Floor scrubbers are by far the most effective cleaning tool for floors, alongside electric mops.
Instead of relying on your elbow grease, these wonderful machines wash your floor using a scrubbing head and an automated system for dispensing cleaning solutions.
Then, the floor pad or brush moves while cleaning to agitate the cleaning solution and remove soil and dirt from your surfaces.
In other words: they do all the hard work for you.
Whether you have wood, tile floor, laminate, or vinyl flooring, there are a variety of models to choose from.
Here’s my review of the best floor scrubbers of 2023.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall - Bissell SpinWave Cordless PET Hard Floor Spin Mop
- Best Budget - JIGA 2 Pack Floor Scrub Brush with Long Handle
- Best for Tile and Grout - Rubbermaid Reveal Power Scrubber
- Best Commercial - Oreck Commercial Orbiter Floor Machine
- Best for Bathroom - LABIGO Electric Spin Scrubber
- Quiet
- Wide floorhead
- Multi-surface scrubber
- The design could be better
- Sturdy construction
- Versatile to use on various surfaces
- Inexpensive
- Manual effort required
- Powerful
- Comfortable grip
- Fast brush oscillation
- Not suitable for large areas
- Suitable for various types of floors
- Sturdy construction
- Straightforward controls
- Bulky
- Long-running time
- High rotations per minute
- Convenient telescoping handle
- Heavy
- 1. Clean the exterior of the floor scrubber with warm soapy water or mild detergent solutions.
- 2. Remove any leftover debris on the floor scrubber’s bristles or cleaning pads. Use your hands or a vacuum cleaner to remove the debris.
- 3. To clean the cleaning pads, remove them and place them in your sink. Then, wash the cleaning pads in warm water. You can also use a mild detergent to clean extra dirty pads.
- Performant cleaning abilities
- Sturdy construction
- Versatility
- Large capacity and tanks
- Ease of use and maintenance
- Extra features: squeegee, stiff bristles, extendable handle, swivel design
- Bonus: Microfiber pads
Durability, versatility, ease of use, and performance made the Bissell SpinWave cordless spin mop our best pick. And it’s easy to understand why.
With just the press of a button, this excellent spin mop activates dual rotating pads that will oscillate to scrub dirt or stains from any type of floor – including laminate and hardwood.
We especially appreciate the two included microfiber pads: one for heavy scrubbing and the other for a more gentle and soft cleaning session. Of course, they’re machine washable so you have several months (or years) supply without the extra cost.
Combined with a useful trigger that allows you to control the amount of cleaning solution, you can wash delicate floors such as hardwood floors with ease of mind (and hard surfaces, obviously).
Despite its large water tank, this Bissell mop stays reasonably lightweight – even with a full tank. Plus its 360-degree swivel design adds maneuverability.
And as usual, Bissell provides samples of several cleaning solutions so you can try, test and approve the most suitable for your needs.
There’s so much to love about this Bissell SpinWave mop and more than 9’000 reviews (at time of publication) confirm this.
However, there’s always a catch. Being a spin mop, this scrubber doesn’t have wheels, which may make it challenging to navigate around the home, especially if you have different types of floors.
But this shouldn’t refrain you from purchasing this outstanding scrubber, in our opinion. The positive features outweigh this minor drawback without any doubt.
What Customers Are Saying
Many users raved about the scrubber’s ability to naturally glide across the floor without needing any additional pressure.
They also praised the ease of use of this heavy-duty machine.
But disappointed customers pointed out that the spray function struggles to push liquid out from the bottle on the floor. This may seem like a flaw in the design and the users had to move the handle forward and backward to correct this. Quite inconvenient.
Price at time of publish: $99
Technical Specs
| Power Source: | Corded |
| Weight: | 11 lbs |
| Cord Length: | 22 ft |
| Compatible floor types: | any sealed floors |
| Included Accessories: | soft pads, scrubby pads |
It’s not an electric scrubber. But for a nominal price, you’ll get a 2-in-1 brush, plus a scraper with stiff bristles to help remove stains, stubborn grime, dirt or dust on hard floors but also on carpets, bathtubs and outdoors.
You also have an added rubber squeegee to remove dirty water from the floors or clean the windows.
We appreciate the stiff bristles, made from high-quality, durable PVC. They are particularly aggressive and will seriously cut your cleaning time down.
The scrubber is extremely lightweight and ergonomically designed. So despite the extra work the manual design implies, it’s comfortable in hand and easy to hold, meaning less fatigue for your knees and back.
What more? The extendable handle stretches from 15.6″ to 47″, so you can clean floors without having to bend down or grab a brush.
And while it’s nice to have the ability to set the handle to different levels, the handle seems short for taller people, making this scrubber challenging to use on the floor.
