Bona vs. Swiffer: A Close Comparison
Choosing between Bona vs. Swiffer can be difficult, but it doesn't have to be.
These two popular mop brands sell a large variety of high-quality mops.
Each brand has its pros and cons, which means one might be better for you, while the other might be better for a friend.
Make the best choice for your needs to ensure the best purchase possible.
What is better, Bona or Swiffer?
Many have asked this question, but it is difficult for it to be answered without research.
However, who has time to do a lot of research on their own with their busy life and schedule?
Luckily, we have researched different aspects of the Bona and Swiffer mops to help provide you with all of the information you need to make an informed decision on which brand will be the best for your cleaning needs.
Bona vs. Swiffer Quick Summary
Back in the day, people had to constantly deal with changing out their mops due to mold and mildew.
The old wooden handle mop with a standard mop head use to be difficult to keep dry after using it, which would cause many issues with keeping things clean.
However, just like most things, floor mops have come a long way, and the old wooden handle mop is a thing of the past for most households.
Companies like Bona and Swiffer have worked to design floor mops that are more convenient than older products, and they can provide the floor without worrying about streaks and constantly having to drag around your mop bucket.
The Swiffer WetJet and the Bona hardwood floor spray mop are classified as spray mops, which means that you will no longer have to worry about dealing with mop buckets or leaving your mop out in the sun to dry properly.
However, although you don't have to carry the mop bucket with you, you are required to purchase a special cleaning solution for either of these two mop brands.
Plus, you have to make sure you keep their special mop pads in stock to be sure you are capable of cleaning whenever the need arises.
Both of these spray mop brands have their pros and cons, and it can be difficult to make a final purchasing decision. Here is a glance at their pros and cons, which will be further discussed in detail later on in the article.
Bona Pros
- Provides a wide area coverage
- Long history in floor care
- Uses a reusable microfiber mop pad
- Doesn't require batteries
Bona Cons
- Designed to only work on hardwood floors
- Difficult to maneuver in smaller areas
Swiffer Pros
- Allows users to clean tight corners and hard to reach areas
- Uses up-to-date technology to make mopping more efficient
- Uses disposable mop pads
- Designed to work on multiple types of surfaces
Swiffer Cons
- Minor issues with nozzle malfunctions
- More expensive long-term
These points will be touched on further down, and although it might seem like a glance that there isn't a difference between these two brands, you would be wrong.
Each one is uniquely qualified to be better in different situations, depending on your circumstances and the needs you have for cleaning. Let's get started diving deeper into these two mop brands to find you the right one.
How Their Mops Work
Each of these brands is considered to be spray mops because they both have a spraying system attached to the mop for the special cleaning solution.
However, there are small subtleties about how they work that make them a little different. Below, you will find out how both of these models work.
Bona Spray Mop
One of the most important things that you need to remember when you are using this mop is that you should always sweep or vacuum the floor before using the mop.
This will help to ensure that you do not dirty the mop with dry dirt and debris that could be gotten rid of.
The setup process for the Bona spray mop is simple:
- Snap the pole together with the handle
- Snap the mop head to the bottom of the pole
- Place the cleaning solution cartridge into its provided spot
- Attach the microfiber pad to the bottom of the mop head
- Start mopping
Once the mop is properly put together, all you have to do is squeeze the trigger to release some of the cleaning solutions down into the mop head and start mopping.
Unlike other spray mops, the Bona spray mop does not require any sort of external power source to operate, like an electrical cord or batteries.
Why is this convenient?
Not only do you save money on power or have to purchase batteries, but it means that as long as you have a cleaning solution, your Bona mop will always be ready to go when you are, which is extremely convenient for those unexpected spills that happen.
If it doesn't use batteries or electrical power, then what makes the spray mop work?
Air pressure. Good old air pressure is what forces the spray bottle that contains the solution to contract, which releases the solution out of the nozzle and into the mop head.
Depending on how dirty your floors are, you should only have to press the trigger once or twice to get an ample amount of solution on the mop head. Finally, remember that you do not have to rinse the floor with water like you had to do with old-fashioned mops.
Swiffer Spray Mop
The Swiffer spray mop is not very different from the Bona mop. Before you get started mopping, you need to make sure that you vacuum or sweep up any loose debris or dirt that is on the floor you are going to mop.
