Best Shark Steam Mops (2026)

This is the Shark that removes the sweeping step. A nozzle collects crumbs and dust, separating them inside the head, while the pad scrubs and steam softens what the pad meets. For a family with a dropped-cereal problem that sequence means one trip across the floor instead of two.

The cost is the top price position in the family and a heavier head than the pocket models. Because it vacuums, it also asks for a debris bin to be emptied, a chore the plain mops never have. Against the Steam and Scrub S8001, which scrubs with rotating pads, the Pickup suits dry crumbs better and the S8001 suits sticky film.

Empty the debris compartment after every session so damp crumbs do not sour. Rinse the pad and let it dry flat. Wipe the pickup slot with a cloth now and then, since a clogged nozzle is the first thing that makes performance fade.

Rotating pads are the whole point of the S8001. Two circular pads turn while steam flows, so the friction that normally comes from your wrists comes from the head. Three modes, Light, Normal and Deep, let you match output to the mess, and the LED headlights light the floor under furniture.

It sits in the upper-middle of the price range, above the S1000 and below the Pickup. Compared with its older sibling the S8002 teal model, it offers a third steam mode and four pads instead of two. The extra pads are practical: you can swap to a fresh set halfway through a big job.

Wash the pads after each session and dry them flat. Keep the drive posts free of hair with a quick pick. If you hear the motor strain, check that the pad is seated correctly before assuming a fault.

The Steam Blaster is a trigger that sends a burst of extra steam to one spot at the touch of a finger. That is a more direct answer to a stuck-on patch than waiting for a mode change, and it keeps the standard flow low for the rest of the floor.

Combined with three steam modes and a large removable tank, the S2001 reads as the all-rounder with a party trick. The maker claims up to 50 percent better cleaning than a basic mop, which is marketing language you should read lightly. Against the S8001 you give up rotating pads but save weight, and the Blaster is genuinely handy on tile grout lines.

Fill the tank at the sink with filtered water and keep the burst nozzle clear by wiping the head after use. Wash both pads and replace them when the fibers flatten, since flat pads clean poorly. Store the mop upright with the cord loosely wrapped.

The S1000 is the sensible middle of the family. It weighs under five pounds, so you can lift it up a step with one hand, and the tank comes off the body so a refill takes seconds. The Dirt Grip pad has a textured face that scrubs lightly as the steam softens the dirt.

There is no extra feature to learn, which is a virtue. It has no burst trigger, no spin motor and no handheld, so it suits owners who want a steady weekly mop. Next to the Pocket S3501, it has a larger head and a removable tank, which means fewer passes and no tilting.

Use filtered water if your tap is hard. Let the pad dry after washing, and avoid fabric softener. If the steam flow weakens over the months, run clean water through to check for scale before blaming the pump.

Pad variety defines this one. A Dirt Grip pad covers daily messes, a Scrub pad has coarser texture for stubborn spots and a Dusting pad lets you dry-sweep before you steam. That third pad is the difference between this and the S1000: you can do a dry sweep without a separate broom.

It keeps the removable tank and light body from the S1000, so the extra pads cost little in weight. The limit is the same: no motor, no burst trigger. Next to the S2001, you swap a steam-burst button for a scrub pad, and the price position is lower.

Wash the dusting pad separately from the scrub pad, since coarse fibers can pick up lint. Label or color-code the pad you use most. Store pads in a mesh bag so they dry and do not go missing.

The S8002 is the earlier scrubbing design, claiming over 150 scrubs per minute from an automatic scrubbing head. Rotating pads and steam combine, and the maker says that gives up to twice the stuck-on stain removal of a plain mop.

The S8001 is the newer sibling, with three steam modes and four pads, so this model is the one to pick only if you find it at a better price position and can live with two modes. For many homes two modes are enough: one for routine mopping and one for deep work.

Check the pads for wear because worn pads reduce friction. Keep the pad seat clean so the head does not wobble. Rinse the tank and cap after a few weeks, since scale builds around the fill port.

The Pocket is the smallest and cheapest of the family. Its pads flip, so each cloth serves twice before it goes in the wash, and the compact body slides into a closet. It makes sense for a studio, a rental or a second residence.

The head is smaller than the S1000's, so a big floor costs extra passes, and the fixed tank means a tilt to fill. On a small kitchen those are modest costs. Compared with the S1500, you get fewer pads and a smaller head, but also the lowest price position.

Machine wash the pads gently and air dry. Storage is simple: drain the tank once you finish. If the steam feels weak, check the pad is flat on the head before blaming the boiler.