We also notice that a scrubbing grout brush is missing – but could have been really helpful as an appendage to the handle. And since it’s a simple scrubber, there is no smart features such as a built-in spray function.
But considering the bargain price and all the advantages it packs, it’s overall a terrific floor scrubber.
What Customers Are Saying
Reviewers love that you can use this floor scrubber indoors as well outdoors! It’s suitable for hard floor surfaces, carpets, balconies, garage floors, and pavement surfaces.
But many reviewers struggle to grip the handle of this scrubber during cleaning. Because there’s no grip, your hands can easily slip down the metal pole while you’re scrubbing.
This can be a pain while cleaning, especially during big cleans.
Price at time of publish: $16
Technical Specs
| Type: | Manual |
| Weight: | 2.35 lbs |
| Cord Length: | N/A |
| Compatible floor types: | any sealed floors |
| Included Accessories: | 2 scrub brush cleaning heads |
This scrubber works for a variety of surfaces but it gets a special mention for its effectiveness on tile and grout.
We love how fast the oscillation goes (count 60 times per second according to the manufacturer) to scrub floors, grout lines, crevices, and corners and remove mildew effectively.
The size is similar to a toothbrush (the design too) making it truly lightweight and easy to hold.
And while you also could use a worn-out toothbrush, you won’t get similar results. This little scrubber will get a decent amount of built-up dirt on the grout between tiles.
It has two brush heads, one specifically designed for grout and the other one to get into corners thanks to its pointed tip. It also has two settings: a pulse and a continuous setting – leaving you with 4 useful combinations.
Being a tiny appliance, it will not allow you to scrub the grout of an entire leaving room. But it will get the job done for spot cleaning or stained grout.
Also, note that it runs on batteries. 4 batteries are already included with the purchase. But expect to replace them quite often.
Since it’s powered, it’s pretty noisy. Still, for cleaning grout, this scrubber is tops.
What Customers Are Saying
Positive reviews praise the scrubber’s performance on a variety of surfaces: grout, shower, faucets, and even in cars. Using this mini tool, they could reduce the time and effort dedicated to manual scrubbing.
But unhappy customers suggest that the brush head is really small and were expecting a bigger head – even if they were aware that this brush was more suitable for small cleaning tasks.
Price at time of publish: $19
Technical Specs
| Type: | Electric cordless |
| Weight: | 10.2 ounces |
| Cord Length: | N/A |
| Compatible floor types: | grout |
| Included Accessories: | 2 scrub brush brush heads |
Above all, we love its versatility. You can use this commercial-grade floor scrubber for any type of flooring, including carpets and hardwood. Simply, make sure to use a gentle pad and a hardwood floor cleaner such as this Bona floor cleaner.
You can also sand, refinish, strip, wax, or polish depending on the attachment you choose.
We also value the brush-head rotation in a random orbit pattern, preventing brush marks, swirls, or gouges on the floor from scrubbing.
And since it’s a commercial machine, the cord has an industrial length too. With 50 glorious feet, you won’t have to keep moving the cord from outlet to outlet while you scrub.
It feels really like the construction is built to withstand heavy use. The drawback though is that it feels heavy too. At 33 pounds, this is the heavier scrubber on our list, so don’t expect to use it on stairs or areas where you’ll have to carry it.
Yet, despite being a commercial machine, this Oreck has easy-to-use fingertip controls. You can navigate between the different modes and settings while you’re cleaning, with peace of mind.
We regret that this electric floor scrubber doesn’t include any cleaning mop pads, even if the drive pad adapter allows to use of a variety of different pads you can purchase separately.
But for an industrial model, this price is quite reasonable.
All in all, we find this floor scrubber highly effective, easy to use, and maneuverable for a commercial scrubber, so it’s well deserving a place in your cleaning closet.
What Customers Are Saying
Many happy users complimented the machine’s ability to leave the floors cleaner and brighter. They also commented on the build quality and durability of this heavy-duty machine. And for a commercial model, many said that it operates quietly.
However, many disapproved of the lack of accessories or attachments. They had to purchase pads or brushes separately, adding to the overall expense. And no surprise here, many said that the machine is bulky so it might be difficult to use for people with mobility issues.
Price at time of publish: $369
Technical Specs
| Type: | Electric |
| Weight: | 33 lbs |
| Cord Length: | 50 ft |
| Included Accessories: | Cleaning pad adapter |
The 380 RPM motor – meaning it can make 380 rotations in one minute – will remove soap scum and buildup fast and with ease, ensuring your bathroom is sparkling clean.
We love the handy telescopic wand that you can adjust from 27 to 47 inches – quite practical to clean every inch of hard to reach areas or tight spaces and save your back and knees.
Plus, this electric model comes with four brush heads attachments and is cordless. Use the dome brush for tubs and sinks, the wide flat brush for doors and walls, the small flat brush for stove and grout and finally the corner brush for gaps.
