I cleaned every surface in my home with Lakeland’s 2-in-1 steam mop – it’s an affordable, chemical-free option that’s ideal for the everyday

Any cleaning product that's versatile enough to tackle two (or more) jobs at once gets my vote. So I was excited to put the Lakeland 2-in-1 Steam Mop to the test, as it promises to tackle everything from kitchen floors to tricky bathroom corners.

How does it compare to the best steam cleaners and mops, you might wonder? It's not flawless, but it gets the basics right where it counts...

In a nutshell

The Lakeland 2-in-1 Steam Mop is a versatile, practical option for everyday cleaning, and I especially like the fact that it's chemical-free - a big win in a busy family home like mine. It heats up quickly and delivers steam that's powerful enough to tackle typical household grime across various surfaces, including floors and tiles.

I tested it around my home - on my kitchen floors and tiles, carpets and even my oven - and it handled the majority of tasks well. The triangular swivel mop made it easy to reach awkward corners, and the three steam settings gave me flexibility for different cleaning jobs.

I really liked how adaptable it is, as it easily converts into a handheld steamer for smaller jobs. That said, I did find the handheld unit a bit bottom-heavy and not the most comfortable to hold for long periods. The generous water tank was a highlight, though, as it meant I could tackle several jobs without worrying about having to stop to refill.

It's not perfect, and it did struggle to lift very stubborn grime. But for an affordable, chemical-free cleaner, I think it's a solid addition to a regular cleaning routine.

Specifications

• Capacity:  450ml
• Power: 1500W
• Weight: 4.5kg
• Dimensions: W:32cm ×D:18 cm × H:125 cm
• Steam settings: 3
• In the box: carpet glider and microfibre floor pad, window squeegee, small and large round brushes, tile nozzle, detail brush, crevice tool, instruction manual
• RRP: £69.99

How I tested

Rebecca Lawton

I'm Rebecca, and I write freelance content for Ideal Home, and I'm always on the lookout for home upgrades that make my home life smoother (especially with three young children!).

I tested the Lakeland 2-in-1 Steam Mop in my three-bedroom home - on both hard surfaces and carpeted floors. I also used the handheld steamer on multiple surfaces, including windows and mirrors, bathroom tiles and grout, and my oven. I used it every day during the testing process.

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The Lakeland 2-in-1 Steam Mop arrived in a rectangular-shaped cardboard box that was light enough for me to carry. Inside, I was greeted with a further, branded-box cushioned in paper. I hadn't expected another layer of packaging, but it was reassuring to see that the product was well-protected.

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Opening the box, it was clear that everything had been packed very securely, with several parts wrapped in plastic and placed on top of a layer of moulded cardboard. After removing all of the contents, my first impression was that there were a lot of parts and accessories, which were all wrapped individually in plastic.

I always prefer minimal packaging, and while I appreciate the need to keep the items well protected, some of the plastic wrapping felt a little excessive. Grouping certain parts together might have helped cut down on the extra wrapping.

The plastic was marked 'PE-LD 04', and after looking it up online, I discovered that while it can be recycled, it can't be done with general household waste, and needs to be taken to a specific drop-off point. While it was reassuring to know it was recyclable, it did feel slightly inconvenient and not the most eco-friendly solution overall.

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There were a few parts of the mop to assemble, but thankfully it was relatively straightforward. First, I inserted the floor mop head into the bottom of the upright housing unit. To secure it in place, I needed to insert a screw (which was provided) into the back with a screwdriver. I was a little surprised it didn't come pre-assembled, but I imagine this is to prevent the mop from getting damaged in the box. Either way, it was easy to do and took less than a minute to secure firmly.

The handle is foldable for storage, so I simply pulled it upwards into an upright position until I heard it click into place. I then attached the handheld unit, which houses the water tank, and this clicked easily onto the front without any fuss.

Finally, I attached the floor mop pad by placing it under the floor mop head. The pad has fastening straps, which I aligned with the gripping straps on the bottom of the mop head, then pressed the mop head down onto the pad. This step was a little fiddly due to the flexible base, but once it was in place, it felt secure and ready to use.