Here are the steps you should follow to get started using the Swiffer spray mop:
- Slide the mop poles together and secure them in place
- Open the battery compartment to install 4 AA batteries into the compartment and close it back up.
- Attach the provided mop pad to the bottom of the mop head. (Make sure that the print side is down)
- Squeeze the trigger on the handle to spray the solution and begin mopping
Once you have properly put the mop together, the rest is easy.
All you have to do is squeeze the trigger and the mop will spray some of the cleaning solutions onto the floor in front of the mop pad, which means you just simply push the mop forward to begin cleaning the floor.
One thing that the Swiffer mop can provide you with that the Bona mop does not is flexibility in flooring type.
The Bona mop is recommended for cleaning only hardwood floors, but the Swiffer spray mop was designed to be compatible with a variety of surfaces, like laminate, hardwood, vinyl, and ceramic tile flooring.
Bona vs. Swiffer Pricing
When it comes to purchasing the actual mop, there is very little pricing difference between these two brands. Their starter kits both start at approximately $30 to $40, depending on where you go to purchase them.
Both of the starter kits come with everything that you need to get started cleaning right away, including the cleaning solution that is required for the particular mop.
If they are about the same, what is the point of talking about the price of these two mops?
Although the starting price is approximately the same, there are some pricing differences for the long-term that you should consider.
For instance, replacement pads for the Bona mop cost more than the Swiffer mop pads, but the Bona mop pad can be washed, which means it can be used for longer.
The Swiffer pads have to be replaced after each use.
Another price consideration that you have to take into account is the price of the batteries that are required by the Swiffer spray mop.
The Bona mop uses air pressure to spray the solution on the floor, but the Swiffer requires AA batteries for the sprayer to work.
Therefore, if your batteries die, your Swiffer is useless until you replace the batteries.
So, although the starting price of the Swiffer spray mop is about $10 less initially, you have to purchase extras that make this model cost more in the long run than the Bona floor mop, which is something that you should consider.
Size & Weight
After consulting the price differences of the two spray mop brands, the next thing that you should consider is the differences in their weight and size.
This is what we will cover in this section to give you a better idea of what each of these brands is capable of and what you can expect from them.
Bona Hardwood Spray Mop
First, let's discuss Bona's mop. When discussing the size of a mop, we are referring to the size of the mop head because this is the part that will help determine how long it will take you to complete your cleaning job.
The mop head on the Bona spray mop is 15 inches wide, which will allow you to cover more of your floor with a single push, making most cleaning jobs faster.
For most people, this is a go-to size because it is ideal, especially for cleaning larger open rooms.
However, due to its size, it can be difficult to get in tight corners and effectively clean around furniture.
When it comes to weight, the Bona spray mop only weighs approximately 5.2 pounds, which when compared to a traditional mop is significantly lighter, especially once the traditional mop has been drenched in water and cleaning solution.
Swiffer WetJet Spray Mop
Now, let's discuss the Swiffer option. The mop head on this brand is only 9 inches wide, which means that it is not capable of covering as much floor ground. However, this is not always a bad thing.
The Swiffer spray mop is capable of getting into smaller areas that the Bona model can't, like tight corners and under and around different types of furniture more efficiently.
Although both of the brands' spray mops are considered to be lightweight, the Swiffer WetJet spray mop is even lighter than the Bona, weighing in at 3.68 pounds.
Therefore, if you are looking for a mop to cover larger open areas, you would want to go with the Bona Hardwood Spray mop, but if your rooms are smaller and more compact with furniture, then the Swiffer WetJet will probably be your best option.
Performance
When it comes to performance, both of these mop brands do their job efficiently, but just like with everything, each of these mops has its strengths in performance.
Two major points should be covered when talking about how these two mops perform against each other: spray effectiveness and maneuverability.
When speaking about spray effectiveness, we placed these two mops side by side to see how they sprayed their solution.
With the Bona Hardwood spray mop, the spray was dispersed more evenly on the floor in front of the mop, which meant that the solution hit more of the floor ensuring an even cleaning experience across the entire floor.
However, with the Swiffer WetJet, we experienced that the spray stream was narrower than the Bone, which meant that some areas in front of the mop were fully coated in the cleaning solution, while other spots were still dry.
