Affordable and easy to use, the Shark Steam & Scrub Automatic Steam Mop combines steam blasting with dual spinning microfiber pads to lift dirt without needing detergent. Its Steam Blaster mode helps tackle stubborn stains with ease, making hard floors look their best. While it’s not designed to pick up solids and the microfiber pads need swapping and washing once you've finished a clean, the Shark Steam is ideal for smaller hard floor spaces. It's small, and it needs plugging in, but it packs a punch.
Pros
- Smooth gliding motion
- Great stain removal
- Hot steam blast for stubborn stains
- Dual spinning pads
Cons
- Small water tank
- No suction for solids
- Not cordless
Shark Steam & Scrub Automatic Steam Mop: Introduction
Cordless hard floor cleaners that vacuum and scrub simultaneously, such as the Roborock Dyad, Mova X50 or the Dyson V15s Submarine, are gaining popularity… but they tend to be on the pricey side, need a fair bit of maintenance are often pretty complex to use.
The Shark Steam & Scrub Automatic Steam Mop with Steam Blaster (model number S8201UK), which I’ve got on review here, is a much simpler, budget-friendly alternative.
It pairs steam with dual-spinning microfiber pads for an efficient clean, while the Steam Blaster function directs a high-pressure steam jet at stubborn stains.
Read on for my full Shark Steam & Scrub Automatic Steam Mop review.
Design and build
- Three power modes
- Handle with Steam blaster trigger
- Removable water tank
- Dual microfiber ‘Dirt Grip’ mopping pads
Looking a lot like the earlier version Shark Steam & Scrub Automatic Steam Mop (S6002UK), the new model takes a lot of what was great about its older sibling but adds a killer feature.
Both the old and new models work by pushing steam onto spinning microfiber pads, but the newer S8201UK introduces the Steam Blaster function.
Underneath the top of the handle, you’ll find a trigger to activate the new feature and, when pulled, the Steam Blaster releases a concentrated burst of steam from a nozzle at the front of the floor head.
It’s designed for stains within 5-10cm of the nozzle, and Shark recommends spraying and waiting a few seconds before continuing to clean.
It looks a helluva lot like the previous-gen model, with a white shade replacing the pale blue hue but, apart from that, there’s no dramatic change here.
Standing 120cm high, up top is that handle and trigger (and also the top part of the cable tidy bracket), then there’s an aluminium pole that slots into the main unit.
That main unit consists of a window to the water tank, a basic 3-light display for the modes, and a button to switch between these modes.
On the bottom are the spinning discs that simply press down to clamp onto the microfiber pads, which SharkNinja calls ‘Dirt Grips’. You’ll get four of these in the box.
The water tank is pretty small, with a 350ml capacity but, as I’ll explain later, is plenty for doing a couple of rooms.
The Shark Steam & Scrub Automatic Steam Mop isn’t a cordless machine – you will have to plug it in and the cable is just over 5m long.
Features and performance
In testing, the Steam Blaster made short work of dried-on messes such as ketchup, mustard, milk and even crusty dried up cat food, which made cleaning significantly in my home.
In more general use, the mop operates much like its predecessor. The 350ml water tank must be removed and filled with cold water before use; there’s no option to add a cleaning solution as the machine relies on steam for stain removal and bacteria bashing.
While 350ml isn’t very much, I found that it held enough to clean my kitchen, dining room and downstairs hallway – with the odd Stain Blast en route – with water to spare.
There are three cleaning modes – Light, Normal, and Deep – so you can choose how you want it to operate between different floor types and stain levels. I just tended to leave it on Deep all the time, because you only live once, eh?
Once powered on, tilting the handle back engages the steam and starts the mop pads spinning at 150rpm. You’ll actually feel it pulling away from you as those pads start to spin, creating a nice gliding feeling.
Weighing just 3.4kg, the Shark navigates easily across floors, requiring minimal effort to manoeuvre and it also features LED headlights that are handy for lighting up skirting boards and under furniture.