Cordless offers a hassle-free experience to cleaning. The caveat to cordless is that they run on batteries and must be recharged. This model addresses a lot of these concerns tough since its battery lasts up to 90 minutes for a fast charging time of 3,5 hours.
Not to mention the sturdy and well designed construction that seems to last for years.
We also note that the scrubber is easy to use. With just the press of a button, you activate the brush and the rotations. Then, you just have to pass the appliance on the surfaces you want to clean and it will get the job done.
The storage isn’t an issue either since the whole kit comes with a practical hook, allowing you to hang the scrubber once you’re done.
The only hiccup we could find regards the difficulty to clean curved areas. This model seems to have been designed for flat surfaces, making it hard to clean curves of shower corners – for example.
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied users enjoyed the scrubber length allowing them to reach nooks and crannies and the interchangeable brushes making it extremely versatile. They also shared their positive cleaning experiences, expressing that they were able to scrub their entire bathroom in less than 30 minutes.
Frustrated users complained about that the scrubber could be difficult to use for those suffering from chronic pain. They mentionned that the spinning brush tends to jump around. Combined with the vibrations, it requires a firm grip, adding discomfort.
Price at time of publish: $64
Technical Specs
| Type: | Electric Cordless |
| Weight: | 3.72 pounds |
| Cord Length: | N/A |
| Included Accessories: | one charger, one storage hook, one Handle and extension rod, 4 brushes: 1 cleaning head, 1 small flat brush, one ball brush, one pointed brush and one small flat brush. |
What To Look For In a Floor Scrubber
Size and Weight
You should consider your personal preference and experience in using a manual floor scrubber to determine the best size and weight for you.
Heavier floor cleaning machines will be corded or have a larger motor. While they’re more powerful than their cordless counterparts, their weight can lead to quick fatigue if used for long periods or times, especially if you have to drag an extension cord behind it.
Many cordless and battery-powered models are lightweight by nature, but they are in turn less powerful.
You should also pay attention to whether a floor scrubber has an adjustable handle, especially if you are tall.
Types
Whether you choose a manual or an electric floor scrubber, it mostly depends on the job you need to do.
Manual floor scrubbers require you to do the scrubbing yourself so are more suitable for small jobs.
On the other hand, electric floor scrubbers do the work for you and work great for more difficult tasks.
No matter which type you select, consider a floor scrubber machine with scrubbing pads or firm stiff bristles which as more effective at removing stubborn stains or dirt.
Attachments like microfiber pads can also be highly effective on more delicate floors, such as wooden floors.
Durability
The last thing you want to do is replace your floor scrubber often. Look for a floor cleaning machine that is built to last, with high-quality materials.
If you opt for a corded model, make sure the connection points are safe.
FAQs
How to Maintain a Floor Scrubber
How Often Should I Scrub My Floor?
You should scrub the floors frequently in high-traffic areas. These areas include the entrance, the bathroom, the kitchen, and hallways. And these areas should be scrubbed at least once a week.
Rooms don’t need to be scrubbed that often. Scrubbing them every other week or monthly should be more than enough.
What Is the Typical Lifespan of a Floor Scrubber?
The typical lifespan of an electric floor scrubber is approximately 7 years. But, with correct maintenance and proper use, many floor scrubbers can last up to 10 years.
A manual floor scrubber has the same lifespan as a broom. So, they can last from 25 to 70 years with proper care.
How We Picked
To choose the best floor scrubber, we conducted an intensive analysis of the features to consider when purchasing this kind of cleaning tool.
We delved into several sources of information, from cleaning articles, expert forum discussions, as well as manufacturers’ websites. We went on social media platforms as well as on Youtube to watch many videos or reels of people using floor scrubbers in real-life situations. We read hundreds of customer reviews and questions to understand their needs and selection standards.
From there, we analyzed the market and the available products to select dozen floor scrubbers.
We short-listed the most outperforming models based on users’ feedback, experts’ insights, technical and functional specifications and stellar features like:
We also took a look at other important factors such as the price or the after-sales conditions.
Finally, we gathered all the information from our research and analysis phase and established a spreadsheet. We listed the shortlisted products and gave them a rating out of 10. This allowed us to clearly identify our winners and their best category.
Why Trust The HouseWire
This article was written by Claire, a cleaning enthusiast and writer for thehousewire since 2018. But she’s been an editor and professional writer in the cleaning industry since 2013. She also has years of experience in testing and writing about consumer products, including cleaning products like floor scrubbers. To select the top picks; she scoured the top sellers to find the best, high-rated floor scrubbers. Then she examined each model and read all the functional and technical specifications as well as hundreds of customer reviews. She also contacted industry experts like the CleaningAuthority and MaidPro And used their guidance. She based her choice on factors such as the type, size, maneuverability, construction, and durability of each one.
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