How to Choose Between the Swiffer WetJet and PowerMop

Swiffer has two mop alternatives on the market right now that do largely the same thing—but there's one I prefer more.

A few weeks ago, I swapped my regular old Swiffer for a WetJet model and my boyfriend picked up a Swiffer PowerMop. Both the WetJet and PowerMop hold canisters that dispense cleaning product on the floor, which you then wipe up with the pad attached to the bottom of the device—but I wondered whether one was better at the job than the other. After mopping with both for a while, I have an answer.

Swiffer WetJet specs

First, let’s talk about the Swiffer WetJet, which has been around in some form since 2001. It’s 27.34 inches high, 5.5 inches wide, and 4.37 inches deep, so it’s a pretty small device that has some decent power behind it. It uses WetJet brand cleaner in a unique bottle to spray directly on the floor in front of where you’re mopping and, since 2009, has had a dual sprayer instead of just one. 

A new WetJet comes in a “starter pack” that retails for about $27.99. The pack includes the machine, which you have to assemble (but that’s easy), plus one bottle of solution and five pads. It’s appropriate for use on most floors, including vinyl and wood. 

Swiffer PowerMop specs

The Swiffer PowerMop is a newer product that retails for about $33.99. It’s a little differently sized than its predecessor, at 28.47 inches high, 5.24 inches deep, and 4.43 inches wide. A starter kit includes the unassembled device, two mop-style pads, and a bottle of cleaning solution. Like the WetJet, it has two sprayers at the front. 

What’s the difference between Swiffer’s WetJet and PowerMop?

A few differences stand out between the mops right away: The WetJet starter pack comes with five heavy-duty pads, but the PowerMop only comes with two pads, and those look unlike a standard Swiffer pad—instead, they have shaggy tendrils that resemble a real mop head. The PowerMop also has a unique feature in that there are small LED lights on the front that activate when you press the spray trigger button.

Both have a number of refills available, though the WetJet has a wider variety: You can get an antibacterial solution, one designed for vinyl, tile, and laminate, one that uses Mr. Clean floor cleaner, one that uses Unstoppables solution for a more intense scent, one made for wood floors, and a few different multi-surface cleaners in a handful of scents. PowerMop refills currently come in fresh or lavender scents, plus there’s a third one just for wood floors.

Both have their spray trigger buttons conveniently accessible on the handle and both feature the swiveling heads that make Swiffers, well, Swiffers. Assembly on both is easy, too: You locate the battery compartment and put in the two batteries that come with the starter pack, remove the cardboard from around the solution bottle, and attach two sections of pole to the machine to create a handle. The pole has a cord threaded through it, so the pieces just kind of dangle there, and it’s obvious how they need to be attached, by sticking them into one another telescopically. I set up both devices and each one took me less than a minute. 

As far as cleaning goes, both do what they’re advertised to do—spritz solution onto the floor with the push of a button so you can mop over it with the pad. After spending some time using each model, I liked the WetJet better because it sprays a little more and the pad is more user-friendly. All the tendrils and fluff on the PowerMop pad prevented me from really scrubbing at the floor, whereas the traditional, flat pad on the WetJet made that easy. I also felt that the spray from the PowerMop was too easily absorbed by the thick, fluffier pads (though you might consider that a "pro" if you're concerned about drying time), and they were slightly harder to fit under small surfaces, like the edge of the couch. Keep in mind the PowerMop scrubbing pads are designed to mimic real mops, so they can get at gooey, sticky messes. Not to brag, but I didn't have any of those when I was using either device, so if you have kids or pets (or you're just a messy home chef), the PowerMop may be better for you.

The refills and pads for both are not compatible with the other device, either, and WetJet has more third-party and Swiffer-branded products available for refill. The PowerMop will probably have more of these available in the future, too, but since it only came out last year, its accessories and options are more limited. 

Finally, the PowerMop’s LED lights are novel, but a little useless. When mopping with the lights on, they barely illuminate anything that the overhead light isn’t already lighting up. They obviously shone in the dark, but I’m not going to turn my lights off to mop. 

Overall, if you’re looking for a Swiffer mop, you'll probably want to opt for the WetJet—at least for now. In the future, the lights may be brighter or the options for cleaners and pads may expand, which could change things, but as it stands, you’re paying an additional $6 for fewer options and superfluous lights.