Stains, grime, and scuff marks can make your floors look dirty and dull. But, keeping them clean can be a daily struggle, we know!
Whether you have wood, tile floor, laminate, or vinyl flooring, a floor scrubber can help. Floor scrubbers can clean the dirt and germs on your floors without the hassle of a mop and bucket.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the best floor scrubbers on the market. So say goodbye to the hassle of scrubbing your floors with one of these efficient and powerful floor cleaning machines
Our Top Picks
The HouseWire earns a commission through the following independently chosen links at no additional cost to you.How Does an Automatic Floor Scrubber Work?
An automatic floor scrubber washes your floor using a scrubbing head and an automated system for dispensing cleaning solutions. Some advanced models also have vacuum cleaners built in for suction power.
The auto scrubbing system begins cleaning by dispensing cleaning solution onto your floor. Then, the floor pad or brush moves while cleaning to agitate the cleaning solution and remove soils and dirt from your surfaces.
If your floor scrubber has a vacuum system, it then suctions the dirty cleaning solution from your floor as it moves.
What to Look For in a Floor Scrubber
Consider the following details to find the best scrubber for your floors.

Types of Floor Scrubbers
Manual
A manual floor scrubber requires you to do the scrubbing yourself. Manual floor scrubbers include spin mops, sponge mops, and scrub brushes.
Manual floor scrubbers are affordable cleaning tools. They’re also simple to use and easy to maneuver compared to electric scrubbers.
But because of this, they don’t tend to offer the same level of deep cleaning as electric floor scrubbers. Plus, manual scrubbers don’t have the same sanitizing benefits as a steam mop.
But, manual scrubbers are thinner, lighter, and often have smaller cleaning heads for cleaning tight or narrow spaces.
For example, see this Fuller Brush Tile Grout E-Z Multipurpose manual scrubber.
Electric
An electric floor scrubber relies on a power outlet or battery life to run. They have rotating bristles or scrubbing pads that automatically clean your floor in each pass.
So most of the work is done for you with an electric scrubber.
However, they tend to be bulkier than manual scrubbers. And this can make them difficult to maneuver around your floors, especially during big cleans.
But, their powerful scrubbing capabilities often make up for their maneuverability.
For example, see this Boss Cleaning Equipment Electric Scrubber.
A steam mop is another type of electric scrubber. For example, see this Bissell Power Fresh Mop.
They use steam from hot water to clean your floors without needing cleaning products.
Finally, robotic floor scrubbers are the most convenient electric option. They don’t require any work other than cleaning the mop-pads and maintaining the water tank.
See this Samsung Electronics JetBot robot floor scrubber as an example.

Heads
Most scrubbing mop pads are made of soft fabrics such as microfiber. These mop pads are gentle and ideal for cleaning delicate floor surfaces such as hardwood floors.
Scrubbing brushes have abrasive bristles for cleaning tough messes and stubborn dirt. But, because they are abrasive, they’re best for cleaning durable floors that are scratch-resistant.
To find the best heads for your floors, always check the cleaning recommendations for your flooring first. This is to make sure they’re safe to use on your specific type of flooring.
You should also consider the shape of the cleaning head. Whether it’s circular or rectangular can impact how well your scrubber can access narrow spaces or tight corners.
Lastly, if you have a lot of furniture or obstacles to clean around, consider a scrubber with a rotating head. This will be easier to maneuver while you clean your floors.

Corded or Cordless
Corded scrubbers need to be plugged into an outlet during cleaning. But, you won’t have to worry about running out of power during your cleaning session with a corded floor scrubber.
Cordless scrubbers require charging in between cleaning. But, they offer a lot of freedom for maneuverability.
Most floor scrubbers that are cordless models have a run time of 30 to 50-minutes. So it’s important to find a cordless scrubber with enough run-time to last during your cleaning.
For example, this GOBOT Electric floor mop is a cordless model with a long-lasting battery life.

Spinning Speed
The purpose of a floor scrubber is to provide efficient cleaning power. So making sure your floor scrubber has a high spinning speed will ensure that it cleans efficiently and reliably.
The best scrubber will have a speed of 300 to 600 RPM. Floor scrubbers that have a spinning rate within this range will be able to clean nearly any floor type.
So, make sure you choose a scrubber with a spinning speed within this range.

