Originally from Dorset, Heidi’s simple pleasures include finding new and unique ways to rid her life of stray pet hairs and telling anyone who’ll listen that tea tree oil is a natural disinfectant.

When it comes to spray mops, we consider everything from setup to storage to how many sweeps it takes to achieve that clean shiny finish. For starters, we considered how easy the process from box to use was, inspecting the design and instructions. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we lived in a world where floors cleaned themselves? Alas, that technology doesn’t exist yet and mopping floors continues to be one of the most important household chores, partly for that fresh, smear-free look but also to ensure the highest possible hygiene for your home.With a mop head span of 45cm, this mop is an excellent option for those looking to clean large kitchens, laminate-floored lounges or master bedrooms with vinyl flooring. In fact, it particularly impressed when it came to vinyl floors, and the spray was nice and responsive, only requiring a light squeeze. If you want some real power behind your spray mop, consider a model like our winner, the expert Vileda Looper Spray Mop. It’s a cordless charge-up-and-clean option with extra power for those tougher stains. Some spray mops, such as the Flash Power Mop, also have battery-assisted trigger sprays for more force behind every spritz. Use warm water, as it loosens grime more effectively than cold water, but note that very hot or boiling water can damage flooring.

Introducing our go-to spray mop for ceramic tiles. With a battery-powered spray trigger and two spray jets, it required no scrubbing and lifted dirt out of grouting with ease. Our tester was impressed that the mophead and included cleaning solution left the floor looking 'shiny, streak-free and clean'. Ditto when we tried it on vinyl, and it seamlessly glided over laminate flooring too. This smartly designed mop’s telescopic handle ensures comfortable cleaning for people of all heights. Its sponge head scrubs and dries floors at the same time and there’s a wringing lever for removing excess water.

The GHI team put a range of mops through their paces across vinyl, ceramic tiles and wood laminate. Our rigorous testers dirtied each floor with mud, tea and cooking oil and left the stains to set. The reservoir size on spray mops can range from 300ml to almost a full litre. It goes without saying that if you’re looking to mop multiple hardwood floors, then a bigger reservoir means less chance of having to refill. However, if you’re short on storage space or primarily looking to blitz small spaces, a small tank will still get you far and will be more compact. Spray mops have built-in reservoirs that hold water or your chosen cleaning solution. You simply press the trigger on the handle and the mop spritzes whatever is in the reservoir directly onto the floor in front of the mophead. Sweep the mop head across your floor and – ta-dah! – clean floors at the ready.