How to wash steam mop pads (Shark, Bissell, and any brand)

Steam mop pads pick up a lot of grime and if you don’t clean them properly, you’re just pushing that dirt around the floor next time. Here’s the exact process that gets them completely clean, whether you’ve got a Shark, Bissell, O-Cedar, or any other brand.

What You’ll Need

• Clorox 2
• Rocco & Roxie, or similar pre-treatment spray
• Laundry detergent

Step 1: Pre-Treat While the Pad Is Still Warm

Apply Clorox 2 directly onto the dirty pad. Clorox 2 is a color-safe oxygenated stain booster (not regular bleach), which means it lifts embedded grime without breaking down the microfiber over time. Let it sit for 2 to 3 minutes.

Then grab a spray bottle of Rocco & Roxie and spray it over the entire pad surface. Make sure you coat the really grimy spots well. This softens the dirt and starts breaking down grease and buildup before you even touch water.

Step 2: Hand Wash in the Sink

Plug your sink and fill it with warm water. Add a small amount of laundry detergent and mix it in.

Drop the pre-treated pad in and start scrubbing it against itself. Work the soapy water through the entire pad, focusing on the heaviest dirt zones. You’ll see the water turn brown fast. That’s the point.

This step matters even if you’re going to machine wash afterward. Hand washing removes the bulk of the loose grime first, so your washing machine isn’t fighting a fully caked-up pad. It also helps rinse out the pre-treatment chemicals so they can do their job in the next cycle.

If you have a small cut or irritated skin, wear rubber gloves. The combination of pre-treatment spray and detergent is effective but strong.

Step 3: Rinse Thoroughly

Once you’ve worked through the hand wash, drain the dirty water and rinse the pad under running water. Keep rinsing until the water runs completely clear.

This usually takes longer than you’d expect. Steam mop pads hold a lot of soap. If you rush this step and put the pad directly in the washing machine with soap still trapped in the fibers, you’ll end up with over-sudsing issues and the pad won’t come out as clean.

Squeeze it out firmly before moving to the next step.

Step 4: Machine Wash

Toss the pad in your washing machine. Use your normal laundry detergent and wash on a warm or hot cycle depending on how dirty the pad was. Hot water is fine for most microfiber steam mop pads and helps kill bacteria.

Skip fabric softener entirely. Softener coats microfiber and destroys its ability to pick up dirt and hold onto moisture. One wash with softener can noticeably reduce your pad’s cleaning performance.

If you have multiple pads, wash them together. They’re small enough to fit several in a single load.

Step 5: Air Dry

Steam mop pads can usually go in the dryer on a low heat setting. High heat can melt or warp some pad materials, especially if they have any plastic attachment tabs or velcro components.

When in doubt, air dry. Lay the pad flat or hang it and let it dry completely before storing. A pad that goes back into storage damp will develop mildew smell fast.

Why the Peroxide Step Makes a Real Difference

If your pads come out of the wash looking dull or dingy, the issue is usually that you skipped the oxygenated pre-treatment.

Products like Clorox 2 contain hydrogen peroxide, which breaks down the color compounds in dirt stains at a molecular level. Detergent alone physically lifts dirt, but it doesn’t always eliminate the discoloration left behind. The peroxide does that. After washing with a peroxide-based booster, pads typically come out noticeably brighter, closer to how they looked when new.

This is especially noticeable on white or light-colored pads. The difference between washing with detergent alone versus detergent plus Clorox 2 is visible.

How Often Should You Wash Steam Mop Pads?

Wash after every use. This sounds like a lot, but steam mop pads are small, hand-wash friendly, and take minutes to clean. Letting grime sit in the fibers between uses causes permanent staining and breakdown of the pad material over time.

If you use your steam mop weekly, washing your pads weekly is the right cadence. For daily users, rinse and pre-treat immediately after each session, then do a full wash every two to three uses.

Tips by Brand

Shark Steam Mop Pads

Shark pads are machine washable. The velcro attachment system holds up well through repeated washing. Wash warm, tumble dry low. Do not iron.

Bissell Steam Mop Pads

Bissell pads vary by model. Most are machine washable, but check whether your pads have a scrubby texture layer on one side. That side is fine to machine wash, but scrubbing it too aggressively by hand can wear it down faster.

O-Cedar Steam Mop Pads

O-Cedar pads are also machine washable and respond well to the full hand-wash-first process. The microfiber is durable enough for frequent washing without losing softness.

Generic and Store-Brand Pads

Most third-party replacement pads are machine washable. If there’s no care label, treat them the same way: pre-treat, hand wash to remove bulk dirt, rinse clean, machine wash warm, air dry.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using regular bleach. Chlorine bleach breaks down microfiber over time. Use Clorox 2 (oxygenated, color-safe) instead.
• Adding fabric softener. This coats the fibers and kills the pad’s ability to clean effectively. Skip it every time.
• Skipping the rinse. Soap left in the pad causes resoiling and leaves residue on your floors. Always rinse until the water runs clear.
• Storing pads damp. Mildew sets in quickly. Dry completely before storage.
• Washing in cold water. Cold water doesn’t break down grease effectively. Warm or hot water gives you a much cleaner result.

Frequently Asked Questions