Extra Features
For example, manual domestic scrubbers tend to be basic models. Some manual scrubbers may have simple attachments like a squeegee for removing dirty water or a spray feature.
But, many manual scrubbers only come with a long handle and a cleaning head.
On the other hand, electric floor scrubbers can have a range of accessories. For example, most electric models come with reusable heads or cleaning pads.
Some electric mops also have changeable heads with soft or abrasive pads for different cleaning jobs.
The Best Floor Scrubbers of 2023
We’ve spent hours researching honest reviews, expert advice, and technical specs to find the best floor scrubber on the market. Here are our top 5!
For a scrubber that ticks all the boxes, this Bissell spin mop is the way to go. You can use it on almost any surface, including ceramic tile floors, laminate, sealed wood, and linoleum floors.This corded scrubber has two rotating scrubbing pads to scrub tough messes and stubborn stains on your floor. The mop pads automatically spin while you clean, doing all of the scrubbing for you!
This electric spin scrubber also has a large water tank capacity and on-demand spray function. This allows you to control how much product you use while cleaning when you need it. This means that you don’t have to worry about damaging your delicate floors.
Plus, this spin mop comes with two ready-to-use 8-ounce bottles of cleaner that you can use on any surface. So you can get to cleaning your hard floors straight away with this Bissell scrubber.
What We Like
360-Degree Swivel
The 360-degree swivel design on this cleaner makes it easy to maneuver around your floors while cleaning. So you can navigate around corners and furniture with ease.Quiet
While Bissell doesn’t state the exact noise level on this floor cleaner, they say it provides a quiet clean. And many reviewers agree, mentioning how quiet this machine is during cleaning.Wide Cleaning Path
This scrubber has a wide 14-inch floorhead that covers a lot of your floor in each pass while you clean. This speeds up the cleaning and also saves you energy as you won’t need to make as many cleaning passes.Multi-Surface
This multi-surface scrubber cleans ceramic tile floors, laminate, sealed wood, linoleum, and vinyl floors safely. So it’s perfect if you have different floor types to clean.What We Don’t Like
No Wheels
Because the mop pads spin while you clean, this scrubber doesn’t need wheels to maneuver it while it’s on. However, this makes it difficult to transport it around your home when the machine is switched off.So it can be a challenge moving this electric spin scrubber between rooms with no wheels.
Additional Specs
Type | Electric |
Weight | 11 lbs |
Amperage | 0.9 A |
Horsepower | N/A |
Cord Length | 22 ft |
Noise Level | N/A |
Filter Type | N/A |
Included Accessories | soft pads, scrubby pads |
It might not be electric, but it can still get the job done at an affordable price. This JIGA floor scrub brush has a 2-in-1 brush and scraper design with stiff bristles for extra scrubbing power.
And it comes with several handy features for a low price point.
You can use this scrubber for both dry messes and wet spills. And the added rubber squeegee means you can efficiently remove dirty water from your floors after cleaning.
This not only helps to remove water and streak marks but also speeds up the drying and cleaning process. So you won’t have to waste time waiting around for your floors to dry after using this scrubber.
What We Like
Durable Bristles
The bristles on these scrub brushes are made from high-quality PVC. This makes them long-lasting and durable to handle any pressure you apply during scrubbing.Ergonomic Handle
The handle on this scrubbing brush has a 45-degree ergonomic angled design for a comfortable hold while cleaning. And the 45-degree angle helps to reach corners and tight spaces while you clean.Versatile
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.What We Don’t Like
Handle Is Hard To Grip
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.
Additional Specs
Type | Manual |
Weight | 2.35 lbs |
Amperage | N/A |
Horsepower | N/A |
Cord Length | Cordless |
Noise Level | N/A |
Filter Type | N/A |
Included Accessories | 2 scrub brush heads |
It has a low-geared motor that provides gentle, deep cleaning that won’t scratch or damage your wood floors.
This heavy-duty hardwood floor cleaning machine also has soft anti-scratch wheels that you can lift and lock in place. Not only does this make it easy to transport this cleaner around, but it won’t scratch your wood floors either.
Plus, it features an orbit motor that spins the floor-head brush in both directions simultaneously. This provides deep cleaning for your floors and ensures there are no swirl or streak marks left after cleaning.
What We Like
30-Inch Cleaning Path
With the largest cleaning path on our list, this scrubber covers 30-inches of your floor with each cleaning pass! You’ll be surprised how quickly you can get your floors sparkling clean with this Prolux Floor Scrubber!Telescopic Handle
Unlike most commercial floor scrubbers, this model has a telescoping handle that you can adjust to suit your height. This means you won’t have to bend over or strain your back while you’re scrubbing.Whole Package
Not only is this cleaner a great option for scrubbing your hardwood floors, but it also covers the whole floor-cleaning package. This model strips, buffs, polishes, sands, cleans, and refinishes any hard floors.So you can save a lot of money on cleaning supplies! You won’t have to buy separate floor tools with this all-in-one heavy-duty cleaning package.
What We Don’t Like
Loose Scrubbing Disk
Some reviewers mentioned that the scrubbing disc can come loose during cleaning. This can be inconvenient and time-consuming while you’re cleaning if you need to keep securing it back onto the unit.Additional Specs