It sprayed more like a water gun than an even spray mist.
This doesn't mean that it doesn't do its job effectively, but when it comes to spray effectiveness, the Bona model is superior.
Now, let's talk about maneuverability. The winner of this performance area is dependent on the situation.
For instance, if you are cleaning a nice open room with little clutter and furniture, then due to the size of the Bona mop head's size, it would win hands down. It can move over larger areas of flooring in less time.
However, if you have to maneuver your way around furniture and smaller areas, then the Swiffer will be your best bet.
Its smaller mop head provides you with an easier way to get underneath furniture and reach into those smaller corners.
Now for the negative parts that we found in both performances.
The biggest negative performance issue with the Bona Hardwood spray mop is that it doesn't work well on other types of flooring besides hardwood.
When it comes to the Swiffer WetJet, we found that due to how the mop pads stick onto the mop head, they can easily get snagged while in the middle of cleaning.
Warranty
When it comes to warranties, it can be difficult to judge these two products.
Sometimes, they do come with a warranty from the seller, but this is not always the case.
When purchasing either of these mops, you will want to inquire with the seller if there is any sort of warranty that comes with the mop to ensure you are covered in case something unforeseen happens.
Common Customer Complaints
When looking at any product, it is important to consider what customers say about the products, because they are the ones that have used the products and found things that the manufacturer might not bring up.
After all, no product is perfect. There will always be complaints about them from a customer's standpoint, and we think that it is important to enlighten you about these complaints before you make your final purchasing decision.
Bona Hardwood Spray Mop
Here are just a few of the complaints that we found customers have with this brand of mop:
- The most common complaint that this model has is that the cleaning solution bottle leaks after it has been used a few times. It has also been known to happen when the mop has been left sitting for a while without being used.
- There have been a few customer complaints about the model's spray functionality. After using their mop a few times, they have found that the nozzle stops working, but it usually seems like it is the trigger that has stopped functioning.
- This last complaint has been noted a couple of times, which makes it worth mentioning. There have been some complaints that the mop leaves behind streaks on the floor. It hasn't been reported as much as the other two, but still, it is a complaint that has been made.
Swiffer WetJet Spray Mop
Here are just a few of the complaints that we found customers have with this brand of mop:
- One of the most common complaints about this model is that the spray nozzle tends to leak after being used for a prolonged period.
- The next complaint from customers has to deal with the batteries. They complain that the batteries tend to die after only one or two uses of the mop, which means they have to constantly replace them.
- Many customers have complained that this mop doesn't do well with cleaning up sticky substances from floors because of how easily the mop pads can be pulled off of the mop head.
Company Background
When looking at these two brands, there are major differences in these two companies, but that doesn't mean that either company is better or worse than the other.
For instance, Bona has been providing cleaning products to the world for over 100 years.
They were founded in Sweden back in 1919, and they ensure that the people that sell and work with their products are vetted and trained to provide people with the best cleaning experience possible.
However, this does not mean that they are superior to Swiffer.
Swiffer has only been around since 2002, which means they don't have the long-standing history that Bona does, but they were built by one of the largest brand-building companies in the world, Procter and Gamble.
They were set up to be a bait-and-hook brand, unlike Bona.
What does this mean?
This means that, unlike Bona, who has minimal additional costs after purchasing the mop, Swiffer baits you with an excellent experience, but uses things like throw-away mop pads that cause you to have to continuously purchase replacements from them to continue using their product.
In a nutshell, these companies come at marketing differently, but both provide a quality product.
Final Verdict
Depending on your needs, you could go either way when it comes to choosing between the Bona spray mop or the Swiffer spray mop.
Overall, the Bona spray mop is considered to be slightly better than the Swiffer spray mop, but that doesn't mean that it will be the best for your cleaning situation.
For example, if you have a smaller floor area that has a lot of tight corners and hiding places, you would have more trouble with the Bona model because it has a larger mop head, which makes it more difficult to maneuver around tight areas.
However, with the Bona mop, you don't have to worry about having somewhere to plug it in or running out of batteries, as you do with the Swiffer model.
Finally, the Bona spray mop uses reusable mop pads, which means that you can wash them instead of having to replace them entirely between every mopping session, like with the Swiffer.
