Head-to-head · Best Floor Steam Mops

Shark Steam Mop S4003D vs Shark Steam Mop S4501D

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Shark Steam Mop S4501D comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.2 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about users wanting no manual scrubbing — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #5 in Best Floor Steam Mops

Shark Steam Mop S4003D

4.2

3 sourcesall derived$159.99as of Jul 31

The Shark Steam Mop S4003D sanitizes hard floors with steam alone and leaves them dry fast, no chemicals involved. Reviewers praised how light it is, how quickly it goes together, and the height-adjustable handle. The pump-action activation is the sticking point for anyone used to automatic steam. It's best on sealed floors such as hardwood, tile, and laminate for quick cleanups and everyday use, less so if you want fully automated operation.

Strengths

— Uses dry steam that dries in 30 seconds, eliminating wait time for floors to dry
— Effective at sanitizing floors, removing 99.99% of household germs and bacteria
— Height adjustable handle with quick-release power cord for ergonomic use

Watch-outs

— Requires manual pump-action activation instead of automatic steam function
— Only comes with two microfiber pads that need to be washed after use

$159.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Floor Steam Mops

Shark Steam Mop S4501D

4.5

3 sources2 derived$69.99as of Aug 1

The Shark Steam Mop S4501D cleans with nothing but steam and water, which makes it safe around kids and pets. Reviewers praised the rotating scrubbing heads that do the scrubbing for you and a heat-up time of roughly 30 seconds. It assembles easily and the large water tank lasts across several cleaning sessions. There are no adjustable steam settings, and steam only comes out while you pump the handle, which gets tiring over a big floor. It fits people who want simple, chemical-free floor cleaning rather than continuous steam or a range of options.

Strengths

— Uses only water and steam for chemical-free cleaning
— Rotating scrubbing heads do the hard work without user scrubbing
— Heats up quickly, with a 30-second warm-up time

Watch-outs

— Only has one steam setting instead of adjustable levels
— Steam only produced when handle is pumped, not continuous

$69.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Shark Steam Mop S4003D

The S4003D is lighter and easier to assemble than the McCulloch MC1381, which is bulkier and requires more setup time. However, the McCulloch offers more powerful cleaning performance and better accessories for various surfaces, while the S4003D lacks continuous steam and requires manual activation, unlike the S4501D which has rotating scrubbing heads.

Shark Steam Mop S4501D

The S4501D provides rotating scrubbing heads that eliminate manual scrubbing, a feature not found in the Shark S4003D, which requires pump activation. However, the S4003D is lighter and easier to set up, while the S4501D only offers one steam setting instead of adjustable levels like the Bissell Deluxe 1800A.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Shark Steam Mop S4003D	Shark Steam Mop S4501D
Water Capacity	12.68 ounces	12 oz
Cord Length	18 ft	18'
Pad Type	2 microfiber pads	2
Attachments	two microfiber pads	4 x Scrubbing Pads (2 sets)
Weight	4.8 lb	4 lb
Steam Settings	—	3 steam settings
Power	—	1,230 watts

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