Type | Electric |
Weight | 28 lbs |
Amperage | N/A |
Horsepower | N/A |
Cord Length | 50 ft |
Noise Level | N/A |
Filter Type | N/A |
Included Accessories | 1 cleaning pad for tile floor, grout, concrete |
You can use this commercial-grade cleaner for any type of flooring, including carpets. Plus, you can also sand, refinish, strip, wax, polish, and scrub your hard floors with it too.
It also has an easy gliding orbit design that easily maneuvers across your floor while you’re cleaning.
Lastly, the long 50-foot cord length gives you a lot of freedom when you’re cleaning large areas. Therefore you won’t have to worry about needing to keep plugging the cord into a closer power outlet.
What We Like
Random Orbit Brush-Head
The brush-head rotates in a random orbit pattern while you’re cleaning. The cylindrical scrubbing pattern helps prevent brush marks, swirls, or gouges on your floor from scrubbing.Easy Controls
This cleaner has easy-to-use fingertip controls. So you can easily navigate between the different modes and settings while you’re cleaning.Includes Drive Pad Adapter
Thanks to the included drive pad adapter, you can use different cleaning pads with this machine. This is perfect if you want to use a sanding pad or separate scrubbing pad while you clean.What We Don’t Like
Heavy
This is the heaviest model on our list. Weighing 33-pounds, it requires a lot of elbow grease to push this heavy unit around your floors.Additional Specs
Type | Electric |
Weight | 33 lbs |
Amperage | N/A |
Horsepower | N/A |
Cord Length | 50 ft |
Noise Level | N/A |
Filter Type | N/A |
Included Accessories | Cleaning pad adapter |
5. Best Small Electric Scrubber : Gladwell Cordless Electric Mop, 3 in 1 Scrubber/Waxer
But don’t think that the small design makes it less powerful. This electric cleaner has high-powered dual-spin motors that can tackle any stubborn or ground-in dirt on your floors.
The fast-spinning pads also provide effortless gliding across smooth and textured floor surfaces. So you won’t have any trouble maneuvering this cleaner across your hard floors.
The handle also has a 180-degree rotation that makes it easy to access tight or narrow spaces while you clean.
Plus, this little floor mop has LED lights on the front of the floor-head to illuminate hidden dirt on your floors. This is helpful when you’re cleaning under furniture or in a low-light setting.
What We Like
Multi-Function
This Gladwell electric mop features multiple settings and functions to suit almost all cleaning jobs. You can easily switch between waxing, mopping, and quick spraying while you clean.Low Noise
You can enjoy a quiet clean with this low-noise floor scrubber machine. It’s designed to clean below a noise level of 60dB which is similar to the level of a normal conversation.That means you can clean any time of the day without disturbing neighbors or pets with this electric cleaner.
Built-In Solution Tank
Thanks to the built-in cleaning solution and water tank, you can add water and cleaning solutions directly to this electric mop. And the onboard spray function will dispense it while you clean, so you don’t have to worry about pre-treating your floors.What We Don’t Like
Spray Feature Can Leak
Some reviewers mentioned that the spray trigger on the front of the mop-head can leak during cleaning. So you may have to manually wipe the solution from your floors while you are cleaning.Additional Specs
Type | Electric Cordless |
Weight | 11.35 lbs |
Amperage | NA |
Horsepower | NA |
Cord Length | Cordless |
Noise Level | 60dB |
Filter Type | N/A |
Included Accessories | N/A |
Floor Scrubbers Comparison Chart
Product | Type | Weight | Amperage | Cord Length | Noise Level |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bissell SpinWave Cordless PET | Electric | 11 lbs | 0.9 A | 22 ft | N/A |
JIGA 2 Pack Floor Scrub Brush | Manual | 2.35 lbs | N/A | Cordless | N/A |
Prolux Core Heavy Duty Floor | Electric | 28 lbs | N/A | 50 ft | N/A |
Oreck Commercial Orbiter Floor Machine | Electric | 33 lbs | N/A | 50 ft | N/A |
Gladwell Cordless Electric Mop | Electric | 11.35 lbs | N/A | Cordless | 60dB |
How to Maintain a Floor Scrubber
Follow these maintenance tips to keep your floor scrubber cleaning efficiently.
Electric floor scrubbers
- Clean the exterior of your floor scrubber with warm soapy water or mild detergent solutions.
- Inspect the power cord regularly for damage or wear. Make sure you replace it if you notice any damage.
- Use a water-resistant lubricant at least once a month to lubricate your wheels. This will ensure your wheels don’t get stiff or stuck over time.
- Check your floor scrubber’s unit for any loose nuts and bolts. If you notice any missing or damaged nuts and bolts, replace them before your next clean.
- If you use your floor scrubber in dusty spaces, make sure you clean the motor regularly. On some models, you can remove the cover on the motor to do this. Then, clean the motor using compressed air. This will allow the motor to run cooler and also ensure there is proper ventilation during cleaning.
- 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.
- To clean your scrubbing pads in the washing machine, make sure you use a light-duty cycle. You can add a mild detergent to the cycle to clean heavily soiled pads.
- Always make sure you air dry your cleaning pads before using them again.
Manual floor scrubbers
- Always remove any leftover debris on your floor scrubber’s bristles. Dirt and dust can stick in between the bristles. So, use your hands or a vacuum cleaner to remove the debris.
- Then, soak your brush bristles in warm soapy water. This will help to keep the scrubber clean so you don’t spread dirt on your floors.
- Wipe the handle of your manual floor tool clean with a disinfectant spray.
Floor Scrubber FAQs
Here are some answers to commonly asked questions about floor scrubbers.