Its low-profile design allows it to clean under furniture – as it basically lays down flat – and it’s nice that it stands upright on its own as well, which makes it much easier to take a break mid-clean and then store after.
The microfiber pads collect dirt effectively but you will need to take them off an clean them after a clean to avoid bacteria build up and bad odors; there’s no fancy heating dock or anything like that.
I’ve been chucking the pads in the washing machine after a clean and they’ve been coming out fine.
As mentioned in the intro, the Shark Steam & Scrub Automatic Steam Mop doesn’t pick up solid debris at all, so you will need to vacuum your floors first.
That differs from the Dyson WashG1, which is engineered to tackle both wet and dry debris simultaneously without suction. That WashG1 is twice the price (and a bit more) of the Shark though.
Performance
- Excellent for tackling tough stains
- No ability to pick up solid debris
- Cleans right up to edges
I’ve done the bulk of this Shark Steam & Scrub Automatic Steam Mop review using the machine in my own home.
But, for a more technical review, we also put it through its paces at the Candr Media Group test lab.
Starting with coffee spills, a few passes on the Light setting lifted the stain effortlessly from the laminate floor. The same was true for red wine stains, with regular steam and the spinning pads removing them with ease.
For tougher messes like dried-on ketchup, we switched to a higher power setting and used the Steam Blaster.
A concentrated steam burst, followed by a short wait loosened the stain, allowing the mopping pads to clean it away quickly. This was an impressive performance, demonstrating the mop’s ability to handle stubborn marks efficiently.
Next, we tested on a dried mud stain. While the Normal power setting was enough to lift the ingrained dirt, the mop’s lack of suction meant solid particles were pushed around rather than collected; another reminder to vacuum first.
Finally, I checked its edge-cleaning performance by applying mustard along a kitchen plinth. The slightly raised edges of the spinning microfiber pads made good contact with the floor edges, effectively cleaning right up to the baseboards and into corners.
At just over 51dB, the Shark Steam & Scrub Automatic Steam Mop S8201UK is exceptionally quiet, producing only a low hum from the spinning pads and steam release.
Final thoughts
If you have a smaller hard floor area, the Shark Steam & Scrub Automatic Steam Mop with Steam Blaster S8201UK is an excellent choice. It’s powerful, well-priced, and incredibly easy to use, making it a standout option for quick, effective cleaning, especially with that Steam Blasting boost on board..
However, since it relies on mop pads to collect dirt, and there’s no suction, its cleaning range is somewhat limited compared to more expensive rivals.
But if you have a smaller hard floor area, and maybe you’ve already got dust and debris tackled by a robot cleaner, the Shark Steam & Scrub Automatic Steam Mop is definitely an excellent choice.
How we test
When we publish our reviews, you can rest assured that they are the result of “living with” long term tests.
Because we’re testing smart home kit all day, everyday, we know what matters and how a particular smart cleaning machine compares to alternatives that you might also be considering.
Our reviews are comprehensive, objective and fair and, of course, we are never paid directly to review a device.
Read our guide on how we test to learn more.
FAQs
No, this mop is designed for steam cleaning and scrubbing only. You’ll need to vacuum or sweep before using it to ensure the best results.
No, Shark recommends using only cold water in the tank (and distilled if you live in a hard water area).
Yes, the included microfiber pads are machine washable and reusable.
Shark Steam & Scrub Automatic Steam Mop: Specifications
| Brand | SharkNinja |
| Product Name | Steam & Scrub Automatic Steam Mop with Steam Blaster S8201UK |
| Launch Date | 2024 |
| US Price | $169.99 |
| UK Price | £159.99 |
| Weight | 3.4kg |
| Dimensions | 120.6cm x 21.7cm x 37.8cm |
| Clean Water Tank Capacity | 350ml |
| Cord | 5.19m |
| Chemical-free Cleaning | Removes dust, residue, grease, grime & bacteria using water alone |
| Modes | Light, Normal, Deep |
| Attachments | 4 machine-washable Dirt Grip pads |