Once the mop was assembled, I was able to admire it in all its glory. I was impressed with the sleek, compact design, and the fact that it's foldable is a win for someone like me, who's short on storage space. Although it's corded, it has upper and lower cord wraps to keep the cable secure and out of sight.

The water tank holds up to 450ml, which is quite generous for a steam mop of this size, so this immediately impressed me, as it can be a pain having to refill water tanks halfway through a cleaning session. There's a water release button on the front of the unit, which I pressed before pulling out the water tank.

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The tank cap is located at the bottom of the tank, rather than the top, which threw me off at first, purely because I'm used to top-loading tanks. It has a small cap, which turns anti-clockwise to unlock and remove. I filled the tank to the 'max' mark level indicated on the tank, replaced the cap, and slotted the tank back into the unit.

It wasn't until I plugged in the appliance, switched on the power, and pressed the steam button that the design really stood out. The water tank illuminates blue, which I think really adds a stylish, modern touch.

Using the Lakeland 2-in-1 Steam Mop

As a mop

To use the mop, I plugged the cord into a plug socket and pressed the power button. The three steam-level indicator lights on the front of the mop started flashing in rotation, and at the same time, the blue water tank light illuminated. After 30 seconds, the lights stopped flashing, indicating the mop had heated up and was ready to use.

There are three steam settings - Low, Medium and High steam - so I started with the lowest setting as I wasn't tackling any particular stubborn areas. The first thing I noticed was the noise - as it heats up and steam is released from the base, the mop is fairly loud and makes a chugging sound. Once the desired mode is selected, steam instantly starts emitting from the base.

Using the Lakeland 2-in-1 Steam Mop in the same way I'd use a traditional mop, I simply guided it back and forth. It didn't glide effortlessly across the floor as I expected, and it did require a bit of effort, but after only a few short passes, my floors were left noticeably cleaner. The floors were also dry enough to walk on straight away. And the most satisfying part? The mop pad was filthy! Considering I hadn't thought my floors were particularly dirty, I was impressed by how much dirt it lifted.

Next, I decided to put the highest setting to the test. I deliberately threw some Greek yoghurt on my kitchen floor, and then left it for an hour to partially dry. I switched the steam setting to 'High' and pushed the mop over the stain.

On the first pass, it did smear the yoghurt further across the floor, but after two short passes, the stain was completely lifted. The floors were left damper this time, which was expected given I'd used the highest steam setting. That said, they were dry enough to walk on within a couple of minutes.

There is a carpet glider attachment for use on carpets, which I was pleased about, as my carpets have been looking in need of a little TLC recently. The plastic mop cover sits over the base of the mop - at first, I thought I wasn't inserting it incorrectly, as I was expecting it to click in place. Reassuringly, though, it stayed in place when I moved it back and forth.

I decided to play it safe at first and started with the 'Low' steam setting. Steam was released from the bottom, but the carpets didn't get damp. This is normal for a glider, which is designed to refresh rather than deep-clean, so I wasn't expecting to see any visible results. I experimented with the different modes, but the results were similar. For particularly stubborn stains, I'd stick to a carpet cleaner or spot cleaner, but for a light refresh, the glider works well enough.

As a handheld steamer

Switching to handheld mode was really easy - there's a button on the front of the housing unit, and the handheld device pops out easily. As it comes with a few different tools, I started by attaching the jet tool and brush to tackle my kitchen tiles. Fitting it was straightforward; I just aligned the flat edge on the end of the jet tool with the flat edge in the main unit and pushed firmly until it clicked into place.

The first thing I noticed was the handheld unit felt a little bottom-heavy - the slim handle holds the water tank in the base, something I hadn't really noticed when I was using it as a floor mop.

I selected the 'High' steam setting as I knew my tile grouts were in need of a deep-clean. Once I got used to the balance, it was comfortable enough to manoeuvre. The steam was impressively powerful, and while reaching into some of the spaces was a little tricky, the small size of the jet brush made it perfect for getting in between the tiles. While it couldn't completely lift some stubborn grime, my tiles still looked noticeably cleaner and refreshed.