How Do You Clean a Floor With a Floor Scrubber?
- First, remove any obstacles and obstructions from the area of your floor that you’ll be cleaning. Then, plug the power cord into a grounded power outlet.
- Move your floor scrubber to the back corner of the room away from the entrance.
- Next, apply your buffing, cleaning, or polishing solution to your cleaning pad. Or, apply it directly to your floor. If you’re using a steam cleaner you can skip this step.
- If your floor scrubber has a telescopic handle, adjust it to a comfortable height for cleaning. Then, when you’re ready, switch your floor scrubber on.
- Depending on your model, you may have to move the scrubber side to side to clean. Or, you may have to push down or lift the handle to move the machine and begin cleaning. Otherwise, simply move your floor scrubber in back and forth motions to clean your floors.
- If you’re using a manual floor scrubber, use the included squeegee bar to remove dirty water from your floors. Depending on the model of your floor scrubber, you can rinse your floor with clean water and a flat mop.
- Once you have finished cleaning, switch your floor scrubber off. Then, unplug it from the power outlet and store it in a dry area.

What Is the Typical Lifespan of a Floor Scrubber?
A manual floor scrubber has the same lifespan as a broom. So, they can last from 25 to 70 years with proper care.

What Is the Difference Between Buffing and Polishing a Floor?
Buffing is a deep cleaning process and treatment method that removes the top layer of your floor. This eliminates surface scratches, stains, and marks on your floor.
Using a buffer also freshens up the appearance of the surface on your floor. Whereas polishing is simply a different treatment method for your floors using a tool known as a burnisher.
While buffing can both treat and polish your floor, polishing only treats them. But, it treats them more efficiently than the buffing process does.
Because of this, polishing is often performed after buffing to achieve extra shine.