam in 30 seconds, so it gets used rather than admired in a cupboard
+Removable tank refills at the tap instead of over the sink at an angle
+Washable pads, so the running cost is detergent-free and effectively zero
+18-foot cord is longer than most in this price band
Where it stops
−12.68 fl oz is the smallest tank here — about one floor before a refill
−No steam control: one output, whatever the mess
−1-year warranty, half the Bissell's
Who it is for
Small hard-floor homes doing routine maintenance cleaning, not rescue jobs.
Skip it if
You have dried-on kitchen grime rather than everyday dust. Without variable steam or a scrubber you will go over the same spot repeatedly.
Our score: 6.8 out of 10
Steam control4.0
Tank size4.5
Weight and handling9.0
Pad system7.0
Running cost9.5
Scored against the published rubric on How We Pick. These are judgments about spec sheets, not measurements.
The one to skip
Skip the Shark S1000 for grout work. It is the cheapest steam mop on this site and a perfectly good maintenance machine for sealed floors that are already clean. But it publishes a single steam output, no scrubbing mechanism of any kind, and the shortest cord here. On grout it will make the tiles look better and leave the lines exactly as they were, which is the specific disappointment this page exists to prevent.
The published comparison, ranked for grout
Manufacturer-published figures, ordered as this page ranks them.
Machine
Grout mechanism
Steam settings
Tank
Cord
Warranty
Bissell PowerFresh 1940A
Flip-down Easy Scrubber
3
16 fl oz
23 ft
2 years
Shark S8001
Rotating pads, 150+ scrubs/min
3
11.83 fl oz
Not published
Not published
Shark S8201
Rotating pads plus steam blaster
3
11.83 fl oz
Not published
Not published
Shark S2001
Steam blaster plus a stiff scrub pad
3
500 ml
Not published
Not published
Shark S3601
None
Intelligent Steam Control
16.9 fl oz
Not published
1 year
Shark S1000
None
One
12.68 fl oz
18 ft
1 year
What a steam mop will not do to grout
Restore badly discolored grout to white. Deeply stained grout is usually stained through, and a mop passing over it — however hot, however fast the pads spin — is not going to lift years of embedded soil out of a porous channel. That is a job for a dedicated grout brush and time, and no machine on this page claims otherwise.
What these machines genuinely do is stop grout getting worse and lift the surface layer. Used regularly from the point the tile is clean, that is enough. Used as a rescue on grout that has been neglected for a decade, it will disappoint, and buying a more expensive mop will not change that.
What we cannot tell you
How much a given machine lifts from a given grout line. Nobody publishes a grout-specific test, Shark's stain-removal standard is a mustard test on a flat surface, and we have not run any of these machines across a tiled floor. We can tell you which machines publish a mechanism aimed at the problem — which is the difference between a considered purchase and a hopeful one.
Common questions
What is the best steam mop for tile and grout?+−
The Bissell PowerFresh 1940A, on published features: it is the only machine here with a built-in flip-down grout scrubber, plus three steam settings, a 23-foot cord and a two-year warranty against Shark's one.
Will a steam mop clean grout?+−
It will lift the surface layer and stop grout getting worse. It will not restore badly discolored grout, which is usually stained through and needs a dedicated brush and time. No machine on this page claims otherwise.
Do I need a scrubbing steam mop for tile?+−
For tile alone, no — steam and a pad handle a flat sealed surface comfortably. For grout, yes: grout sits below the surface a flat pad glides across, so you need either a scrubbing edge or rotating pads that work the channel as they pass.
Why do the best grout machines have the smallest tanks?+−
Because scrubbing uses water faster and the Shark Steam & Scrub machines publish an 11.83 fl oz tank, the smallest here. In a bathroom that is irrelevant; across a large tiled kitchen and hallway it means refills, which is the strongest argument for the Bissell or the S2001 instead.
Can I use a steam mop on unsealed tile?+−
No. Every machine here is rated by its manufacturer for sealed hard floors, and Swiffer publishes the exclusion explicitly for non-sealed tile. Unsealed tile and its grout absorb water, which is the opposite of what you want.
Sources
Manufacturer-published specifications — Every runtime, wattage, capacity, weight, filtration and warranty figure quoted on this page is the manufacturer's own published number for that model, retrieved September 1, 2026. Where a manufacturer publishes no figure, the page says 'Not published' rather than estimating one.
Sweep & Suction — How We Pick — Our published method, including the scoring rubric, the three-year running-cost formula and an explicit statement of what published specifications cannot tell you.
