The Tineco Floor One S7 Steam wet-dry vacuum is a game-changer. While I enjoy watching snowfall in the winter, I hate the mess that cold-season weather makes on my floors. It usually takes a vacuum and a mop to clean up slushy footprints.
Not only does it vacuum and mop your floors simultaneously, it also uses super-hot steam to loosen up dirt and grime, leaving hard floors practically sparkling. It heats fresh water to 284°F and coupled with the spinning mop bar, the vapor can cut through even the tough stains and kill bacteria.
I wanted to see if this machine would end up as one of the best steam mops I've tested. I used the S7 as part of my weekly cleaning routine for a fortnight. Here’s why I advocate buying this 3-in-1 mop, vacuum, and steam-cleaning appliance.
Tineco Floor One S7 steam wet-dry vacuum review
Tineco Floor One S7 Steam Wet-Dry Vacuum specifications
What I thought of the Tineco Floor One S7 Steam Wet-Dry Vacuum
After several weeks of use, I never want to be without the Tineco Floor One S7 Steam Wet-Dry Vacuum. It’s the best steam mop that I’ve tested, and it doesn't require any specialist cleaning supplies. It proved to be effective on everyday dirt to sticky spills, and the self-cleaning design makes it easy to maintain. My only complaints are that it gets heavy if you use it for a long time and that the dirty water tank is gross to empty. But all in all, I’m happy to overlook these flaws.
Unboxing and setting up the Tineco Floor One S7 Steam Wet-Dry Vacuum
The Tineco Floor One S7 arrived in a surprisingly small box, and I was impressed at how everything managed to fit into such compact packaging. However, all the components were wrapped in a layer or two of plastic. I can understand not wanting the machine to get scratched during transit but don’t think it was necessary for the accessories and instruction manual.
To assemble the vac-mop, you have to attach the handle to the base — which is easier said than done. I initially put the handle on backward and only realized my error when the machine wouldn’t power on. I’d recommend double-checking the manual for reference.
Aside from that, all you have to do is charge the machine on the base. It talks quite loudly when you put it on the charger, instructing you to clean the dirty water tank, but you can disable this feature if it bothers you.
Using the Tineco Floor One S7 steam wet-dry vacuum
Operation
Once the Tineco Floor One S7 was charged, I filled the clean water tank (located at the back of the machine). It has a narrow, tall shape, and you hold it horizontally underneath your faucet to fill it up.
The S7 has a power button on the front of the handle to turn the machine on, but it doesn’t start cleaning the floor until you tilt the vacuum back. When it’s locked in the upright position, the unit automatically pauses, which is handy if you need to pick up something off the floor (in my case, dog toys).
When you first turn on the machine, it defaults to auto-mopping mode, which is great for everyday touch-ups or cleaning up spills, and you can press the steam clean button on the handle to start the process.
A 50-second countdown will start on the screen while the steam heats up and the light on the brush roll with flash. The mop will tell you when the steam is ready to use, and you can hear it hiss when the steam starts working. If you press the steam button again, it enters boost mode, which delivers a more targeted blast for tough stains.
The cordless vacuum has a digital LCD to indicate what mode you’re in, as well as how much battery power is left. It occasionally speaks to you, announcing when you switch modes or telling you when the dirty water tank needs emptying. However, you can turn off this feature using a gray button toward the bottom of the machine on the back.
My only real complaint about the unit’s design is that it’s not very ergonomic. Despite weighing only 10 pounds, I found it felt heavy during long cleaning sessions.
Performance
I almost always used the steam clean setting instead of auto mode (the main appeal of this machine). I also appreciate that it’s self-propelled, saving you effort.
The steam was able to quickly lift muddy footprints, winter salt stains, and scuffs from my hardwood floors. I also tested it on spills, including chocolate syrup and ketchup, and the S7 was able to lift all the sticky residue in two or three passes.
The S7 had no problem vacuuming small debris, including the leaves and small rocks my dogs tracked inside. It even sucked up a handful of cereal that spilled. However, it wasn’t the best for picking up dog hair, generally only capturing half the strands, so it’s not a replacement for your best vacuum cleaner. It’s just designed to let you mop without using a vacuum cleaner first, but it's not meant to tackle huge messes.
The iLoop smart sensor automatically increases suction and steam power when it detects a lot of dirt. When I drove it over particularly dirty areas, the edges of the display screen would turn red, and audibly kicked up into a higher gear. After spending a little extra time in that area, the display would return to blue when all the dirt was gone.
As you clean, it does suck up most of the water, but it leaves the floors slightly damp. I found this useful so I could see where I had already cleaned, and the lingering moisture dried in under five minutes.
The S7 Steam Wet-Dry Vacuum has a maximum runtime of 40 minutes, but that’s only in auto mode. If you’re using steam mode, the runtime drops to 20 minutes. Any time I powered on the steam setting, the on-board battery indicator dropped significantly. Still, I found this was more than enough time to clean my hardwood floors. I also think that operating it for any longer than 20 minutes would make my arm hurt, as it does start to feel heavy after a while.
Cleaning and maintaining the Tineco Floor One S7 Steam Wet-Dry Vacuum
When you’ve finished cleaning, pop it on the dock and press the self-clean button that’s on top of the handle. This starts a cycle that uses fresh water and steam to clean any lingering gunk off the brush roller and flush out the inner tubing, and it also spins the brush to help dry it off and prevent mildew growth or odors.
This feature is super convenient, and I like that there’s also a second brushroll that you can swap in if the first one ever needs a deeper clean.
I didn't enjoy emptying the dirty water tank. As you’re cleaning, all the wet and dry debris that's sucked up is collected in one tank — so imagine your regular vacuum’s dustbin, but add in water. It creates a muddy, gunky mess that’s quite gross to clean out. I've yet to figure out the best way to separate the solids from the liquids. I generally end up pouring the entirety into the bathroom sink, and then fishing out the clumps of hair and debris with a paper towel. However; this is a problem with virtually all vac-mops.
Should you buy the Tineco Floor One S7 Steam Wet-Dry Vacuum
At $650, the Tineco Floor One S7 Steam Wet-Dry Vacuum is worth the splurge. It has quickly replaced my Swiffer WetJet (available on Amazon) and is a great, chemical, and scrub-free option for cleaning tough grime off hard floors.
My floors were clean and dry in less than five minutes. Don't confuse the S7 with the S7 pro, available on Amazon. The latter has a fancier display and uses a floor cleaner in place of steam — but you'll pay almost $800 for it.
If the S7 is too expensive, and you have a small apartment, consider the Tineco Floor ONE S3 wet-dry vacuum (available on Amazon). It has smaller clean and dirty water tanks (0.6L /0.5L respectively), is a little lighter, and the runtime is only five minutes shorter. Real Homes Former ecommerce editor, Jaclyn Turner awarded it the same rating as the S7 in her Tineco Floor One S3 review.
Finally, if you want something that does all of the above and can be used as a handheld vacuum cleaner, try the Prosenic P11 (available on Amazon). While head ecommerce editor, Annie Collyer awarded it with a bronze badge in her Prosenic P11 vacuum cleaner review, Amazon shoppers are giving it a solid 4.3 stars out of 5.
How we tested the Tineco Floor One S7 Steam Wet-Dry Vacuum
Tineco sent me a sample of the S7 Steam Wet-Dry Vacuum to test in my home. When testing vacuum cleaners, I evaluate them using the following criteria.
