What is a Steam Mop?

When it comes to the way that we clean our home, it seems like steam is becoming the big thing over the last few years. We have all sorts of steam products like steam irons and steam cleaners, but a steam mop is a pretty new item. I'm sure you've seen the Swiffer Sweeper commercials on television? It's one of those little broom like items that you can get, but have a design that helps to pick up more dirt. Well, a steam mop is sort of like that except that only real difference is that it is not a replacement for a broom, but a replacement for a mop.
The reason why steam is becoming the cleaning choice is that it uses water to clean things instead of chemical products. I know chemicals have been the product of choice for a long time, but we are starting to learn that it isn't that safe. If you have a family pet like a dog or cat, you'll probably make them sick using chemicals on the floor. Not to mention if you have young kids they'll play on the floor and could easily get chemicals on them (or in their mouth).
A steam mop is just a simple item that looks like a mix of a mop and a Swiffer Sweeper. The only real difference is that it has steam coming out of the bottom of it. This makes it quite effective at cleaning up messes. Steam actually does a pretty good job at dealing with caked on dirt and even grease. It's definitely the better choice when you compare it to a simple mop, which really requires chemicals to be effective.