My oven door was another story. I was pretty embarrassed by the sheer state of it, so I wasn't expecting miracles. Much to my satisfaction, the steam cleaner managed to lift a lot of the stuck-on grime, leaving it far cleaner than I anticipated. The only minor drawback was that a larger attachment would have made tackling bigger surfaces easier, as I felt like I'd got a bit of a workout by the time I'd finished!

The window cleaning head only works with the dedicated window cleaning hose, but it was simple to set up. I clicked the hose into the main unit, attached the window head, and fitted the cleaning pad, tightening the drawstring with the clip.

Using it did take some getting used to as the length of the hose made it a bit awkward being able to hold the unit at the same time. I had to go over a few spots to avoid streaks, but once I got the hang of it, it was easy to use, and my windows were left feeling clean and refreshed.

Cleaning and maintenance

Cleaning the Lakeland 2-in-1 Steam Mop is straightforward, and it doesn't require much in the way of maintenance. After each use, I emptied the water tank and removed the floor mop pad or window cleaning pad before storage. I did throw the floor pad in the washing machine as it was always filthy after use.

The mop also has a descaling mode that kicks in after around 40 hours of use. I haven't got to this stage yet, but when the time comes, it sounds easy. The unit runs a six-minute cleaning program to remove limescale, and there's also a handy cleaning pin to clear out any debris from the steam outlets, keeping the steam flow strong and consistent.

How does the Lakeland 2-in-1 Steam Mop rate online?

I struggled to find many reviews online for the Lakeland 2-in-1 Steam Mop, except for five reviews on the brand's website. I assume this is because it's a relatively new addition to Lakeland's cleaning appliance range. However, it scored a 4-star rating overall, with customers generally providing positive feedback about its cleaning performance and straightforward assembly.

There was one user who echoed my gripe about the excessive number of plastic bags as part of the packaging. Another user mentioned that while it did an efficient job of cleaning surfaces, the corded design made cleaning windows a bit awkward.

How does the Lakeland 2-in-1 Steam Mop compare to similar models?

The Lakeland 2-in-1 Steam Mop builds on an earlier 2-in-1 model, keeping the same upright and handheld design, but adding a few noticeable upgrades, including a larger water tank and a foldable handle.

It's worth comparing to the Kärcher Multi Up & Extra, which also combines a mop and handheld steamer. The Kärcher model really impressed me during testing with its cleaning power, but it does have a smaller water tank and isn't suitable for carpeted floors.

I also recently tested the Shark Steam & Scrub Automatic Steam Mop - and I would say this is hard to beat when it comes to blasting stubborn stains, and its rotating mop pads do much of the work for you. That said, it's not as versatile as the Lakeland model and comes at a higher price point.

For carpeted floors, the Lakeland 2-in-1 Steam Mop's carpet glider is a plus. In this category, the Vileda Steam Mop Plus - crowned the best steam mop in our guide - can also be used on carpets. It retails for a similar point, but while it doesn't include any attachments, it does have the edge when it comes to cleaning power.

Should you buy the Lakeland 2-in-1 Steam Mop?

If you're looking for an affordable, everyday steam cleaner that can handle a variety of jobs, the Lakeland 2-in-1 Steam Mop is worth considering. Its stand-out feature is the mop itself, which does a very capable job of steam-cleaning floors, and it's ideal for regular use.

The range of attachments adds to its versatility, making it suitable for tackling different cleaning jobs around the home, although some jobs may require a bit of elbow grease. It's not the most powerful steam cleaner out there, but it's more than enough to tackle everyday mess. If you want something that tackles deep-set stains, a higher-end model may be a better fit.

If you're short on storage space, the slim design and foldable handle also make it an ideal option, as it's easy to tuck away between uses.

Overall, for everyday chemical-free cleaning in a busy home, the Lakeland 2-in-1 Steam Mop is a reliable choice that offers good value for money.